Not too far off," says MGM Resorts International spokesman Alan Feldman. "It’s actually more likely just days before Christmas (low) and then New Year’s Eve (high). Sometimes it depends on the calendar. But this is good as a general rule." Caesars Entertainment spokesman Gary Thompson is in full agreement, as LVA has been for the longest time, particularly when it comes specifically to the Las Vegas market: We dubbed the week in-between the National Finals Rodeo and Christmas as "Golden Week" many moons ago, and each year we conduct a survey in the December issue of Las Vegas Advisor newsletter in search of the cheapest room-rates available during that brief window when the city finds itself in the doldrums, visitation-wise.
Often, there are several bargains to be had in the $20 range and many more options around the $30 mark, with this year's finds including sub-$20 deals at Riviera and The Quad, $32 at Rio and Bally’s, $34 at Orleans, $37 at Golden Nugget, $38 at Monte Carlo, $38.50 at Palms, and $39.97 at TI, along with high-end bargains like $40 at Hard Rock and New York-New York, $49 at MGM, $54 at Mandalay Bay, $76 at Caesars, and $105 at Cosmo ($35 below last year’s rate). Even the just-opened Downtown Grand came in at only $29. These rates all tend to be for the week prior to Christmas, however; thereafter, they'll start to go up again.
"I'm not so sure Christmas itself is that slow," concurs David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. "There is usually a lot of Asian patronage and there are plenty of people who aren't spending the holiday with family. I worked some good overtime on Christmas in the past when I was working at an Atlantic City casino, Trump Taj Mahal, back when it was the shiniest place on the Boardwalk (times change!)"
When it comes to New Year's Eve, on the other hand, you are indeed looking at the opposite end of the spectrum, when the city indulges in one of, if not the biggest party of the year, and many hotels introduce a two-, or even three-night minimum-stay rule. This year, the latter group comprised the unlikely bedfellows of: Ellis Island Super 8 ($245); Hard Rock ($503); Encore ($1,129); Wynn ($1,141); and Mandarin Oriental ($1,445). When we called around for New Year's Eve rates on November 22, Casino Royale, Fremont, M Resort, Primm Valley, and Railroad Pass were already sold out.
