Alongside being the quickie marriage capital of the world Las Vegas is home to some of the most famous – and infamous – hotels on earth offering an experience that can only be enjoyed in a location nicknamed Sin City. For high-octane glitz and glamour stay on the Strip where extravagance in a double dose is the order of the day; think opulent casinos, spectacular shows, award-winning dining and exuberant pool parties. Or for a more relaxed vibe stay in Downtown Vegas and take in the classic Las Vegas charm. Read on to discover some of our favourite luxury hotels in Las Vegas.
ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas
Look onto the bright lights of The Strip, from your suite at this sleek 88-bedroom high rise hotel. ARIA’s lobby boasts a dramatic water feature covering a wall, modern art and an impressive atrium. Explore further around the building and you’ll happen upon a spa with sauna beds crafted using Japanese stone, three pools surrounded by cabanas, a casino (of course), a night club and a fine art collection. When it comes to mealtimes you have countless choices, or you can take the free tram to one of the other mainstay resorts of this most famous street.
The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort
This is palatial by name and palatial by design. A whopping 3025 bedrooms are set across the building’s 50 storeys, its size matched by a wealth of places to eat — over 30, from a steakhouse to Italian, Japanese-Brazilian fusion cuisine, French dishes and seafood. The Palazzo’s drinking holes include the LAVO Lounge and the Pool Deck, set beside the largest of seven swimming and lounge pools. You can also enjoy access to four hot tubs, private poolside cabanas, landscaped gardens, the casino and the Grand Canal Shoppes. And for health and wellness, you have the Canyon Ranch® spa for aqua thermal treatments, as well as sessions on the 40-foot rock climbing wall.
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Encore is the newer, sister property to Wynn Las Vegas, found at the slightly quieter end of The Strip, ideal for those who need a little respite from the brightest lights. It’s also a little more refined, with fine art and foliage, yet as opulent as a Sin City hotel should be. The main hub of Vegas is a ten-minute walk away, but with an in-house theatre, casino, a spa, a salon and an array of restaurants, you certainly won’t get bored or hungry. All of its bedrooms are suites, with Asian and Middle Eastern decorative accents overlaying a timeless Nevada luxury.
Skylofts at MGM Grand
Found at the top of one of The Strip’s most iconic hotels with access to its facilities, the Forbes Five-Star awarded Skylofts have what are arguably the best views in town. With between one and three bedrooms, each loft has its own Bvlgari Bath Amenities, Nespresso Machine, immersion steam shower and an infinity edge spa tub as standard. Your wish is the staff’s command, with a dedicated concierge and personalised butler service around the clock. This is a great choice if you’re hosting a private party; you’ll have your own bar and mixologist in-suite, or you can get exclusive access to the lobby, which doubles as the SkyLounge.
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Resorts holds more Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and their Vegas casino resort has everything you need for a complete holiday under one roof. It’s every gambler’s dream. You can soak up the sun from a cabana while playing blackjack at one of its oasis styled pools, or head to the in-house casino for 1800 slots and 26 poker tables. You’ll also find a large spa, high-end designer boutiques, a nightclub, restaurants, cafes, buffets and suites boasting great views. The hotel is popular with couples seeking a high-octane fun-filled trip.
Bellagio Hotel and Casino
Probably the most recognisable hotel in Vegas with its epic fountain frontage, this MGM Resorts International property is a great choice for your first-time experiencing the glitz of Vegas. It has featured on blockbuster movies including Ocean’s 11 and Ocean’s 13 – and made worldwide news when life imitated art in 2018, during a high profile multi-million dollar heist. The Bellagio, with its opulent Italian villa design, has 3950 rooms and does everything on a grand scale. Features include a divine spa, art gallery, botanic gardens, Cirque Du Soleil shows, multiple dining options, a 2000-slot casino, an eight-acre lake, five courtyard pools, in-suite whirlpool tubs and even electric curtains.
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
This internationally renowned brand often makes an appearance on our ‘best hotels’ lists. And it’s the perfect choice for those who don’t want to stay in a hotel-casino. Here you can escape the tables, but with the benefit of full access to Mandalay Bay Resort’s facilities. With 424 rooms this resort is bijou by Vegas standards, with glamorous art deco interiors and architectural design by Klai Juba. The Four Seasons sits at the south end of the strip and offers a tranquil spa, two restaurants, two pools, a fitness suite and meeting rooms.
The Venetian
Themed hotels are a highlight of this 24-hour city, and they don’t get better than this. As the name would suggest, The Venetian, owned by the Las Vegas Sands group, is designed with all the romanticism of Renaissance Italy in mind. The complex opened in 1999 with a flourish of white doves and is the second-largest hotel in the world. Its two towers house 4,049 rooms, a 120,000 square-foot casino, spa, top restaurants, live shows and recreated Venetian landmarks. Suites are nearly double the size of an average hotel room in Las Vegas and the hotel even features a replica canal complete with motorised gondolas. A stay here leaves you feeling like you’ve experienced two cities in one.
The Nobu
The Nobu is part of the landmark Ceasar’s Palace but has a very different vibe. The style is traditional and contemporary Japanese-inspired with exotic suites including The Sake and The Hakone. Celebrated Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, serves up tantalising Japanese cuisine at Nobu Restaurant and Lounge. It’s a peaceful option with just 182 rooms and located several minutes walk away from the main strip – making it popular with celebrities preferring to stay close to the attractions, but away from the tourist-driven bustle. A highlight is the rooftop villa with bar, zen garden and hot tub providing a birds’ eye view of the neon-soaked action.
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas
Previously the Mandarin Oriental, the hotel was recently rebranded as the Waldorf Astoria and is another non-gaming hotel option. You won’t find the casual buffet-style dining that’s usually so ubiquitous in Vegas. Instead, it’s all about refined elegance and sophisticated experiences with Michelin starred French haute cuisine, a loose-leaf Tea Lounge, Zen Kitchen, full-service spa, yoga classes, 392 sleek rooms and 225 condos. Located right in the middle of the strip, it boasts three palm-lined pools – hire a cabana for your own flat-screen TV, supplies of sunscreen and non-alcoholic drinks.
Mandalay Bay
Another MGM Resorts entry, this 3209 room hotel is popular with families for its 11-acre pool area with a wave machine and huge real-sand artificial beach, as well as an on-site Shark Reef Aquarium. For the adults, there’s Spa Mandalay, Light Nightclub, House of Blues Concert Hall, convention centre, poolside gaming and Mandalay Palace – a collection of boutiques and award-winning restaurants. Party seekers also love this resort, with frequent high profile live shows and ‘beach’ concerts attracting musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Iggy Azalea.
Delano
Found in a separate building, but connected to Mandalay Bay is Delano. It’s a new arrival (formerly THEhotel), just a few years old and smaller than its sister hotel, housing 1117 suites. Originally designed by Philippe Starck, Delano is chic, arty, contemporary and by Sin City standards, understated. Dine at Rivea, for French and Italian influenced cuisine from celebrated Chef Alain Ducasse and spend some time chilling out at the uber-sophisticated urban style Bathhouse Spa. Active, retired military & their spouses receive a discount on Delano’s rooms, shows, restaurants and parking.
The NoMad Las Vegas
The hotel, created by Sydell Group in partnership with Make It Nice, is a great choice for summer partying and romantic spring, autumn and winter escapes. Its 293 rooms have been designed by Jacques Garcia with urban East Coast interiors, echoing those of its New York sister property. Guests can gamble under the casino’s stunning Tiffany glass ceiling, replete with old-world glamour and acclaimed cocktails, or dine in several grand eateries. During peak season, the pool area becomes JEMAA, with table service and top-level DJs, retaining a tranquil vibe during the rest of the year.
The Cosmopolitan – Autograph Collection
If you prefer to stay in a residential, large space with every home comfort, then The Cosmopolitan is for you. There are 3027 rooms in total at the Marriott property. High-end suites offer private terraces, strip views, unique art pieces and state of the art technology, while destination dining comes from acclaimed chefs including Bruce & Eric Bromberg, José Andrés and Costas Spiliadis. Enjoy time at the three pools, a 100,000 square-foot casino, Chelsea concert venue and Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub. The penthouse wellness centre – the Sahra Spa, Salon & Turkish Hammam – is especially charming, and inspired by exotic desert culture.
Aria Sky Suites
For a truly exclusive and serene break in the heart of Vegas, choose the Forbes Five-Star rated Aria Sky Suites. Featured in the movie Now You See Me, the 442 one, two and three-bedroom suites are part of the larger Aria Resort and Casino. Guests are treated to inclusive luxuries like wets bars, tablets, a private lounge and pool, floor to ceiling picture windows, 24-hour butler service, free drinks and snacks, limousine transfers and full access to the rest of the resort’s amenities (including preferential treatment at many of its facilities). The decor here is less extravagant than many of the nearby hotels attracting high rollers. Instead, it’s all about quiet, discerning sophistication, with an emphasis in top-notch service.