Las Vegas Accommodations
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Las Vegas every year, making it one of the most popular vacation cities in the United States. With approximately 130,000 hotel rooms available for booking, there is no shortage of places to stay when you, too, make plans to visit Sin City.
Finding a place to stay in Las Vegas is not a problem. Even as the economy ebbs and flows, Las Vegas continues to entertain, and those hotel rooms need to be filled, so it’s never a bad idea to check out the Las Vegas deals or promotions available through each hotel before booking. When looking for accommodations, keep in mind that holidays (such as Memorial Day and New Year’s Eve) are particularly popular, so book early and expect to pay a bit more, especially if you’d like to stay in a central location or more upscale hotel.
Because Las Vegas’ accommodations are part of the Sin City experience, you’ll want to think carefully about where to stay. What is important to you? Price? Location? Available activities and amenities? View?
One thing to note at this point is that many of the places on the Strip use the terms “resort” and “hotel” interchangeably, so we do the same in this Las Vegas travel guide. However, it is important for you to realize that all-inclusive properties (meaning you get an all-encompassing experience beyond your room) are generally considered to be resorts while those that offer a room and little else (additional amenities, dining options, entertainment, etc.) are generally referred to as a hotels.
Some of your accommodation options are summarized below.
High-End Resorts
The Las Vegas Strip is lined with huge hotels, and many of the newer ones have been launched as luxury destinations, with rooms starting at several hundred dollars per night (though many also offer discounts and promotions if you ask). These resorts offer all of the amenities that you could possibly want in a Las Vegas accommodation, including dining, spas, pools, fitness rooms and many options for activities and entertainment. If you want nothing but the most convenient and luxurious and you are prepared to pay for it, some of the most popular choices in the city are:
- Wynn Las Vegas – Considered by many to be the finest resort on the Las Vegas Strip, the Wynn is not only aesthetically beautiful, but it also has a classy array of dining options and rooms that offer a stunning view of Las Vegas Boulevard. (Wynn’s sister hotel, Encore Las Vegas, is also impressive.)
- Bellagio – Consistently ranked as one of the best hotels in the United States, the Bellagio is known for its cuisine, art and fountain.
- The Venetian – Conveniently located on the Strip, The Venetian offers a some of the best shopping, dining and entertainment found in Sin City.
>>More information on Las Vegas resorts
Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip
Most of the world’s 20 largest hotels are located along this four-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South. The variety of hotels is part of the reason why the Las Vegas Strip is so memorable. Themed hotels appeal to honeymooning couples, Spring Break crowds and families, and there really does seem to be something for everyone. Prices range from budget to pricey, depending on the hotel, time of year, time of week and room selection. As always, don’t forget to search for Las Vegas travel promotions and discounts before booking.
Find more information on specific resorts and hotels below:
ARIA Hotel & Casino
Bally’s Las Vegas
Bellagio
Caesars Palace
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino
The Cosmopolitan
Encore Las Vegas
Excalibur Hotel and Casino
Flamingo Las Vegas
Harrah’s Las Vegas
Imperial Palace
Luxor Hotel and Casino
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
Mirage Resort and Casino
Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
New York New York Hotel & Casino
Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Riviera Hotel and Casino
Stratosphere
Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
Tropicana Las Vegas
The Venetian
Wynn Las Vegas
>>More information on Las Vegas Strip hotels
Off-Strip Hotels
If staying in a fancy hotel on the Las Vegas Strip isn’t as important to you, consider your other options off of Las Vegas Boulevard. There are a number of oversized hotels just off the Strip that are just as well known, such as Hard Rock Hotel, the Palms and Rio. The Station Casinos offer another off-Strip accommodation option with hotels located throughout the city. Alliante (located in North Las Vegas), Red Rock (in Summerlin) and Green Valley Ranch (in Henderson) are three of the most popular. There are also a number of standard chain hotels directly off the Strip and in other parts of the city. If you hope to save money and don’t mind walking or driving to the Strip, an off-Strip hotel might be a good option.
Find more information on specific resorts and hotels below:
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas Hilton
M Resort
Ravella Las Vegas
>>More information on off-Strip hotels in Las Vegas
Downtown Hotels
Most of the hotels in the downtown Las Vegas are aged and not nearly as modern or luxurious as their counterparts on the Las Vegas Strip, but that doesn’t mean you should discount them. If you don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your room or you’d rather save money to spend elsewhere in Las Vegas, this is a good option to consider. It is easy to get back and forth from the Strip to downtown at any time of day by taxi or bus, and downtown Las Vegas has a fun vibe of its own. Parts of the area can still be described as seedy, but it’s not dangerous and many people find the “old school” touch in downtown Las Vegas to be much more charming than the giant cookie-cutter places along the Strip.
Small Hotels and Motels
Even in the middle of the Strip there are a few small hotels and motels that haven’t yet been sucked into the ‘demolish and rebuild’ machine. Many of these places are old, a bit run down and usually don’t have extensive amenities or their own casinos, but they are almost always much cheaper than their glamorous neighbors. There are many cheap places along Las Vegas Boulevard between the end of the Strip and the downtown hotel neighborhood. This area of the Strip is a bit seedy at night and isn’t highly recommended, but it’s good to know they are there as a last resort for those on a tight budget.
If you don’t mind driving or if the Las Vegas Strip isn’t your primary focus, consider booking a reservation at a motel somewhere else throughout the city.
>>More information on Las Vegas motels
Hostels
Believe it or not, there are a few hostels in Las Vegas. The hostel movement is growing rapidly everywhere so it’s no surprise that America’s most-visited city has opened a few recently as well. They aren’t necessarily the cheapest places to stay in town, and many people would prefer to stay at one of the cheaper hotels on the Strip (especially in the low season), but the hostels are definitely inexpensive compared to the popular hotels and resorts. And, because Las Vegas is such a social city, there is the added bonus of being able to mingle with other travelers, which can be especially nice for those traveling on their own.
>>More information on Las Vegas hostels
Vacation Rentals
If you’d like to spend your Las Vegas vacation feeling a bit more at home, consider staying in a vacation rental. Renting a vacation home has several advantages, including giving you a place that is much more than a simple hotel room during your stay. You’ll have the freedom to cook if you’d like, stretch out and make room for the whole family, and escape the overstimulation of Sin City as you please. If you plan to vacation with many people or will be staying in Las Vegas for longer than a couple days, this can also be a particularly affordable option.
>>More information on vacation rentals in Las Vegas
>>More information on the best hotels for families in Las Vegas.
>>More information on budget hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
>>More information on romantic hotels in Las Vegas.
>>More information on the best hotels for bachelor and bachelorette parties in Las Vegas.
>>More information on the best hotels for a view of the Las Vegas Strip.
>>More information on over-the-top suites in Las Vegas.
>>More information on Las Vegas hotels with wifi access.
>>More information on how to get an upgraded hotel room in Las Vegas.
Photo credit: gordon2208 (New York New York), Kevin Labianco (Flamingo), christianisthedj (bunk bed)