Planning a Las Vegas bachelor party!

Las Vegas is a mecca for bachelor/bachelorette parties for lots of reasons, but there are also lots of ways they can go wrong. Follow the tips below to have a an amazing weekend away without losing your shirt (or worse!)

Where to stay

No matter what your budget you'll find something to fit on the strip, weather it's a $300/night room at the Wynn or a $30/night room at the Imperial Palace. Try to avoid the far edges of the strip and hotels like the Stratosphere or Mandelay Bay unless you plan on walking for miles (yes the strip is huge so bring comfortable shoe not matter where you stay) or taking lots of cabs.

Downtown is another option with buses running up and down from the strip nearly 24 hours a day, but this is a bachelor party and you're going to want to be in the thick of it!

The only hotel I suggest looking at off strip is the Hilton if you can get a good deal. It's off the strip, but right on the monorail track meaning an unlimited monorail pass gives you great access to your hotel and the entire Las Vegas Strip for a fair price.

It's going to cost more than you expect.

Gone are the days of $2 buffet dinners and comps for sitting around playing $2 blackjack. Deals are getting harder to find, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there.

Flights: To save a few bucks on flights book in advance or check the discount airlines in your area, not just expedia or the big airlines. (but be careful of extra fees such as charges for checked bags). If you are flying from Canada you can often save substantially by driving across the boarder to the nearest US Airport.

Sleeping: Hotels can eat up a large portion of your budget as well. If you're comfortable sharing space with the entire party you can often book large two or three bedroom suites that work out better per person than getting your own room or sharing rooms between two people.

Another option, especially if you have a hotel in mind, is getting on their email lists, twitter feeds, and facebook pages. They often offer unpublished room rates through these means. Don't have the will or time for all that? At least check out sites like www.smartervegas.com for promo codes. No one should pay full price for a hotel in Las Vegas, although weekends are always much more expensive than mid week nights.

Drinking: Sure you get "free" drinks when you're gambling, but what about when you've burnt through your gambling budget already? Pick up some alcohol before boarding the plane or stop on the way to the hotel (cab drivers don't tend to mind). It's going to be less expensive than buying on the strip. You'll also find some good deals at some of the lower end casinos like Bills Gambling Hall, Casino Royal, and O'Shea's where there are often dollar drink specials.

Cheap Eats: Want a 5 star dinner? I'm sure you can find it, but odds are you're going to be looking for some cheap grub too. Late night specials are still fairly common if you're looking for a $3 burger or $6 steaks (again see the lower end Casino's. Last time I heard Bills Gambling Hall had some great deals after midnight), but there are also fast food outlets for those quick and dirty meals. Mcdonald's are located in the MGM Grand and across the street from the Mirage and Denny's, located across the street from Treasure Island is always busy for breakfast.

Gambling: For lower limits see the lower end hotels on the strip, but for low limits and more generous payouts you'll need to venture to Freemont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

For general savings I always pick up a copy of the latest American Casino Guide. It has tons of 241 coupons, slot machine freebies, and other coupons you might find valuable.

The Twenty Dollar Trick

Now that you've decided where to stay and have a good rate on the hotel why not take a few of those dollars you've saved and spend it on a "complimentary" upgrade. It might be the best $20 you spend while you're there!

Most front desk staff have some leeway when it comes to placement and upgrades on the room you actually booked so when you check in and they ask for your drivers licence and credit card have a $20 "sandwiched" in the middle. They'll know what it means. Worst case scenario they politely give it back to you and you feel silly for 13 seconds. Best case scenario you get an upgrade for the weekend that would have cost you hundreds of dollars if you had booked it through the hotel directly. Even if you just get a more recently upgraded room, a room nearer to the elevator, or a high floor it's worth the $20.

Clubs

They're in every casino and they all run about the same way.... If you're a big group of guys you're not getting in. At least not anytime soon. There are a few ways to get around this going from least likely to help to guaranteed VIP status.

(All of them require you to dress appropriately meaning no sneakers, ball caps or tank tops and treat the doormen with respect)

1. Get there early (most doors open at 10:00, but check on the particular club you're interested in) and split up into smaller groups of 2 or 3 guys
2. Split up into smaller groups and make friends with some ladies. Two guys and two girls are getting in ages ahead of 2 guys.
3. Get on the guest list... and combine with #1 or #2. Guest list mean almost nothing as the line for the guest list is often as long, or longer than the general admittance line and while we're talking about it those cards they give out on the street are just as useless.
4. Grease a bouncer. Vegas is a tipping city. If you "tip" a bouncer you somehow jump the queue. Ask politely and discreetly, make sure you understand if the price you're agreeing too includes the clubs cover charge or is in addition too, and hand over the money without making a scene.
5. Bottle Service. With a large group of guys this is always the best option. Typically you'll need to buy one bottle for every 3-4 guys in your party. (bottles range from $350-$600). $150-$200/person might seem like a lot, but you avoid any line up, avoid any cover charge, and have somewhere to sit all night. Booking said bottle service deserves it's own paragraph.
   
   

Bottle Serivce
If you decide to spend the extra money on bottle service there is a right and wrong way to go about it.

Firstly, book directly with club employed promoters. There is zero reason to use an outside VIP service company of any type. They cost more and deliver less.

Secondly, make sure you understand what you're getting in return for your buying grossly overprice bottles. In most clubs it's standard practice to have 1 liter bottles, for that to include all mixes (red bull is usually extra), and for you to have the table all night, even if you finish the bottles by 12:00. You'll also want to know when they'll hold your table until in case you run late.

Thirdly, be upfront about what you want, but get ready to tip upfront for it. If you want a great table right by the dance floor and are willing to tip the promoter "x" number of dollars to make it happen let him know. A substantial portion of their income comes from these tips and if it's not discussed upfront you'll probably get a lesser table and someone who told him they are tipping up front will get the good one. It's not unusual to tip $10-$20 per person.

Once you are booked confirm a few days before to make sure everything is as it should be.

Finally, have some tipping money. 10-15% tip for the waitress is typically included on the bill (so make sure you look before tipping on your bill more), but tipping your VIP security guard and the runner who gets you your mix throughout the night can make all the difference in the experience you have.

For promoters contact information and more info on Las Vegas clubs see jackcolton.com

Adult Entertainment

I've not partaken, but suggest you be careful and only bring cash. I have heard of less scrupulous clubs (are any of them scrupulous?) vastly over charging credit cards.

Gambling

Curiously similar caveats. Don't take use bank cards or credit cards to take out more money than you had originally planned on spending. There's a reason these hotels are fabulous and you're not going to win your money back.

Final thoughts

While planning ahead may not seem to be in the VEGAS!!! spirit it can make the difference between a good trip and a great trip. You'll save valuable time and even more valuable money!

Have a great trip!

Check out this hub by Dabbler for Las Vegas Bachelorette party ideas