Bellagio
Fountains out front, O in-house and the best marble-and-glass classic-Strip experience.
Center Strip · Luxury
Where to stay
Best Hotels in Las Vegas: 15 Handpicked Strip & Off-Strip Stays
Las Vegas is a linear city — the four miles of Las Vegas Boulevard are the entire trip for most visitors. Which resort you pick decides how long you walk to your show, your pool day and your best restaurant. Below is the shortlist we send friends by section of the Strip, with live rates and verified reviews through our licensed booking partner.
Which section of the Strip is right for you
Center Strip (Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Cosmopolitan, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Horseshoe, Flamingo, Venetian, Palazzo, Mirage / Hard Rock rebuild): the walkable core — the shortest distance to fountains, Forum Shops, Sphere and the pedestrian bridges. Best for first-timers.
South Strip (Aria, Vdara, Waldorf Astoria, Cosmopolitan south, MGM Grand, NoMad, Park MGM, T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium): the newer luxury cluster with the best pool complexes and the closest access to concerts and Raiders games.
North Strip (Wynn, Encore, Fontainebleau, Resorts World, Palazzo north, Sahara): the quieter luxury end, newer product, best sportsbook (Resorts World / Circa satellite), and easier drives in and out of the Strip.
Off-Strip (Waldorf Vdara, Palms, Rio, Virgin, Ahern): value picks with a 5-10 minute rideshare to the Strip. Best if you don't want to gamble past 1am.
Downtown / Fremont (Circa, Golden Nugget, Plaza, El Cortez, Downtown Grand): old Vegas — smaller casinos, cheaper table minimums, the Fremont Street Experience canopy overhead. Circa is the modern anchor with the best Downtown pool and sportsbook.
How much Las Vegas hotels cost
Value off-Strip or Downtown: $70-$160 per night (plus $30-$45 resort fee).
Mid-range Strip (Flamingo, Paris, Linq, Planet Hollywood): $150-$320 (plus $45 resort fee).
Upper mid Strip flagship (MGM Signature, Venetian, Mirage rebuild, Park MGM): $250-$500 (plus $50 resort fee).
Luxury (Bellagio, Wynn, Encore, Cosmopolitan, Aria, Waldorf, Fontainebleau, NoMad): $450-$1,200+ (plus $50-$55 resort fee).
The published nightly rate is always lower than the checkout total once you add resort fee (mandatory), parking ($15-$25 per night at most casinos) and taxes. High-demand weekends: EDC (May), Formula 1 (November), New Year's Eve, Super Bowl LX weekend, March Madness, NFR (December). Sunday-Thursday rates are 40-70% lower than Friday-Saturday.
What to book alongside your hotel
Cirque du Soleil or a residency show — O (Bellagio), Ka (MGM Grand), Mystere (TI), Sphere (U2 / Postcard from Earth / Dead & Company) sell out weekends.
A pool day pass at a neighbouring resort (Encore Beach Club, Wet Republic, Mandalay Bay Beach) if your hotel's pool is not the vibe.
A Grand Canyon West + Hoover Dam day trip — helicopter or coach, half or full day.
A pre-booked private transfer from LAS (Harry Reid International) — 10-15 minutes to the South Strip and 15-25 to Downtown, $30-$55 fixed; simpler than the taxi rank on a Friday-night arrival.
Our editors' hotel shortlist
Wynn Las Vegas
Steve Wynn's flagship — floral atrium, Botero pool, still the highest hotel service on the Strip.
North Strip · Luxury
Encore at Wynn
The newer Wynn tower — Encore Beach Club pool complex, XS nightclub, better rooms than the original.
North Strip · Luxury
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Design-hotel with Chandelier Bar, terrace suites over the Bellagio fountains and Marquee nightclub.
Center Strip · Design
Aria Resort & Casino
Modern MGM flagship with the best-mannered casino floor, Jean Georges Steakhouse and the CityCenter pools.
South Strip · Modern
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas
Non-gaming luxury at CityCenter — spa-level calm, tea lounge, sky-high suites over the Strip.
South Strip · Non-Gaming
The Venetian Resort
All-suite gondola-canal spectacle with the Palazzo tower and Grand Canal Shoppes.
Center Strip · Resort
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
The 2023 North Strip opening — 3,644 rooms, sculpted pool complex, LIV nightclub Vegas edition.
North Strip · Luxury
Resorts World Las Vegas
Hilton triple-brand (Hilton, Conrad, Crockfords) with the best sportsbook on the Strip and Zouk nightclub.
North Strip · Modern
NoMad at Park MGM
Adults-only NoMad tower within Park MGM — the best mid-Strip design pick, walking distance to T-Mobile Arena.
South Strip · Adults
Park MGM
Smoke-free casino, Eataly food hall and Dolby Live residencies (Bruno Mars, Adele).
South Strip · Modern
Caesars Palace
Restored Colosseum residencies, Nobu Hotel tower, Forum Shops next door — the classic Strip icon.
Center Strip · Classic
Delano Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay
All-suite adults-friendly tower with access to Mandalay's beach pool and the Four Seasons spa.
South Strip · Adults
Circa Resort & Casino (Downtown)
The first ground-up Downtown resort in 40 years — 6-tier stadium pool, largest sportsbook in the world.
Downtown · Adults
Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa (Summerlin)
20 minutes off-Strip near Red Rock Canyon — locals-favourite pool, movie theatre, family-friendly.
Summerlin · Family
Check live hotel rates in Las Vegas
Real availability and prices from our licensed booking partner. No hidden fees.
Frequently asked questions
Which section of the Strip is best for a first visit?
Center Strip — Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Cosmopolitan, Paris, Planet Hollywood and the Venetian all sit within a 15-minute walk. Fountains, Forum Shops, Sphere and the pedestrian bridges are at your door. South Strip is the alternative if you're going to Sphere and Allegiant Stadium.
How much do Las Vegas hotels really cost?
The published nightly rate is always lower than the checkout total. Add a $40-$55 resort fee per night (mandatory), $15-$25 self-parking at most casinos and 13.38% tax. Sunday-Thursday rates are 40-70% cheaper than Friday-Saturday; book EDC / F1 / NYE / NFR weekends 4-8 months ahead.
Which Las Vegas hotels are best for families?
Excalibur, Luxor, New York-New York, MGM Grand, Circus Circus, Park MGM, Mandalay Bay (Shark Reef, beach pool) and the Trump International (non-gaming, no smoking). Off-Strip: Red Rock (Summerlin) and the Green Valley Ranch (Henderson). Skip Encore Beach Club-era hotels for young kids.
Is a resort fee mandatory?
Yes at every Strip and most Downtown resorts — $40-$55 per night added at checkout. It nominally covers wifi, pool, gym and local calls. There is no way to opt out; factor it into every hotel comparison.
How do I get from Las Vegas Airport (LAS) to my hotel?
LAS (Harry Reid International) is 10-15 minutes to the South Strip, 15-25 to Center/North Strip and 15-25 to Downtown. Rideshare $18-$40, taxi $22-$45 (metered plus airport surcharge), pre-booked private transfer $30-$55 fixed. The Strip is 3 miles from LAS.
Do I need a car in Las Vegas?
No if you stay on the Strip — the monorail, rideshare and pedestrian bridges cover everything. Rent a car only for Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West or Death Valley. Strip self-parking is $15-$25 per night at most casinos and free at a few (Sahara, Treasure Island, Circus Circus).
When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?
March-May and September-November are the sweet spots: warm, dry and pool weather without the July-August 110°F peak. Winter (December-February) is cool but sunny and often the cheapest rates outside of NYE and Super Bowl week.
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