Archive for the 'Las Vegas' Category
Las Vegas: Golden Nugget’s deal of the year – 3 nights/$89
November 24, 2008 12:59pm
If you’ve been waiting to sink your teeth into a good Vegas accommodations deal, the time is now. The Golden Nugget — a four-star downtown hotel with a casino and a shark tank — is offering its best sale of the year, a phenomenal deal that beats its last phenomenal one in September. You have until midnight Tuesday to book.
Deal: The “Pre-Holiday Blowout Sale” offers, for $89 (pre-tax), not one, not two, but three nights in a South Tower room for stays Sunday through Thursday nights. For weekends, you can get two nights (Friday and Saturday) for $119. The total rate including tax for three weekdays is $99, and the two weekend-nights total is $132.
If you’re on the Golden Nugget’s e-mail list, you can click through on the message you’ve received to reserve this special online. Otherwise, you’ll have to call to book, as this deal is not listed on Golden Nugget’s website. Read the rest of this entry »
Las Vegas hotels say thanks with cheap rates over Thanksgiving
November 13, 2008 12:19pm
I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago on a Sunday and Monday and there were still plenty of people walking the Strip, a line at the new restaurant I was trying (BLT Burger) and the casino tables didn’t seem unduly quiet either. If I hadn’t known that gaming revenue was down, and that Vegas was feeling the downturn, I might not have noticed. But that was just two days. The fact is that hotel rates are dropping every time you open your e-mail inbox. Have you ever heard of the Bellagio giving away a free night?
Thanksgiving week deals:
Mandalay Bay: We were amazed last month when we saw THEhotel rates down to $140 per night. But they’ll be as low as $120 per night, pre-tax, during Thanksgiving week, including Thanksgiving night. Across the casino, rooms at Mandalay Bay are starting at $90 per night. Ask for promo code “PTHGV08-P2.” When: Nov. 23-29, 2008. Contact: Mandalay Bay, (877) 632-7800.
Bellagio: Stay two nights and get the third night free when you use promotion code “3N169C.” Rates start at $169 per night. The cheapest night will be credited at checkout when three consecutive nights are booked. When: For travel Nov. 16 through Jan. 17, based on availability. The cheapest weekend nights of the promotion I found were Nov. 28 through Dec. 1 and Dec. 18-21, 2008. Contact: Bellagio, (866) 453-7117.
Las Vegas Hilton: Looking for value? The Las Vegas Hilton has a Thanksgiving package that will please those who are thinking of this holiday with their stomachs first. Use promo code “PTHXPK8″ for rates that start at $70 per night and include $100 in “Dining Deals” coupons, two Thanksgiving Day buffets, two welcome cocktails and more discounts. When: Nov. 22 through Dec. 1, 2008. Contact: Las Vegas Hilton.
10 reasons to ditch L.A. and go to Las Vegas for Halloween weekend
October 30, 2008 12:37pm
Halloween is not just for kids anymore. It has become an all-weekend, if not weeklong, event of parties and carousing. And, dare we say, it doesn’t get any spookier than spending Halloween in Las Vegas. If you were scratching your head trying to think of something to do here in L.A., consider a weekend getaway to Sin City. There’s enough going on for you to create some horror stories of your own — and as we all know, what happens in Vegas… Oh, don’t make me say it.
1. Fright Dome at Circus Circus. For some, the thought of staying at Circus Circus is a scary enough proposition. But Halloween is one time of the year when even the best Vegas hotel snob will want to head down to the north end of the Strip and check out Fright Dome. It has been ranked among the top five scariest haunted attractions in the United States for two years in a row, and this year it will offer new haunted houses, freak shows, scare zones and much more to those who dare to enter. Hours: 7 p.m. to midnight. Caveat: Not recommended for children under 12. Cost: $33.95 per person. Contact: Fright Dome, (702) 794-3939.
2. Circus of Horrors and the Mortuary from the Freakling Bros. If it’s bizarre freaks and true human oddities you’re looking for, Circus of Horrors is it. The Mortuary, the haunted-attraction company’s longest running show, is its creepiest show and full of theatrical illusions. This year Freakling Bros. has put the two events together at the same location in North Las Vegas. Cost: $11 each or $18 for both. Contact: Freakling Bros., (702) 362-FEAR.
3. Jonathan Davis of Korn will be headlining a Halloween Fright Fest at LAX at the Luxor. Visit LAXTheNightClub for details.
Gayot lists Top 40 restaurants in the U.S. — L.A. has five of them
October 29, 2008 1:45pm
Gayot, trusted for its restaurant reviews but not limited to just following culinary trends (they also cover hotels, travel and lifestyle topics), released its Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. Los Angeles — where the Gayot headquarters is located — claims five spots on this list. Can you guess which of your favorite restaurants made the cut?
The $140 a night deal at THEhotel in Las Vegas
October 26, 2008 11:07am
Every once in a while, you come across a deal that makes you sit straight up and say, “Holy guacamole! Check out this action!”
That was the reaction in the Travel section when we saw the Exotic Escape, a package offered by THEhotel, the hotel within a hotel that’s part of Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The rooms at THEhotel, which opened in 2003, start at around 725 square feet, which makes them larger than many apartments, and, on a per-night basis, quite a bit more costly, especially when full freight runs $400 or more.
Video: Finding the best hotel room rates with Times assistant Travel editor Jane Engle
Deal: This promotion, which runs Oct. 29 through Jan. 6, includes a $50 resort credit (you can eat, go to the spa, visit the Shark Reef), 2-for-1 tickets to “Mamma Mia!” and a $300 savings certificate to Mandalay Place shops. Here’s the kicker: Rooms at THEhotel start at $140 a night, pre-tax.
Want to see the sights in style? Rent a Vespa
October 22, 2008 3:00pm
If you want to look like you’re from out of town, hop on a tour bus or, better yet, a Segway. But to play it a little cooler (no disrespect intended to said Segway), a scooter’s really the way to go. Conveniently, EagleRider has added Vespa and Piaggio scooters to its motorcycle-rental fleet, which until now has been primarily populated by Harley-Davidsons, Hondas and BMWs. Earlier this month, the motorcycle-rental company began renting out scooters at its stores in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Orlando, Fla.
Scooters are a fun, cost-effective and time-saving way to zip around a city and see the sights. Fuel efficiency depends on the model as well as other factors including number of riders and rate of speed, but the 150cc Vespa GTS, for instance, gets 65 to 70 mpg, according to Vespa USA.
CheapTickets puts Las Vegas flight + hotel packages on sale this winter
October 21, 2008 3:30pm
Las Vegas hotel deals abound right now but CheapTickets is upping the ante by offering a little more incentive to fly instead of drive to Vegas. They announced a sale Monday that offers an extra $75 off flight plus three-night hotel packages on the Strip.
Deal: Use promo code “CTXVEGAS” to get the $75 off sale when you book a flight plus hotel package to Vegas on their site. I tested flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS) staying at the Luxor in a pyramid deluxe room (pictured) midweek in December (Dec. 16-19). The CheapTickets price came to a total of $449 for two people, including taxes and fees.
Since prices are so low right now and that’s a ways off, I tested prices with flights on Southwest and booking directly with the Luxor. That self-booked package, for the same dates, came to $506, including taxes and fees. By booking through CheapTickets I would’ve saved $57, but I would’ve given up a little flexibility on flight times. However, I’d gain $25 dining credit and a $25 spa credit as part of their deal.
Las Vegas hotel deals for right now and into winter
October 12, 2008 10:55am
If you want hotel deals, you got ‘em. Many Vegas specials have crossed my desk this week. Here is a sampling of attractive discounts at the MGM, Flamingo, Signature (pictured) and the Venetian. Dream today, book tomorrow.
Flamingo | Book on Expedia to get a Go Room for $68 per night when the Harrah’s website has them running for $119 per night, pre-tax. We found this while looking for a room for ourselves Oct. 19-21.
MGM Grand | Get 25% off whatever you charge to your room. Use booking code INB226 to get 25% off “Ka” tickets, dinner, and even drinks at Tabu. All you have to do is book it to your room. Caveat: Unfortunately, this does not include 25% off your room or tax, but there are plenty of $90 per night room rates between now and the end of January. Book by Oct. 27 for travel until Jan. 31, 2009. Call (800) 929-1111 or check out the MGM Grand Exclusive online.
Watch free Halloween movies at Mandalay Bay’s beach all month in Las Vegas
October 10, 2008 2:37pm
There’s no need to wait until the end of the month to start celebrating Halloween in Vegas. Mandalay Bay is kicking off the spooky fun early by showing horror-flick classics at Mandalay Beach this month. You might remember the “Dive-In” movies that they’ve been showing all summer long.
Here’s the lineup:
Oct. 10, 2008 — “Friday the 13th”
Oct. 17, 2008 — “The Ring”
Oct. 24, 2008 — “The Shining”
Oct. 31, 2008 — “Saw”
Details: All the movies are rated R and start at 9 p.m. “Dive-In” movie events are only for ages 21 and older. They are free, and if you think the weather is warm enough you’re welcome to float in the pool while watching.
Las Vegas has dog-friendly hotels? You bet
October 6, 2008 3:58pm
This weekend a friend of mine asked if I knew of any dog-friendly hotels in Las Vegas. He wanted to book a trip next weekend but didn’t want to leave the pooch at home. I found a few resources online and called a couple of hotels to confirm but would love to hear from pet owners themselves if they’ve had any success or horror stories bringing their four-legged best friends to Sin City.
Vegas’ pet-friendly resources:
Pets Allowed Hotels lists 15 hotels in the greater Vegas area that accept pets. I called Candlewood Suites at Paradise and Flamingo, not far from the Strip. They have a $75 charge, but their weekend rates are reasonable at just a little over $100, and their rooms are suites.
