Mandalay Bay is a lovely hotel. It is a bit too far South for me, but then it depends what you want to do. I recommend searching out some of the Vegas trip reports to give you an idea of what different things are available for you to do.

How old are your children? That will make a huge difference to people's recommendations. Also, if you're planning on having 4 in a room, be aware that many hotels charge more for this. We have been successful just booking for two and having 3 staying in the room. (and he was 26!) Again, the need for extra room keys depends upon the age of your children.

pebbles, I think they are going with another couple rather than with children.

Hi and welcome to HT!

You should get a decent hotel for $1000 per couple and that's with a room each which I would recommend.

It's far too early to get offers on hotels as they will start coming out about 10-12 weeks before arrival. Have a look at http://www.smartervegas.com and http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-deals/704925/?start=2380

Page 1 of that Fat Wallet link is no longer updated so check the last few pages which is where the link should take you. Go back through it and see the rates for June this year to get an idea.

I have seen the Bellagio for as little as $89/night and the Encore/Wynn for $109. Rates typically double for Friday and Saturday nights.

MB is as far south as you can go and I wouldn't recommend it for a first time trip as you will spend a lot of time and a little money getting to centre strip.

Make sure you book directly with the hotel. They will only take the first night's deposit which is refundable if you cancel 48-72 hours before arrival. Then if you see a better rate you can cancel and rebook.

If you go to http://www.harrahs.com and click on Hot Deals you will get an idea of prices for Harrha's properties although the prices they are showing at the moment for next year are nothing like they will be nearer the time. Play around with it, pricing for a couple of months time to get a better idea.

If you use the Search facility, put in Vegas and choose Topic Titles there are a ton of different topics including trip reports.

luci

Thanks Pebbles & Luci

=Pebbles, my children are 2 & 3, but thankfully they'll be staying at home with the Grandparents, so this is an adults only holiday!

=Luci, thanks for the links, I'll start checking them out, but will bear in mind what you say about prices nearer the time. Is the MB much nearer to the conference centre? (wondering why the US brigade have chosen it). As we'll be busy in the day, while he's working, I don't want to be too far away from the fun.

Ex

Where is the convention? Is it at the main convention centre or one of the others - Mandalay Bay has one and that may be the reason for them staying there. If it is at the mandalay bay then staying at the south end makes sense.
If its at the main convention centre then staying somewhere with easy monorail access is a good idea.

Sorry I misread the first part.

I definitely agree with Luci. You will be able to get two rooms with that budget. I would book something now, and keep checking for better offers. I change my reservations all the time.

A one bedroom suite at the MGM Signature will set you back $1770 in June next year. You have a king bed in the bedroom and a queen sofa bed in the suite itself. The Signature is gorgeous and gives you a bit of luxury and 'quiet' away from the madness, although you're only a few mins walk from the MGM Grand casino or about a 10 min walk up Harmon to Planet Hollywood.

Cheers,

TC

Another option with 4 adults is renting a house, we have a small 2 bed house booked for this year which is only $600 per week. It is about 10 mins from the house by car to the casino's at the south end of the strip so just as easy as getting from your room to the parking garage and then to your destination. The only downside as far as we are concerned is that the driver (me ) has to stay sober (ish)

We have stayed on strip several times and off strip (in houses) a few more and love the house option rather than hotels - maybe we are just odd

I would not even consider 4 adults in 1 hotel room, there are 3 of us this year, thats why we only have the 2 bed house.

Graham

Thanks for the tip about the Signature, TC.
$1700 sounds pretty much within our budget, especially to be nice close to everything. I am assuming that the conference is at the Conference Centre, as it's mean't to be a HUGE event by my understanding, but I can check that out.

= Graham, I hadn't considered the option of a house TBH. Although there are three drivers between us, I think that the added hastle of car rental might not be worth it ... plus I know my husband loathes the idea of USA driving.

Another place with suites is Desert Rose Resort. They have 2 bedroom suites, so you would also have living room and kitchen. It is behind Tropicana so not too far to Excalibur for the free mini monorail to Mandalay Bay. Another cheap option is Excalibur itself - look at their widescreen rooms. Hotel also has an adults only pool. I think your budget is actually ok, but I'm wondering if you are including your spending in with that.

Thanks Lesley, the $2000 budget is for accommodation .... but anything we save on beds can be spent on fun things!

The Desert Rose looks good, but I worry it might be too far to walk to places, or is it not too bad for getting around

Ex

We walked over for a look last year. We were at MGM and came out the side door, crossed to Hooters, and then just round the corner to Desert Rose.

It's not the most convenient I will say, but it's still perfectly walkable except in mid-summer when it's really too hot to walk any distance.

It really depends what you want to spend or how far you're prepared to budget to keep the extra cash for other things! I think Desert Rose appears to be a perfectly acceptable property, and rates quite well on tripadvisor.

If the $2000 is for accommodation only that would work out at $166 per night per couple which should give you the option of just about anywhere in Vegas during June. If your dates include a Friday and Saturday (with a convention I would think it should be midweek?) you will find the rates for those days will be high, but the midweek should be cheaper, however, a convention and a big one at that will put prices up considerably even during midweek....so get something booked up as soon as possible and preferably a hotel which offers a cancellable rate and refundable one night deposit.

Personally, no matter how good our friends are I would prefer a hotel room each (not even shared facilities in a suite)...but thats just us.

In all honesty and with a $1000 budget for accommodation per couple I don't think I would splash out too much on the hotel and therefore save a chunk of that for spends. You really won't be in the room all that much, and whilst you will find the 5* resorts offer a slightly more luxurious standard room option, the likes of the MGM compare very favourably and at a much reduced cost. I'm even happy with a standard room in the Excalibur for November which is costing $22 a night ($68 on the Saturday) and whilst the room isn't anything special, it still allows me a) to visit Vegas in the first place again and b) extra money to spend on gaming, shows, restaurants and shopping.

I don't think your Vegas experience will be lessened by which hotel you choose (to a degree, i.e. I wouldn't recommend Circus Circus for instance) but with your budget your options are plentiful, but I would be concerned slightly by convention week rates.

Keep us updated.

Thanks for all your help & advice!

I've booked at the Excalibur, and despite it being nine months away we got a great price
Delux room for six nights next June for $300 inc tax (I hope that is a good price, it seemed it to me)!

I checked out the cancellation policy, and it's 48 hours, so I will keep checking back here for tips and change the booking of there's something even better.

Ex

Evelina

I have posted a link to a new Excalibur offer which is on until 30 June 2010 from $22 night, book by 1 September in the Vegas Next Year topic. Check to see if the rates are less than you have.

I have found that the Exc won't adjust your rates by calling, you need to cancel one and rebook the other.

luci

Thanks Luci, is that the Facebook/Twitter deal?

If so, I think I already used that link.

Ex

Nope, this is a new one although the rates look similar.

luci

would save about $20 per room, is it worth worrying for just £30, or am I missing the point in hunting down the good deals?

Ex

It depends on whether you think it is worth rebooking and cancelling for $20. Sometimes the difference can be much greater.

What are your dates in June?

luci

one room 6 nights from 7th June & the other 5 nights from 8th June

Friends have gone for delux, and we;'ve gone for the spa