Vegas Vengeance - An APAT Adventure........AKA "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Bar"

[pables]

Agencies usually buy up a shedload of packages at a cut down price and sell them on at a small margin, or they"re

con men and they clean up  

[Delboy]

Why is there such a disparity between hotel prices direct and those through an agent at the mo?

Example:

Direct

IP Deluxe Luv Tub - Direct price $669.76=£446.51
                        - Through Asda travel=£240.31

There must be catch, but I can"t find it.

anyone know why and how they can do it?

I can"t find the IP at Asda Travel for the selected dates (17/11 - 24/11). Is that what you"re looking at?

Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
Our Rating:
Hotel Address: 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas,
Check-in date: 17th November 2011
Check-out date: 24th November 2011 (7 nights)
Number of Rooms: 1

Just checked by searching "Hotel only" again and it definitely there at £240.31


and its not just the IP (I just like the Luv Tub) its most of the hotels...

I"ve read the Ts&Cs and can"t find any mention of additional charges later ...

[Paulie_D]

Just checked by searching "Hotel only" again and it definitely there at £240.31

Nope....still not coming up for me.

EDIT: Found it...had selected 2 guests by mistake.

Odd that they"d not show it for two people...Luv Tub for one?

[Paulie_D]

How do they do it?

Frankly I don"t know, other than what Ian said...but that"s a VERY good price. I must look deeper.

Of course, you have to pay up front and they get to hold on to your money for 9 months. My only concern is that the room type might not be available when you arrive...they don"t guarantee that in the T & C.

Of course, Asda are part of Walmart who are HUGE in the US. That might help.

[Jon MW]

Why is there such a disparity between hotel prices direct and those through an agent at the mo?

Example:

Direct

IP Deluxe Luv Tub - Direct price $669.76=£446.51
                        - Through Asda travel=£240.31

There must be catch, but I can"t find it.

anyone know why and how they can do it?

I can"t find the IP at Asda Travel for the selected dates (17/11 - 24/11). Is that what you"re looking at?

Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
Our Rating:
Hotel Address: 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas,
Check-in date: 17th November 2011
Check-out date: 24th November 2011 (7 nights)
Number of Rooms: 1

Just checked by searching "Hotel only" again and it definitely there at £240.31


and its not just the IP (I just like the Luv Tub) its most of the hotels...

I"ve read the Ts&Cs and can"t find any mention of additional charges later ...

It"s not per person, based on 2 sharing, type of clause is it?

Because that would fit the other details.

I don"t know the t&c"s of it but I think the whole chain have some kind of lowest rate guarantee - so it seems improbable that you"d be able to find cheaper that they couldn"t

[Paulie_D]

It"s not per person, based on 2 sharing, type of clause is it?

Because that would fit the other details.

I don"t know the t&c"s of it but I think the whole chain have some kind of lowest rate guarantee - so it seems improbable that you"d be able to find cheaper that they couldn"t

I thought of that but I couldn"t find any mention of it. I"d book by phone and get it confirmed rather than trust to luck with an internet booking.

EDIT: The cost quoted does NOT include tax.

T & C
LOCAL TAXES NOT INCLUDED IN HOTEL COST

Please note that there may be taxes levied abroad but not paid at the point of purchase that are payable in relation to your hotel booking e.g. local taxes, sales tax etc. Any local taxes will be payable by you directly to the hotel at the time of check in / checkout.

So add on 12% to start.

[Paulie_D]

Just for gits and shiggles, I checked a Harrahs booking for the right dates with my brother"s TR number as a "companion"


$150....

Gotta love a degen gambler brother.

[Delboy]

EDIT: The cost quoted does NOT include tax.

T & C
LOCAL TAXES NOT INCLUDED IN HOTEL COST

Please note that there may be taxes levied abroad but not paid at the point of purchase that are payable in relation to your hotel booking e.g. local taxes, sales tax etc. Any local taxes will be payable by you directly to the hotel at the time of check in / checkout.

So add on 12% to start.

Just about to C&P the same!

Think I"ll just await the offers closer the time. But the looking is so much fun

[AAroddersAA]

EDIT: The cost quoted does NOT include tax.

T & C
LOCAL TAXES NOT INCLUDED IN HOTEL COST

Please note that there may be taxes levied abroad but not paid at the point of purchase that are payable in relation to your hotel booking e.g. local taxes, sales tax etc. Any local taxes will be payable by you directly to the hotel at the time of check in / checkout.

So add on 12% to start.

Just about to C&P the same!

Think I"ll just await the offers closer the time. But the looking is so much fun

Indeed it is - when you book it really feels like you are actually going

[Delboy]

EDIT: The cost quoted does NOT include tax.

T & C
LOCAL TAXES NOT INCLUDED IN HOTEL COST

Please note that there may be taxes levied abroad but not paid at the point of purchase that are payable in relation to your hotel booking e.g. local taxes, sales tax etc. Any local taxes will be payable by you directly to the hotel at the time of check in / checkout.

So add on 12% to start.

Just about to C&P the same!

Think I"ll just await the offers closer the time. But the looking is so much fun

Indeed it is - when you book it really feels like you are actually going

You booked then Steve?


I am currently researching prepaid dollar Debit cards. Anyone got any ideas on which one is best?

[Paulie_D]

I am currently researching prepaid dollar Debit cards. Anyone got any ideas on which one is best?

Don"t bother.

There are no banks in the strip and using them in the casinos" ATMs will cost you a fortune in transaction fees.

Take travellers cheques and you can cash them at any casino cashier desk (you might need ID).

I generally split my money into 1/3 cash (US$) and 2/3 Travellers Cheques (US$). You"ll need some cash for taxis & stuff as soon as you land.

Once the cash starts running low you can change up the T/C into cash as above with no fees.

If you have a credit card, use it as back-up only.

[RioRodent]

Santander Zero credit card has no fees for foreign transactions.

[Paulie_D]

Santander Zero credit card has no fees for foreign transactions.

Doesn"t matter what your bank will or won"t charge. The casinos levy a charge regardless...up to $5 per withdrawal or more AFAIK..never bothered.

[Delboy]

for those that need ATMs. this maybe of use

http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/las-vegas-atm-machines.php

[RioRodent]

Santander Zero credit card has no fees for foreign transactions.

Doesn"t matter what your bank will or won"t charge. The casinos" levy a charge regardless...up to $5 per withdrawal or more AFAIK..never bothered.

Sorry, I didn"t make myself clear, I meant it is useful for purchases... gifts, souvenirs, restaurants etc.

I just assumed no one would be daft enough to get cash on a credit card, where ever they may be.