Hi Nicky

Yes St Paddy's Day will mean the hotel rates will be higher.

The Imperial Palace has had a stay of execution and there are no plans to close it at the moment.

Keep an eye on FAT WALLET nearer the time as most offers are posted there.

I would recommend booking a hotel direct at a price you're happy with and then keep an eye on that site.

I booked my November flights on 3 January, but the IP wasn't taking bookings then. I think I finally managed to book at the beginning of March.

If you book directly with the hotel they will only take one night's accommodation and you can cancel up to 48-72 hours before arrival without penalty. If you do book and see a cheaper rate later, eg on their website, just call them and have the rate adjusted.

More info on Las Vegas HERE and there are several links within that topic. You can also use the Search facility at the top of the page.

luci

If budget is going to be an issue I would think about staying off strip. We stayed in the Gold Coast which was about a 10 minute walk from the centre of the strip and it also ran a shuttle bus to the Barbary Coast which is just across from Ceasars Palace.

I found once you hit the centre of the strip everything almost doubled in price.

Not only is it St Paddys Day on the 17th, but it's also 'March Madness' out there in mid march, I'm not sure if the dates change slightly or if they always stay the same. This is a huge college basketball tournament and Vegas gets PACKED whilst it's on, I was out there last year from the 14th March - 21st and it was VERY busy. Book a hotel as soon as you can.

TC

Check a 2008 calendar but I also think Paddy's Weekend & Easter are one weekend after another next year, so that would make is Easter Week.

March Madness (NCAA Basketball comp)starts on the 16th and runs thru April 7th.

thanks for your replies....will start keeping any eye out for hotel rooms and flights!!!

Try looking at http://www.travelzoo.com - hit on top twenty deals as they have some extra special deals but you may have to wait till nearer the time, we have just come back and took advantage of the deals, also the show deals - saved us a fortune.
However in the meantime I would book up directly with a hotel, due to the timing of your trip. You can always cancel nearer to the time and take advantage of special offers nearer to your holiday.

The Monte Carlo is a pretty good hotel if there are lots of you as it is easy to navigate and less chance of loosing each other.

yup, I stayed at the Monte Carlo last Sept. Nice hotel but one of the biggest building sites you will ever see right next door - noise can be a problem if you are on the wrong side of the hotel!

TC

Nicky,

I would suggest that you book your flights first, and then be patient and wait for the hotel offers nearer the time, we booked ours about 12 weeks before departure.
We only returned on Thursday, and the Monte Carlo does have the biggest building site next door. We booked a fab offer at Ceasers Palace using the offer code from Fat Wallet.
As for flights, as you require a group booking Virgin may be able to offer you discounts if you contact them direct. Our party was small compared to yours as we only required 8 flights. We were told that the Imperial Palace will close at the end of the year, perhaps contact them for confirmation.
Booking a DIY holiday, is all about being patient, and understanding flight costs, when they do drop in price be ready to book straight away. Our direct flights with Virgin cost £320.00 per person including taxes.
If you require any further help, do not hesitate to post.

Kaz.