I wasn't suggesting OP make reservations for December.

OP, can play around with the dates a little? Or are you set in a specific time frame? If you can then what I suggested will work. I have had plenty of experience with tourist season in the strip. The hotels/motels have too. If you can make your reservations for just a little before or after then, it will save you quite a bit of money and may even get you into a really nice place for about what you would pay for a "dive". You don't have to vary by much timewise. a week before or after as I said could save a lot of money.