Lipschultz, owner of the 150-room Howard Johnson's Plaza at Industrial Road and Tropicana Avenue, received permission Wednesday to build a 420-room hotel and 27,000-square-foot casino on his 3-acre lot despite objections from competitors. It was opposed by Mandalay Bay, NYNY and Wild, Wild West.

The Clark County Commission voted 4-2 to approve the 24-story hotel and his proposal to reduce required parking levels by 5 percent.

Many time-share condominiums will also be included within the hotel.

The full article can be read in today's issue of the LVRJ via the TalkVegas homepage.

Beth

Your article reminded me of our Time Share Snaggers - the folks that try to sell you on going for a sales pitch.

After our second day in IP I was ready to make and wear a T-shirt or button that said "Time Share? No Thanks!"

I knew they were in the IP (thanks to this board) but they were also at the Venetian, and the Flamingo, and another location I now forget. Oh yes - the Sahara.

"Hello there! How long are you in Vegas? Would you like some show tickets?"

How annoying!

Kes

Next time ask them if this is timeshare. They'll most likely tell you no since it seems to be a bad word. If they say no, just say, "Oh, if it isn't timeshare, then I'm not interested." and walk off. LOL

Somehow I doubt this new "Miami" themed casino/hotel/timeshare project is going to take off. Lot's of these things get announced, very few ever see the light of day.

Doug,
I can't see this working out either. The location is terrible and quite frankly I don't see how even the Howard Johnson name has been able to keep the place afloat all these years. I certinaly can't see people plucking down there cash for a place like this for a time share. Heck, even the old Debbie Rynolds place had a better chance and that failed too!
M2C

Alot of people simply do not do the math - if they did, they would find that it is alot cheaper just to rent hotel/motel plus they are not tied down to one place. Wendell

Wendell,
You know, some time shares you can trade also. It's still a bad deal in most cases, but I know a few people that trade to a Las Vega time share. For them it's great.

Personaly, I would not want to spend the time "looking for a trade" I may or may not get. Don't you have to shop, do your own cooking, cleaning, etc. I really don't want to do household chores when I am on vacation. I guess it is ok for some people though. Wendell

Wendell,
Some include maid service. As far as shopping, if you don't cook you don't need to shop! <S> As for trading, there are services that provide exchanges, that you can subscribe to.
Again, this is not for me, and for a lot of people who visit LV this is a bad deal. But when you are given a bunch of lemons, it's best to make lemonaide! <S>
I'm sure there are all sorts of levels of service that the time share people provide or promise. I personally, would rather not have to deal with all that and just pay as I go, and stay where I want, without the money invested.

Roger, I am with you, both on lemons and timeshares. Wendell

Man, where have I been. All this discussion about timeshares. <VBG>

We own 4 of them now and wouldn't travel any other way. We've become spoiled.

Value? It all depends on how you want to travel I suppose. I sort of like having 600 to 1,300 sq ft to roam around in. I don't use the kitchen to cook but I will use the micro to reheat leftovers and I do make excellent use of the fridge for soda's et....

The living room is nice to kick back in. I find sitting on a couch with a big screen TV beats trying to relax on a bed to watch the news. Not that I watch much TV in Vegas.

Basicaly, if you're comparing hotel rooms to a timeshare condo, you're comparing lemons to limes. <g>

You're better off comparing a full blown, one or two bedroom suite for cost comparison.

Trading is really pretty easy. You just call the exchange company, tell them what you want, and they do the rest. Only twice have I not had a confirmation when I originally called. Once because I was being pretty selective about where I wanted to stay.

So where have we exchanged into? Let's see, twice into Lake Tahoe, once into the French Quarter in New Orleans, once into Orlando during spring break (the resort was within a mile of Disney World), once into and ocean front resort in West Palm Beech Fl, upcoming will be a cruise (destination undecided at this moment), and next year we'll be spending a week in Aviemore Scotland.

As for Vegas, for us it's just nice to get away from the casino's. We feel more at home in our condo than in a hotel room.

It's certainly not for everyone but then neither is RVing. We like it though and hate to travel any other way.

For giggles, I pulled the rental rates for the units we've exchanged into next month. For reference, I've traded my two hotel rooms in Vegas. This is the studio side of my two bedroom units at Polo Towers. What we received in exchange are two one bedroom condo's at the Ridge in Lake Tahoe.

Here are the rental rates for that week.


Deluxe Hotel Room
The Ridge Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, NV
(1) King or (1) Queen bed with sitting area, small coffee maker, min-refrigerator, TV/VCR.
Price Tax Gratuity Total
US$952.00 US$95.20 N/A US$1047.20


One Bedroom Suite
The Ridge Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, NV
(1) King or (1) Queen bed in bedroom with one bath,(1) Queen size sofa sleeper in living room area. Full size kitchen, dining area and living room, gas fireplace, TV/VCR and stereo.
Price Tax Gratuity Total
US$1457.75 US$145.78 N/A US$1603.53


Two Bedroom Suite
The Ridge Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, NV
Each bedroom has (1) king or (1) Queen size bed with one bathroom. Full size kitchen, dining area and livingroom, gas fireplace, TV/VCR and stereo.
Price Tax Gratuity Total
US$2082.50 US$208.25 N/A US$2290.75

Note that the one bedroom suite goes for $1,603.53. I have two of these reserved. Without timeshare, I'm paying $3,207.06. Since I'm exchanging, the cost to me was only $258. The $258 reflexs the exchange rate of $129 X 2. Keep in mind I still have my one bedroom units in Vegas that I can use as well!

Yes I could get a room for a lot less in Reno. But that's just a hotel room. Trust me, these units are MUCH nicer.

Doug,
Thanks for posting the other side of the coin!
I think timeshares would not be for me. A comped room is still better then even paying $129 exchange rate charge. Also, a great many people (visiting Vegas anyway) only need or use the room to sleep. Most times I never find out if the TV even works. LOL

Just curious, is maid service provided? Or is it an option?

Your right about it not working out for everyone, however it seems to be working for you and others! My biggest problem with timeshares is the people hawking them in the casino's and other places. Way too pushy, it's a turn off if they have to push that hard to get anyone to look at the possibilities of a TimeShare. M2C

At Polo Towers, daily maid service is included. At most resorts it's an option for an additional fee. since it's more like being at home, I've never minded making my own bed. Most resorts have laundry machines in the unit so if you feel the need to wash you linens, you can. Most of the time we can make it a week without feeling that particular need. <g>

I do find it helpful to be able to wash and dry my clothes before returning home. One less thing to do when we get there. Usually I'll toss a load in before we leave, then put it in the dryer when we stop by the room.

As for comped rooms, that only works if you gamble. We don't gamble very much. I think most people find, with the house edge, those free rooms can get rather expensive. <g> If you're going to gamble anyway, why not get what's coming to you? The problem is, what do you do if you go somewhere else? I've had a tough time convincing the manager at the Hilton that he should give me the room for free or discounted since I'm spending money on other things. <g>

We've been to Vegas enough that Vegas has really become a vacation. We take time to relax now and don't try to run 24/7 anymore. Nothing worse than needing a vacation from your vacation when you get home. Last trip I did actually watch a little TV for a change. Went over to the fridge, poped open a soda, kicked off the shoes, and turned on the sports channel to see what was happening.

As for the timeshare peddlers on the street, Vegas has to be the worst. In Vegas, it's like running a gauntlet just walking down the strip or through certain casino's. Those suckers are everywhere.

We often use other, unsuspecting tourists, as blockers. We'll time passing these street salesman so that they attack the unsuspecting while we do the end around move. Sort of like in football don't you think? The problem is if there's more than one of them. Then you have to walk fast.

I think I'm going to get T-shirts with the Canadian flag on them. I understand that, thanks to the exchange rate, they leave Canadians alone.

All you have to do to get a disgusted look, and be left alone, is to say "local" when you go by.........sometimes, just SOMETIMES, you even get a genuine smile!

I just put on my "MEAN LOOK" on that is my normal look