Deciding between 3 rooms, need input!

[bluehat]

It's myself, a friend and hopefully a few lady friends we meet.

We're deciding between the following for this Sunday night.

Vdara: Panoramic Suite ($180)
Mirage: Tower Suite ($196)
Cosmopolitan: Terrace Studio ($155)

Is there anyway to waive the resort fee? And if I pick the Terrace Studio at the Cosmopolitan, would a $20 sandwich at check-in work to get me an upgrade to the Wraparound Terrace Suite? Likewise for Tower Suite at the Mirage to the Hospitality Suite or Penthouse Suite? Is that asking for too much?

For Friday and Saturday night, we're thinking about staying somewhere in the $80 per night range. Any recommendations? It has to be on the strip.

Lastly, any good sites for promo codes and good deals?

[artedm]

General FYI- on hotels
Friday and Saturday Night are the most expensive- the most busiest nights
Sunday-Thursday are cheap-the least busiest days.
During major Holiday Weekends MDW, LDW, NYE expect large increase or big events like s fight night.

Check kayak.com to get an idea on prices and compare

There are some no resort fee hotels in vegas- but other then that really no way to waive the resort fee.

On the low end you can usually find standard rooms with two beds for $25 during Sunday-Thursday and about $50 Friday- Saturday- thats all including tax with no resort fee

[headstrong]

Well at some hotels, you can get them to waive the resort fee(s). I know at the Venetian/Palazzo you can get them to waive it if you express you won't be using the amenities as long as you dont use them. I'm sure if you make it a big enough problem you can get it waived at other properties too. Also a handshake can get them to waive it as well. However, if you are looking for a big handshake upgrade I dont think you should push the resort fees first.

I donno about how far you can upgrade with X handshake - so I can't help you there.

[Mac1]

Cosmo has the best views and are the nicest. Your $20 can get you fountain view depending on occupancy. Not sure about wraparound but you could get lucky. Vdara is new but the water pressure sucks in the shower. Suites seem small and cramped to me because of how they designed the building. Mirage is a good value but its an older property. the best will be cosmo.

[bluehat]

Well at some hotels, you can get them to waive the resort fee(s). I know at the Venetian/Palazzo you can get them to waive it if you express you won't be using the amenities as long as you dont use them. I'm sure if you make it a big enough problem you can get it waived at other properties too. Also a handshake can get them to waive it as well. However, if you are looking for a big handshake upgrade I dont think you should push the resort fees first.

I donno about how far you can upgrade with X handshake - so I can't help you there.

Exactly what I was looking for. I'll try and ask them to waive the resort fee if I can't get an upgrade first.

[Rival2378]

Cosmo, no question

[kp3205]

Ballys at $89/night, Harrahs at $84/night for those dates. Quad also is low but I was there years ago as IP and I will never reccommend that one.

[bluehat]

Cosmo has the best views and are the nicest. Your $20 can get you fountain view depending on occupancy. Not sure about wraparound but you could get lucky. Vdara is new but the water pressure sucks in the shower. Suites seem small and cramped to me because of how they designed the building. Mirage is a good value but its an older property. the best will be cosmo.

I actually like the cramped style Vdara suites offer. Nice and cozy while still luxurious. But I'm probably gonna go with Cosmo. How often do you get a terrace?!

[bluehat]

Ballys at $89/night, Harrahs at $84/night for those dates. Quad also is low but I was there years ago as IP and I will never reccommend that one.

Yeah I was just looking at Quad for around $55 a night but it seems sketch. Right now it's between Bally's, Harrah's, Luxor or Excalibur.

[headstrong]

I wouldn't stay at Excalibur ever again, just my opinion though. My recommendation between those would be Bally's. I had 2 good stays there (one being a free, non handshake upgrade into a 1 bedroom suite) and its right in the middle. HArrah's probably shortly after that and Luxor a ways after that as I don't like the location and then Excalibur not on my list.

Just my opinion.

[bluehat]

What didn't you like about Excalibur? And what about Monte Carlo, Flamingo, Treasure Island and NYNY?

I'm thinking about using Priceline's name your own price. Do you have experience with that?

[headstrong]

I just had a bad experience. 1) The rooms were serverely dated - might as well stay at the bottom end like Quad or Riviera. 2) Room was dirty on arrival and asked to move rooms, which took them forever and gave us another dirty room! 3) I didn't like the vibe - lots of kids/families and it really isn't THAT close to the good action. I mean its on the corner with tropicana, MGM and NYNY, but it still felt off to it's self. So, if I wanted to be cheap ID rather just hit up a real cheap place like the Quad or Riviera.

As far as priceline, I have no personal experience with it - I like knowing my rates up front. My family uses it a lot, but they like to go mid-week when they aren't comped.

As far as the others you listed, pretty close IMO, but Id stay at TI, then NYNY, then Monte Carlo, then Flamingo.

Again, this is only my opinion. It's all about what type of trip it is and where you want to save costs.

[bluehat]

Thanks for the recommendations. I looked up Treasure Island and I found a $90/night rate for Friday and Saturday so that's probably the route I'm gonna go.

[JustinG]

The $20 sandwich at TI got me a room on the top VIP room floor that requires a key card to get to, 2 free buffet passes, and a free bottle of champaign sent to my room! Make sure you give it a try.