Vegas is getting more and more expensive. More tourists are coming and it's a popular destination for big events and conventions. But with careful planning, it's possible to still get great room rates. It's all about supply and demand. Come to town when no one else does and the hotels will supply good rooms at great rates. If you come when everyone else does, you could pay through the nose. First of all, it is cheaper to come during the week opposed to the weekend. You can usually get a cheaper rate Sunday to Thursday than from Friday to Sunday. If the weekend is your only option, book early as the rates shoot up as people start to book.
There are a few periods of time that are always cheaper. December is an inexpensive time. The exceptions would be during the National Finals Rodeo and during the New Year's Eve celebrations. If you wonder how to get those "As Low As" rates that hotels claim to have, the trick is to come while folks are so busy prepping for Christmas that a vacation in Vegas is off the radar. The downside is that it's not great pool weather, some shows take an extended break and some casinos think it's a great time to do spruce-ups. But it is less crowded and and easier to get great deals on rooms in hotels that would otherwise be budget busters.
Another good time to find deals is July and August. Why? It's hot as blazes! Lot's of folks prefer to come in early spring and fall to get optimal weather but if you can handle the heat, there are good deals to be found. There are fewer conventions this time of year so you have less competition for a good rate. Some people like to take on the sun head on and hang out at the pool all day while others lay low during the day and wait until the sun goes down to hit the strip. Try heading to the national parks as it is cooler in the mountains and valleys away from all the concrete. In addition to the heat, there are lots of families in Vegas during the summer. This is a detraction for some but you can save a few dollars and avoid some strollers if you head to a hotel with a less popular pool.
Historically, three day holiday weekends are really pricey but the weekdays following are great days to find great rates. The days before Thanksgiving are usually great for deals, too, while the weekend after can be brutal on your wallet. The Fourth of July is a bit of exception as there is no big celebration on the strip to draw people in. If you want to come for a holiday, this would be a better one to choose.
Conventions and sporting events can wreak havoc on room rates. Before picking your dates, make sure you know what you are up against. Always check the websites run by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority to make sure there is no big event there to spike up rates: http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/in... and http://www.lvcva.com/index.jsp. Events to avoid would be Nascar races, the Rodeo, Superbowl weekend and the big conventions like the Consumer Electronics Show, Surfaces, Magic International and Conexpo to name a few. Hotels plan on getting a lot of reservations for these events and have higher rates because of the anticipated demand. It is possible to get good rates during a convention but it takes a lot of time and effort. The better way to go is to pick a period of when there are only small events going on. One way to do it is to compare room rate calendars of several hotels. If you notice a period of time where every hotel seems to have a hot rate available, pounce on it!
Make sure you check into happenings around town before you commit to your dates. You don't want to commit to time off or buy airline tickets only to find you can't afford a nice room. If you can only come during a peak time, try using player's card discounts to shave some dollars off. Also, downtown and the offstrip casinos west of the strip don't get as much convention traffic. You may be able to score deals there when there are none to be found on the strip or near the convention center. Some offer shuttle service to the strip or a rental car may be a good idea.
