|

Glitz and Glam on a Budget – How to Find a Deal at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas

a group of men on a stage

When I was growing up, one of my favorite songs was “Float On” by the Floaters.

Screen shot 2013-08-20 at 1.01.58 PM

In case you aren’t familiar with this smooth selection, the group (Ralph, Charles, Paul, and Larry) state their astrological signs (Aquarius, Libra, Leo, and Cancer) and then go on to describe some of their personal qualities and what they are looking for in a lady. My favorite (by far) is Larry:

Screen shot 2013-08-23 at 11.40.27 AM

Awesome, right? Who wouldn’t love Larry?!?

Personally, I’m a Virgo.

If you believe in astrology, you’ll know that Virgos are described as neat, super-organized, detail-minded and precise. Yep. I have an intense rivalry going with my friend Virgo Twin. We’re vying for the title of Most Supreme Virgo Of Them All. (She won in the “bed making” category when she made her bed so perfectly that she decided it was “museum quality” and couldn’t bring herself to sleep on it, so she slept in her daughter’s bed. I’m still in awe over this). Our other friends think we’re insane.

Anyway, Virgo Twin and I are headed to Vegas (watch out, Vegas!). We’re planning action-packed days filled with hotel room straightening and slot machine sanitizing. Just kidding. Maybe.

Since I’ve had quite a few readers ask for more posts about the nuts and bolts of trip planning, luxury-bargain-style, I thought I would use this trip as an example.  I’m going to walk you through my process.

First, I’m thinking about style.

Since this is a girlfriend getaway, we’re going for glitz and glam. My choices don’t need to be kid-friendly. In fact, I’ll be avoiding kids on this vacation.

I’ve narrowed our hotel choices down to three, based on dazzle factor: the Cosmopolitan, the Bellagio, and Wynn.

Next, I’m thinking about budget.

Using all the tips and tricks I know, I’m going to determine which hotel would be least expensive. Today, I’ll be looking at the Cosmopolitan. In upcoming posts, I will review the Bellagio and Wynn.

The Cosmopolitan

Currently the Cosmo is pricing out at $250/night for our dates in February.

To get the cost down, here are the steps I’m going to take:

1. Try to find a “Look No Further” rate.

Because this is a Marriott hotel, if I can find a better rate than Marriott has posted on their site, Marriott will match the lower rate and beat it by 25%. If I find an LNF, this is an alluring option; even if the better rate hovered close to $250, we would save at least $60/night, bringing our cost down to $185/night.

You can read about my past success with LNF rates here.

2. Use TripBAM to track the price of the room.

If the price drops, I’ll know, and I can make decisions or take further action based on this information.

3. Consider purchasing Marriott gift cards from either Southwest or United, then using them to pay for my stay.

$250 worth of gift cards would net me 3,000 Southwest miles, which is worth approximately $50. Not bad.

4. Keep an eye out for Marriott promos.

Marriott has been running a frequent promo that offers a free stay after every two stays. If this trend continues, then my night at the Cosmopolitan will get me halfway to a free stay at a category 1-5 Marriott.

5. If I find a rate I like, I will book each night as a separate reservation, because this will provide maximum flexibility.

For example, I might decide to hotel-hop in order to take advantage of a better rate or a promo at a different hotel on one or more nights of our stay.

Float On

I’m excited to plan this trip to Vegas, and I’m especially excited to save a bunch of money while I’m there. Have any of you ever been to the Cosmopolitan? I’d love to know if you have any tips to share.

8 Comments

  1. I’m confused about the LNF rate with Marriott. Where do you look for better rates? At comparable hotels? What would be considered comparable? Or do you look only at other Marriotts in different cities?

    As you can tell I haven’t a clue!

  2. Hi Anne – Sorry, I meant to include links in this post. I just went back and updated so you can read more details. Basically, a LNF rate is Marriott’s guarantee that searching on the Marriott site will yield the best rate you can find (for the same Marriott hotel). If you can find a better rate, they will beat it by 25%. Hope that makes more sense!

  3. I went to the Cosmopolitan the month they first opened. I got a screaming deal (through Southwest) and then they upgraded me once I got there. It was possibly my favorite hotel experience ever. (Can you say open-air balcony overlooking the Bellagio fountains?!) I LOVE that hotel. The eclectic mix of art, furniture, and other decor is right up my alley. There’s a surprise around every corner and behind every door (including the closet!). I’ve been dying to go back, and have been eyeing rates, as I’m planning a trip to Vegas soon. Unfortunately, the pricing is simply out of control. I’m SUPER excited about this post and am going to get on it and try to score a room for something I can stomach. I’ll report back! (BTW, I’m not a fan of the Wynn at all. It’s the exact opposite of the Cosmopolitan. Kind of soulless and boring in my book.)

  4. pinkisnice – thanks for the details! I’ve never stayed at any of these hotels and am relying on descriptions, so yours was very helpful. I know I can always count on my readers! Maybe we will shift our focus from the Wynn to another, more exciting hotel. Sounds like you know your way around Vegas, so let me know if you have any suggestions.

  5. All of the City Center hotels are supposed to be great, but check to see which have pools and/or casino’s, as they don’t all have both (but Cosmo does!). I’ve walked through the Aria, but haven’t seen the rooms, though have heard they’re nice. Honestly, I’d take the Venetian (which always has great deals) over the Wynn (again, haven’t seen the actual rooms), but I can’t stress enough how perfect the Cosmopolitan will probably be for you, based on your taste for luxury and adventure. Their Chandelier bar alone is to die for (you sit *inside* a multi-story purple/pink chandelier)! They really did a great job at standing out from the competition in the experience they provide. The one consequence to this being a less family-oriented hotel is the clubby vibe on the weekends. That said, it keeps the energy up and the cocktails creative. I think the Bellagio will be a solid choice for you too.

  6. Pingback: DevOps new trends
  7. Pingback: contactos mujeres

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *