[DenverBrian]

Originally Posted by Packrat1

When you checked on National did you confirm $62 price includes taxes and fees total price? Costco includes all fees and taxes. Might check if so that is a good price. I have found prices change right up to the day I leave I have rebooked 15 minutes before the plane left for Vegas before.

Yes, it was all-in. And of course car rentals are still operating (mostly) under the no-show-equals-canceled-reservation-without-charge. (There are a few sites like Hertz where you can pay a bit less to prepay, but I'd never do that.)

[BobPhipps]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Also if you do get a car be prepared for the chance of a serious hassle. The shuttles are allowed half capacity in most places, although I have noticed this month they are less strict on enforcing that. But there can be massive lines waiting for the shuttle and then you get to the desk and there are 30+ people waiting to get their car. Hopefully with the increased business and return of vacationers the lines aren't as bad, but don't make plans for right after you arrive.

FYI....

10 minutes to get a rental car bus yesterday (definitely wasn't at 50% capacity) and no more than 4 people in line on all but one company (Dollar). I know they were taking their own customers and Thrifty's....might even have been a 3rd company. That was the only one with a line like you described. No hassle at all. I'll be curious to see what it looks like when I venture out today.

[BobPhipps]

And although it's only 730 this morning, it's pretty dead outside (not quite the zombie apocalypse but not much better). The Palazzo only has a few tables open with probably 5 actual players and they only have the Grand Lux open at the Venetian. I'll probably stroll over to the Mirage to see if they have more than a few tables open and the whopping 7 people playing in the entire casino that I saw last time.

I suspected some of the comments were a bit sensationalized. Vegas is not back yet. You'll know they're back when the conferences return and the nightclubs reopen.

[longviewJoe]

Originally Posted by BobPhipps

And although it's only 730 this morning, it's pretty dead outside (not quite the zombie apocalypse but not much better). The Palazzo only has a few tables open with probably 5 actual players and they only have the Grand Lux open at the Venetian. I'll probably stroll over to the Mirage to see if they have more than a few tables open and the whopping 7 people playing in the entire casino that I saw last time.

I suspected some of the comments were a bit sensationalized. Vegas is not back yet. You'll know they're back when the conferences return and the nightclubs reopen.

Just my opinion but the part that is sort of "back" are the crowds on the streets Friday afternoon through Sunday mid-day. By almost all accounts it is DEAD during the week. I agree though that conferences and nightclubs will be a telltale sign. HOPEFULLY by end of summer those will both happen!

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by longviewJoe

Just my opinion but the part that is sort of "back" are the crowds on the streets Friday afternoon through Sunday mid-day. By almost all accounts it is DEAD during the week. I agree though that conferences and nightclubs will be a telltale sign. HOPEFULLY by end of summer those will both happen!

Wasn't dead last month during the week, but could have been the Spring Break/Stimulus bump. Now that Spring Break is over and most people have their government money in hand we'll see what follows. Clearly business is up since every property has or will reopen their hotel towers with Rio being the last to go 7 days starting next week. If there was no return of business the operators would have left at least some of them closed until conventions are back in full swing.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Two good reads that are very pertinent to getting rental cars and getting around in Las Vegas currently:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/state-...-car-industry/

https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/bus...ideshare-wait/

This just shows us that Las Vegas needs a robust mass transit system in place. And I don't think this Tesla thing is the answer either.

[BobPhipps]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Wasn't dead last month during the week, but could have been the Spring Break/Stimulus bump. Now that Spring Break is over and most people have their government money in hand we'll see what follows. Clearly business is up since every property has or will reopen their hotel towers with Rio being the last to go 7 days starting next week. If there was no return of business the operators would have left at least some of them closed until conventions are back in full swing.

This whole notion that people are going to Vegas because of stimulus money must be some social media nonsense (it's not the first time I've heard it). How in the world could you possibly know that people were using stimulus funds to visit (or gamble) in Vegas? Do people dress a certain way that allows you to ascertain that? Please do tell because I'd love to know the answer to that. Most people I know that have received a stimulus are actually using the money to pay bills and put food on their table due to hardships they've experienced during this pandemic.

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by BobPhipps

This whole notion that people are going to Vegas because of stimulus money must be some social media nonsense (it's not the first time I've heard it). How in the world could you possibly know that people were using stimulus funds to visit (or gamble) in Vegas? Do people dress a certain way that allows you to ascertain that? Please do tell because I'd love to know the answer to that. Most people I know that have received a stimulus are actually using the money to pay bills and put food on their table due to hardships they've experienced during this pandemic.

Just what people who see booking data that's not public info are guessing. Of course there is no box to check saying was stimulus money used, but the timing of the stimulus and lots of data suggest the stimulus is playing a large role in hotel bookings. Airlines might have some concurring data but I'm not privy to it. Some of it relates to spring break, but the timing of the bookings suggest it's once again only a part of what's driven recent demand surges.

Guess we can all wait and see what the Strip and Downtown gaming numbers are for March at the end of this month. I'm pretty certain gaming companies will be taking about improvements on their earnings calls too.

[Futuremauian]

Originally Posted by DenverBrian

...except when it's not, as was the case this weekend. I ended up going to National's site and found a car at $62 a day - compared to $85 and up on Costco Travel.

Remember, Costco Travel only includes Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise.

Wrong. They also include Avis.

[BobPhipps]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Just what people who see booking data that's not public info are guessing. Of course there is no box to check saying was stimulus money used, but the timing of the stimulus and lots of data suggest the stimulus is playing a large role in hotel bookings. Airlines might have some concurring data but I'm not privy to it. Some of it relates to spring break, but the timing of the bookings suggest it's once again only a part of what's driven recent demand surges.

Guess we can all wait and see what the Strip and Downtown gaming numbers are for March at the end of this month. I'm pretty certain gaming companies will be taking about improvements on their earnings calls too.

Right, well feel free to include your source for those "people" in the know. Sounds like a bunch of BS to me (more than likely fueled by some politically biased posters on the internet than some actual source). It couldn't have anything to do with the state opening capacity to 50% in mid-March, numbers being down dramatically on the virus, significantly more people getting vaccinated, and Spring Break for young people that aren't too concerned about catching anything....hmmm?

No need to wait and see anything because as you said, there is no "check the box", and it's hardly a rational conclusion that the stimulus would play a "large" factor given the other items in play.