As Las Vegas veterans, we’ve had the opportunity to stay at a number of the Strip’s famous hotels and resorts. Here’s a list of our favorites and the things we like about them (in no particular order):
BELLAGIO
With it’s majestic fountains and perfect mid-Strip location, Bellagio Resort & Casino is a definite favorite. The minute you walk into the lobby with its glass flowers on the ceiling, you know you’re in elegant paradise. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, located next to the lobby, add to the elegance with their absolutely amazing floral displays. The Conservatory updates their display regularly so visiting often is a must!
The hotel rooms and suites at the Bellagio are luxurious and beautiful. They are decorated in a contemporary and elegant style and feature high-end amenities. A number of the rooms offer views of the Las Vegas valley or the iconic Bellagio fountains right from your suite – upgrading to a room with a view is definitely worth the extra money!
The Bellagio pool area is an oasis surrounded by lush landscaping and palm trees. With its five distinctive pool courtyard settings, it offers a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere perfect for relaxation and recreation. The lounge chairs are super comfortable and the poolside service is top notch.
The Bellagio Buffet is an all-you-can-eat dining experience like no other with its wide variety of food options, including Italian, Japanese, Chinese and American cuisines. It’s open daily for brunch and on the weekends for dinner. It offers good value for the price which you can offset with a 2-for-1 coupon from MYVegas.com.
Bellagio is conveniently located mid-Strip (which also makes it fairly busy) and within walking distance to Caesars Place and Horseshoe. It offers tram service to the luxury shopping experience at the Shops at Crystals and the Aria Resort & Casino.
WYNN
Wynn Resort & Casino is pure luxury and opulence with its amazing water wall viewable from the lobby and its floral gardens complete with a mini carousel. The parasols that move up and down over the lounge and the complimentary Lake of Dreams show are also totally worth checking out.
The hotel rooms at the Wynn are serene and stylish and offer amazing views of the Strip, mountains or the Wynn 18-hole championship course. They are high-class and elegant and offer high-end luxury amenities and high-end service.
The Wynn pool is a luxurious, dream oasis that offers the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the Strip. The lounge chairs are very comfortable and the poolside service is amazing.
Similar to the buffet at the Bellagio, the Wynn Buffet is an award-winning dining experience. It offers 16 tantalizing food kitchens from renowned chefs around the world plus all the classics. The food and service are amazing which makes the high price worth it. The buffet is open daily for brunch and dinner but is very busy so it is recommended that you pre-book online.
The Wynn has featured some mind-blowing shows and entertainment over the years, including one of our favorites, La Reve. Their new show, Awakening, is sure to be a show-stopper too – we hope it check it out soon.
If you love shopping, Wynn has not one but two upscale shopping malls. And, it’s conveniently located across the street from the Fashion Show Mall with its more than 250 retailers and over 30 restaurants.
From the Wynn it’s a short walk to the adjoining Encore, which is a beautiful and elegant resort too, and the Palazzo is located right across the street.
MANDALAY BAY
Located at the south end of the Las Vegas strip is the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. From the moment you walk into the lobby, you’re immediately mesmerized by Mandalay’s striking architecture, lush tropical surroundings and its amazing scent.
The rooms are clean and comfortable and their floor-to-ceiling windows provide inspiring views of the Strip, Mandalay Bay Beach or the majestic mountains. A heads up that the elevator area can be a bit chaotic if the hotel is busy which can make getting to your room challenging.
Mandalay Bay has a white sand beach, wave pool, lazy river and several other pools to enjoy and cool off in. Mandalay Beach is the perfect place for loads of family fun as is the Shark Reef Aquarium with all its marine animals.
Mandalay Bay is close to the Shoppes at Mandalay Place which includes shopping, bars and restaurants and links to the Luxor Hotel & Casino. If walking isn’t your thing, there is a tram that runs from Mandalay Bay with stops at the Luxor and Excalibur. Mandalay Bay is also within walking distance of the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders.
VDARA
Vdara is a hidden gem on the Las Vegas Strip. Nestled between the Aria, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan, this all-suite, non-smoking, non-gaming boutique hotel and spa is perfect if you are looking for a quiet place to stay on the Strip.
The Vdara’s lobby is bright and inviting and features a lounge, a modern café with breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as a small grocery store. There’s also a Starbucks for your daily caffeine fix.
Their Studio Suites are clean and include a little kitchenette with a table and a sitting area divided from your sleeping quarters. A second sink in the bathroom would have been nice but overall the bathroom is very well laid out. We can’t comment on the other suites available at the Vdara but imagine they are extremely nice as well.
The pool area at Vdara is quaint but if you aren’t feeling the vibe at the Vdara Pool, hotel guests are also able to use the pool at the Aria.
The best thing about the Vdara is its convenient location to the Aria, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan. It’s a short walk to any of these three Strip resorts.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
In addition to the hotels featured above, we would also recommend the Aria, Delano & MGM Grand.
Book your next Vegas stay at one of these amazing hotels and be sure to save with our amazing deals.