If you will be attending one of the many Las Vegas Conventions in the near future, you are in for a fun, exciting, but potentially stressful experience. Depending on what time of year you visit for an expo, you may find every price inflated, from room rates to the shows, and even dining. Vegas thrives on its entertainment, so when the offerings are higher—such as a large convention in town—the prices are elevated. A few tips, however, might save you from paying the outrageous prices that many convention-goers encounter.

Book rooms as soon as possible when going to a convention. If you are planning to be in attendance for a major convention, try to get your reservation as soon as an event is announced. However, if the event is set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, you may not be able to beat the hotels to the punch, since many of them employ staff whose sole job is to track upcoming events and inform personnel to adjust nightly rates. If you do manage to catch wind of the event early enough, though, you may be able to book a rate for a fraction of what it will cost mere hours later.

Going to Las Vegas for a convention breaks many of the traditional rules. In most standard vacations, guests would wait until about a month from departure date to book a room, since discounts are offered during downtimes to keep hotels full. Going to a convention, however, means staying ahead of the game to land a rate that does not reflect the influx of tourism on the city’s economy, possibly booking as much as six months in advance.

When you are planning to attend a smaller convention that might be held in one of the resorts/hotels, your best option is simply to book at another establishment. Booking in advance is still wise, but finding a room elsewhere than the host resort is sure to result in lower nightly rates. Your company or the host of the event may offer perks to guests staying in the hotel where the convention is to be held, but many times, the hotel will recoup more than a generous sum in comparison with the benefits the guest will receive.

To escape the burden of paying inflated costs while attending one of the many Las Vegas conventions, the last resort might be to stay off of the Las Vegas strip. Making a short drive or using public transportation to commute into the heart of the strip for an event gives guests the ability to rent at a suburban hotel and save a great deal of money. Room prices will be your largest considerations when visiting for one of these major events. Still, enjoy the party and make sure to dine at some of the famous restaurants.