Where To Stay In Las Vegas
THE DIRTY ARMY: Hey Nik, I have been a fan of your site for a while and see all these pics of vegas! Me and my man are going there feb1-feb5 and were wondering whats the best place to stay, eat, party etc? If you can help me out that would be great! I want this to be a experience for the both of us as we both havent done much traveling. We are in our early 20′s and just want to enjoy our time together as we are so busy the majority of our daily lives! Thank you!! xoxx!!!
I will leave this up to the DIRTY ARMY, please comment correctly. To me you can never go wrong in Vegas, but I’m the wrong person to ask because I have never spent a dime in this town.- nik
Cosmo
It all depends what your budget is like. If money is no problem, then stay on the strip. I like partying at Carnival Court at Harrah’s. The best places are the low key clubs and bars.
Take it from someone who’s there 1-2 times per month, in this order from priciest to cheapest, nicest to slummiest, all with a good mix of fun, food.
Cosmopolitan, Aria, Hard Rock. Those are all good and affordable.
Honorable mention:
Wynn (nice), Planet Hollywood (fun).
It’s going to be too cold for pool play so don’t worry about that.
Downtown is supposedly nice with the Grand Hotel, haven’t checked it out.
Nik, when are you opening up shop in LV? The Dirty Resort has a nice ring to it.
You can stay at Aria and or the Cosmpolotain for like $100-200 a night most of the year. As mentioned above they are adequate. I do not agree that the Wynn should be anywhere other than the top of anyone’s list. The tower suites are fantastic. They will pick you up from the private airport and have you in the suite lobby with no hassle, crowds or crap. All your little accoutremants are already thought of for you…that toothbrush you forgot etc. is already in the room for you…complimentary. The suites are generous, the room service is fantastic and the hotel is well located. Normally $400-1500 a night depending on the suite and well worth it. Normal rooms are $200. They are generous with their comps as well. I personally prefer the older Wynn over the Encore but such is a matter of taste. A far as for food the Prime / signature steakhouse at the Wynn is great. Nob Hill at the MGM…former Gatsbys is great. The food at the Cosmo and Aria is terrible comparatively, though their menus read well the cuisine is too cutting edge and not enough “good food”. The tapas restaurant in the lobby of Aria should be condemned. Best breakfast / lunch is at the Bellagio. If you stay at the Bellagio the rack of lamb on the room service menu is killer. I normally have it brought to whatever hotel I’m at late night ..it’s that good. If this is your first trip to Vegas you can literally move into the Wynn and never leave. Great golf, spas, pools, gambling and even places to go out. Too many hookers as of recent but if you are in to that kind of trash they are at least the best looking hookers. The Wynn also has the best shopping as far as I’m concerned. It surpasses Caesers forum shops…but I have a long built in love for Caesars.
The Wynn is the best hotel, great service. I go up to 3 times a month for work and they always have a limo waiting for me at the airport.
It all depends on budget. Best bang for the buck is the Luxor. It’s decent, and there’s a walkway between it and Mandalay Bay. So, you have easy access to all the restaurants and clubs of both. It’s like staying at Mandalay Bay for cheap. It’s also walking distance to other hotels: MGM, New York New York, etc. But be sure to get a tower room since they’re newer and nicer.
If its a first Vegas trip you really can’t go wrong partying anywhere there, it’ll be such a culture shock. Everywhere offers stellar food. Are you Guy’s loaded or balling on a budget? Where to stay doesn’t really a big factor to me…I enjoy planet Hollywood, middle of everything and nice place. Even if you have to slum it at Excalibur or somewhere cheaper it doesn’t matter, you’ll probably be in your room about 4 hours a night to sleep and that’s about it IMO. Basically can’t go wrong in Vegas its a blast no matter what you do.
Hands down Wynn (best rooms, service, and clubs on property)
Cosmo is ok, but rooms are better in wynn
Definitely the Wynn. Just bleeds class. To Anon who recommended the Luxor, that place is a sh*thole.
Luxor is certainly no Wynn, but it’s not a sh*thole either. What about the poster who recommended Harrahs? I was just suggesting something affordable. The Wynn might be out of reach for someone in their early 20′s. I will stay at the Luxor when meeting up with friends who can’t afford more.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money Hard rock and want to club. Cosmo is the worst hotel, club built what a waste… if your gonna gamble the Mirage. Venetian is a money trap….
HA! I walked by a slot at the Venetian on my way to my room after checking in. Put 5 bucks in, spun once, and hit 5 Grand!
Cosmo all the way. Even better if your a Marriott Rewards member. Platinum Elite gets the VIP access lines throughout the hotel.
The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in Vegas is the Venetian. HUGE rooms (they’re split level) and the entire hotel is amazingly badass. Views are great, rooms are great, location is fantastic, a little pricy, but I’m a die hard romantic, and my husband used to live in Italy, so, Venetian is our go to.
The other favorite is the Bellagio, but a really great room is $300+ but it’s pretty awesome.
Luxor is definitely the best if you’re on a budget.
You can eat anywhere, and it’s all really great, but expect to pay at least $100 each time you eat if you’re at a casino restaurant, and have drinks with dinner.
The Cosmopolitan has a GREAT bar, very aesthetically pleasing, but as someone mentioned before, if it’s your first time, just go everywhere, and try to do as much as you can. You’ll be blown away.
Have fun!
Restaurant dot com has coupons for most of the restaurants in Mandalay Bay and some good restaurants off the strip. A good way to have a nice meal and save a little money.
Aria, Palazzo or Wynn/Encore — the rooms and restaurants in all are amazing. Wynn/Encore in a close second. If it were warmer, I might give the nod to Wynn/Encore because their pools are better.
In your 20′s and want to have fun? No question, The Cosmopolitan. It’s not even close.
The artisan. .best kept vegas secret
My Opinion. Stay at Planet Hollywood or Encore. Encore has the best pool parties. But night life is Palms, Moon.
if you think the best night life is at Palms, you have never been to vegas…
Right on. The Palms is fucking ghetto.
Right on. The Palms is ghetto.
The Palms? What a joke. Why don’t you stay at the Golden Nugget if you think the Palms is the best.
Middle of the strip is best IMO. Mirage/Venetian(strong perfume odor)/Wynn are my favorites because you can walk almost anywhere. Check online for discount codes if you are on a budget. And don’t forget drinks are free if you’re gambling!
PALAZZO, hands down. All rooms are suites and beds are amazingly comfy…..also, great restaurants like LAVO. and a great pool area……..and right across from the Wynn and the Mirage so great location.
It’s Vegas: if you’re trying to ball, grab a suite. Mandalay Bay and MGM have pretty good pools if you want to pay upper end:
my advice: unless you’re loaded, stay in a cheap hotel, you’ll just be passing out/fucking there at 6am and then going out again.
Spend your money on food and shows and just check out all the casinos. There’s too much to see in your first trip so spend your money where it counts.
On the second trip, maybe splurge on a nice suite when you have just a few priorities to get done.
Def. check out the bellagio buffet and the Paris buffet.
Also if you like sushi, Koi is one of the top joints outside LA and Japan.
Sky Lofts at MGM is the only way to really party it up and expect the price to be the same. Reasonable is palazzo. You can party anywhere so don’t worry about that.
Stay someplace cheap, its mostly about a bed and a shower. Then go party other places. I am leaving for Vegas on Friday, staying at Excalibur, its old but renovated rooms. I wont party there, will head to probably the Cosmo, I also wanna try the new buffet at Caesars and go do the zip line on Freemont St.
The new buffet at ceasars is amazing. It’s the best food available, compiled in to one place.
I REALLY want to try it, but I am wondering about the line. I hear it can be hours long. My plan would be to get there at 5 when they open for dinner. Any info you have would be great. Wicked Spoon and the Studio buffet at M resort are also options if I can avoid huge lines.
Cosmo – best place for yound people
Palazzo – best rooms for the price, but you wont be in your room much
Aria – best beds in town, you wont want to get up
Wynn/Encore – older crowd but very nice
Hyde @ bellagio – best club in town right now Fri/Sat spot
Tao @ Venetian – Thursday night spot
Marquee @ Cosmo – Friday or Sat
Best atmosphere to gamble – Mirage…
Anywhere but Excalibur or Hard Rock. Excalibur is just weird with all the swords and stuff and Hard Rock is off on an island compared with everything else. Stay on the strip, in new vegas. Hotel doesn’t really matter. You’ll spend 3 hours a night there and if its your first time you’ll be too drunk/confused to worry about perks.
On the side of the road with a blanket you scumbag!
Jesus agrees
Thanks guys for all of the info! Money isnt a huge deal would like to save on room but still want to be somewhere classy with good service. Like people said you are hardly in you room. Really appreciate it! Thanks Nik for posting this!
When walking into the clubs if ya guys are decent looking small talk it up with a group of 5-6 girls walk in w them they might not charge ya cover…or expect at least 50 a head if you don’t have bottle service
What about strip clubs
Spearmint Rhino. Have their limo pick you up to avoid the cover if you’re not a local. Stay away from Cheetahs.
Spearmint Rhino
What about strip clubs
Wow, Excalibur huh? Didn’t see that one comin. Can’t go wrong at Wynn, or at Venetian. Best time I’ve ever had was at a party at flamingo. They just don’t give a fuck. By the way, to answer ur unasked question, walk down around or under the tower of Paris and just look like your looking, you will get approached. I’ve found that finding a guy who has a wide range of products is the best. Never trust anybody to”give it to me and I’ll be right back”. Get his number and just always use him. It is a huge business out there and ALOT of scammers. Find a guy who justs looks a little scumbaggish. Never anyone over 30
Money will end up being a huge deal first night in. Not referring to room rates, just the cost of having fun out there…$10+a drink at the low end. If you’re in early 20s just stick to the middle class hotels, I’ve never seen the Cosmo for 100 a night on a weekend, no where close to that, 200 range. I stayed there in 2011 and the rooms are nice but its a bed and shows you essentially need. My bedding looked untouched cause me and the gf just fell on it n passed out. Planet Hollywood/new York new York are good bang for buck with central strip. Like the Mandalay bay on Facebook and you can usually get pretty good offers from it. I went last month and my buddy on a budget stayed at Excalibur, and it surprisingly wasn’t bad. Its a lil older and doesn’t have the glitz n Glam but he paid I think 95 a night on the weekend when I was paying 160 @ Hollywood. They even gave him a Jacuzzi suite upgrade for free.
Damn, book!
Wynn! Xs the club is there stay classy and stay there
I wouldnt put Vegas first on my list of couples vacations…but myself and a lot of the DA that have ventured to Vegas tend to stay at Caesars or Aria for atmosphere and location on the strip/
Save the money for when you two venture out.. since you’re going with a guy it’s a good chance you’ll pay cover and/or regular price for most places.
All this info is great for the individual who asked the question. But no one mentioned that the dates they are looking at fall into superbowl craziness.
hands down the palazzo! amazing restaurants, close to everything. every room is a suite!
Aria is awesome. My husband and I love it. It’s super clean and we got upgraded to a 2100 sq. Ft sky suite for free. They have their own cooking staff for room service. I love their filet with bernaise sauce. The times we have eaten there its always been room service and it’s been AMAZING. Go check out the ice bar its an a lot of fun. We have stayed at mgm but the woman who checked us in was so rude we wrote management a letter which they didnt care about, along with the room we booked was no longer available for some reason??? We weren’t to happy about that either. Go to the venetian and take a gondola ride. We have eaten at The Paris and were seated by the window and were over top the bellagio fountains. The service, food, experience was top notch. The “O” cirque de soleil at Bellagio was not to sound like a nerd but magical. Were going back out in march and I have been looking at suites. Check Vdara they have huge suited for a couple hundred bucks and were also gonna get a bellagio suite for a couple hundred which aren’t bad for the size and look. You could always stay at a couple of places to get a feel. Check out a pool party too if the weather is nice enough. Good luck, it’s an adult playland so you both will get hooked!!!!!
I was there last year for NYE (not 2013, but 2012) and we stayed at the Encore. I have stayed at several different hotels during my annual NYE trip since turning 21 (I’m 26 now). I’ve stayed at the Wynn, Cosmo, The Flamingo, and Planet Hollywood. Every time, I wish I would have stayed at Caesars because that is where I end of partying every night. Just my two cents, I’m not ballin by any means. Just a recent U of O grad.
THE BANK NIGHTCLUB at Bellagio.. It’s mind blowing EVERY NIGHT.. I would seriously live there if i could lol
I didn’t like that place, it was freakin packed, small and there was nowhere to sit unless you were VIP.
I’m with Dubs. Vdara is where I stay. All suites and executive suites run about 190 Fri/Sat this time of year. It’s like the Aria’s little sister. It’s right next to The Aria, Cosmo and Bellagio. No casino, but the beds are amazing. Best combined 8 hours of sleep i’ve ever had. Rooms on the 56th floor are awesome.
If your from Vancouver or the Lower Mainland and want to save $500-$1000 right away, fly from Bellingham, way cheaper than YVR. Parking is about a quarter of the price, no massive lineups. If you go to Allegiants website they have great combo deals with flight and hotel. I have only stayed at the Cosmo and the Aria. I enjoyed the Cosmo’s decor and atmosphere a lot more. The Wynn is next trip. I’m sure you won’t go wrong no matter what you choose, good luck and have fun.
Did this “dude” really put XOXOX???
No, he put xoxx.
it doesn’t matter. you’ll only be in your room to get ready/pre-game and sleep.
MGM signature Suites!!!!!! Very close to Wet Republic and they are super nice and cozy. The kitchens come fully stocked to cook if you wanted to.
THE Hotel
room:
My suggestion is since you’ve never been why not just experience something. I prefer hotwire hot deals. you dont know the name just the location,ammenitys and stars. I’ve gotten suites at palazzo and vdara doing this for about 50% off. depending on your budget i suggest picking 4-5 stars, and on strip.
food:
breakfast- mon ami gabi
lunch- serendipity 2, sugar factory, or any quick fun place
dinner- this is where budget really come in cause it can range from $ to $$$ so talk about it. maybe one nice dinner and one quick dinner
entertainment:
Go to XS and marquee, just do it. buy presale tickets so you dont have to wait in GA line.
then ghostbar to take the pictures on the balcony. Lavo is more intimate, hyde is nice because you can party next to the bellagio water fountains. 1oak is good if you like more top40/hip hop
daylife:
your chick will probably want to shop a lil, go to the outlets north or south. i’ve always gone north just cause thats where i’ve stayed and they have great shopping.
then do a dayclub at least once. GBDC is like a crazy college party. Lavo brunch and bagatelle are similar in they are essentially nightclubs during the day that include food.
stay at: Cosmopolitan balcony suite
party at: Tao, Marquee (my fav), 1Oak, etc
Summer is better because all the pool parties are open, which I found more fun than the night clubs.
I live in Las Vegas. Call Encore and request a casino host to register you then book a tower suite for your stay. Request a complimentary car to fetch you at the airport. Upon arrival have the vip checkin arrange for everything you need (reservations, transportation…). Assuming you will be ‘playing’, dress appropriately (not like a chump) and introduce yourself to the casino host. Ask the host for vip entry into the spots you would like to visit during your stay. Again, assuming you are going to play, charge everything to your room. Prior to your departure contact your host for complementaries. Depending on your play your entire trip can be comped. Light play should wipe off food and beverage.
Stay at the Wynn (or Encore, same thing) or the Bellagio, go to Xcess nightclub, and check out a cirque de soleil show. you can’t go wrong.
if you want to see everything stay somewhere in the middle of the strip like mirage..We stayed at mgm which is at the south end of the strip loved the hotel but it was alot of walking and alot of time money wasted in taking taxi everywhere. Also alot cheaper to fly from belingham, plus parking is only 10 dollars a day.
I stay at the imperial palace 30-50 a nite and right in the middle of he strip across from ceasars and mirage after all u only need the room to pass out in then go to the clubs to party!
OVERLOOKED OPTIONS:
NOBU Hotel Just opened up at Caesars, the staff and mgt will be doing a lot to enhance customer experience the first 6 months.
Classic Vegas fare: Pierros; Circus Circus Steakhouse, Golden Steer.
Local Favorites: FireFly* on Paradise, Barrymore. Ichiza
OVERLOOKED OPTIONS:
NOBU Hotel Just opened up at Caesars, the staff and mgt will be doing a lot to enhance customer experience the first 6 months.
Classic Vegas fare: Pierros; Circus Circus Steakhouse, Golden Steer.
Local Favorites: FireFly* on Paradise, Barrymore. Ichiza.
I agree with a few comments I read, your going there to have a good time, not sit in your room admiring how “classy” it is or walking around your fucking hotel like its an art museum. You are not going there to fucking shop at overpriced stores. And whoever comments that a hotel “bleeds class” should stay home close to their favorite Starbucks.
Luxor is priced well, connected to Excalibur with moving sidewalk…which is a mindfuck when your wrecked, feels like a 300mph trip. Check out Coyote Ugly for girls to party with near by, Dicks Last Resort and do shit up right by hitting Vince Neil Ink (think before you ink though)
Stay away from the timeshare people hiding everywhere, they steal valuable time, and no free shit they offer will ever replace time lost!!!
And most important, have fun but respect the locals and don’t cause any shit.
Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the challenges.
It was really informative. Your site is useful. Many thanks for sharing!