How far out should you reserve a resataurant?
In most cities across the country, there are a handful of top-tier restaurants. In Las Vegas, however, there are over 300 amazing restaurants on a single, 3-mile-long stretch of road. While it might seem like you can enjoy group dining in Vegas with little or no notice, it’s never a good idea. The larger the group, the further out you should plan. Here’s a guide for when you should plan to start booking your venues.
WHEN DO I NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BOOKING FAR IN ADVANCE?
Vegas is a destination for both business and leisure travelers. There are a few times of the year when visitation is slower, and restaurants may have more availability. In general, most of January, the first week of February and the hottest summer months pf July and August are a bit slower. However, when a large convention, entertainment act or music festivals are in Las Vegas, it can be difficult to find good reservations even during the slow months.
In addition, some of the best restaurants that are located near casino floors are booked solid every day of the year. Even if your trip is during a typically slow season, make sure you still plan and book early . With an average of 700,000 visitors on the Strip every week, it may be difficult to find the group dining experience you’re looking for.
WHEN ARE THE BUSIEST TIMES ON THE STRIP?
The busiest times on the Las Vegas Strip are during large conventions, holiday weekends and major sporting events. If you are coming to town during one of these weekends, make sure to start planning your event at least 4 months in advance. You can find a calendar of all of the largest conventions here.
The biggest holidays in Las Vegas are New Years Eve, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Halloween. Some of the larger sporting events and festivals include are PBR (Professional Bull Riders), NFR (National Finals of Rodeo), EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival), NASCAR, the NBA All-Star game, major boxing events and more. During any of these events, restaurant reservations for groups can be difficult.
CERTAIN CASINOS AND PARTS OF THE STRIP ARE BUSIER THAN OTHERS.
Even though the Strip is a relatively small area, there are areas that are much busier than others. The restaurants at MGM Grand, Venetian, Mirage, Wynn, and Bellagio are usually full on a nightly basis. In most of the large casinos, there are restaurants in high-traffic areas right on the casino floor. Most of these restaurants take advance reservations, and for good reason. If you are hoping to book a restaurant at a hotel where a convention is taking place, keep in mind that the private dining rooms will be booked 4-6 months in advance, with semi-private group dining booked up shortly thereafter.
THERE ARE WEEKENDS WHERE THE CITY IS FULL. WHAT SHOULD I DO THEN?
If you can’t find anything available on your date, give us a call! Even on busy weekends our team can usually find great restaurants with some availability. If everything is really booked solid, we can still help find a restaurant within walking distance.
The main takeaway is to plan early to get the best venue for the best deal. Most large restaurants will allow you to book your date many months in advance. And of course, give us a call and we can make it easy!