las vegas exchanges

[mnlovesdisney]

Has anyone exchanged points for any of the timeshares in las vegas? In particular I have just been looking some places up on the internet and from the little I have been able to find on it the Monarch Grand Vacations Cancun Resort in Las Vegas looks incredible!! Has anyone stayed there and if so what is is like?

 

[auntsue]

I don't have the answer to your question, but I have a question for you. We are interested in going to Las Vegas, but when I looked through my info the only thing I found was a week at Polo Towers, and we are not interested in a week. What did I miss? Where are the trades for Vegas? Thanks.

 

[mnlovesdisney]

I found the name under World Passport Collection United States and International Destinations Maps...United States Destinations West. I assume you have to stay seven days as it is in the World Passport Collection, but from what I have been able to find it had a child care club and a really neat pool with waterfalls and waterslides. It looked really interesting but I can't seem to find much good information on specifics or comments from people who have stayed there.

 

[3princesses]

We actually are owners at the Cancun Resort in Las Vegas and just spent a few days there last week. The pool is incredible and the kids love the water slides. Out of our window we could see the entire Strip lit up at night. The rooms are huge, and very nicely decorated. They have plannned activites for the kids each day and some evenings. (Though because we live in Las Vegas our children did not participate in them). They have just began operating a shuttle service to the Strip hotels (about 5 minutes away). If you have any other questions I would be happy to answer what I can.

 

[mnlovesdisney]

3 princesses or other with answers:

I do have other questions.

1) Do they have an restaurants at the resort?

2) What are the room options(1 or 2 bedrooms, studios, etc.) and do they have full kitchens in the rooms?

3) Where in Las Vegas are they located?

4) How often to the shuttle buses run and where exactly do they drop you off and pick you up?

Thank you so very much for your help so far. My husband and I have been to Vegas many times, but never with the kids. I always thought I would never brings kids to Vegas, but so many things there have changed and there are thing there now I actually think it would be neat for the kids to see. I do worry however about having enough to do with a seven day stay.

 

[3princesses]

OK, I'll do my best to answer your questions. There is a small restaraunt at the resort. I think I heard that they will be adding another one. There are 1 bedroom units (with 1 and 3/4 baths), 2 bedroom units, and penthouse suites. All the units have a full kitchen. The resort is located about 1.5 to 2 miles south of the Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Blvd. (The Strip). It is too far to walk to the casinos. The shuttles were to be operational the week we stayed. They had just hired drivers. I'm not sure exactly how they were going to work, as we did not have a need use them. There is a lot for kids to enjoy while in Las Vegas. The casinos are not looking to incorporate many family activities. There are mini theme parks, a water park, roller coasters, animal exhibits (sharks, dolphins, tigers, etc.), a "live" pirate show all on the Strip. I hope that this was of some help.

 

[Dean]

Just remember that great rooms tend to be dirt cheap in LV. The only timeshare truly in the middle of it all is the Hilton from what I understand. You may want to check out a direct exchange.

 

[downontheBW]

Don't forget to checkout the Timeshare Users Group at www.tug2.net. I'd agree that the HGVC Flamingo looks like its closest to the action - just what I'd want - but, from what I've read, difficult to trade into. If you bring the kids, you may not want to be directly on the strip; the other HGVC might be nice and I see that a new Fairfield just opened. Those would, of course, have to be direct exchanges.

I apologize for this getting a bit off topic but I keep hearing (as in Dean's post above) that "great rooms tend to be dirt cheap in LV". Why can't I find them? Just a quick look at what's available the beginning of March:
Mandalay Bay $319-$419
Luxor $200-$300
MGM Grand $200-$240
Bellagio $400-$440
Miriage $220-$375
Venetian $330-$360
New York, NY - $230-$315

I also checked early November and some were half that much but still, this isn't that cheap. They're probably more reasonable in the summer but we live in New York state so would want to travel when it's cold here. I assume I'm aiming too high when choosing a hotel...or am I missing some great deals somewhere. I think our first trip to Las Vegas will probably be for a long weekend so I'm really more interested in hotel deals at this point. Good luck with finding that perfect trade for your family.

 

[mnlovesdisney]

Thank you for all for your help. 3princesses your answers were very helpful.

DownontheBW, if you look back at this post, I have found good room rates at the Golden Nugget in the past. It is a very nice hotel but because it is downtown instead of the strip the deals seem to better. Good luck on your search for good room deals.

 

[Grotto]

With all of the new mega-resorts, Las Vegas doesn't have the really cheap room rates of several years ago. More and more of the resorts' income is coming from rooms and food, and less from the casinos. You can find better rates during the off seasons (summer especially). We just stayed at the Venetian 3 weeks ago for $159 on the weekend days and $119 on the weekdays, which is about 1/3 their peak rates (though still not dirt cheap).

 

[Dean]

Sorry, hadn't looked at prices in about 7-8 years but have severalfriends that go occasionally and they tell me they never pay anything for rooms, food or drinks. They gamble but suggest that they really don't gamble that much to get to this level. I haven't asked them which resort but they are about to go so I'll ask them more when I see them. Did you call the resorts and ask for specials or just look at standard room prices?

 

[Mousefanz]

downontheBW -

We travel to Vegas quite often and have never paid the prices you mention!
We always book through a wholesaler/travel agent - many have negotiated space and rates. We have a trip planned for November and for 4 nights we're paying just $548 at the Monte Carlo (that's TOTAL for 2). Combine that with cheapo airfares on Southwest and you've got a vacation!!
I booked online with Liberty Travel (they have retail businesses everywhere here on Long Island, don't know about Upstate) but try them at www.libertytravel.com.
I used to be a travel agent - I refuse to pay full price!! lol

Hope this helps. My apologizes for being off topic....

 

[winjos]

Had a great time in 110 degree heat. I booked the Tropicana through a wholesaler at 95 a night. It was o.k., not spetacular. I could have stayed at the MGM for 159 (3 months a go when I checked it was 139). Decent rates are out there.
My questions would be how many points would you have to spend? I would then figure out if it is worth using points or finding inexpensive rooms.
Good Luck!

P.S. Hope you win more than we did! Once again, Vegas collected my money

 

[ceejay13]

We go to Las Vegas twice a year. We just returned from our latest trip a week ago. We paid $59/night at the Rio. It is one of the top resorts and the rooms are wonderful. I actually had ressies at Mandalay Bay for $99/night but got a better deal at the Rio. On our way out, we ended up in LA and so I grabbed an LA paper, which had several room specials listed. It absolutely depends on when you go as to what the rooms will cost. Also, the weekdays are cheaper than the weekends. We prefer the weekdays as it isn't as crowded. We went in March this year, also, and paid $99/night at Harrah's which is a very average hotel. There are a lot of conventions during the months of January, February and March plus the weather is great then also, so you will always pay more. I signed up for many of the EMail specials on the hotel's web sites we might be interested in and get updates regularly when they have specials occurring. Starting in June this year the room prices went way down and stayed down through the summer, and into the middle of September. We have friends going the end of Sept and are staying at NYNY with a package deal, but they paid about a $100 more than we did and NYNY also has average rooms. You can also go very cheaply in December. I do agree that I would prefer to save my points and pay cash as it seems to be a better deal to use them elsewhere.

 

[downontheBW]

Thanks to all of you for the great info. I'll be keeping an eye out for bargains.

 

[Grotto]

As Ceejay13 noted, you can find good deals for the LV hotels advertised in the LA Times. Check out the web site:

http://www.travel2vegas.com/latimes.html

Each week, this site updates the LV hotel deals found in the LA Times travel section. They seem to be some of the best deals around.

 

[downontheBW]

Grotto,

Wow, those prices are incredible! Thanks for the link!

 

[PKS44]

Another site for vegas deals:

www.cheaplasvegas.com

 

[mickeyinjune]

how many points does it cost to do exchange.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by mickeyinjune
how many points does it cost to do exchange.

It varies but generally will be the same as OKW for the same size unit in either Adventure or Dream season.