Question: Booking a room in February

[Jimmyvegas]

Heya,

I've got a trip to Vegas coming up in February. I've been scouting room rate specials and it seems that most, if not all, run until late January. I've seen some decent room rates for my dates (2/17-2/21) but am leary of booking too early in fear of missing some specials. However, I don't want to wait too late and possibly lose the ok rates.

My thoughts are that they'll be having some specials/promo stuff going on in Feburary and that I should wait. I'm affraid that it may be very busy in Vegas in Feb. (don't know just guessing) and I'm going to get stuck with a high rates.

Any thoughts?

Thanks all!

Cheers!

JV

:cool:

[ISing4UnMe]

Heya,
I've got a trip to Vegas coming up in February. I've been scouting room rate specials and it seems that most, if not all, run until late January. I've seen some decent room rates for my dates (2/17-2/21) but am leary of booking too early in fear of missing some specials. However, I don't want to wait too late and possibly lose the ok rates.
My thoughts are that they'll be having some specials/promo stuff going on in Feburary and that I should wait. I'm affraid that it may be very busy in Vegas in Feb. (don't know just guessing) and I'm going to get stuck with a high rates.
Any thoughts?
:cool:

Why don't you book now if you're finding decent rates, keep checking, and then rebook if you find a better deal? Most places allow you to cancel & rebook within a certain amount of time (48 hours before check in).

[jr7110]

That is correct - almost all hotels have a certain window of cancellation (normally 48 hours but some hotels will let you cancel with 24 hours notice) so when you are booking the room you should make sure you ask what the cancellation policy is. That way you already know you have a room all secured and if one of the better offers does happen to come along, you can take advantage of that offer instead and cancel the first one.

[loser]

most better deals are booked early.
and fews are at the very very last minute.

i ALWAYS plan ahead ;)

[LVloverNaNa]

I agree with the others but book direct with the hotel.

[sonntex]

JV, I don't know about the others, but Harrahs properties probably won't have any deals out for another few weeks for February. But you know how THEY are, so book now. You can always change if something works out that suits you better.

BTW, aren't you Diamond with Harrahs? You should be able to get a pretty good comp deal with them.

[Jimmyvegas]

Thank you friends. I should have explained better. I'm not entirely sure where I want to stay yet. I'm watching the Palazzo rates and right now I can get a nice Luxury suite for $219.00/night. However, we all get those deals in the mail and I don't want to book Palazzo right now if I get some screamin' Bellagio deal like I did yesterday for $119.00/night. (Ends the end of January and can't use it in February.) :mad: I'm not a Harrah's Diamond but, I do have some pretty good playtime through the MGM Players Club. I've checked the offers through www/playersclub.com and have quite a number of pretty good offers. None reach into February though.

That's really my dilema. So as advised, I wouldn't want to book at one hotel and place a deposit, only to find a better deal at another hotel and chance losing that deposit.

I guess my real question is, is February typically a heavy occupancy month or, in your experience, have you seen deals pop up during this time.

Thank you all,

JV

:cool:

[sonntex]

Unless there is a trade show or big convention in town for the dates you are going - it probably won't be that busy.

Yes, I have gotten some bang-up offers from Harrahs then. But I don't play much at the other properties, so I can't say about them.

[ChicChas]

Thank you friends. I should have explained better. I'm not entirely sure where I want to stay yet. I'm watching the Palazzo rates and right now I can get a nice Luxury suite for $219.00/night. However, we all get those deals in the mail and I don't want to book Palazzo right now if I get some screamin' Bellagio deal like I did yesterday for $119.00/night. (Ends the end of January and can't use it in February.) :mad: I'm not a Harrah's Diamond but, I do have some pretty good playtime through the MGM Players Club. I've checked the offers through www/playersclub.com and have quite a number of pretty good offers. None reach into February though.

That's really my dilema. So as advised, I wouldn't want to book at one hotel and place a deposit, only to find a better deal at another hotel and chance losing that deposit.

I guess my real question is, is February typically a heavy occupancy month or, in your experience, have you seen deals pop up during this time.

Thank you all,

JV

:cool:

As others have said, book now for the best deal you can get or what you want. If a better deal comes along later, cancel the first one and book the better deal.

Just be sure you know the cancellation policy at #1. If they have a 48 hour no penalty cancel policy, then you will be refunded any deposits you have already paid as long as you cancel on time. I've done this myself several times in Vegas without any problem.

[jbenter]

I agree with everyone above. Book it now and then cancel and change if something better pops up.

I have a question though. What deposit? I have never paid a deposit in Vegas to stay. What property makes you pay a deposit? Sorry - just curious. I had never heard of that before.

[ChicChas]

I agree with everyone above. Book it now and then cancel and change if something better pops up.

I have a question though. What deposit? I have never paid a deposit in Vegas to stay. What property makes you pay a deposit? Sorry - just curious. I had never heard of that before.


I've had a one night's deposit charged to my credit card when I make my reservation on a couple of occasions. Most recently at Monte Carlo in August.

[jbenter]

Thanks for the info. I've never stayed at the Monte Carlo. Learned something new.

[jimbob]

I had booked my December trip at Monte Carlo about 4 months ago at $60.00 a night. They put my CC through for the first night stay. Two weeks ago a two night comped offer came though. Staying for five nights with first two comped. Called the Casino marketing to take advantage of offer. They gave me the last three night at $50. Reversed the charge on my CC and they said they would't require a deposit for my first night. Due to the exchange rate I made $10.00 on the transaction. They have always taken the first night stay on my credit card but have ALWAYS quickly reversed it when requested.

38 days and counting.....

[jr7110]

I had booked my December trip at Monte Carlo about 4 months ago at $60.00 a night. They put my CC through for the first night stay. Two weeks ago a two night comped offer came though. Staying for five nights with first two comped. Called the Casino marketing to take advantage of offer. They gave me the last three night at $50. Reversed the charge on my CC and they said they would't require a deposit for my first night. Due to the exchange rate I made $10.00 on the transaction. They have always taken the first night stay on my credit card but have ALWAYS quickly reversed it when requested.

38 days and counting.....


Actually Bellagio also charges a deposit for the first night when you book the reservation.

[ISing4UnMe]

I've had a one night's deposit charged to my credit card when I make my reservation on a couple of occasions. Most recently at Monte Carlo in August.

Actually Bellagio also charges a deposit for the first night when you book the reservation.

Wow, I guess this is another sign of the times??? I have never paid a deposit for a room unless I didn't cancel within the 48 hour cancellation period. That is sad if they are charging one night in advance. Both propertes are MGM properties...They must be hurting...Or they know that a lot of people wait to find the best offers and reschedule so they want to penalize you if you do. Either way, that tells me that they must be hurting financially since it's quite common for people to book and rebook at lower rates.

[YSinAppleton]

If you book directly with the hotel and cancel before 48 hours, you will not lose your deposit. We always book a place we want to stay early and then watch other places and prices come down. Never had a problem calling the hotel and getting our rate changed when they do come down either. I would book to make sure I have a room I want and then check prices every few days.

[sonntex]

Wow, I guess this is another sign of the times??? I have never paid a deposit for a room unless I didn't cancel within the 48 hour cancellation period. That is sad if they are charging one night in advance. Both propertes are MGM properties...They must be hurting...Or they know that a lot of people wait to find the best offers and reschedule so they want to penalize you if you do. Either way, that tells me that they must be hurting financially since it's quite common for people to book and rebook at lower rates.

It's customary to charge a deposit to those who are NOT comped or booked on an offer of some kind. I never have to put up a deposit at any of the Harrahs hotels because I am always there on a comp or an offer, but my daughter sometimes has a deposit charged to her credit card because she does not get the same comps and offers for free rooms that I get.

Since I don't get offers for free rooms from the MGM hotels, I would expect to put up a deposit with them.

[YSinAppleton]

The hotel will charge one nights room fee for a deposit on your credit card to hold the room. If you cancel, you will get your deposit back.

[LVloverNaNa]

In the last few months I have received email offers from Excalibur. Some were refundable but there was one that was Non-refundable.

If you call to book be sure to ask. Be sure to read the fine print of any offer received by snail mail or email.

We got caught by a Holiday Inn a couple years ago. It was a reservation for 2 nights...OUCH.

[Cousin Eddie]

Last year in February, with the exception of Super Bowl weekend, they were practically giving rooms away, especially midweek stays. If the economy stays as bad as it now, I think there is even greater potential for bargains in February.

I agree with many posters have said about booking & then canceling (within the permitted cancellation period). A group of about 20 of us go to LV every Super Bowl weekend (for the last 15 years) and last year we had trouble finding any deals about 2 to 3 months out. I made a couple of "just in case" reservations then, but 2 to 3 weeks before the Super Bowl, Vegas wasn't having the expected turnout so the hotels started freeing up a bunch of cheaper rooms. I canceled my earlier reservations and booked the cheaper rooms.