If you’re planning a trip to Sin City and are feeling overwhelmed with hotel options, believe me I’ve been there. That’s why I created a guide to all the Las Vegas Hotels Ranked Best to Worst that I’ve stayed in on my many trips to the popular weekend getaway city in the middle of the Nevada desert.
I’ll cover some of the pros and cons of each of the hotels, including what makes them unique. Plus I’ve ranked each one from my favorite to my least favorite based on my own experiences.
Whether you’re in the middle of planning your first trip to Vegas or looking for a new place to stay next time, hopefully my honest opinions help you find the hotel that’s right for you.
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Where Is Las Vegas And Why Is It So Popular?
Las Vegas is located in southern Nevade, in the Mojave Desert – one of the most inhospitable places in the USA. Yet the city not only survives the desert heat, but thrives in it. In fact, it’s one of the top cities in the country to visit.
Millions of visitors head to Las Vegas every year for its unique resorts, famous casinos, award-winning restaurants, live shows, nightlife, sporting events, and unique attractions. A combination of which you won’t find anywhere else.
The easiest way to reach this devilish desert destination is through Harry Reid International Airport. The airport is served with regular direct flights from around the US, Canada and Europe. Arriving or departing from the airport at night will give you incredible views down the neon illuminated Las Vegas Strip. Plus most hotels along it are only 10-15 minutes drive.
Driving from places such as Los Angeles, Phoenix or cities in Utah are possible. But always make sure you’re well stocked up on gas and water. There are big distances between some services so the last thing you want is to run out of either in the desert. Especially in the height of the summer when it’s hot – often over 100ยฐF.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or simply a weekend of entertainment, there’s something for everyone. Heck, I’ve even visited Las Vegas solo. And while not as much fun as with friends, I’ve still found plenty to do to keep myself entertained.
What You Need To Know About Las Vegas Hotels
One thing Las Vegas will never do is run out of hotel rooms. I’ve never been to a city before that is almost entirely made up of hotels. They are your place to stay, your entertainment, and your best dining options. But what else do you need to know about Las Vegas hotels?
The hotels are over the top. Subtlety doesn’t exist in Las Vegas.
If the hotel is themed around New York, you can walk past fire-escape adorned apartment buildings to grab a slice of pizza, or ride a rollercoaster past the Statue of Liberty.
Expect opulence at every turn in most of the hotels, and if they have a theme you can be sure they will run with it as far as they can. In fact, sometimes the themes are what make the difference in where Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst for most visitors.
Many hotels are connected
Finding solace from the heat in an air-conditioned hotel is a popular pastime in Las Vegas. So it’s super convenient that you often don’t have to go outside to get to the next one. For example you can walk from the Bellagio to the Aria through the Cosmopolitan. Or from the Luxor through Excalibur to New York with only a brief 2-minute walk between the two.
Early check in will cost you
Not much is free in Vegas, that includes early check in or late check out. The requests are so common there’s a sliding scale of fees. Check in before noon will typically cost an extra $50 USD, between noon and regular check in time (most often 4pm), is usually $25 USD. This varies from hotel to hotel and you might luck out without having to pay a fee. Best thing to do is ask at the check in desk vs. checking in online where you don’t get the option to ask.
Resort fees are the silent killer
Hotels hook you in with their reasonable prices, then slap you with a $50 USD per night resort fee, that in some cases can double the cost. Resort fees are non-negotiable, unless you have status or facilities are not available during your stay. They also aren’t often included in the price if you book through third party sites like Booking.com.
What Do Las Vegas Hotel Resort Fees Include?
Las Vegas resort fees are the surprise no one wants. In recent years it feels like the resort fees are higher than the actual room costs. Resort fees can be anywhere from $25 to $55 USD per night depending on location and hotel rating.
Resort Fees are mandatory nightly charges added on top of the advertised room rate. The hotels will tell you they help cover amenities. In reality, it seems a way for the hotels to appear cheaper, as the inclusions you get are usually just a given at most non-Vegas hotels.
But if we’re going to play the Vegas game, what do your resort fees actually get you? Well, you’ll get such luxuries as Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center, local phone calls, and (if you’re lucky) extras like pool access or discounts on attractions.
The resort fees can feel frustrating, but they are standard at most major resorts on and around the Las Vegas Strip. Therefore make sure to factor them into the total cost of your stay rather than just looking at the advertised room price.
I didn’t make resort fees a major factor in my Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst list since they are inevitable, but I have detailed resort fee for each property in the review.
How to save on resort fees
If you’re hoping to save money, there are still some hotels with lower or even no resort fees. Treasure Island on the Strip has a no resort fee deal for members (you can sign up for free). But you will have to pay for your WiFi so might be good to weigh the costs.
Off Strip you could try The Carriage House. Still walkable to the Strip and close to the MGM Grand. Downtown Las Vegas hotels typically have cheaper resort fees, and Four Queens Hotel & Casino and Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel both have no resort fee.
How I Chose My Las Vegas Hotels Ranked Best to Worst
With so many amazing places to stay, it’s no surprise that people are always searching for Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst lists to help them decide which resort is worth booking for their trip.
Now that I have a number of Las Vegas trips under my belt I have created my list with the properties I’ve stayed in so far. There may be better hotels or more preferred hotels out there, but I can’t speak for them at this time.
Since I go to Las Vegas for work conferences, and on personal trips, I always make sure to stay in a different hotel each time in the name of research. Plus I just love to check out the different hotels and see what they all have to offer.
Some of the hotels I’ve stayed at are a big hit, some a big miss. Some are iconic properties I’ve been dying to stay in, and some just got my curiosity or were the most convenient option at the time.
Las Vegas Hotels Ranked Best To Worst
When reviewing and ranking the places I’ve stayed in Las Vegas on my many trips, I took into account a number of factors. Property location is usually top of the list for me, as is cleanliness and comfort of the room. I have taken into account resort fees in my rating. But some of the highest resort fee places end up higher on the list as other positive factors outweigh an extra $20 in fees. Activities and aesthetics of the hotels are also well worth taking into account.
Obviously these types of lists are subjective and in the end come down to personal preferences and experiences. But if you’re struggling to figure out where to stay on your trip to Sin City, hopefully my list of Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst will help you in your decision.
BELLAGIO HOTEL & CASINO
Room type: Premier Guest Room 1 King; Resort Fee: $55 per night
PROS: Beautiful property, comfortable beds in large rooms, great location, easily connected to adjacent hotels.
CONS: Expensive to stay at, dining options also on the overpriced side, crowded due to the popular attractions at the hotel, minimal fridge space (mostly stocked and sensor protected), long walk through the casino from lobby to guest elevators.
Holy opulence Batman! From the crazy artistic glass sculptured lobby to the killer views from higher floors, and so many pools I lost count. The beds are like comfy clouds you won’t want to go to sleep for fear of missing a moment of them.
The most annoying part of the stunning rooms is getting to them – guest elevator access involves walking with luggage through the crowded casino floor. The guest elevators can also be confusing as each group of floors has its own set of elevators.
After always wanting to stay at the luxurious Bellagio with its ostentatious Italian theme, I was not disappointed. If nothing else, you’ll have no excuse to miss the world-famous regular choreographed fountain displays out front.
The hotel is one of the most recognizable on the Las Vegas Strip, and as the star of Ocean’s Eleven, my feeling is if it’s good enough for George Clooney…
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Just try and stop me! The Bellagio is currently firmly at the top of my list of Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst.
OVERALL RATING: 9.5/10 – Central location and classy feel make this a luxurious stay.
THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS
Room type: Newly Remodeled Luxury King Suite; Resort Fee: $55 per night
PROS: Large suite rooms, empty fridge for personal use, lots of great dining options nearby for a range of budgets, stunning hotel decor, nice bathroom toiletries (and great showers).
CONS: A little further from the central Strip – although still walkable if you don’t mind a bit of Vegas heat, the rideshare pickup spot is a bit of a walk and not the same as drop off which can be confusing.
Like the Bellagio, we’re staying in Italy for this next hotel. But swapping old-world charm for a more on-the-nose nod to one of the country’s most famous cities, Venice.
How about a romantic gondola ride along the indoor and outdoor canals? Dinner at one of the many top notch Italian restaurants? And finish with a moonlit walk through a recreation of the famous St. Mark’s Square.
In the Venetian, you’ll find ceilings painted with blue sky and clouds, wet look cobble stone streets, and actual bridges over the bluer-than-blue canals. Enjoy a yummy Italian gelato along the way. Then end your night with a fancy cocktail at the 1923 Lounge speakeasy. If you can find the hidden elevator that is.
Security around the guest elevators is no joke – scan you card to get anywhere near, or have reservation confirmations handy if dining at the French restaurant Bouchon. The elevators, like most Vegas hotels, are a trek from the registration desk.
But the suites are fantastically spacious, and the hotel is nothing if not unique. If you have a show at the Sphere, it connect to the Venetian via a covered walkway.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Definitely, it’s a very luxurious hotel.
OVERALL RATING: 9/10 – Overall vibe and activities/restaurant options are on point.
PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL & CASINO
Room type: Bordeaux Attraction View Room; Resort Fee: $55 per night
PROS: Duh, it’s Paris – a unique Parisian look, great central location, more budget friendly than some mid-Strip hotels, quieter less party-like feel.
CONS: Some hotel rooms are a bit of a walk to get to, the rooms are starting to feel a little dated compared to other nearby hotels.
Ooh la la, you’ll be shouting “Je t’aime” from the top of the replica Eiffel Tower before the end of your stay. The French capital gets the Las Vegas treatment at this mid-Strip hotel.
Walk the cobbled streets of Paris, lined with trees and sidewalk cafes, on a perpetually blue sky day. Indulge in some French gastronomie or grab a fresh croissant for the road.
Central location makes Paris Las Vegas one of the best places to stay for convenience. And the hotel is pretty fun too. A little more budget friendly than its Italian-themed counterparts, this is an affordable elevated hotel, and not quite the party hotel its neighbors are.
One benefit of Paris Las Vegas is that many tours to the Grand Canyon or other day trips from Las Vegas pick up at relatively few hotels. But the Horseshoe Las Vegas next door (accessible via an indoor walkway) is one of them as it’s pretty accessible for tour buses. Given some of the early morning starts for tours this is super helpful.
Are there nicer hotels lower on my list than Paris Las Vegas, and maybe more worth of a higher spot on my list of Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst? Yes, Fontainebleau is a much nicer property. But for location, cost and theme I had to give Paris the edge.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Yes, after all, Paris is always a good idea.
OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10 – Location is great, time to fix a few things up.
FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Room type: Bleau King; Resort Fee: $55 per night
PROS: Quieter location, luxurious vibes, close to the Las Vegas Convention Center, much newer than most Las Vegas hotels (2023), free parking for guests.
CONS: Difficult to get to, lacking the true Vegas feel and experience, expensive to stay at and dine at, one of the most expensive resort fees.
One of Las Vegas’s newer hotels, the Fontainebleau has all the fancy feels of a luxury resort without the inevitable chaos your typical Vegas hotels bring. Situated between Downtown and the central Strip, it can feel both conveniently located for either, and far removed from any kind of classic Vegas vibe. Unfortunately the latter shines through a little brighter.
Visiting Las Vegas for business? Have a conference next door at the convention center? Or just want to enjoy the city without the usual in-your-face Las Vegas noise? The Fontainebleau is a good option.
Sports fans will enjoy the Hall of Excellence exhibit. This $35 attraction has rare memorabilia from legends such as Muhammed Ali, Babe Ruth and Tom Brady. There’s non-sports memorabilia too, but sports are the biggest theme.
Rooms are spacious, and the plush free slippers and comfy robes will ease you into the extravagant hotel. You also can’t argue that some of the views from the hotel rooms aren’t sublime, especially if you get a higher floor. Free parking (or, rather, included in your resort fee) is a nice touch and helpful given the location of the property.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Yes, but for a trip where I’m interested in day trips, or a resort experience versus exploring the usual central Strip area.
OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10 – Location vs. cost is a bit of a letdown.
THE WESTIN LAS VEGAS HOTEL & SPA
Room type: Deluxe King; Resort Fee: $35 per night
PROS: Quieter location, smoke-free and casino-free hotel, nice restaurant and amenities on site, perks for Marriott members.
CONS: Higher resort fee than many off Strip hotels, further walk to main Strip area, kind of boring room decor.
The hotel has been update in recent years, with the removal of the gaming area and a sleeker looking lobby. The renovation doesn’t quite feel like it’s made it to the rooms though. A nice enough hotel for a quieter Las Vegas experience. And given the prevalence of smoking in the city, the Westin feels like a literal breath of fresh air being smoke-free.
The resort fee lets this hotel down a bit, more so that they are on par or more than some of the major Fremont Street hotels. On strip, lots of amenities, you expect it. But off strip with no casino and no real value add from a typical hotel feels a bit much.
The hotel is removed from the Strip while still being conveniently located. Easy access to both the busy Strip hotels and casinos and cheaper off-Strip options like Ellis Island across the street. Marriott members may feel like this hotel is better value than the average guest, but its still worth considering for the non-party crowd.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Yes for a quieter Vegas stay, especially if at a Caesar’s Forum conference/event.
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 – One of the best off-Strip hotels but time to sort out your resort fee.
HILTON GRAND VACATIONS CLUB FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS
Room type: King Studio; Resort Fee: $25 per night
PROS: Off-Strip but still connected via the Flamingo, quieter than your average Las Vegas hotel, free parking, free daily bottled water, large clean rooms, walkable to central Strip.
CONS: Pool party out back is unavoidable (but does only run until late afternoon Mar-Oct), timeshare sales pitch at the “experience” desk upon check in, no on-site pool.
All the convenience of a mid-strip hotel, without being right in the action. Perfect for conferences due to its proximity to Caesar’s Forum, one of the main reasons I’ve stayed here a few times. Don’t worry about the day club out back, their initially jarring bass bumping music stops around 6pm.
The sales pitch for your very own timeshare on the way in I could do without. Tired from traveling you’ll be halfway to buying a share in an apartment before you know it. I haven’t bought one yet though, so it’s not too hard to say no. The real bargain here is the cheaper than average resort fee.
Bottles of water included each day is nice – Vegas usually doesn’t give anything for free. Speaking of which, this is one of the only central hotels with no parking charges.
Plus it’s nice to have a kitchenette with microwave, coffee maker and fridge in the room. A stark contrast to the usual bare bones rooms in Vegas forcing you to buy overpriced coffee. A casino free hotel also means it’s quieter than any of the surrounding properties – winning, even when you’re not winning!
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Absolutely, it’s a really convenient location – plus the exit out back takes you right to the Uber/taxi pickup/drop off point at the Flamingo.
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 – Convenient for conferences but a little lacking in overall amenities.
FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS
Room type: Flamingo Room Garden View Habitat Tower; Resort Fee: $50 per night
PROS: One of the most central hotels on the Strip – high walkability, clean rooms, fun outdoor flamingo habitat, surprisingly understated flamingo decor in rooms, pet friendly.
CONS: Noisy location and popular with party-goers, busy at check in (and self-check machines hit and miss with verifying non-US identification).
As the Venga Boys said, “We like to party” which is true of most people at this bustling mid-Strip hotel. I may have dated myself with that song reference, but luckily this older hotel has gone through renovations in the last few years and is much nicer than it used to be.
It’s perfect if you like pink, or flamingoes, or both. Can’t deny that was part of the attraction for me. Well, me and every other basic girl with Barbie Dreamhouse aspirations.
Luckily the outdoor pool party shuts off early enough even though the drunken revelers remain. But there are some good dining options, and an in-house magic show to take advantage of. Plus the gift shops really run with the fun flamingo theme. Just take my money!
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Yes, but I’d likely opt against the Habitat room I took on my last visit, which overlooked not only the birds but the pool party which was loud.
OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10 – Nicely renovated, a little busy for me.
THE LINQ HOTEL & CASINO
Room type: Deluxe Room Two Queens; Resort Fee: $50 per night
PROS: Budget friendly, close to excellent shopping and dining options, great monorail access, nice clean rooms.
CONS: Not as exciting as some of the themed hotels, rooms are smaller than many other hotels nearby, a louder party atmosphere.
Surrounded by lavish hotels or those that have truly exhausted their theme, The LINQ can feel a little lacklustre in comparison. It is, however, a cheaper option for a quick stay. Although weekends can get rowdy as the price point brings a younger demographic notorious for partying.
The LINQ almost can’t be beaten for location, though. The Flamingo and even more budget-friendly Harrah’s are less than 30-seconds from door-to-door on either side.
The LINQ Promenade is filled with cheaper food options (try Chayo Mexican Kitchen for a great brunch option), and shopping. Stop my favorite Honolulu Cookie Company for some free samples of delicious island-made shortbread cookies.
The rooms are smaller, but have what you need for a short stay. And the modern look of the hotel is a refreshing change from some of the more dated accommodation options nearby.
The pool can get insanely busy though, which makes sense given the view of the nearby High Roller Ferris wheel and the Fly LINQ Zipline. Whether you stay here or not, make sure to indulge in the biggest breakfast you’ve ever seen at Hash House A Go Go. A must-visit for me every time I’m in Vegas.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Yes, but requesting a higher floor to limit the noise.
OVERALL RATING: 6/10 – Less personality than many other hotels in the same price range.
GOLDEN NUGGET LAS VEGAS HOTEL & CASINO
Room type: Rush Tower Premier California King; Resort Fee: $46 per night
PROS: Location to busy Fremont Street, convenient pick up spot for most day tours leaving from downtown Las Vegas, pool area – including epic waterslide through a shark-filled aquarium.
CONS: Location to busy Fremont Street and the noise that comes with it, older hotel with inconsistently dated rooms, pool is a major party vibe (unless that’s what you’re into), no mini fridge.
You might think this vintage Vegas hotel (one of the oldest around) is named after the gargantuan nugget of gold on display here. Its name actually came before, and is more a nod to the old Gold Rush era. But the hotel jumped at the chance to purchase the $1m worth of gold in the 1980s. It is now the largest nugget of gold on public display.
But the gold is one of two big gimmicks to get people through the door. The second is the party pool area, open to the public for a fee, but included in resort fee cost for guests of the hotel. What’s so special about the pool? Well, there’s a massive slide that goes through a shark aquarium. Talk about unique.
Outside of that, the hotel is starting to show its age, and unless you’re the partying type, anywhere along Fremont Street is just noisy and a bit of a headache to be honest. There are nicer restaurants outside of the hotel, but if you’re looking for a cheaper stay with historic value, the Nugget is worth a night or two.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Probably not, there are newer and nicer hotels out there.
OVERALL RATING: 4.5/10 – Time to add a little shine back into the gold.
LUXOR HOTEL & CASINO
Room type: Pyramid Two Queen; Resort Fee: $45 per night
PROS: Elaborate Egyptian theme, great exhibits and attractions, cheaper than many hotels on the Strip, closer to the airport (although since taxis mostly operate in zones this doesn’t make that much of a difference).
CONS: Outdated rooms with ineffective curtains (the angular hotel room in the pyramid doesn’t help), lack of staff assistance and reliance on self-serve, further from most other hotels and attractions.
Humans have been replaced by ineffective tablets at this dated but unique hotel at the far end of the main Las Vegas Strip. Check in, key creation, scanning for luggage storage retrieval – all self serve. I think I should have earned my own tips. Or at the very least a free drink for the effort of having to do it all myself.
I stayed in a room at the top of the pyramid, the coolest feature of which was the “inclinator” to get there. Instead of your typical elevator, you are transported sideways at a 39 degree angle up the inside of the pyramid. The result is a rickety ride and a hope you’ll make it. But it sounds good.
The rooms are basic, not even coffee maker, fridge (stocked or otherwise) or even glasses. But the hotel has some of the best exhibitions on the Strip – the Titanic artifact museum, and the Tutankhamun Egyptian exhibit.
The famous Blue Man Group also perform here. The Egyptian statues, hieroglyphics adorning the exterior and interior walls, and the massive Sphinx recreation out front are all impressive though. Maybe more a hotel to visit than stay at.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Probably not, unless the hotel does a major upgrade. In one elevator ride a fellow visitor stated to his friend “Man, they really should just knock this place down”. Sounds like I wasn’t the only one hoping for more from my stay.
OVERALL RATING: 4/10 – Cool concept but showing its age.
THE D CASINO & HOTEL
Room type: Deluxe Room; Resort Fee: $45 per night
PROS: Nice staff, budget-friendly, location, free welcome beer.
CONS: Dated, room smelled of smoke (although otherwise was clean enough), noisy location to the extreme (Fremont Street stage with music is right outside the hotel).
I don’t know what the D stands for, but I imagine it could be Dodgy or Do not stay here or Dang, you can probably do better. Either way, a stay at The D is an experience.
The first clue as to how a stay here would go was the welcome beer offered at check in. Join in or deal with it is kind of the vibe. Not that I say no to a welcome beer, after all I don’t know I’ve been to any other hotel with a beer tap behind the check-in desk.
I can’t fault the staff though, they were very nice, and the hotel is in the most convenient central spot in Fremont Street. Walkability is something that the Strip doesn’t have to the same degree.
But a giant sound stage with window-rattling music until the wee hours is something I don’t need in my life, even in Vegas. Unfortunately, for now, I have to put The D as the bottom of my list of Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst.
WOULD I STAY AGAIN?: Not unless I Benjamin Button myself back to my early twenties where sleep is only a mere suggestion.
OVERALL RATING: 3/10 – I’m maybe not the demographic this hotel appeals to.
Final Thoughts On These Las Vegas Hotels Ranked Best to Worst
After plenty of trips to Las Vegas, these are the hotels that have stood out to me, for better or worse. From the luxury and elegance of the Bellagio and The Venetian to the fantastic value offered by places like Paris Las Vegas and the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Flamingo, each hotel has given me a different experience.
Even those that ranked lower on my list, such as the Luxor and The D, still have their appeal depending on your budget, travel style, and what you’re looking to get out of your trip.
At the end of the day, there’s no easy way to organize Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst. There isn’t a single “best” hotel for everyone. But I hope my personal rankings help you narrow down the options and choose a place you’ll enjoy for your stay.
As I continue visiting Las Vegas and staying at more resorts, I’ll keep updating this list with my latest experiences. So be sure to check back before planning your next Vegas getaway.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these hotels have you stayed in, or would like to stay in? If you were to create your own list of Las Vegas hotels ranked best to worst which would be at the top?
