Travel Tips

Ask Peter: Getting the Best Deals on Las Vegas Hotels & Preventing Hotel Theft

Locations in this article:  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas StripIf you’ve got a burning travel question, travel guru Peter Greenberg is here to help.

If you’d like to “Ask Peter,” just write us at peter @ petergreenberg.com.

Here are two recent questions on how to get the best deals on hotels in Las Vegas and how you can avoid being a victim of hotel theft…

Question: I want to take my mom to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow, among other shows, and to do some intense shopping but where would be a good place to stay, among all those imaginative hotels? Where are the best deals on the Strip? We don’t want to stay far away from all the exciting energy, but don’t have to be in the middle of it, either. We don’t care a thing about gambling. .. just good food, good shows, good shopping!

Las Vegas skylineAnswer: It’s practically impossible to say what the “best” place on the Strip would be without knowing you or your budget; but if you’re not too picky, you can probably save a bundle on your hotel. Before you book, make sure to call the hotel itself and speak with the manager on duty or the director of sales to see if there are any special deals on offer (don’t call the 800-number, as this takes you to an off-site reservations center that almost certainly won’t have the leeway to make you a great offer).

Don’t hesitate to negotiate: Las Vegas hotels are practically the definition of a buyer’s market at this point. On LasVegas.com, for example, rooms were recently being offered at the Stratosphere starting at $26.95, at the Excalibur for $36.95, and the MGM Grand for under $70. These aren’t the swankiest hotels on the Strip, but they’re certainly not the shabbiest, either.

Prefer a more relaxed stay? Try Staying Off the Strip in Las Vegas

And if you’re into shows, a number of hotels are offering discounts to those, too, with Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ being a popular option. When you’re negotiating your room rate with the hotel, mention that you’re interested in shows, spa services, dining, and shopping.

Bette Midler, also a hit in VegasThat might prompt the sales manager to throw in some free dining coupons and/or spa services to close the deal. And if nothing else, it shows the manager that you’re not a total cheapskate, which could make him more likely to offer you a deal to attract this sort of spending to his property.

As for Barry Manilow, he plays at the Hilton Theater (unsurprisingly located in the Las Vegas Hilton). The hotel does offer a special “Barry Manilow Premium Package,” which is fairly pricey at $692 for two nights’ accommodations. However, it includes two tickets to his show (which start at $95 for the nosebleed section) and a $75 credit for the Hilton’s restaurant.

Get more on Las Vegas travel with:

Protecting Yourself From Hotel Theft

Question: How can I protect myself from thefts that occur in a hotel? Last year my hotel room was ransacked. The hotel’s insurance company basically said I was responsible for the theft, which was a copout. I am traveling again this year and want to know: What should I do to protect my belongings in a hotel room, and what rights do I have as a traveler against theft?

Hotel signAnswer: First of all, most hotels are protected by individual states’ innkeeper’s laws, which clearly state that the hotel is not responsible for theft from your room. The exception is if you use the safe-deposit boxes the hotel has behind its front desk. Even a hotel’s in-room safe won’t cover you in terms of loss.

Recently, some travelers have been slyly hiding cash or other small belongings in hotel rooms with a diversion safe. These decoys are everyday objects, like a Suave hair spray can, that are actually hollow so that you can open them to secretly store small objects. You can find all types, from fake soda cans to cans of shaving cream, on the Internet. With one company (www.efindoutthetruth.com/Diversion_Safes.htm), if you buy three diversion safes, they will send you a pair of “dirty” underwear with a secret Velcro compartment to hide cash or jewelry.

Get more advice in our Travel Safety & Security section.

As for your rights, they may be limited. Your best bet is to check around your room for signs posted about hotel liability or to inquire at the front desk so you know your rights ahead of time. If it’s worth the effort, you can also take your case to small-claims court. Be sure to file complaints with the hotel and police department as soon as your property goes missing, as that may help your case.

Police SUVAlso ask for a “reading” of the door lock if it’s electronic. The hotel staff might be able to provide you with information about who entered your room and when, while you were gone. If the record comes up blank, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean your room was intruder-free. It is possible that someone entered through a connecting door if there is an adjoining room.

Here’s some more advice:

Leave the radio on while you are out of the room, just loud enough to hear if you lean up to the door. This may deter curious thieves by making them think the room is occupied.

Avoid using the signs requesting housekeeping, since these can also be seen as an invitation for a would-be thief.

If you are traveling alone, ask for the extra key rather than leaving it at the front desk. You wouldn’t want anyone else getting a hold of it and having access to your room.

If you are concerned about someone entering your room while you are in it, you can try the Swege Door Stop & Alarm. It costs just under $25 and acts as a doorstop lock―a sort of extra deadbolt. If someone does try to enter your room, it would stop the door from opening and emit a 120-decibel alarm. You can find this device at www.corporatetravelsafety.com.

For more information, don’t miss How Safe Is My Hotel?: An In-Depth Look at Hotel Safety & Security.

Check out more questions in our Ask Peter section.

Get more travel advice from Peter in his Travel Detective Blog. And once again, our complete Las Vegas travel links: