docs(trip): mark Vegas potential winners, record cancellation rules

Horseshoe, Flamingo and Wyndham Desert Rose 2BR promoted to potential
winners with locations. Free-cancellation deadlines added per hotel,
plus the strategy: book a refundable rate now as a floor, re-check
prices near the date.

vegas_stay_options.md

@@ -12,6 +12,16 @@
 
 ---
 
+## Potential winners
+
+1. **[Horseshoe](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/bally-s-las-vegas-casino.html)** — centre Strip at the Flamingo Rd corner, next to Paris, fountains across the road. $1,025 all-in + paid parking. Free cancellation until **Sep 28**, pay at the property.
+2. **[Flamingo](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/flamingo-casino.html)** — same intersection, LINQ/High Roller behind it. $1,274 all-in + paid parking. Free cancellation until **Sep 28**, pay at the property — but only 1 room left at that rate.
+3. **[Wyndham Desert Rose 2BR](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/wyndham-desert-rose-resort-2br-apartment-with-resort-access.html)** — Harmon Ave, one block behind the Strip, ~15-min walk to the centre. $630 all-in, 2 bed/2 bath + kitchen, free parking. ⚠️ Cancellation terms TBC — few units, so it can sell out (the Grand Desert villa already did).
+
+**Booking strategy: book a free-cancellation rate now as a floor, then re-check prices near the date.** Vegas rates are demand-priced: megaresorts often dump unsold rooms cheaply in the final days, but one convention can triple prices instead — late Sep/Oct is peak convention season. A refundable booking captures the last-minute upside with none of the risk: if rates drop, cancel and rebook; if they spike, keep it. (The cheap Aug 30–Sep 3 prices seen earlier were day-of midweek rates in Vegas's slowest week — not representative of Wed–Sat, Sep 30–Oct 3.) Don't play this game with the Wyndham/Desert Rose suites — limited inventory, verify their cancellation terms before relying on rebooking.
+
+---
+
 ## Location on the Strip
 
 | Zone | Walk to | Hotels below |
@@ -26,16 +36,18 @@
 
 *All-in group total for 2 rooms × 3 nights, taxes and resort fees included.*
 
-| Hotel | Zone | **All-in × 2 rooms** | Parking | Rating |
+| Hotel | Zone | **All-in × 2 rooms** | Parking | Free cancel until | Rating |
-|---|---|---|---|---|
+|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-| [Circus Circus](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/circus-circus.html) | North | **$500** (C$694) | Free (1 spot/room) | 6.8 (16,474) |
+| [Circus Circus](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/circus-circus.html) | North | **$500** (C$694) | Free (1 spot/room) | Sep 28 | 6.8 (16,474) |
-| [The STRAT](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/stratosphere-casino.html) | North (far) | **$576** (C$800) | On site, fee TBC | 7.2 (8,794) |
+| [The STRAT](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/stratosphere-casino.html) | North (far) | **$576** (C$800) | On site, fee TBC | Sep 27 | 7.2 (8,794) |
-| **[Excalibur](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/excalibur.html)** | South | **$637** (C$885) | Paid | 7.6 (30,951) |
+| **[Excalibur](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/excalibur.html)** | South | **$637** (C$885) | Paid | Sep 27 | 7.6 (30,951) |
-| [SAHARA Las Vegas](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/sahara-lasvegas-hotel-casino.html) | North | **$934** (C$1,297) | **Free (self & valet)** | **8.4** (11,717) |
+| [SAHARA Las Vegas](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/sahara-lasvegas-hotel-casino.html) | North | **$934** (C$1,297) | **Free (self & valet)** | Sep 27 | **8.4** (11,717) |
-| **[Horseshoe Las Vegas](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/bally-s-las-vegas-casino.html)** | **Center** | **$1,025** (C$1,424) | Paid | 7.9 (8,180) |
+| **[Horseshoe Las Vegas](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/bally-s-las-vegas-casino.html)** | **Center** | **$1,025** (C$1,424) | Paid | Sep 28 · pay at property | 7.9 (8,180) |
-| [Luxor](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/luxor.html) | South | **$1,056** (C$1,467) | Paid | 7.4 (22,988) |
+| [Luxor](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/luxor.html) | South | **$1,056** (C$1,467) | Paid | Sep 27 | 7.4 (22,988) |
-| [Flamingo](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/flamingo-casino.html) | Center | **$1,274** (C$1,770) | Paid · 1 room left | 7.8 (24,171) |
+| [Flamingo](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/flamingo-casino.html) | Center | **$1,274** (C$1,770) | Paid · 1 room left | Sep 28 · pay at property | 7.8 (24,171) |
-| [Best Western Plus Casino Royale](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/best-western-plus-casino-royalecenter-strip.html) | Center | **$1,391** (C$1,932) | **Free** · no resort fee | 8.0 (3,579) |
+| [Best Western Plus Casino Royale](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/best-western-plus-casino-royalecenter-strip.html) | Center | **$1,391** (C$1,932) | **Free** · no resort fee | Sep 27 · pay from Sep 25 | 8.0 (3,579) |
+
+*Cancellation deadlines apply to the flexible rates checked Aug 31; cheaper non-refundable rates exist (e.g. The STRAT). Circus Circus and The STRAT also take refundable check-in deposits ($200/$300 per room).*
 
 **With fees included the ranking changed.** [Horseshoe](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/bally-s-las-vegas-casino.html) (centre Strip, walkable to nearly everything in [`vegas_sights.md`](vegas_sights.md)) is now **$1,025 + parking** — no longer the bargain it looked. [Excalibur](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/excalibur.html) at **$637** stays the cheapest sensible hotel (South Strip, free tram to the MGM cluster, 30,951 reviews). [SAHARA](https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/sahara-lasvegas-hotel-casino.html) at **$934** has the best rating (8.4) and free self + valet parking, but sits north.