The busiest time of year in Las Vegas

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Can it really be the summer months? I'm doing a little research and from what I can tell, the busiest weeks of the year are when kids are out of school. Since I don't consider Las Vegas a destination for families, I'm surprised.

I'd like to get a timeshare there, but I wouldn't want to use it every year. I'm trying to figure out when the best weeks would be for exchanging or renting during the years I wouldn't want to use it. I may just have to look for a floating week.

Suggestions are requested!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

The way there building there it might turn out to be another Orlando. I would buy elsewhere and trade into it.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Thanks. I was noticing how many resorts there are. I think you may be giving excellent advice.

[cluemeister Member Find all posts View Profile Close cluemeister]

There are many ts's in Vegas, but unlike Orlando, where you can stay anywhere near Orlando, as you must rent a car unless you stay on Disney property, finding a timeshare on the strip is not as easy.

For instance, Fairfield Grand Desert is a 10-15 minute walk, Hilton Las Vegas strip is way north on the strip, Tahiti Village is way way south on the strip, and Cliffs at Peace Canyon or Club de Soleil, are way way west of strip. There is no shortage of those properties.

However, on strip you are looking at Polo Towers, Jockey Club, HGVC Flamingo and perhaps Marriott Grand Chateau, or perhaps Summer Bay even though those last two sit a block behind the strip. Westgate is planning to build behind Aladdin, but has not started.

So if you don't need to be on the strip, I would rent/trade. If you want to be on the strip, I think your choices are limited.

I think the HGVC Flamingo is a great location, and hard to beat. Polo Towers will be phenomenal across from Project City Center, if (big if) management can get their act together and get the units remodeled.

Perhaps a HGVC points package that gets a 1 BR or 2BR EOY at Flamingo would work for you?

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

The way there building there it might turn out to be another Orlando. I would buy elsewhere and trade into it.

Frank, I had the same feeling until I read Fern's message here. I only wonder what will happen if or when the real estate boom has passed. Some areas have started already and I keep reading warnings about California too but not yet for Hawaii. If house prices start tumbling, so does everything else.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I have found that it's not easy to trade into Las Vegas on holidays, such as President's week. With a medium trader I was able to get it twice on a bulk spacebank, but Orlando is a much easier trade. Even with my good trader I can only get the HGVC resorts during bulk spacebanks.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I was in Las Vegas last August. Summer would NOT be the time of year I would choose to go again. Actually, I didn't want to go in the first place. So, why am I going back next March??? Oh yeah, I managed to get a trade into Fairfield Grand Desert. Looked good, dd wanted to go back (to see "O") and I'm a sucker. But, you'll notice we're NOT going during the summer again.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

There has been a steady flow of low cost rentals for LV timeshares at the RCI last minute rental sites. Plus there are many available for rent. Rent before you buy.....if you buy at all. And please buy resale if possible....you will save a ton of money.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I recently went against the grain and bought a floating week at the VILLAS at Polo Towers. No refurb issues, great strip location. We have stayed there in the past and loved it. I reserved Easter week for trading purposes...

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

As for summer being busy or not, I had reason to be on the Strip during the afternoon on Saturday of July 4th weekend. Even though gasoline prices are high, there were tons of people there! The resort business is doing great. I want to thank all y'all for visiting and enriching our state coffers. Because of *you* we don't have to pay state taxes. Keep on visiting!

Fern

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

LV rentals

As I was watching the timeshare auctions on eBay, I was also noticing a fair number of rentals floating through. Some of them were short lead times, but they were often less expensive than the maintenance fees. That helped me make up my mind. Rental or exchange looks like the way to go!

The way I pinch pennies, no one who knows me would even suggest that I'd buy anthing but resale!

[icroyals Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close icroyals]

Busiest Week in Vegas

I would have to guess that the busiest week in Las Vegas is New Years week. New Years Eve is a zoo in LV. Week 52 at all Las Vegas HGVC properties are "event weeks." I don't know if that makes it hard or impossible to trade into, but I bet it's not easy.

I recently purchased a Week 52 1 BDR at the HGVC Flamingo, and I paid a small premium for it. These weeks don't come up for sale very often. I didn't purchase it to use the 4800 HGVC points. I will either use it or rent it. I will be renting it this year. We'll see how that works out.

Location. Location. Location.

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/Seasons_2004.pdf

[4dabirds Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 4dabirds]

Having lived in Vegas for almost 18 years... I would agree the busiest week is week 52. If you are looking for something you can consistently rent if you are not using it, imho this would be the week especially a center strip location like HGVC.

Summer in Vegas is miserable, especially down on the strip where it is this huge heat island of lights, concrete, and cars! A lot of the visitor base in the summer is from other countries (at least down on the strip itself).

Kim

[Anne1125 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Anne1125]

We plan on our first visit in February or March. How are the crowds then?

Anne

[cluemeister Member Find all posts View Profile Close cluemeister]

Crowds in Feb. or March?

As to how busy Vegas is, here is information from the HGVC Flamingo's chart. It's not purely scientific, but it should give you an idea of demand:


Platinum Weeks 9-20, 37-43, 51-52 (March thru May, mid September to end of Oct, and New Year's)


Gold Weeks 5-8, 21-36, 44-48 (basically February, and then from June to early September, and November)


Silver Weeks 1-4, 49-50 (month of January, and the first few weeks of December)

The weather in the Platinum weeks most closely resembles nice warm summer months in the northeast, daily highs in the 70's to low 90's. In Gold, you get the really hot summer months, and then the cooler months of February and November. Silver consists of the period from Thanksgiving up to New Years, and then the coolest month in Vegas, January.

I don't own at HGVC, but I do own a week 15 and 16 at Polo Towers. I love the weather in Vegas at that time, as it's still chilly here in New England!