Top 10 Las Vegas Hotels
If you’re heading out to Las Vegas for that ultimate casino experience, then you’ll want to make sure that you’ve picked the perfect hotel. Vegas is renowned for the hotels and casinos that line Las Vegas Boulevard South, better known as ‘The Strip’, with 19 of the world’s 25 largest hotels found here and more than 67,000 rooms.
So, if you’re planning the casino trip of a lifetime, how on earth do you manage to pick the right hotel? Well, here at Online Casino King, were sharing our ten top picks, starting at the southern end of the Strip, close to McCarran Airport and working our way north.
THEhotel at Mandalay Bay
After grabbing our bags at McCarran Airport and heading to the strip, the first hotel and casino complex that we come across is THEhotel.
Next door to its perhaps more famous neighbour the Mandalay Bay, THEhotel offers guests many of the facilities that are enjoyed by guests at the Mandalay Bay, including the water park, but often for much less than what Mandalay Bay guests are expected to pay.
There are plasma televisions in every room, including the bathroom, and whirlpool tubs – perfect for unwinding after a tough day in the casino.
Mandalay Bay Hotel
This is essentially three hotels in one, if you include THEhotel which is part of the same complex and is an ideal stopping point for families.
Boasting Las Vegas’ largest hotel water theme park, an artificial beach area and permanent production of the classic musical The Lion King, there is plenty of entertainment aimed at the younger end of the scale. On the other hand, those looking for more grown-up entertainment can head for the lively bars, restaurants and clubs and of course, the casino.
Unlike many of the Vegas Strip hotels, the Mandalay Bay has kept things simple, with a chic, cosmopolitan feel built into each of its 3,309 rooms, establishing the Mandalay Bay as one of Vegas’ top hotels.
Four Seasons Hotel
What is essentially the third hotel in the Mandalay Bay complex; the Four Seasons occupies the top five floors of the Mandalay Bay Hotel building.
Quality service, comfort and attention to detail are the order of the day here, with spa facilities that are generally regarded as some of the best in Vegas. After a day in the casinos, sample the eucalyptus steam room before sitting back beside the private pool with your complimentary cabanas.
As well as getting full access to the Mandalay Bay facilities, you’ll also benefit from a room packed with a huge king size bed, 42” plasma screen, a full marble bathroom with deep soaking tub and superb panoramic views of Las Vegas and beyond.
Luxor Las Vegas
One of Las Vegas’ first fully themed ‘mega resorts’, built around the theme of ancient Egypt. Unsurprisingly with the Egyptian theme, centre stage of the complex is given to the giant hollow pyramid.
Although the Egyptian theme has been toned down in recent years, the inspiration for the Luxor remains thanks to the giant Sphinx guarding the 4,407 rooms and casino.
At night, the pyramid becomes a beacon for Vegas, with what is claimed to be the brightest spotlight in the world reaching skywards and producing a beam of light that is reportedly visible to airline pilots flying over California, some 275 miles away.
MGM Grand
Perhaps as renowned for heavyweight boxing as it is for being one of Vegas’ top casinos, the MGM Grand’s lays claim to being the second largest hotel in the world with 5,044 rooms.
British favourite Ricky Hatton doesn’t have great memories of the MGM, having lost to both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr at the casino’s arena which has also hosted the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
Opened in 1993, the signature attractions at the self-styled “City of Entertainment” include a Lion Habitat running through the middle of the casino and 6.6 acres of water features.
Bellagio
We move up the strip now to the junction (or should that be intersection) with Flamingo Road where we find the Bellagio.
Famed for its elegance, the Bellagio’s most notable feature is the 8-acre artificial lake that stands in front of the building. One of the biggest features on the Strip, this lake houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a large fountain in which the water dances to the music.
Another feature that puts the Bellagio on the map is its poker room, known as ‘The Office’ to many poker pros who consider the Bellagio to be the home of poker.
Having picked up the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award, the Bellagio certainly has plenty to offer its guests and, given the prominence that the hotel earned in the hit movie Oceans 13, Hollywood also rates it extremely highly.
Caesars Palace
Cross Flamingo Road and you’ll immediately come across Caesars Palace – the original ‘over-the-top’ Las Vegas casino resort.
Despite being one of the oldest casino-hotels on the Strip (it opened back in 1966), Caesars Palace is still one of the most popular and iconic casinos in Vegas.
The owners have made an effort to modernise the 3,348 room complex in recent years and, whilst retailing the classic Roman theme, Caesars is much more contemporary, offering the hotel and casino facilities that Las Vegas punters expect.
The Mirage
Next up is The Mirage and yet another Vegas Casino in which the attractions well and truly fit into the “only in Vegas” category.
Aside from the 3,044 rooms and the world’s largest free standing marquee, there’s a strong animal theme at The Mirage, as well as a major focus on entertainment.
The casino hosted the performances of Siegfried & Roy, who first performed their white tiger magic shows at the hotel in 1990 and although the shows are not running today, white tigers are still on show for the resort’s guests in The Mirage Garden and Dolphin Habitat.
The other distinct feature of this casino is undoubtedly the ‘Volcano’, erupting nightly between 5pm and 11pm. Of course, the volcano is completely harmless and even emits a smell of Pina Colada, rather than the odour of burning gas.
The Venetian
Other than Venice, where else could you take a gondola ride across a network of canals that take you through the bustling shopping centres and restaurants? The Venetian of course!
As part of the world’s largest hotel and casino complex, the Venetian boasts 120,000sq ft of gaming space and some of the biggest hotels on the Strip – even the budget rooms can be twice the size of some of those found in rival hotels.
With first class restaurants noted for attracting celebrity chefs including Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck, as well as some of the most exclusive shops in Nevada and the Las Vegas Madame Tussauds waxwork museum, the Venetian clearly takes quality seriously.
If you’re a keen poker player, don’t forget to try out the famous Venetian poker rooms – sure to be a gambling experience you’ll never forget.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island, or “TI” as it’s sometimes known, is one of the smaller hotels on the Strip (a paltry 2,885 rooms in total) but that hasn’t stopped it being the centre of attention from leading Hollywood directors.
Movies such as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Miss Congeniality 2, Knocked Up and even Beavis and Butthead do America all feature the Treasure Island hotel and casino at some stage. The TI is even the inspiration for the casino in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Palms Hotel
We’re heading away from the Strip now but if a bit of glamour and celebrity spotting is what you want from your trip to Vegas, then the Palms hotel is for you. Since opening in 2001, the hotel has become the calling point for the rich and famous, including many Hollywood celebrities.
The MTV favourite the Real World: Las Vegas had a stint at the Palms and guests can even stay in the Real World Suite, albeit at a price.
Nightlife is the focus here, with some of Vegas’ top clubs – Rain and the Ghost Bar. The Playpen, not for the faint hearted, is also here boasting with stripper poles, hardwood dance floors and DJs playing well into the night.
