Booking a Vegas hotel once there?

[Dav_s]

Has anyone done this? (flown out and then arranged a hotel once in LV?)

We had flights and hotel booked for the end of Feb, but have been dropped in it by Virgin (the direct flight we booked for the 22nd is now "unavailable"?!) Looking at going with BA instead, but a couple of the guys going are adamant we should take a chance and sort out accommodation once we've got there... risky? or will we potentially find better deals?

[ViperDave]

you need to tell immigration where your staying on your first night, Now you could lie, or tell them where you may be staying and they are extremely unlikely to try and find you there or check with the hotel, but we have (very , very occasionally) been asked to see our travel docs at boarder control.

Add to that Vegas is not one of the easiest places to wander into a hotel to enquire about availability. you cant just pull up out front and pop in. many hotels are valet park or a long walk from the parking lot to the front desk. Much easier to just book it online before you go.

[Dav_s]

Thanks for the reply. It'll be my fourth time in Vegas, so not too worried about the immigration declaration or going in to hotels to find out about room availability/prices.
Main worry is getting there and having to pay crazy prices to stay in one of the decent hotels.

Think you're right about getting it all booked before we fly out...

[Rollin]

I've done it lots of times. Best bet is to use free wifi in a bar to check prices on Opodo etc. and book through that on your phone.

[Stu R]

Always check online first, then call the property itself and see what they can do. They'll quite often give you a better rate. Worth a minute or two of your time, it's saved us quite a bit every time I travel to the US, and generally speaking cheaper than most of the trivago / opodo / lastminute type sites at the end of it. One thing to remember with Vegas is you'll always pay a daily resort fee too.

Never been asked for travel docs (I never carry anything that confirms bookings for hotels as it's never needed).

Edited by Stu R on Tuesday 3rd January 10:47

[louiebaby]

I've never tried this, but will do later in the year, if plans come together, and we end up going:

http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/