Did you know that at almost every hotel in Las Vegas, you’ll be charged a “resort fee” ranging from $35 to $50 per room per night? This fee is usually not included in the advertised accommodation price. In this article, I will reveal other common pitfalls to watch out for when choosing a hotel in Las Vegas. Additionally, I’ll share tips for hotels in various price categories, all of which I would personally stay at.
-
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Hotel in Las Vegas
🗺️ Location
The main tourist area of Las Vegas is known as the Strip. This 4.2 mi-kilometer stretch along a bustling road is home to 13 of the 25 largest hotels in the world. If you don’t need to save at all costs, I recommend staying here. You’ll be close to all the top attractions.
The historical center of Las Vegas is Fremont Street, which is located outside the Strip. Hotels like Stratosphere or Circus Circus are often cheaper but farther from the central part of the Strip. What you save on hotel costs, you might spend on transportation and time.
💵 Hotel Prices in Las Vegas
Accommodation prices in Las Vegas tend to be higher on weekends as crowds flock to the city, pushing prices up. Rooms with Strip views or on higher floors typically cost more, regardless of demand. At check-in, you can still try to impress and ask for the highest possible floor. While these rooms usually come with an extra charge, it’s sometimes possible to get one without an additional fee.
Some hotels with a high percentage of Asian guests skip floor numbers like 4 and 40–49 in their numbering system, as the pronunciation of these numbers in Chinese resembles the word “death.” You might encounter a room on the 53rd floor in Las Vegas that is actually located on the 42nd floor.
💲 Resort Fees
The “resort fee” is a way for hotels to charge guests additional money. This mandatory fee, typically ranging from $35 to $50 per room per night, often covers services like Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center, and other amenities that are often underutilized.
Almost all hotels in Las Vegas charge a resort fee, and the amount varies by hotel. The fee is obligatory, and you cannot avoid it by not using the services it covers. When making a reservation, confirm whether the resort fee is already included in the total price.
⭐ Hotel Ratings
When choosing a hotel, don’t focus on the number of stars; what matters are the ratings and reviews of past guests. On Booking.com, I recommend selecting hotels with a score of at least 7.3 and 100 or more reviews. With fewer reviews, the ratings are often inflated but tend to drop as more reviews are added.
-
Hotels on the Strip with the Best Value for Money
I’ve selected 9 hotels on the Strip that offer great value for money. Each has its own unique style, so I recommend checking out their photos and choosing based on your personal preferences. I last updated the ratings on January 23, 2025.
1️⃣ Treasure Island – Rating 7.9/10
✔️ The main advantage of Treasure Island is its practical location in the heart of the Strip and relatively affordable room prices. I’ve personally stayed at this hotel and enjoyed the view of the Strip, spacious rooms, and high cleanliness standards. There’s also a grocery store located across the street. The entire hotel is themed in a pirate-Caribbean style, and I particularly liked the coconut scent in the lobby.
❌ My primary criticism of Treasure Island concerns the resort fee, which is nearly unavoidable in Las Vegas. Guests have also mentioned older furnishings in the rooms and a lackluster selection of dining options in their reviews.
2️⃣ Bellagio Las Vegas – Rating 8.4/10
✔️ Bellagio is one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels on the Strip. Guests especially praise its prime location, relatively spacious rooms, and beautiful views. With an excellent 8.4/10 rating on Booking, its iconic dancing fountains attract visitors from all over, and they are accessible to everyone in the city.
❌ Negative comments often highlight the high room rates. Additionally, reviews frequently mention long queues at reception, with many recommending using the mobile app for check-in.
3️⃣ The Signature at MGM Grand – Rating 8.5/10
✔️ The Signature is a less-known hotel on the Strip but offers one of the best value-for-money experiences. This four-star hotel boasts an impressive 8.5/10 rating on Booking. Former guests frequently praise its comfortable beds and breathtaking views. It’s also located near the Bellagio fountains.
❌ The hotel generally receives few negative comments. Most complaints focus on complicated parking, high minibar prices, and additional charges for pool use.
4️⃣ Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino – Rating 7.4/10
✔️ With several towers and nearly 4,000 rooms, Caesars Palace was built in the 1960s in an ancient Roman style. The main lobby is dominated by a statue of Caesar, and parts of the hotel were used as a filming location for the comedy The Hangover. The Booking score of 7.4/10 is average, but guests appreciate the cleanliness and central location.
❌ Frequent complaints from guests focus on slow check-in processes, which negatively impact the rating. Other concerns include additional fees for items like water, coffee, and other amenities in the rooms.
5️⃣ The Venetian Las Vegas – Rating 8.7/10
✔️ This resort, built in a Venetian style, is located in the northern part of the Strip. Canals run alongside the hotel, allowing for gondola rides with singing gondoliers. I highly recommend The Venetian for couples seeking a romantic experience. With an outstanding 8.7/10 rating, guests frequently praise its location and the cleanliness of its rooms.
❌ Negative comments about this hotel are relatively rare. Guests typically note the absence of coffee makers in rooms and high prices for drinks in the minibar.
6️⃣ New York-New York – Rating 8.0/10
✔️ New York-New York is located in the southern part of the Strip near the airport. Its standout features include the Big Apple Coaster and a 150 ft replica of the Statue of Liberty. It’s a more affordable option compared to other hotels on the Strip but still holds a strong 8.0/10 rating. Guests praise its convenient location and high cleanliness standards.
❌ Common complaints in reviews include outdated room amenities, such as the lack of a fridge or coffee maker. Guests also note smoky areas in the casino.
7️⃣ MGM Grand – Rating 7.5/10
✔️ The MGM Grand Resort is located in the southern part of the Strip near a monorail station, providing convenient transportation to other Las Vegas destinations. The hotel also features the CBS Television City, where you can preview and rate upcoming TV shows. With a good Booking score of 7.5/10, guests frequently praise its location and cleanliness.
❌ Recurrent complaints in reviews include high minibar prices and expensive parking. Some rooms lack complimentary refrigerators and coffee makers.
8️⃣ Paris Las Vegas – Rating 7.6/10
✔️ Paris Las Vegas, designed in a French style, is easily recognizable thanks to its replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon. Guests often compliment the stunning views and prime location in their reviews.
❌ Negative feedback commonly includes slow check-in processes and the absence of coffee makers in rooms. Some guests also noted a limited selection of restaurants within the resort.
9️⃣ Luxor Las Vegas – Rating 7.5/10
✔️ The Luxor Las Vegas resort is themed in an Egyptian style and is instantly recognizable due to its pyramid-shaped structure. Among the hotels on the Strip, it’s one of the more affordable options. Guests often praise the spacious rooms and the views from the windows.
❌ Frequent complaints in reviews include malfunctioning elevators and long lines during check-in. Some guests also noted a lack of natural light in the rooms.
-
Affordable Hotels in Las Vegas Outside the Strip
The following five hotels are located outside the main tourist area of Las Vegas. They have lower ratings and more shortcomings compared to the previous recommendations. However, their lower prices make them a good choice for travelers who mainly want a place to sleep and prefer to spend their money elsewhere.
1️⃣ Four Queens Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
✔️ The Four Queens Hotel, rated 8.1/10, is located in the historic Fremont Street Experience. Resort fees are not charged here, which keeps prices relatively low.
❌ The downside of the low price is that the room interiors and amenities are outdated. However, for a short stay, the standard is adequate.
2️⃣ Downtowner Boutique Hotel Las Vegas
✔️ The Downtowner Boutique Hotel is ideal for visitors who prioritize sleep and prefer the comfort of a resort. Advantages include low prices, a 24-hour hotel bar, and free parking.
❌ The downsides include a less favorable location in Fremont, far from the city’s central attractions. Guests also report that the rooms lack coffee makers and refrigerators.
3️⃣ The D Las Vegas
✔️ The D Las Vegas is a well-rated hotel with a score of 7.9/10 on Booking. Guests appreciate its location on historic Fremont Street and the spaciousness of its rooms.
❌ Common complaints include the lack of coffee makers and refrigerators in the rooms, as well as noise from the street.
4️⃣ Excalibur Las Vegas
✔️ The Excalibur Resort, located in the southern part of the Strip, is eye-catching with its fairytale castle design. It is one of the cheapest hotels in its category and has a Booking score of 7.6/10. Guests praise its practical location, comfortable beds, and good prices.
❌ Frequent complaints include the absence of refrigerators and coffee makers in rooms. Some guests also noted cigarette smoke in the casino and dated room interiors.
5️⃣ Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
✔️ The Downtown Grand Hotel is located in the historic part of Las Vegas. Despite its relatively low room rates, it holds a good Booking score of 7.9/10. Guests often praise the large terrace with a pool and the nearby shopping center. Other positive feedback highlights the convenient location and free parking.
❌ Negative comments most often focus on the lack of coffee makers in rooms and the lower quality of the hotel’s restaurants.
Discussion (5)
Hello, I’d like to ask you. Is the resort fee compulsory? When I booked, it gives me a tourist fee of $25. I guess that’s two different things, right?
@Tiffany: Booking.com always includes it in the total price. If you click on the price, it’s broken down as a tax for the number of nights, tax, resort service charge. That should be the final price. I don’t know where you found the tourist tax, but maybe they just have it called something else on other sites.
And yes, it’s mandatory.
Hi Tiffany, it’s like Jay writes, booking.com almost always has complete prices, watch out for hotels.com. Tourist tax is something else, the resort fee in Las Vegas can be several hundred dollars. Check out the price detail.
@Tiffany: the resort fee makes accommodation quite expensive when you go for 1 night. when we traveled, we stayed in some motel type accommodation in a side street a few dozen steps from the strip
@marcos: That’s why booking.com is ideal for me. They list the final price including the fee, so you can compare right away.