Top Las Vegas Hotels
In Vegas, you can vacation like a high roller without spending like one. Casinos attract guests with low hotel rates hoping to make their money at the gaming tables. Our guide to the top ten Las Vegas hotels will direct you to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world that can be booked at relative bargain prices.
The Vegas Strip is one of the few locations where a 5-star hotel can routinely be booked for under $250 per night. In the dead of summer or winter sometimes for much lower. Rates spike seasonally and weekends, but if your dates are flexible great deals can be had at hotels throughout the year. These hotel/casino complexes feature world-class restaurants, exciting entertainment, excellent shopping, opulent pools and spas, and splashy casinos.
Hotel Booking Tips:
Rates tend to be lowest in the scorching heat of summer (it’s a desert!), and in January/February when it is too cloudy and cool for the pools.
Rates are higher on weekends and holidays.
Be aware of the convention calendar. Prices increase when big conventions are in town, and the crowds can make lines and wait times much longer.
Vegas hotels are generally themed; often after countries or locations around the globe. Many of the hotel/casino complexes are owned by the same entertainment groups. These groups offer higher and lower priced hotel rooms, and some shared amenities.
Many of the hotels/casino complexes offer free attractions, and drinks on the casino floor. See our post Guide to Top Las Vegas Attractions for detailed information.
Deals can be had on hotel rooms, but expenses for cabana rentals, spa appointments, restaurants, clubs, shipping and shows can be expensive. In general, the more exclusive an activity the more you will pay. Check out prices on must-have amenities before booking.
Hotels without attached casinos tend to be quieter and less crowded. Look at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Signature at MGM Grand.
Hotels with great pools include the Encore Beach Club (sexy pool parties), Mandalay Bay Beach (11-acre family-friendly lazy river and sandy beach), and the Caesars Palace pools (mix and mingle adult fun). (LINKS)
For tips on what part of town to stay, transportation, what to pack, and promotions and discounts go to our Las Vegas Guide for First Time Non-Gamblers.
For more information on Las Vegas travel check out our posts on:
Las Vegas Conventions: Top Tips & Things to Do
Las Vegas Guide for First Time Non-Gamblers
Las Vegas Guide to 7 Sinfully Good Days
Guide to Top Las Vegas Attractions
Guide to Walking the Las Vegas Strip
Hotel Recommendations & Descriptions
Read on for descriptions of our favorite Las Vegas hotels. Factors used to develop the list include location, security, cleanliness, amenities, and attractions. The list includes hotels at different price points. We have noted hotels we recommend for families and couples. All of the hotels are located on the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard).
No. 1: Bellagio Las Vegas
Approaching the Bellagio visitors are greeted with dancing fountains shooting skyward in a kaleidoscope of color, music and light. Modeled after an Italian city, the lobby features a magnificent ceiling of glass flowers (Chihuly’s “Fiori di Como”). The gorgeous Conservatory, Botanical Gardens, and an art gallery compliment the entrance. Plush guest rooms, suites, and villas are tastefully decorated in natural stone, gold tones, and aqua. The hotel offers spectacular restaurants and shops that are adorned in natural light, renowned art works, and lush greenery. The elegant pool area offers spa treatments, food/drink, and private lounging (all separate additional costs). Restaurants include the much-loved lake-view Le Cirque and a weekend Wolfgang Puck brunch. The Cirque du Soleil show “O” is based at the Bellagio. Great couple’s resort.
No. 2: Wynn Las Vegas & Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
The Wynn and its sister hotel, the Encore, are luxury 5-star Las Vegas destinations. The combined 4500+ rooms and suites are elegantly decorated with panoramic views. All rooms were built with the latest technological advances and boast personalized services. The resort complex offers over 20 designer eateries, elegant shops, and trendy nightclubs. The resort is beautifully landscaped throughout. There are lagoons, a large waterfall, and nightly shows with music, light, and puppetry. There is a well-appointed spa and ultra-chic pool area. Expensive and Exclusive.
No. 3: Venetian Las Vegas & Palazzo at the Venetian
The towering rooms and suites of the Venetian and Palazzo hotels are linked by a Grand Promenade lined with distinctive shops, restaurants and bars. The resort is built reminiscent of famous Venetian landmarks replete with replicas of the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square, and the Grand Canal (with gondolas rides). All of this old-world charm is balance with chic new-world shops and celebrity eateries. There is an onsite Canyon Ranch gym with climbing walls, workout facilities, and spa services. The indoor public piazzas, meandering canals and gondolas, and wonderful Shoppes of the Grand Canal will keep you busy for hours (days!). The pool areas are luxurious, and on the quieter side. Great couple’s resort.
No. 4: Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Using a theme of ancient Rome and Greece, Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino is full of remarkable and fun statues of the ancient world. The complex includes 5 towers of rooms with various levels of access to the casinos, and privacy. The Nobu tower is decorated in a Japanese style and houses one of Nobu Motsuhis’as restaurants. In addition to Caesar’s rooms, high-end suites, and villas there are some 10 bars (including a 3-level nightclub) and 20 happening restaurants. The Forum Shops are extensive and feature a free Atlantis light show. The adult circus show Absinthe is based here as well as the 4000 seat Colosseum theatre. There are 7 Romanesque style pools with popular bars. Poolside, you can play blackjack, get a message or lounge topless.
No. 5: Paris Las Vegas
The Paris Las Vegas hotel offers 33 stories of rooms and suites, many of which look out over a 540’ replica of the Eiffel Tower. The interior of the hotel was modeled after the famous Hotel de Ville in Paris. At this hotel and casino guests can visit iconic Paris landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and the La Fontaine des Mers. There are a number of French themed boutiques, restaurants, lounges, a rooftop nightclub, and 95,000’ casino. Many visitors climb the Eiffel Tower replica for 360’ views of the Las Vegas Strip from the tower’s observation deck. The complex is linked to its sister property, Bally’s Las Vegas, by a promenade. At Bally’s there is access to the Las Vegas Monorail. Great couple’s resort.
No. 6: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
The Mandalay Bay Casino and Convention center is flanked by the abutting Four Seasons and Delano Hotels. The Four Seasons is a non-gambling property that offers a variety of room sizes. The all-suite Delano Hotel is a striking gold tower that offers spacious spa-styled bathrooms and personalized service. The complex has the 11-acre Mandalay Bay Beach onsite. The Mandalay Bay Casino offers the Shark Tunnel at the Shark Reef Aquarium, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE show, wedding chapels, and the House of Blues Music Show. Many large conventions are held here.
No. 7: MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
One of several MGM hotels on the Strip, the Grand is the largest. This mega-hotel located on the Strip offers rooms, suites, and super-luxurious Skylofts. The theme of the hotel is urban sophistication and entertainment. The resort complex is busy, happening, and full of trendy restaurants and shops. The complexes centerpiece is a 5000+ seat theater that hosts big name performers. Here you will find the CFI experience, Cirque du Soleil “KA” show, and golfing attractions. There is also a 6-acre pool area with lazy river.
No. 8: Mirage Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
The Mirage Hotel and Casino sits behind a massive volcano which regularly erupts with a music and fire show. The hotel offers rooms and suites as well as luxury villas and lanais in a style that can only be described as old-world Vegas. The resort’s attractions include the Cirque du Soleil Beatle’s LOVE show, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden, and Dolphin Habitat where you can view large white cats and bottlenose dolphins. The Mirage also features a great pool area. The Mirage has a retro feel and a great location on the Strip. Some great deals can be had here.
No. 9: New York New York Hotel & Casino
This complex was modeled after the New York City skyline, and features replicas of iconic NYC locations including the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty. Restaurants offer classic NYC menus; steak, pizzerias, bars, and Hershey’s Chocolate World. “Zumanity” by Cirque du Soleil is based here. The Big Apple Roller Coaster roars in and out of the hotel’s public spaces. In addition to the New York style eateries, arcades, and entertainment; there is an 84,000 square foot casino. This hotel is pet-friendly. Great family resort.
No. 10: Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
This hotel and casino is a good choice for families traveling with children. Onsite there are 3 towers with spacious rooms decorated in desert tones. Cribs and mini-fridges can be rented. The Adventuredome 5-acre indoor amusement park offers over 25 rides and attractions. In addition, there is a Mid-Way and regular free circus acts. At the main entrance to this hotel and casino, there is a big tent. Acrobats and other acts perform throughout the grounds. The family will enjoy the giant roller coaster, mini-golf, arcades, and clown shows. Great family resort.
Happy hotel hunting, Laura and Randy
For more information on Las Vegas travel check out our posts on:
Las Vegas Conventions: Top Tips & Things to Do
Las Vegas Guide for First Time Non-Gamblers
Las Vegas Guide to 7 Sinfully Good Days
Guide to Top Las Vegas Attractions
