Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

72
CHAPTER 5 . WHERE TO STAY
available than the first one mentioned, or whether any special rates apply to
you. If you belong to one of the players clubs at a hotel casino, you may be
able to secure a better deal on a hotel room. Of course, you will also be
expected to spend a certain amount of time, and money, gambling there. See
below for more details on players clubs.
• Rely on a qualified professional. Certain hotels give travel agents discounts
in exchange for steering business their way, so if you’re shy about bargaining,
an agent may be better equipped to negotiate discounts for you.
• Dial direct. When booking a room in a chain hotel (The Flamingo, for
example), call the hotel’s local line, as well as the toll-free number, and see
where you get the best deal. A hotel makes nothing on a room that stays
empty. The clerk who runs the place is more likely to know about vacancies
and will often grant deep discounts in order to fill up.
• Remember the law of supply and demand. Las Vegas hotels are most
crowded and therefore most expensive on weekends. So the best deals are
offered midweek, when prices can drop dramatically. If possible, go then. You
can also call the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (& 877/
VISIT-LV) to find out if an important convention is scheduled at the time of
your planned visit; if so, you might want to change your date. Some of the
most popular conventions are listed under “When to Go” in chapter 2.
Remember also that planning your vacation just a week before or after official
peak season can mean big savings.
• Look into group or long-stay discounts. If you come as part of a large
group, you should be able to negotiate a bargain, since the hotel can then
guarantee occupancy in a number of rooms. Likewise, when you’re planning
a long stay in town (usually from 5 days to a week), you’ll usually qualify for
a discount.
• Avoid excess phone charges. When you book a room, find out before you
dial whether your hotel imposes a surcharge on local or long-distance calls.
A pay phone, however inconvenient, may save you money.
• Beware of hidden extras. Almost all of the major hotels (Four Seasons is
one notable exception) charge extra for things that are always free in other
destinations, like health-club privileges. Expect to pay anywhere from $15
to $30 to use almost any hotel spa/health club. (We’ve noted these charges
in the listings that follow so that you won’t be taken by surprise.)
• Watch for coupons and advertised discounts. Scan ads in your local Sunday
travel section, an excellent source for up-to-the-minute hotel deals.
“The Fun Book,” available from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors
Authority (see above), offers some discounts on lodging.
• Consider a suite. If you are traveling with your family or another couple,
you can pack more people into a suite (which usually comes with a sofa
bed), and thereby reduce your per-person rate. Remember that some places
charge for extra guests and some don’t.
• Investigate reservation services. These outfits usually work as consolidators,
buying up or reserving rooms in bulk and then dealing them out to
customers at a profit. Most of them offer online reservation services as well.
See the box on “Reservations Services,” above, for outfits that operate in the
Las Vegas area.
As far as prices go, keep in mind that our price categories are rough guidelines
at best. If you see a hotel that appeals to you, even if it seems out of your price
range, give them a call anyway. They might be having a special, a slow week, or