Is Christmas (December) a good time to visit Vegas?

pdx107 · 08-11-09, 08:55 AM

Summer and spring break are always costly and busy as hell
as for christmas.... all depends

TheBeautifulGame · 08-11-09, 09:00 AM

Cheers. I'm looking into a hol for Dec because it's only time I can get off. Can anyone recommend a decent hotel that doesen't cost an arm and a leg but at the same time, isn't an absolute dive

Perhaps Im asking too much

pavyracer · 08-11-09, 09:02 AM

Best time to visit Vegas (pricewise and busywise) is between the weekend after Superbowl and before March Madness. You practically get everything for half price everywhere.

JoshW · 08-11-09, 09:24 AM

It is a good time to visit. Weather is generally good. A large number of people from outside the US tend to visit this time of year. I would say 80% of the MGM Grand hotel guest were of Asian decent when I check in the day after Christmas last year.

It isn't the cheapest time of year, but you should be able to find something reasonable, especially since I doubt the US economy can bounce back that fast. I recommend checking out TravelZoo.com a few months before you go. They have a Las Vegas section that has some of the best deals around.

BestPlay2day · 08-11-09, 09:27 AM

If you could go to Vegas the week before Christmas, I believe that time is one of the cheapest times to go there. Of course the summer is the cheapest time to go to Vegas because of the 100+ degree weather.

Hotel wise, I would stay on the strip if this is the first or second time you have been to Vegas. Stay in the center of the strip or the south side of the strip. Many good hotels to stay at without paying too much as they are hurting because of the economy. MGM, NY NY, Planet Hollywood, Monte Carlo, Paris, Mirage, and Treasure Island are some examples of nice hotels that won't cost too much.

SBR_John · 08-11-09, 09:31 AM

Hmm I dont know. Yes summer is scorching hot but I've walked out of the Golden Nugget into -4 degree wind chill night near the end of January before. Vegas can get reallllllLLLLy cold in the winter.

Mac4Lyfe · 08-11-09, 09:33 AM

I've spent several Christmas holidays in Vegas and it's a little more expensive then other times but not by much. It depends on what days Christmas and New Years fall on. If it falls on the weekend, expect rooms to be double in price. If its during the weekday it will probably be 1.5 times the price. Try and book early because rooms sell out fast (maybe not this year with the economy). It also depends on your taste in hotels. The expensive hotels will be much more expensive while the cheap ones will still be relatively cheap.

It's all about supply and demand and the demand will still be high because people love Vegas during that time to bet football and basketball.

I just did a quick scan on Hotels dot com and prices aren't that high. Here's the Mirage from 12/24 - 1/3/10 Average price per night came out to $145/nt. Look at the day after Christmas and the day before New Years are usually the expensive nights. Actually 2 days before NY on that Wednesday is high as well. You can always change hotels to a cheaper one on the expensive nights as well.

Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
$93 $118 $140 $98 $89 $89 $225
$293 $186 $118

All in all these prices are very low compared to most years and with the Euro to dollar currency exchange, you probably won't find a cheaper time than now.

TheBeautifulGame · 08-11-09, 09:42 AM

It would be my first time in Vegas. I have always wanted to go and I'm just starting to plan it now. I'm not too pushy on a hotel as long as it's not a complete kip, I don't see the point in going on a hol if the hotel is terrible. I was thinking of going after christmas day but if there is a signifficant difference in price within a few days, I may spend christmas day in Vegas

.

Now, I'm 23 so I assume I should have no issues buying alcohol or gambling in the Casinos etc? The age is 21 for all that right?

Also, may seem weird asking in a gambling forum but once I have gambled as much as I want, is there anything interesting OTHER than gambling to do?

Appreciate all the help guys.

TheBeautifulGame · 08-11-09, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by Mac4Lyfe

I've spent several Christmas holidays in Vegas and it's a little more expensive then other times but not by much. It depends on what days Christmas and New Years fall on. If it falls on the weekend, expect rooms to be double in price. If its during the weekday it will probably be 1.5 times the price. Try and book early because rooms sell out fast (maybe not this year with the economy). It also depends on your taste in hotels. The expensive hotels will be much more expensive while the cheap ones will still be relatively cheap.

It's all about supply and demand and the demand will still be high because people love Vegas during that time to bet football and basketball.

I just did a quick scan on Hotels dot com and prices aren't that high. Here's the Mirage from 12/24 - 1/3/10 Average price per night came out to $145/nt. Look at the day after Christmas and the day before New Years are usually the expensive nights. Actually 2 days before NY on that Wednesday is high as well. You can always change hotels to a cheaper one on the expensive nights as well.

Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
$93 $118 $140 $98 $89 $89 $225
$293 $186 $118

All in all these prices are very low compared to most years and with the Euro to dollar currency exchange, you probably won't find a cheaper time than now.

Much appreciated man. It's looking like the flights are the most expensive. looking at the bones of 2K Euro but thats checking only two airlines.

Also, defiently, the EURO to DOLLAR exchange rate is in my favour.

Mac4Lyfe · 08-11-09, 10:39 AM

Wow, $2K Euro for flights... Ouch. Keep looking, I just did a quick search on kayak.com and tickets are coming up around $800 US from Dublin to Vegas.

There's a lot to do in Vegas besides gambling. There are some great shows to see, Hoover dam is nearby as well as Los Angeles. You can go indoor or outdoor skydiving, if your into thrills and there's some good strip clubs to keep you busy. It all depends on how long your going to be there. Plenty of shopping in Vegas and you can spend a week just looking at all the different hotel themes.

You won't have any issues being 23. As long as you have proper ID, you'll be ok.

TheBeautifulGame · 08-11-09, 10:48 AM

Cheers. I won't be driving so I assume I can get to Los Angeles etc via bus? I was looking to go for a minimum of 10 days. I may check out kayak.com. Since posting though, I have found cheaper flights but not $800 cheaper,will defiently take a look.

I was considering a package deal. Well one of those sites that you can book the flights and hotel together but in the end I think it may be cheaper booking seperately. I saw a nice 5 star hotel but it's 17 miles from the main strip in Vegas apparently. Not good at all expecially considering, I dont drive. I still have time to view all my options though.

Once again, nice one for the help guys

JoshW · 08-11-09, 10:56 AM

Pretty much everything on the strip that isn't gambling is expensive. But with your Euro buying power and willing to pay that much for a plane ticket you will likely be ok. Lots of night clubs, lot of bars inside the casinos where you can drink. If you can get off the strip at all, is a lot of cheap, very good ethnic food.

One of my personal favorites if you look like you are going to run out of money or just want cheap entertainment is Gameworks. For $35 you can play all the arcade video games you want for the entire day. It is just north of the MGM Grand near where the Coke store is and the theater. Is a good value to mix it up.

JoshW · 08-11-09, 10:59 AM

I would shop the cost of your trip a lot. Package deals usually aren't the best in my experience. I would recommend booking a hotel seperate and then checking out the deals as gets a few months out for your trip. You can often find great deals then, and as long as you didn't get a package, you can cancel your reservation at you "safety" hotel and book a really good deal somewhere else.

TheBeautifulGame · 08-11-09, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by JoshW

I would shop the cost of your trip a lot. Package deals usually aren't the best in my experience. I would recommend booking a hotel seperate and then checking out the deals as gets a few months out for your trip. You can often find great deals then, and as long as you didn't get a package, you can cancel your reservation at you "safety" hotel and book a really good deal somewhere else.

Thanks for the info. I will be looking long and hard before I decide on anything. Lets hope I can get a good deal. Hopefully, I can have enough money spare to attend the next SBR bash.