Guest Assurance Is Important, Especially For International Travelers

When we make reservations at a hotel like the Bellagio or Venetian, we know that we're going to be taken care of well on arrival. Things will be just as we expect them to be, and everything will be as advertised. And these are reasonable expectations, and in fact they are exactly what will happen to the vast majority of guests at those places. But vacation home rentals are not the Bellagio or the Venetian, and the typical rental is not operated to those standards.

That's where we are different than most vacation rental companies in Las Vegas. We run our homes with the utmost of professionalism and attention to detail. We aren't trying to the like the Venetian, but we want our guests to feel confident and relaxed in knowing that we are doing our best to provide the good service they expect. We want our guests to enjoy their stay and not give a second thought to the home, the same way they don't give a second thought to their hotel room.

We love what we do for a living. Being in the vacation and travel business in Las Vegas is truly a fun job. People come from all over the world to visit us in Las Vegas. To many people it is like visiting the Land of Oz.

We want our customers to rave about our town and to rave about their vacation home. This is our primary goal all the time, including when it is not in our favor. We're looking for long term success, not short term gain.

We often rant about other companies in this blog. And it's true, we don't think they take this business as seriously as we do. But that's only because the evidence is all over the place, and we know that companies tend to act the way the act, good or bad, as a pattern. If they misrepresent up front, they're going to misrepresent ongoing. Whether it's calling their P.O. Box an "office" or trying to tell you that BBB accreditation a "liability", that's just the way it is. They hide from the truth and we hope you don't fall for it.

As always, be careful when you choose who to book a vacation home with. And if you are traveling internationally, there is no need to ruin your global travel when good and reliable Las Vegas holiday villas are available. Be extra careful to check the easy to find Internet references first.

Travel safely and have fun!

All Vacation Rentals Are Not The Same

Look Beyond Just Price
So you're looking for a good deal and you've been shopping around for vacation rentals in Las Vegas. Prices seem to vary widely, sometimes by hundreds of dollars or more per night.

But the goal here was to get a good deal, so you choose one that seems reasonable and book it. You feel good about yourself, because you just saved $300 by shopping around a little, and still got a decent 4 bedroom home with a pool and spa only a few minutes from the Strip.

Not Exactly What We Expected
When you arrive to begin your trip, the first thing you notice is that the home seems to be more than a few moments from the Strip. In fact, this neighborhood doesn't seem very welcoming at all and the house doesn't look like the one you booked online. But your code opens the front door, so this must be the place.

As you enter the home and look around, it is clear that this home has not been cleaned well. Surfaces are dusty, furniture is worn and tattered. Decorating is a combination of "whatever was available" and is not at all what was depicted online. When you call to bring this situation to the attention of the vacation rental company, there is no answer.

Swindles Are Nothing New
This situation is all too common in Las Vegas. We're sorry to say that many companies here have been getting away with this behavior for years. Enforcement by local authorities is only done in the most extreme cases.

Customers also have very little recourse with the Better Business Bureau because these companies aren't usually members to begin with. They're listed, usually with an "F" rating, because customers have complained about them. But because they're not members, they don't have to adhere to any customer service practices outlined by the BBB.

In a case like that, all someone can do with the BBB is file a complaint, after the fact, which we do recommend. Even if you can't help yourself, at least you can help save the next unwitting customer from becoming a victim as well.

What Was The Name Of That Company, Again?
Another way companies like to avoid their dark histories is by changing their name. They happily give up the advantage of creating brand recognition in order to tell some fake story about how they were just bought out our merged with any company. What baloney! All they did was replace the logo. They kept the same people, website, and crummy dishonest customer service.

It seems ridiculous to say, but even though complaints are easy to find, people tend not to look until it's too late. Once they've been taken advantage of, then they will go online and confirm the bad news other people tried to tell them about. Ratings matter and complaints matter. There is simply no excuse not to take 5 minutes and do a little research before you send your money to people you don't know. Be careful and considerate when you choose a Las Vegas vacation home rental. Just a little investment before you make the commitment can make all the difference in the world.

And as always, happy travels from Las Vegas Retreats!
   

Our Newest Team Member!

Las Vegas Retreats is happy to announce our newest team member, Lori Judd. Having worked for years in the Las Vegas travel business and especially as a high-level Las Vegas Concierge, Lori is an excellent addition to our already wonderful team. Lori comes with a wealth of experience and can assist with everything from choosing the right vacation home for your family or group, to setting up all the details of your Las Vegas Event.

With Las Vegas Retreats now strategically located amongst some of the best event space in all Las Vegas, Lori can help arrange your next wedding, party, reception or corporate event. Our new location at the Piazza Plaza affords easy access from nearly all our vacation home rentals. With 3 different event spaces at the Piazza and for as many as 300 guests, there is room for almost any sized event.

Call or email Lori for more information on our excellent vacation home rentals, and for your next Las Vegas event. She can be reached at 702 944-9978 ext. 103 or lori@lasvegasretreats.com.
 

BBB Accreditation is Cheap But Hard To Get

Have you ever heard the old saying "Winning isn't everything"? You know who says that? Losers. That's what you hear when companies can't get BBB Accreditation. They'll tell you it's expensive and that they would just have to raise their rates to cover the cost. What baloney!

The truth is that BBB Accreditation is practically free. Even the smallest of companies can afford it. It costs about the same as the P.O. Box those companies refer to as their "office". However, your company has to qualify for it. And that's where the real reason they are not accredited. In fact the BBB generally gives those same companies an "F" rating as well.

If you watch our blog, you know that the same companies who put forth these bogus reasons for not being accredited also have a string of complaints against them. The truth is, running an honest business is not an accident. We've seen lots of these companies come and go since we're been around. The lies are nothing new, though it does surprise is sometimes with how blatant they really are.

Las Vegas Retreats is a real company with a real reputation and real offices, right on the Las Vegas Strip. We invite you to come by any time and visit. We'll be happy to introduce you to the staff who will be assisting you with your reservation, and the customer service crew who will be ready to help during your stay. And maybe if you're lucky, you can also meet the cleaning crew and pool team and the home technicians. These are the people who see to it that your vacation rental is ready and waiting when you arrive.

We do not consider our team to be a luxury. A quality experience doesn't just magically create itself. It takes real dedication and caring for the customer. We struggle to see how anyone can expect a company to act that way when their entire premise begins with a big fat lie. Choose wisely and do your research friends.

Happy Travels!

Secret Event Space Right On The Las Vegas Strip!

The greatest thing about knowing a secret, is when it's right out in the open but nobody sees it! That's that case with the Copa Room, right here at the Piazza Plaza.

The Copa Room is the perfect event space for almost any kind of event anyone would want to hold in Vegas. With a capacity to serve up to 300 guests from a professional kitchen, and ample parking for cars and buses of any size, the Copa is a-one-of-a-kind find in Las Vegas.

Situated at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Robindale Rd, the Copa is suitable for everything from a formal sit-down reception to a dance party for 300 people. Business events,weddings, receptions, private parties, celebrity events, etc. The potential uses are practically unlimited.

Your guests can enjoy strolling the shops at The Piazza Plazza. Of course they are always welcomed at the 24 Hour Bootlegger Casino and Restaurant, located right next door. And in case anyone needs to do a little last minute shopping, eh hemm, the Factory Outlet Mall is right across the street.

The Copa Room is a great Las Vegas event location. Call us today to learn more about booking The Copa Room and other event space available at the Piazza Plaza. 888-887-0951

2011 International CES Consumer Electronics Show

CES has come and gone again from Las Vegas. This year we saw over 140,000 visitors to the annual convention. A substantial increase from last years' 120,000 and further proof that the economy is continuing to improve, albeit slower than everyone wants it too.

January is a busy month at Las Vegas Retreats. Not only with the week long Consumer Electronics Show, but also the World of Concrete, the Concrete and Masonry Construction Event in Las Vegas.

As always, we recommend vacation home rentals over hotel lodging for these shows, and for numerous reasons. None the least of which is the flexibility afforded by vacation home rentals, but also the substantial savings in time money and exasperation of constantly waiting in line for everything.

Our regular guests will attest to the fact that staying in vacation homes during the convention provides a quiet respite away from the crowds and the ability to digest the days events. Many return customers look forward to their annual stay and refer to it as more of a working vacation than a business trip.

We want to thank our guests for being loyal to Las Vegas Retreats and for making this an excellent beginning to the annual convention season. We appreciate it very much.