Question: What's the big hoopla with New Year's Eve? I know there's a big party on the Strip, but what does that entail? Are there any concerts worth taking note of? Lastly, lodging and car rental -- seeing as NYE means maximum occupancy and higher-than-Stratosphere rates, are there any dos and don'ts? Would it be worthwhile during this ultra-busy season to rent a car? Isn't traffic going to be even worse than usual? We're thinking of staying at the coming Westin. Just how far is it to the Strip?
Freecia in Mountain View, Calif.
Answer: Wow, that's a lot of questions, Freecia. I'll do my best ...
The big deal with New Year's is hundreds of thousands of people jammed onto the Strip to watch the largest fireworks display in the world all synchronized by computer and launched from the roofs of hotels up and down the street. It is quite impressive and quite a party.
There are lots of concerts and parties at the various hotels. It's too early to know who will be performing where, but expect some big names.
I always recommend you rent a car -- always! It's cheaper than taking cabs everywhere and more reliable than the city bus system. Parking is free everywhere, even valet service, so rent a car. Traffic will be bad, but in the long run you'll come out ahead.
As far as hotels, you'll get cheaper rooms if you stay downtown or at one of the locals' places like Sunset Station, but that's true any time of the year. Each year, I do a "New Year's Even Room Rate Report" that usually starts in September. It lists the rates for all of the major hotels for and is updated monthly so you can see if prices are going up or down. Watch the column for more details.
As far as dos and don'ts, the only one I have is absolutely do not book a room that does not offer you at minimum a 48-hour cancellation option. Many hotels will try to get you to agree to a no refunds, no cancellations policy for the New Year's weekend -- don't do it. You could get locked into a much higher rate than you need to pay.
The new Westin is about 3 blocks from the Strip; Five minutes if you walk really slowly.
Hope I covered it all. Enjoy!
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