Like winning at the slots, getting the best hotel deals in Vegas depends on timing. Even though the city has well over 100,000 rooms, it's such a popular destination that the rooms everyone wants -- those in the newer, glitzier properties -- often fill up early. When occupancy is up, there's no incentive for the properties to cut prices. If you were arriving in January instead of June, you'd have better luck.

Your job is made harder because family members are coming from different directions. Those coming from big cities might be able to get air/hotel package deals offered by tour companies that advertise in the Sunday travel sections. You'll probably have to do what you're already doing -- shopping around -- unless you can find a local travel agent who's willing to undertake the task for you. If you tell an agent right off how many people you'll be booking for, you might get a warm reception.

You might also try the vacation departments of the airlines that fly into Vegas -- they may have blocked space available for packages.

Touch base with the Las Vegas Convention & Tourist Authority. You can call the Reservations Department at (702) 386-0770 or (800) 332-5333. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT.

Sites with Vegas hotel information include Visiting Vegas, Accommodations Express, Hotel Reservations Network and 1-800-USA-HOTELS.

I really need to ask specific travel questions. Elsewhere I get generalizations. Where do I go to ask veteran travelers?

Regardless of where you plan to travel, there are more ways to get firsthand information today than ever. And it's a good thing, because travel agents are in no mood to research and dispense background information unless you're a steady paying customer.

The Internet offers great info for many destinations -- the Wanderlust area of Salon's own Table Talk, for example, is an excellent place to swap questions and tips with far-flung residents and fellow travelers. Many similar resources are available, such as the member exchanges on AOL's travel site.

The Web sites of many guidebook publishers have expanded well beyond simple excerpts from their books to include sections by readers and travelers to post supplemental information from recent travels. Among them are Lonely Planet Publications and Rough Guides.

Besides online sources, there are many low-tech ways to get up-to-date info, partly because people who travel have a penchant for sharing what they know, even if they're not getting paid for it. Adventure travel and tour companies that operate in your destination know the ins and outs very well; if you call and get an employee who's been there, they'll often chat at least briefly about the destination. You can also contact ethnic organizations linked to your destination, like an Italian-American group if you're headed for Italy. These groups may have Web sites, too.

Youth hostels, especially those in gateway cities, are hotbeds of good information, both from current travelers and from the people who run the hostels. For locations, contact the American Youth Hostels. Increasingly, embassies and consulates also have their own sites that provide current news and local information. Some are mentioned in the consular information sheets provided by the U.S. State Department. And a number of foreign tourist offices include visitor reports on their Web sites. To locate them, go to a site such as Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory.
salon.com | May 13, 1999

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