Considering booking package deal for the first time.

Our son just booked a trip for April through Expedia for the Stratosphere. We usually stay downtown or out at Red Rock with part of our stay comped so I have no experience booking a package. AAA has a better deal so we'll go that route. I don't expect enough play to warrant any comps from the Strat. Anything I need to be aware of before I finalize? I already priced everything out separately and this is a few hundred $$$ cheaper.

Good luck. I have never seen a package deal that was cheaper than judiciously searching and booking each item (flight, hotel, car, etc.) separately.

Package deal...no worries, no haggling, expenses done, you don't have to think about it anymore.

Sounds like you already know that you can't get anything comped off with package deals. But that's a hassle anyway that you can just forget about if you are satisfied with the cost of your deal.

Whatever works for you, I always say.

Thanks guys. I've been away from the LVA for so long it's taking me awhile to get used to navigating the site. I am looking forward to being with my son and his fiance on their first trip to Vegas.

We have stayed at Strat a couple of times. Rooms are quite good. On the downside, since the Sahara closed the streets around there do not feel as safe, late at night. I recall reading somewhere (I think it was in these forums) about problems in the parking garages with break-ins, which makes me wonder about security. If you taxi everywhere, those problems go away - and all you have to deal with is getting long-hauled

Only bad part of a package deal is a host would not be able to help on the rooms. Food yes.

Jokare, I don't expect we will do much gambling there. Tonyrob, thanks for the heads up about problems with car break-ins. That is unsettling because we will have a rental car. I never leave anything in the car so hopefully it won't be a target.

I haven't done a package in over twenty years because I prefer to make my own plans and most wouldn't offer the hotels I like (locals joint). I'm sure you can find a decent package and as long as it fit your criteria, why not? The one thing I would be certain about is the cancelation policy. I think with most you would need the trip insurance or you might be out of luck. Other than that, if you can go and come at preferred times and stay where you want, I'd say go for it.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

Package deals can be cheaper than individual bookings (even with coupon codes).

The problem is that prices frequently change between your time of booking and the date of vaction.
I've already changed my rental car reservation 3 times since I originally made it in September. Thats alot easier to do independantly as oppossed to it being part of a package. I've saved $80 since the original booking.

Connie and I did a package deal on Sun Country airlines that was both airfares, plus 6 nights at Red Rock casino, for a grand total of $787 (from Minneapolis.) We hadn't been to Vegas in about 16 months. I was very happy with that total price, and there was no pressure to play a certain amount each day because the room was comped. Worked for us. Most of the time in the past we just did the airfare, and the rooms were comped, but usually that meant moving at least once for a 6 night stay as, at least for me, 3 nights seemed to be the most we were comped at any place. It was nice to settle in for the whole time at one casino.
So I do think that package deals have their place, and can be cheaper than individual bookings.