If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

[Rover]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Since I am not a Vegas regular, I thought for 17 I would stay at a different hotel during DefCon just to try something new. Being a little older than most of you, I don't go in for the late night partying so it shouldn't be too much of a bother travel-wise.

For those if you who don't stay at the Riv, where do you stay? Any recommendations? Or thoughts from regulars in Vegas or locals? We had a good time at the Riv, and it is pretty cheap, but if anyone has a recommendation I would love to hear it.

S

Last year I stayed at the Flamingo. Not bad, especially if you get one of the updated "Go" rooms. It's a bit of a hassle taking the monorail up and back from the Riv, but there is definitely more to do down at that end of the strip.

[astcell]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

I'm thinking of getting a condo in town. They are so cheap now!

[big chopper]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

I'm thinking of getting a condo in town. They are so cheap now!

I'm planning on relocating to Las Vegas this fall. $800/month can rent a fairly nice place.
--BC,

[hydruh]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

I'm planning on relocating to Las Vegas this fall. $800/month can rent a fairly nice place.
--BC,

Cool, I can stay with you!

S

[Blondie]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Party all night and sleep outside.

[blauman]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Party all night and sleep outside.

I have an extra sleeping bag :)

[MikeHell]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Sometimes it's possible to get a decent room upgrade by slipping the check-in clerk a crisp $20 bill. It works at some hotels and not others. Also depends on the season and how full the hotel is at the time. Never tried it at the Rivera. In fact, I don't think I've ever stayed there.

Las Vegas taxi's are required to charge the same amount no matter how many people there are. So, if you plan to stay at a hotel other than the Rivera try and hook up with other people and all squeeze intot he same cab to save a few bucks.

...Oh how I miss the $13 Jaccuzi rooms at the Stardust.

[big chopper]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Sometimes it's possible to get a decent room upgrade by slipping the check-in clerk a crisp $20 bill.
<snip>

There is a website dedicated to the success & failure of the $20 Trick.
http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/

I've tried it at the Riv (not during DEFCON) with no success.
--BC,

[renderman]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Just a note that if you have a Riviera Player club card, call the number for that instead of regular reservations and book under the players club rather than the con rate.

Just booked the hotel for ~$40/night savings overall. Nights are between $45-55 and one night is free.

Just saying that sometimes having a wife along who plays the nickle slots pays of other than on the slots.

[Voltage Spike]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

There is a website dedicated to the success & failure of the $20 Trick.
http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/

It looks and feels like a web site written by front desk clerks. It's only the lack of direct financial incentive that makes me trust the site at all. Take note web designers, this is the type of site that sets off every one of my scam alarms.

That being said, has anyone here had luck simply asking for an upgrade without presenting the opportunity for the awkward return of the money? In other words, are you just as likely to see success simply asking the clerk and then tipping at your own discretion?

PS: I would not have expected a Vegas-oriented site called "Twenty Dollar Trick" to contain information on hotel upgrades.

[Salem]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

It doesn't seem as though this would be something worthy of having a website dedicated to it. Or even something that should have to be considered a trick or a secret. Ask for an upgrade, make it worth their time to look. If they are having a crappy day, the kindness of their hearts isn't likely going to get you as far as a worthwhile tip.

Its both social engineering and common courtesy, just with a blatant offer of a tip as opposed to the clerk hoping for the best. Instead of taking the time to chat with the person, make some lighthearted small talk and crack a joke or something, you're just saying 'I'll give ya twenty if you can hook me up." In my experiences, actually using those words will often times work just as well. People often say 'there's no harm in asking', and its very true. This is just asking while also making it more appealing to the clerk helping you.

[FarmerPete]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Last year I stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the strip. It's just a block or two north of the Riv. It was also nice being right next to CVS. The price wasn't great (work paid for it, so the price was juuusttt right), but it was quiet and very nice. It's kind of nice to stay in a hotel that is JUST a hotel (no casino). This year I am staying at the Riv. I got a decent deal on the room. I'm paying $400 for Tuesday through Monday, (6 nights) in one of their "premier" rooms.

As to the $20 trick, I've had pretty good luck just asking for upgrades, but most of my success with that has come from being a repeat customer. I doubt you would have any luck at the Riv during Defcon with that trick, and of course the longer you stay at the hotel, the more likely they wont be able to hook you up.

P.S. For anyone who has never tried it, www.kayak.com has got to be the best travel website around. They don't actually sell anything, but they give you the prices from all types of other sites. For example, right now they will report 7 websites prices for the Riv. The fluctuation in price is from $439 at easyclicktravel.com, $477 at Orbitz, and $510 at reservetravel.com (Thur-Monday of Defcon).

[galdr]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Last year, I stayed at the Mirage for both BH and DC, which was very nice and certainly convenient for BH. I walked each day to DC and didn't mind it much, though, admittedly, I didn't socialize much for my first DC.

Like phreakmonkey, my company has no budget for conferences and training this year (layoffs this week and last), so I'll only be going to DC this year on my own dime. I'm half-inclined do to Mirage again but, part of me thinks I should go Riv to be more involved.

As followup to my earlier post in this thread, my company surprised me by offering to pay for my trip to DC. No BlackHat, but, meh, no biggie. Room's booked at Riv. Can't wait.

[Jarett]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

Staying at Ballys this time. I've been there before, and I couldnt pass up 3 comped nights and sat/sun at $29. It's a hike but thats what the monorail or cab are for.

If you want to be center strip, Harrahs, Ballys, Bills are all good, and easy access to the monorail. just different feel. Comfortable though. Flamingo will be packed with a convention, and their pool is always crowded (though its a nice pool).

For non-Riv nearby, Hilton is really nice. Ive stayed there a few times. Its usually very quiet. (When startrek convention isn't in town) Quarks has been converted to Spacequest bar or something like that.

Imperial Palace will have the RollerCon at it, so thats a good place to meet up with the rollergirls.

Ill be spending most of my non convention time at Bill's. $5 craps table with 3x4x5x odds. Great for the strip. Comps suck though, but most tables everywhere suck for comps at lower levels. I would rather have longer game play.

[punchy]

Re: If you DON'T stay at the Riv, where DO you stay?

I'm doing Ceasars for BH, then the Riv for Defcon.