Bottle service in Las Vegas nightclubs has become a big deal in Las Vegas for multiple reasons including spectacle and convenience. The younger club goer appreciates the spectacle of bottle service while the older club goer often appreciates the conveniences that come with bottle service. Today we’ll look at some reasons why people get bottle service in Las Vegas and how to get bottle service in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is home to some of the most popular nightclubs in the world. If the number of Las Vegas nightclubs in the DJ Mag “Top 100 Clubs in the World” list doesn’t prove this to you than the enormous lines snaking around casinos to get into the clubs should be enough proof to show that demand for nightclubs in Las Vegas is massive.
The line for Las Vegas nightclub is something else. There usually isn’t just one line to get into the clubs. Depending on the club you may see different lines for general admission, will call or advanced tickets, VIP entry, walk up bottle service and VIP bottle service. There are ways to skip the lines and we’ll get into that later.
Las Vegas Bottle Service Cost
Bottle service might cost a pretty penny and it may be worth it to you and your group of friends. First things first, you’re not just paying for a bottle (or 2 or 3) of booze. You’re paying for to be walked through the club by a host or security guard, you’re paying for the booth you’ll be sitting and dancing at, you’re paying for the personal cocktail server and busser to keep your area clean and lastly, you’re paying for a great location in the club.
You’ll be paying for a minimum of one bottle of booze when you order bottle service but that’s not all. You’ll also have to tip each of the aforementioned people for their service. Bottle prices are marked up greatly from retail but you’re expecting that when you go to a club. The bottle of vodka that retails for $30 could cost $250-$500 depending on the club, day, time and location of where you’re the table is located when you’re at the club.
The time, date and location of the nightclub are important when it comes to prices. The same bottle of booze will cost more at a hotter and busier nightclub than one that’s slower. You might have to meet a higher minimum order if you want a premium table at the club. Tables closer to the action and dance floor will probably cost more than tables located in the back of the club.
In addition, to the cost of the bottle you’re expected to tip everyone helping serve your experience for the night. You’ll typically pay the following above the cost of your bottle:
- The host that shows you to your table.
- The waitress serving drinks all night.
- The busser cleaning up your mess all night.
- Security.
- 8% sales tax.
These extra expenses can turn a $500 night of bottle service into an $800 night. Here’s a real life example of the cost of bottle service directly from Tao at The Venetian:
Our bottle price starts at $550 each (e.g vodka).You have the table for the entire night with a personal cocktail waitress. TAO Nightclub features top 40/house/hip-hop music. Doors open at10:00pm. Please arrive by 11:00pm and check in at the table line. Please note that dress code is enforced – collar shirts and dress shoes for gentleman with valid photo ID.
For 4ppl , here are our minimums:
$550 min Standard table
$1100 min Main room
$2k min Prime table
$3k min Dance Floor
Sales tax of 8.15% recommended gratuity of 20%, 5% production fee added on top. No cover or line.
Note these rates are often negotiable. The source of this email was able to get 10 people into the club for the price quoted above. That turns out to be about half the price per person than originally quoted. Not too shabby. Is it worth it? That depends on you, your party and your expectations.
Why Get Bottle Service in Las Vegas Clubs?
Spectacle
Bottle service isn’t cheap and the clubs want you to feel like you’re getting a value for the money you’re spending on a bottle. Some of the less expensive bottles will simply get you great service and a table but a more expensive bottle might come with a bit of a show. The show might simply be the cocktail servers lighting up sparklers while bringing your bottles. This lets everyone in the club know that you’re kind of a big deal. For a little while, all of the attention in that part of the club is on you.
Convenience
When you plan in advance and reserve bottle service at a Las Vegas nightclub you’ll often have the smoothest nigthclub experience available. When you plan your bottle service in advance you’ll either have a priority entrance to the club or just skip the lines altogether (more on this later). Bottle service comes with a booth, table, dedicated cocktail server to make your drinks so you won’t have to deal with anyone outside of your crew. In essence, bottle service can remove all of the bad parts of a nightclub experience.
Comfort
At minimum, bottle service will reserve you and your party a semi-private table or booth. This area is much more comfortable way to hang out with your crew as opposed to standing in a circle and talking. In addition the seating is a great benefit for the ladies wearing super high heels. You won’t have to muscle your way through hundreds or thousands of people to get a drink at the bar. Spend enough money and you might be able to reserve a private table or booth but that might defeat the purpose of going to the nightclub.
How To Get Bottle Service in Vegas
Setting up bottle service may seem simple but the nightclub business is rarely as simple as it appears. Like most businesses nightclub prices are set on supply and demand. Unlike most businesses your bottle service reservation might not mean that you always have a reservation. Confusing? It should be. Follow this example:
Certain nights at the club will be more in demand than others. Prices on these nights will generally be higher. Makes sense so far. However, that doesn’t mean a slow night will always be a slow night. If something changes at the club (entertainment, special guests, celebrities) and the demand increases your reservation may no longer be safe.
Nightclubs are always looking for make more money regardless of ethics. If someone comes in with an offer for your table that’s 5 times the amount as your reservation, your reservation might just be canceled. Or you might be told you need to up your commitment for that table when you arrive at the club. Not cool. Not all nightclubs and independent hosts operate like this but it happens. Unlike your hotel reservation you should be in constant contact to make sure your reservation is still intact. It can be annoying but it’s a good way to make sure nothing shady happens.
Here are a few ways you can secure bottle service in a Las Vegas nightclub:
- Directly from the club – You can contact many of the clubs directly from their website or by phone and they’ll set you up. The benefit of this method is that it’s usually the least expensive option.
- Hotel concierge – Depending on the hotel you’ll either be connected to a host employed by the nightclub directly or an independent host contracted to do similar duties.
- Independent hosting company – There are companies hired by the nightclubs to arrange everything from advanced ticket sales to VIP bottle service. There are many different companies that offer this service and you should vet their past through yelp, message boards and google searches. You can easily find out if a company has a good or bad reputation.
On a personal note, I have a friend who’s a partner in a hosting company and have always used and recommended their service. They walk me into the club (no lines), wait until the waitress arrives and get the started on the night. Payment is arranged beforehand by credit card so there’s nothing to pay in person besides a tip. You can even set the bill up online so you split the bill and each member of your party can pay individually.
Whether you use a hosting company or do everything yourself a little advance work usually saves a lot of hassle when you just want to party. The price is a little more expensive with an independent host but like most people I know my time is valuable.
Paying for expedited access, guaranteed tables and no upselling once arriving to the club is worth the extra money. Knowing that the company has a great reputation helps customers (me, in this case) feel safe that there won’t be any funny business.
Bottom Line on Bottle Service
Bottle service in Las Vegas isn’t for everyone that goes to nightclubs in Las Vegas. It might be best for large groups looking for a good time and not willing to stand in line for hours. The price might seem expensive but when you do the math and take into account the convenience and comfort that comes along with bottle service the expense might be worth it for you and your party.
Photo: Marquee
