I think this is just going to be an annual thing due to the number of people that play MyVegas and the number of people that go to Las Vegas during the next few months... that for people wanting to go from April to mid July if you want to use one of the popular rewards you are going to have to make a pretty solid effort to log in there when the rewards are refreshed in the morning.
I've noticed this also. A lot of the rewards seem to sell out fast. Most of the dates for my September trip at any of the "good hotels" are already blacked out. I don't know if this is them cutting back or just the popularity of the game taking off.
September is just a busy time in Vegas, there are TONS of big events, that cause the city to be really expensive. Labor day, plus I go every year for the Barrett Jackson auction and there's the Iheartradio concerts. They aren't going to give you free rooms if they can sell them at a premium rate. Check at 10am EST everyday, and don't stop until you see them reload. It may end up being 10:15... also try everyday until you get it. I've redeemed probably 12 rewards at this point. i always ended up with everything I wanted, sometimes it took a couple of days, but I always got them. (even the really popular ones)
This is my first time ever going in September. I've always gone during March or April. Work schedules and family life kept us from getting there any earlier this year. I did check the convention calendar and didn't see anything during our dates so I'm hoping it's not a mad house. I like the slower times because table mins are lower and you don't have to fight for a spot at the games or restaurants. Only thing I was really wondering about was the heat.
Ignore the Sold Out designation during reward reset. I snagged a Monte Carlo $50 dining credit that said sold out in the initial reward screen but the tab at the bottom of the second screen was green to proceed. I started clicking the reward back and forth at 9:59 and had success by 10:02 (eastern time). The demand for rewards also varies. In January, the Wolfgang Puck BOGO dinner reward seemed perpetually sold out yet now you can pick it for hours after reset. The Monte Carlo dining credit is hot now (perhaps in part because of the Roadhouse opening) yet the demand didn't seem as high for it in January. At least you have some time before your September trip.
This year will be very interesting. There are double the amount of players this year, with about half as many decent rewards as last year. Last year, there was difficulty getting anything decent from April to September. This year should be comical, when people really start to complain that they can't get something. Glad I'm not going between May and September. It should be Mayhem!!!
I assume most people sign up, get a buffet or a drink.. and then call it a day. Probably not big players like us. I have friends earning tons and tons of points... I'm like why? My last trip I redeemed 3 things, but it was only like 50k LPs.
As soon as some of the details of my trip are solidified then I plan on taking a break from the game. I keep playing just to make sure i'll have all the LP's i'll need. Probably just start signing in once a day for the daily spin after i've redeemed what I need.
yes, as long as they are not hotels or a show which you can make your reservations for these more than 90 days out, however, once the reservation is made they will tell you that your LPs are non refundable