Crazy hotel room rates for New Years Weekend

[Grant]

I guess because New Years Eve is on a Saturday that a lot more people will be patying and traveling. Here are some crazy rates for that weekend. I am glad I am not going!

*- Unless you've already booked a room, or can work some late-night magic with someone who's already a hotel guest, ditch any thoughts of waking up at Wynn Las Vegas on New Year's morning. The city's newest megaresort is sold-out Friday and Saturday. Resort-style rooms are available Thursday evening for $399, but those rates jump to $699 Friday and Saturday, a Wynn Las Vegas spokesman said.

*- The city's largest hotel, the 5,034-room MGM Grand, was still accepting Friday check-ins for two-night stays. Saturday check-ins were no longer available, however. The property's Web site offered up a Grand Tower room for $599 per night. The same room would go for $89.99 Thursday evening.

*- The Venetian had two room types available: a king bed luxury suite that costs $699 per night, or a comparable room in the fancier Venezia tower for $859. The same rooms on Thursday cost $259 and $319, respectively.

New Year's Eve festivities at the Italian-themed megaresort include a party at St. Mark's Square and a VIP late-night gathering hosted by home video starlet Paris Hilton at the nightclub Tao Las Vegas.

*- Bellagio had rooms open for one-night stays beginning Friday with posted prices of $499 for a deluxe room, or $1,050 for a salon suite. Friday-Saturday stays were unavailable as were Saturday check-ins at the 3,933-room megaresort.

*- Harrah's Entertainment will end 2005 with a flourish. Its Caesars Palace, Harrah's Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Rio resorts are each fully booked Friday and Saturday. Rooms could still be had at Bally's for $329 per night.

*- The Hard Rock Hotel is sold-out Friday and Saturday. Its primary competitor for the young, hip visitor, The Palms, had rooms available for two-night stays beginning Friday at a cost $399 and $499 per night. Saturday-only stays were sold out, and Maloof promised several big year-end parties will occur throughout his resort on West Flamingo Road.

*- Travelers willing to venture off the Strip have more room options. The Cannery, a 201-room locals hotel-casino in North Las Vegas, reported some late cancellations that created vacancies Friday and Saturday. Daily rates were $169 and $174, respectively.

*- Separately, the upscale Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas offered multiple room sizes ranging from $364 to $1,200 per night. The latter package includes access to a jewelry show, Friday champagne reception and Saturday gala featuring live music from the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

[GREGRIO]

...so what else is new?