Best hotels in Las Vegas for 2022
From the colossus Caesars Palace, the grandaddy of The Strip, New York, New York with its giant rollercoaster, and The Venetian, which brings the Grand Canals of Venice to the desert, complete with gondolas – Las Vegas is the most fun city in the US and should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
While gambling and entertainment are very much the focus, it's not to say there's a dearth of culture in this desert city. Catch a touring exhibition in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, witness works by Dali, Picasso and Warhol in the Martin Lawrence Galleries in Caesars Palace, or visit Art Square in Las Vegas Arts District, a clutch of modern art galleries and performance spaces.
Of course, Las Vegas is not the only attraction in the Nevada desert. Venture out from The Strip to find dramatic canyons, winding rivers and spectacular state parks to explore. It's also a launch pad for exploring the Grand Canyon.
From the dancing fountains of the Bellagio to the stylish suites in the Nobu, we've cherry picked some of the best hotels in Las Vegas.
Covid-19: Check the current rules for entering the USA on the Foreign Office website and your eligibility on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website before planning a trip.
1Bellagio
Home of the famous dancing fountains, Cirque du Soleil and glitzy, gilt-edged casinos by the dozen, the Bellagio is everything you could possibly want from a flashy Las Vegas hotel. Inspired by the villages of Europe – the vast lobby oozes marble-laced Italian glamour – this vast hotel has a huge pool area with private cabanas, pool bars and a spa, and even a modern art gallery.
An opulent sprawl set around a lake, the Bellagio has some 4,000 rooms, all spacious and elegantly decorated, with views over the fountains or the gardens. Dine out on buffets fit for an emperor or enjoy fine dining at Picasso under the gaze of the Spanish artist's great works.
2NoMad Las Vegas
A burgeoning trend on the luxury hotel scene is offering a hotel within a hotel. The NoMad Las Vegas is one such place, found within the sprawling Park MGM hotel on The Strip. The NoMad brings a little old-school European glamour to Vegas with low-lighting, ruby red carpeting throughout, and a swanky restaurant based on the Library at The NoMad New York, its sister property.
Airy rooms have chichi vibe with wooden floors (rare in Vegas) and vintage hints like retro photographs and minibars made out of steamer trunks. While guests have full run of the MGM, the NoMad offers exclusive corners for guests to escape to, including a Moroccan-style pool area and a swish boutique casino with a Tiffany glass ceiling.
3The Palazzo at The Venetian
Bringing Italian Renaissance glamour to the Mojave Desert, The Palazzo at The Venetian offers a more refined and luxurious stay than its sibling, but still in the heart of Vegas showtime. Unlike the neighbouring Venetian, where hordes of visitors flock to ride gondolas on the Grand Canal, The Palazzo is less of a destination hotel and more exclusive for guests.
After a day on the tables, cool off in the pool, fringed by palm trees and 'ancient' columns or relax in Canyon Reach Spa, one of the world's largest day spas. The all-suite Palazzo famously has some of the most spacious rooms on The Strip. All are decorated in chic contemporary tones and plush fabrics, while the even more spacious upgraded suites offer split-level living and sunken lounge areas.
4Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
There's much more to Las Vegas than gambling and galas. Its proximity to the Grand Canyon and Red Rock Canyon makes it a great base to explore Nevada's more natural attractions. Of course, after hiking in the desert you'll want a luxury base to return to and where better than a trusty Four Seasons. Tucked away on the 35th to 39th floor of Mandalay Bay, the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas offers a completely separate experience and is a rare oasis of calm amid the hubbub of The Strip.
One of the few non-gaming hotels in the area, step inside the grand lobby, all high ceilings, marble floors and a swathe of modern art, to find a quiet pool area, a spa and a clutch of dining options. Rooms are overtly plush, as expected from Four Seasons, and most offer serene views of the mountains, making it easy to forget you're in the neon capital of the world.
5El Cortez Hotel & Casino
A far cry from the mega resorts on The Strip, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino near Fremont Street in Downtown is a true Vegas institution. From the moment you step into the lobby – with its 1948 Cadillac, dulcet tones of Sinatra and images of mobsters – you'll be transported back to the golden age of Vegas.
Most of the rooms are from the original 1940s hotel, so not as spacious as those on The Strip, but all feature heavy polished wood furnishings and swirly carpets and have a retro Vegas charm. Dine out in Siegel’s 1941, the signature restaurant named after El Cortez' original owner, mobster Bugsy Siegel. Or kick back with an Old Fashioned in the scarlet-clad Parlour Bar cocktail and piano lounge, which truly evokes the Rat Pack era.
6
One of the original hotels on The Strip, Caesars Palace is simply iconic but, for some, the colossal Roman Empire-themed hotel with its ornate frescoes and oversized Greco-Roman statues is just a little too...Vegas. But tucked inside its grand walls is the Nobu Hotel, the first of its kind in Vegas to introduce the concept of a hotel within a hotel and offers a more sophisticated stay yet still in the heart of the action.
The 200 rooms all have a contemporary Japanese vibe. Guests have access to the Qua Baths and Spa, which features an arctic room – welcome in the desert heat – and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, exclusive to Nobu guests. Of course, priority reservations at Nobu restaurant are standard and worth their weight in gold.
7Delano Las Vegas
Rising like a bar of gold bullion out of the neon-lit skyline, Delano Las Vegas brings Miami South Beach to the desert. Located at the southern end of The Strip, it offers a quieter base with the emphasis on relaxation rather than gaming. The hotel is decked out in earthy tones, natural woods and subtle lighting, add in the lack of casino, and the mood feels exclusive and stylish, and quite unlike the standard Vegas hotel.
Naturally, the Delano is all about luxury and highlights include the beautiful Bathhouse Spa, the Beach Club pool, exclusive only to Delano guests, and Rivea, the exquisite fine dining restaurant by Alain Ducasse. The 1,000-plus suites are understated yet stylish; think off-whites and greys, clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, many with views along The Strip.
8Vdara Hotel and Spa
A non-smoking, non-gaming hotel is as rare as hen's teeth in Las Vegas. But overlooking the neon-lit Strip, this stylish five-star spa hotel is all about relaxation rather than revelry. Step inside the Vdara Hotel and Spa's cool lobby, adorned with colourful modern art, and find a serene atmosphere replacing the obligatory tinkle of slot machines. As a spa hotel, Vdara offers a handful of healthy dining places, but for sliders and illicit cocktails, head to Vice Versa Patio and Lounge which has a terrace with a fire pit.
The biggest draw is Vdara's state-of-the-art spa and its signature European heat experiences. Spacious suites are understated; all clean lines and modular furnishings, and have views across the glittering cityscape. Upgrade to a luxury suite or loft and gain access to the exclusive club lounge.
9The Cromwell
Las Vegas is renowned for its glitzy thousand-bed mega resorts bursting with casinos and celebrity restaurants – and this is what many want – however, if you're looking for something a little less obvious, The Cromwell is just the spot. Moments from Bellagio's dancing fountains and the Eiffel Tower at Paris, this boutique hotel - and it is boutique by Vegas standards – has a rather theatrical appeal.
Step inside to a womb-like warmth of rich plum velvet, polished mahogany and glittering chandeliers. There's a seasonal rooftop pool, lined with palm trees, and a live music lounge. Naturally, a casino too. The rooms are decadent and plush; think jewelled tones, leather furnishings and even more chandeliers. GIADA is the hotel's signature restaurant, an Italian concept headed up by TV chef, Giada de Laurentis.
10Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa
A holiday in Vegas doesn't always have to revolve around casino hopping along The Strip. Venture out from the neon-lit clamour to find relaxation in the desert in this rare oasis 10 miles from Caesars Palace. Blending the glamour of Old Vegas with Nevada's natural desert attractions, the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa has the spectacular backdrop of the Red Rock Canyon.
Once ensconced in the resort, you can enjoy the award-winning spa, which offers moonlight yoga and desert hot stone massages, while a clutch of palm-fringed pools keeps everyone cool in the searing heat. Out of the 800 rooms, all neutrally decorated, the best offer desert views. But the glitz and glamour of Vegas is never far away, the resort offers a free shuttle to The Strip.