2005 Archived Off-topic Reports
[QUOTE=Cienega32]We need a "Rant" forum...[/QUOTE]I think that's a good idea, so I just did it. I'm often tempted to discuss things here about the city that are beyond the main topic of this forum, and so are many visitors, so here's a thread for all things Vegas that aren't directly about sex.
Some low-budget visitors with flexible schedules might like to know that for the next six weeks or so there are some outstanding deals on cheap rooms.
For example, the El Cortez downtown is running another one of their stay two get two room specials. If you stay two nights in July or August you get a coupon for two nights free in September, and their midweek rate for tower rooms has been discounted to $30 if you book on their website, so you end up paying a net of $15 plus tax over the total four nights. The tower rooms have all been remodeled in the last few months, even though they didn't need it (the "silent investor" boys in the Midwest cashing their chips laundered through a construction contract before Jackie croaks?) and they are much nicer than you might think for the location.
From some online wholesalers such as Travelworm and Vegas.com the Plaza is down to thirty bucks and change.
Another example is the off-Strip Gold Coast charging only $35/night straight up for many nights over the next few weeks. They have a rate calendar at the Coast Casinos website.
You do have to be a little careful with some of these marketing gimmicks that get too clever. The Flamingo emailed me a room rate special of $59 on selected dates, and I discovered that if you use the special rate code it charges you that rate for the first night with a much higher inflated rate for the second or any following nights, no matter what dates you select, and the total cost of the stay becomes fairly expensive unless you only take the one night.
I also discovered this when checking room rates at the Aladdin: "Please Note: The hotel policy requires that any Southern Nevada resident booking a reservation the same day as check-in must post a $500 cash deposit, or a $500 credit card (hard charge) This policy is in addition to all standard check-in/incidental payment policies." So, did someone like Wastrel get a little too enthusiastic when swinging from the chandeliers with Bambi and Tempest?
And don't forget to bring a pair of oven mitts so you can touch your car to turn the air-conditioning back on after it's been parked for ten minutes or more.