Las Vegas has so much hotel choice that it can be quite bewildering picking your way through it all. I prefer to be within walking distance of the Strip as that is primarily where I want to hang out at night. This is where most of the big casino hotels are, the big attractions at the hotels like the water features at the Bellagio, the swanky shops and the majority of the theatre. Not to mention the people watching.
You can however, save a lot of money by staying slightly off the Strip. If you stay in a non-casino hotel this also has the advantage of being completely non smoking. One word of warning. If you decide to stay off the Strip be really careful to look at a map and make sure your hotel is not miles away from anywhere. The properties are huge and distances very deceiving. A block in Vegas can be a really long way…….
Our Top 5 Las Vegas hotels…
1) The Signature at MGM Grand.
For a top value, just off Strip stay, The Signature at MGM Grand is a great option. Each suite is massive with a separate sitting area, free Wi-Fi and either a kitchenette or full kitchen. Some have balconies. There are three outdoor pools with a really nice outdoor sitting area. The same suites are also managed by a company called Luxury Suites International, so if you see Luxury Suites International At The Signature, this is the same place.
2) Trump International Hotel Las Vegas.
Also just off the Strip, I like the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. By Vegas standards it is a small hotel and I really like not having to walk through a Casino (or stand in one) to check in. The rooms are massive with separate sitting areas and kitchenettes. The pool area is lovely, you can eat in the poolside restaurant and also have drinks there. Very civilised.
3) Wynn Las Vegas.
If you want to stay in more of a traditional Vegas style hotel, complete with massive casino and shopping complex, my pick would probably be Wynn Las Vegas. The pool area is lovely and the floor to ceiling windows give great views of either the Strip or the golf course.
4) The Orleans Hotel & Casino .
The The Orleans Hotel & Casino is a brilliant option for families. It is about a mile from the strip and so rooms are big and tend to be very inexpensive. There are two pools, a 70 lane bowling alley, a cinema (aka movie theatre), a massive games arcade and a kids club. There is a free shuttle to the Strip and free Wi-Fi in the onsite coffee shop.
5) South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa .
The South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa is an excellent place to stay if you are mainly flying into Las Vegas in order to go on a road trip and / or if you want a good and very sensibly priced hotel. It is just off the I15 interstate so easy to drive to and from. There is a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and the airport and a fee charging shuttle service to the strip. There is a great outdoor pool area, complete with waterfall, the rooms are clean, modern and large and the beds are comfy.
Point to note about Vegas
Smoking is still allowed inside casinos in Vegas. The ventilation systems are excellent so it is a long way from a smoke filled fug, but if you really dislike cigarette smoke you may want to keep clear of the casinos. The other public areas are smoke free and not every hotel has a casino so this is easier to do than you might think, unless of course you want to gamble……