Las Vegas Hotel Tips by goingsolo Top 5 Page for this destination

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino: Monte Carlo Resort & Casino Monte Carlo Resort And Casino Review

The Monte Carlo is on the southern end of the Strip, near the Mandalay Bay. The hotel has its own brewery and you can get beers to go from the vendor outside. I'm not a beer drinker, so I didn't sample any.

The Monte Carlo is also the location for the Lance Burton magic show.

Address: 3770 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: 800 311 8999

Theme: Hotel

Excalibur Hotel Casino: Excalibur Hotel Casino Excalibur Hotel Casino Review

When entering the medieval-themed Excalibur, you'd almost expect to find yourself in the middle of a jousting match. In true over-the-top Vegas form, the hotel is in the form of a castle and it has a moat surrounding it. Suits of armor stand as sentries at the entrance and a dragon battle takes place in the moat every evening when a fire breathing dragon battles Merlin the magician. I won't tell you who wins as that would spoil the surprise.

The Excalibur is a family-themed hotel, and a generally reasonably priced one at that. The hotel has a prime rib restaurant. For those who find wizards, knights and dragons romantic, medieval-themed weddings are also performed here.

Address: 3850 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: 702 597 7777

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.excaliburcasino.com

Luxor Hotel and Casino: Luxor Luxor Hotel and Casino Review

The Luxor is an Egyptian themed hotel on the south end of the Strip. Its pretty easy to recognize with its pyramid structure and mammoth pharoah sculpture on the exterior.

The Luxor is the location for seeing the highly recommended Blue Man Group. As Vegas Strip hotels go, prices are on the more affordable end and rooms seemed pretty nice. I didn't end up staying here, but I looked into it and it seemed like a cool place to lodge for a couple of nights.

The lower level of the Luxor is its non-gambling entertainment center. Being a non-gambler, I enjoyed this area. There are several virtual rides, an IMAX theatre and a walk through exhibit of King Tut's Tomb which has some interesting artifacts (I'll explain more aboiut that one in a separate tip). On this lower level, you'll also find the Chapel at Luxor, should you have the urge to get married after experiencing the motion sickness of those rides or the opulence of King Tut.

Luxor has about a dozen restaurants, as every large Las Vegas Strip hotel is required to do, ranging from fairly pricey to inexpensive. The Pharoah's Pheast Buffet is another eating option.

Unique Qualities: The decor, in scale as well as design, the entertainment area and the elevators which are on an incline due to the strucure of the building

Address: 3900 Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino: The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino The Venetian Review

The Venetian was my favorite hotel. I didn't stay here the first time I went to Vegas(couldn't afford it), but I loved the statues outside, the waterway in the shopping area and even the touristy gondola.

On the second trip, the hotel was running a special and I stretched the budget to fit in a few nights here. It was well worth all the extra hours I'll have to work for this splurge. The Venetian rooms, or suites, are pure luxury. The phrase "fit for a king", so trite and cliche, really applies to these living quarters. The Venetian suites are supposed to be twice as large as the average Vegas hotel room and they are not lacking in anything. The hotel spares no attention to detail in these rooms, with furnishings, artwork and even the marble bathrooms. I wanted to move in here the minute I walked in and saw the room.

Many people will probably disagree, but I think this place blows the Bellagio away. Not that its not a great hotel, but I think the Venetian far exceeds everything the Bellagio has to offer, with the exception of "O", but you don't need to stay in the hotel to go see the show. If you're looking for a high end Vegas hotel, this would be my top pick.

Between the shopping, museums, restaurants, bars, spa and the casino, this place could be an all inclusive resort, and pretty much is. The only area the Venetian falls short on is its lounges and nightclub, but there's plenty of those within walking distance of this mammoth luxury resort hotel.

Unique Qualities: The architecture is amazing, but the artwork and sculptures inside are stunning. The Venetian's interior is a museum in itself.

Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 888 283 6423

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.venetian.com

Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino: Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino Rio All Suite Hotel And Casino Review

The Rio is a lcolorful latin themed all suite hotel located just off the Strip on Flamingo Road. I didn't stay here as The Palms had a better rate, but I've heard and read that the suites are pretty spacious by Las Vegas standards.

At night, the Rion is a pretty ostentacious display of bright lights and Las Vegas neon. It has a collection of bars and clubs, as well as a pretty good buffet.

Address: 3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Directions: About a mile from the Strip and across the street from The Palms

Phone: 702 253 7777

Theme: Hotel

The Palms Casino Resort: The Palms Casino Resort The Palms Casino Resort Review

The Palms is a trendy place located just off the strip. Its more of a younger nightclub type of scene than the Strip hotels, which have the impressive shows and entertainment. But the rooms are large, comfortable, and, most importantly, cheap. Well, in the off season at least. I paid $59 per night for a room with a Strip view. That's hard to beat.

The Palms has a few good restaurants: The high end Alize, the not as high end but still very good N9ne Steakhouse(that's not a typo; that's how its spelled on the sign) and a few more casual selections. The hotel is home to the trendy Ghostbar and the nightclub Rain. Its not a place to spend much time unless you're into the nightclub scene or you're about 21 years old, but its a good place to stay when there are deals to be had.

Unique Qualities: Some rooms have a great view of the Strip, although that's hardly unique.

Address: 4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Less than a mile from the Strip and across the street from the Rio.

Phone: 702 942 7777

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Embassy Suites McCarran Airport: Embassy Suites McCarran Airport Embassy Suites Las Vegas Airport Review

There's generally no reason to stay at an airport hotel unless you're coming in late or going early, so I'll begin by saying that I wouldn't recommend this unless your travel plans fall into one of those categories. But since mine did, I found myself here.

Its a comfortable, standard chain hotel, but a little on the pricey side. The free breakfast is a nice perk, but not having an airport shuttle is definitely a negative.

Address: 4315 Swenson Street

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 702 795-2800

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hilton.com

MGM Grand Hotel And Casino: MGM Grand Hotel And Casino MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Review

The MGM Grand is on the southern end of the Strip, across from the NYNY Hotel. The MGM has on display at the lion's den several lions which are supposedly descendants from the famous MGM lions seen roaring before the showing of an MGM movie. The MGM Hotel also has 2 nightlife spots, Tabu, the popular lounge, and Studio 54, the too popular and too crowded (at least for me) nightclub.)

Address: 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: 800 929 1111

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.mgmgrand.com

Flamingo Las Vegas: Flamingo Hotel Flamingo Las Vegas Review

Unique Qualities: The Flamingo has an outdoor garden area in the back with live flamingos and other birds. If it wasn't so hot, this would be a great place to get off the Vegas fast track and relax for a bit.

Address: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: 800 732 2111

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.flamingolv.com

Treasure Island At The Mirage: Treasure Island Treasure Island - Ti Review

Unique Qualities: Treasure Island has, as its name suggests, a pirate theme. There is a pirate show at the outside lagoon nightly. This hotel is connected to the Mirage by a monorail which runs back and forth between the two.

Address: 3300 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: 800 944 7444

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.mirage.com