I have 18 guys that expressed going to Vegas for my friend’s bachelor party. The best man is out of state, as well as 7 other people (all in different states). 3 guys are on the fence for various reasons, so I won’t plan them, I guess. That makes 15 people that I’m going to plan for, unless the other dudes get off the fence by the cut-off date.
After doing some checking around, it appears that getting a package deal (hotel + flight) is the way to go. We’re trying to keep costs (travel and hotel) down to around $600. The packages put 2 people to a room (that’s 4 rooms max through the web site, or 8 people housed with air line tickets). I’m ok with tripling up with people in a room, though others have expressed that now that we’re all professionals we could afford our own rooms. Others, and I agree, don’t think we’ll be in the rooms all that much, plus keeping people closer together makes planning a lot easier.
Anyway, after experimenting on various web sites, we have the logistical issue of only having 4 rooms, and needing 4 more, but only needing 2 more plane tickets. Rooms without tickets are like $500. So that’s problem #1. I think we’ll just make the out-of-staters get their own flights and split costs across the whole gang to even things out.
The other large issue is where to stay. I’d like to stay some place very nice. We’re looking at the center strip: Caesars, Aria, Venetian, and Bellagio. Bellagio and Caesar’s might be out because they are really pricey. How are places like Monte Carlo, Mirage, Treasure Island, Planet Hollywood, and Bally’s. I think we’re leaning towards Aria. Any suggestions?
My SO recently stayed at Ballys and said it was an absolute HOLE. This is a guy who has much lower standards for places than I do, so I highly recommend you don’t go there.
I stayed at the Westin 3 years ago and simply adored it. The Heavenly Beds and Heavenly showers were completely wonderful. The shower head was two extremely good pressure shower heads pointed together to form a mega-shower head. IMO, Westin really nailed exactly what a traveler is looking for: a great bed and a great shower.
I stayed at the Venetian earlier this year, it was great and surprisingly affordable. I just chexked the rates for the end of August and you can get a suits with two queen beds and a sofa bed for $169 a night
I figure that is it’s a bachelor party then we need good rooms. I thought getting bigger rooms would be cheaper per person but it gets way more expensive. I guess we can fit three to a double queen only if there is a couch in there too.
Since I hear the Vegas economy is so bad, I wonder if I can call and get a group rate. My friend called 2 years ago at Mandalay Bay (too far south for this trip) and they didn’t even want to talk about group rates unless he had 10 rooms.
If you can get a deal, the Venetian is a great bachelor party hotel. I was there last summer, and not only is it one of the nicer hotels on the Strip, but there were bachelorette parties everywhere. I could barely get to the checkin desk through the herds of giggling and/or drunk twenty somethings in super short dresses. Also, I think their smallest room is a suite: my cheapass, Internet-rate room had both a bedroom area and a separate sitting area with a big sectional. If you don’t mind sleeping in a big pile like hamsters, you could fit a lot of people in there.
Otherwise, the Monte Carlo is fine – it’s not fancy, but it doesn’t feel crappy or run down. It’s quite solidly average. Planet Hollywood is newer and a bit nicer, in a mall food court sort of way. Bally’s is a hole. The Mirage is probably the nicest one on your list.
Good luck! And don’t worry about how nice the room is – if the weekend is successful, you won’t be there very much.
Hooters might seem like a good idea for a bachelor party hotel, but you would be wrong!
It used to be the old San Remo Hotel, and it is not a place where anyone would want to stay - old, small and musty rooms. Maybe go to Hooters for drinks or something, but not to stay there!
One idea to consider is getting a multi-room suite…sounds like lots of money, but split several ways it winds up to be a savings. They have them in most of the better, newer properties so just ask. I have seen one at Palms (quite nice!) and a friends son stayed in a suite with his buddies at NYNY and liked it as well. Call around to see what kind of deals you can get.
Otherwise, to be quite honest, it doesn’t really matter where you stay as long as it is centrally located. You guys will be out all day and night and only going home to crash - so as long as the room is clean, centrally located and priced right, doesn’t make an iota of difference.
I think guys your age would probably be happiest at Palms, Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood. Younger crowd, better music, more happening around the pool and clubs. But again - you will be going all over the place (take taxis!) so it should not be a deal breaker if you don’t find anything in your price range in those hotel/casinos.
I list the major hotels/casinos on my website, so maybe that will help.
Have fun - but remember, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” does NOT mean everything is legal. Make sure you don’t wind up staying in Vegas (county jail) for any wild-ass antics! They are very strict about drunk driving, prostitution is illegal in Clark County (greater metropolitan Las Vegas) and those legal bordellos/whorehouses are in the neighboring county - more about that on my website in the “Sex” section.
