Has anyone called Mandalay Bay about reserving a room for this year's Big Smoke? Their website shows a regular rate of $259 for both Friday 11/12 and Saturday 11/13. I very clearly explained to the woman on the phone that I was coming for the Big Smoke that is being held there and the "convention rate" she quoted me was $247/night. A savings of $12/night?!?! In my past experiences, when an event advertises to "Tell them you're with us," you get a much better rate than the $12 discount I was quoted. Has anyone else tried to book a room at Mandalay Bay? Has anyone been quoted a different rate? Thanks in advance...

Tim

I looked online and could not find any deals.
However if you don't mind staying in some other-hotels there are plenty of good ones within walking distance or even by dram from the Excalibur etc to the hotel. As for the famous Davidoff store there-don't get excited. It is smaller than many local stores. Either way enjoy the weekend. Wish I could be there, but having visited Vegas a couple of months ago I will have to wait until it comes to NYC.
ADB

Man your on it! Its only the beginning of July and your booking you room for the Vegas Big Smoke already. I will be there this year again but will not get around to booking this Vacation for at least another month or so.

CjBohl

T.I.O.
Take no prisoners is the mindset for the M/B. Last year was the first year(of 3 full weekend shows I've attended)that I stayed in a different hotel than the one the event was held in...for that reason. The Luxor was like a $100 a night less...and since it was so close and I only sleep in the room.....don't stay there very much during free time...I chose that instead. I think CA should put a little pressure on them for better rates....after all they bring in better than 6000 people to the event...that is a little extra everything for the casino and surrounding business's!!

DC
S.N.O.B. #1009
You've probably heard of me!

I'm going out with my cousins that weekend, only by coincidence it's the big smoke weekend, we're staying at MGM for 147 a night, we're in the bigger rooms too, they lowered it for us just by asking over the phone

"Michael thinks the tango is ridiculous..
well I think Michael is ridiculous"

Think we are going to stay at the Excalibur. It's only $110 a night and is within a short distance of Mandalay Bay (2 hotels). Hope to see you all there!

We stayed at the Excalibur a few months ago. Their is a tram-straight to the MB. The excalibur is a 3 star hotel. If you go there just make sure that you are in Tower 2. That is the nicer tower. Also make sure that you do express checkin before you arrive. You can do it from the airport. Its called Kings checkin or something like that. Otherwise you will stand in line for hours just waiting to check in. If you need any other info on the excalibur you can e-mail me at glentochas@hotmail.com
ADB

..another poster gave me this site last year, check it out it might help...cheapovegas.com/

DC
S.N.O.B. #1009
You've probably heard of me!

I've been going to Vegas three times a year for the past 12 years. Don't stay at Mandalay Bay unless you are very wealthy. Go to Hotels.com and get a good deal at a hotel close buy. You can get a lot of short cab rides for the difference. If you are really check, public transit runs a bus up and down the strip.
Don't even think about buying cigars in Vegas, there are no shops less than what you have at home.

I was in the hospitality business for years and I don't mean to thread jack but stay far far away from hotels.com if you want a list of reasons why e-mail me and I'll fill you in

B.A.S.E #0002 <(O)>

"Everybody loves a joke but no one likes a fool"

I'm going to the Saturday night session of the Big Smoke in Vegas and ended up reserving a room at New York/New York for a really good price. I've always liked their casino, and it's just across the street from the Excalibur, where I can catch a tram to Mandalay Bay. I did hear the rooms at NYNY are smaller than most, however.

Hotels close to Mandalay Bay that you might also consider are Luxor, Excalibur (heard it's cheesy with a lot of kids running around), Tropicana (its better days were about two decades or more ago), MGM Grand (most rooms of any hotel in the world with a HUGE casino, so there may be some hiking involved) and the Monte Carlo.

Has anyone checked to see if THEhotel at Mandalay Bay has a convention rate for the Big Smoke? It's a five star all-suite hotel within Mandalay Bay, and I'd love to stay there, as well.

You won't get anything approaching a "reasonable" rate at THE hotel at Mandalay Bay. It seems their intention is to compete at a level on part with Bellagio or Venetian prices... you might check tripadvisor.com for reviews on that hotel. It sounds like it's pretty mercenary there, they charge for everything and there are few perks or freebies -- though the rooms are pretty nice. YMMV.

~ masher

B.A.S.E. #0004 <(O)>

I am all set now, tickets arrived in the mail today.

In regards to those that have never been to Vegas, Mandalay Bay is one of the Premier Casios in Vegas. The rooms are huge, so good, that I was actually chipping golf balls across the room.

However, if you go into the websites of some of the hotels you can get on lists that notify you of when specials are offered. For example: I am on the Venetians mailing list, whenever there are specials I have seen them going for as low as $79 per night. The Venetian is all Suites 660 Sq. Ft. for only $79. you just can't beat them prices.

Looking forward to the Big Smoke

Changed my mind. We ended up getting a room at the Luxor. Prices have dropped to about $135 or so for Friday.

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
Ronald Reagan

Do I need to go ahead and order my Big Smoke tickets this early or can I wait closer to the event? In other words, does the Big Smoke sell out and, if so, how early?