I got Orleans for $45 per night - I don't think it's one of your choices though. I also got Flamingo for $115 for a Go Deluxe Strip View room. We're still not convinced we will stay there - it's a cancellable rate.

So we're doing Orleans 6 nights, Platinum 2 nights, then 5 nights so far at Flamingo. I'm curious about the renovations at Mirage, but I can't find a good rate. I'm also tempted by a petite suite at TI as it has 2 bathrooms and a spa which sounds nice. I'd also love to try the Palazzo, but no great deals there as yet! Bellagio has extended to Sept so far on their $149 weeknights, but they don't have my dates as yet. try http://www.lasventions.com/specials and http://www.vegashotelspecial.com too. I keep looking! I know you're after MGM or Signature maybe - If I see anything I'll let you know!

I got the MGM Grand for $69 for Aug 17th-22nd inclusive. I took the $35 dining credit and two free drinks at the West Wing bar over the free inner tube rental and spa.

Also an option to upgrade to a Celebrity Spa Suite for $50 extra, which is a bargain to be honest but I will probably stick to the standard room this time (we had the suite last September for my Wife's 30th).

Rumour has it, someone managed to get the MGM for $49 also on certain dates, but they must have sold out at that rate very quickly because the best I could find was $69 throughout August.

Frankly at those rates it is very difficult to look beyond the MGM in Vegas at the moment. Not a bad thing, I absolutely adore the hotel.

Jwhiting - Totally agree, at those prices you'd be mad to spend more to stay at lesser hotels. You got a great rate.

Lesley - Thx for that, have stayed at Orleans many times and really like it. We want to stay on strip if possible but seeing as the 20th Sept. is the likely date for Mayweather V De La Hoya, we may end up staying at the Orleans for the weekend to avoid paying $300 or so a night!
It's just nice to start seeing the deals coming in for Sept. Always an anxious time to see what we're gonna get!

TC

Hi TeeCee

I think Orleans may be sold out that weekend! Meridian is cheap on expedia by the way if that's of any interest! £55 weekends £40 midweek.

You are right - it is an anxious time. And something is telling me to change the Flamingo! Hate the thought of the pool being too busy. I'm curious about Mirage now that they are remodelling....will see!

Yup, Orleans is sold out for that weekend.

A word of warning about the Mirage pool - you are packed in like Sardines and the sun beds touch each other, that's how tight it is, we didn't like it at all. Love the hotel, but hate the pool area.

So.....we have splashed out and have booked the Signature from Friday 19th for three nights. Unbelievably, it's actually cheaper to stay at the Signature in a suite that weekend than in a standard MGM room!
At the last Mayweather V De La Hoya fight, loads of celebs stayed at the Signature so I'm hoping we'll be mingling with some stars! Who knows, a couple of crafty photos round the pool and a quick call to 'Heat' magazine might pay for the holiday!!

Update - Made a decision on the first 4 nights - because we paid quite a lot for the Signature, we've decided to go 'cheap' for the first 4 nights. We have booked 'Terribles' casino and hotel which actually seems to get pretty good reviews and supposedly has a decent pool area which we really want. It has cost us an amazing £18.50 per night to stay there, yup, £18.50, I couldn't get a B&B in the UK for that money!!

Because we have bought the cost down for the first week we will now probably go for the MGM for the full second week......will update when we book something!

TC

Argh, just typed a long reply and it didn't work!

Anyway....just to confuse you , sounds like you'll be there around the 7th? 5 nights starting the 7th at Gold Coast is $26 per night! Orleans is still available at $45. http://www.i4vegas.com

The hotels direct reservations will match these prices, meaning it's still cancellable.

Sorry, but I thought I'd throw that one in!!!

Lesley,

We get there on the 15th. I checked the Orleans website for the weekend of the 20th and they are indeed sold out. I want to be within walking distance of the strip so a 20 min walk from Terribles is fine and the pool area is the most important to be honest as we spend all our days by the pool (except for trips out obviously).
That price is just crazy really, from the reviews I read, a lot of people get a free upgrade to the next level of room, so hopefully we'll get that! Can't wait to be honest, not that I want to wish away our summer......:)

TC

Hi

I thought it sounded like you were going earlier. The Orleans deal is great, but you'd miss that then.

Terrible's will be just fine and it's walkable if you don't mind a 20 minute or so walk. Be alert if you walk back in the evening though. We once stayed at Key largo which was opposite Terrible's and I found Flamingo Road slightly iffy later at night. Not really bad, just be streetwise or just avoid walking when it's too late. You'll also be near Tuscany, not too far from Ellis Island too. I'm not sure if Westin Casuarina still do the cheap roulette and craps and also the $40 for $25 on chips. There's also a row of restaurants out there near Paradise Road. You could maybe walk down to Hard Rock too, or up to Hilton if you really don't mind the long walk. I have a feeling Paradise Road is one way now, can't remember for sure but I seem to remember we walked over there with the intention of getting a bus up Paradise Road and maybe couldn't and we walked up to the Hilton. Think this was from the Westin.

jwhiting wrote:

I got the MGM Grand for $69 for Aug 17th-22nd inclusive. I took the $35 dining credit and two free drinks at the West Wing bar over the free inner tube rental and spa.

We used that very deal last week. Be aware that the credit for two free drinks at West Wing bar has a limit of $12 (!!!) The cocktails are $12 each and a Budweiser was $6.50, so we had an extra charge to our room. When I complained they said it was definitely a $12 limit and I should have known. (They don't give any paperwork for the deal so how were we supposed to know?) Eventually they relented and waived the charge, but weren't happy about doing so. I'll be interested to see how you get on with it.

Hi Pebbles,

Thanks for the heads up. I had heard on another forum that drink prices were expensive in the West Wing bar. Last year when we stayed at the MGM we went and had a drink in the Centrifuge bar (an experience in itself) prior to seeing KA and two "pints" of Fat Tire ale were $5 each which I thought wasn't bad value. It is Vegas after all!!!

I love the MGM but they should really make their offers a bit clearer. It also surprises me by the arrogance of them stating "that you should have known" as I have found on most occasions the MGM Grand staff to be some of the most pleasant and helpful in the Vegas industry.

So it's looking like 2 waters in the West Wing then......!!!!!

We thought that the West Wing was more expensive than other bars in MGM. Very dark too.

Yes, we had to walk through the West Wing to get outside to our pick up point for a Quad Bike tour of the Valley of Fire and thought it was overly dark. There are a lot of people unhappy about being "upgraded" to a West Wing Room. I did manage to have a look in one and thought they were outstandingly modern, but compared to the size of standard rooms (which are some of the biggest in Vegas) it was no competition.

We also had "2 free drinks" as part of our package the last week of April. We ordered 2 cocktails at $12 each and the full charge was taken off our bill when we checked out.

luci

Good to see the MGM Grand are consistent as ever. I think I'll just order what we fancy and see what happens at checkout.

after getting loads of Corona's for a buck a time I won't begrudge paying $12 for a drink once on holiday

Mind you, saying that, we're going to go back to Red Square in the Mandalay Bay again in Sept. - we got absolutely hammered in there last year trying different vodkas. It was fantastic but I think I spent a good $150-200 on the various vodkas.

TC

Good point on the $1 beers all night whilst gambling in the casinos.

The ring of "two Bud Lights" is always so satisfying, especially as you win $300 on the slots!!!

After 5 (soon to be 6) visits to Vegas, I still maintain that the waitress service is superior in the Excalibur over all the other casinos. I also found the slots very loose in there. I think we left Vegas about $700 up in 2006 which was a remarkable feat on a max bet 25c slot machine.

Still my favourite win is not a biggie but just the circumstances. We were in the Luxor just walking around last year and I had a bundle of 25c coins. I said to my Wife, I'm going to put these in a machine but gambling was supposed to be off bounds during the day for us. Anyway she said if you can face the embarrasment of going up to the cage with 12 quarters and asking for three dollar bills, then you can go for it.

Of course I needed no further encouragement. Got the bills and played the 10x slot machine, anyway after 2 pushes it rolled in a $75 win which for a $1.50 stake was very nice. My smug smile didn't leave my face all day as I pointed out a little gamble here and there during the day doesn't hurt anyone!!!!

Nice one!

Reminds me of three or four years ago, me and the missus had an agreement that we wouldn't gamble during the day as we had spent a fortune one year after gambling day and night!
We'd spent the morning round the pool at the Mirage and went for a bite to eat in the deli. Came out and the missus said she was just popping to toilet........I was standing by a dollar machine and got too tempted, so stuck a sneaky 10 dollar note in, on the second spin I hit three triple bars and got 400 dollars. I was so excited I came clean to her when she came out of the toilet - I had to buy her a nice dinner that night but it still made my day!!

TC

Hi TeeCee

Could you send my husband some good vibes for when he sticks sneaky money in the machine while I'm at the loo? Usually happens before or after a buffet! You guys are making me want to go to Vegas now - and I've still got about 12 weeks to wait. I think I'd be justified in working on my planning spreadsheet????

Go for it Lesley!

I know what you mean, I am so looking forward to going back out there. The problem with those sneaky bets is that it takes 20 or 30 of them to get one that comes off!

TC