Casino resorts, big shows and desert day trips – compare stays from the Strip to Fremont Street.
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Las Vegas has one of the largest concentrations of hotel rooms in the world, and prices move more dramatically here than almost anywhere else. The same Strip resort can charge far more on a Saturday or during a major convention than on a quiet Tuesday, so your dates matter as much as your choice of hotel. Comparing resorts and hotels in one search makes those swings easy to spot before you commit.
The advertised room rate is rarely the whole story: nearly every resort on the Strip charges a nightly resort fee, Clark County room tax is added on top, and many resorts also charge for parking. Below you will find the areas we'd shortlist, when demand peaks, how to get from Harry Reid International to your hotel and tips that can make a big difference to the total.
Busiest monthsDemand is driven by conventions, sporting events and weekends more than the weather. CES in early January, big spring and autumn trade shows, college basketball tournaments in March, the Formula 1 race in November and New Year's Eve all push rates up, and Friday and Saturday nights are expensive year-round.
Best valueJuly and August are usually the cheapest months, as daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C. Midweek stays from Sunday to Thursday are the biggest saving at any time of year, provided no large convention is in town.
Based on typical seasonal hotel demand, not live prices. Run a search to see current prices for your dates.
The middle of the Strip, roughly from the Bellagio and Caesars Palace to the Venetian and the Sphere, holds the famous fountains, many headline shows and the widest choice of restaurants. Everything looks walkable, though distances between resorts are longer than they appear and the summer heat is intense. Rates here are typically among the highest in the city, especially at weekends.
The southern end around the MGM Grand, New York-New York, Luxor and Mandalay Bay is closest to the airport, T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium, so it suits concert and sports trips. Resorts here are large and often slightly better value than those in the middle of the Strip. A free tram links Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur.
North of the Venetian, Wynn and Encore, Resorts World and Fontainebleau have brought big resorts to this end of the Strip, close to the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is quieter on foot than the middle of the Strip, but the Las Vegas Monorail and the Vegas Loop link to the convention halls, which suits business travellers and anyone preferring a less crowded base.
Downtown is where Las Vegas began, centred on the Fremont Street Experience canopy with its light shows, older casinos and lower table minimums. Hotel rates are usually well below the Strip and resort fees tend to be lower, though some rooms are dated. The Arts District and East Fremont have independent bars and restaurants, and the Strip is about 15 minutes away by taxi or bus.
Harry Reid International sits just south-east of the Strip, so most resorts are 10 to 20 minutes away by taxi from the ranks at Terminals 1 and 3. Ride-hailing pick-ups are in the parking garages, and RTC buses run to the Strip and Downtown. There is no rail or monorail link. Rental cars are collected from the Rent-A-Car Center, a short ride away by free shuttle bus.
For a first visit, we'd stay on the Mid-Strip, where the fountains, major shows and many restaurants are close together. The South Strip suits concerts and sport at T-Mobile Arena or Allegiant Stadium, the North Strip suits conventions, and Downtown around Fremont Street is the best choice for lower rates.
Three nights is the usual length for a first trip, covering the main resorts, a show and a night on Fremont Street. Add a day or two for the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon or the Grand Canyon: the West Rim is about two and a half hours' drive away, and the South Rim around four and a half hours each way.
Rates are usually lowest from Sunday to Thursday in July and August, when daytime heat keeps many visitors away, and during quieter midweek periods without large conventions. Weekends, CES week in January, the Formula 1 race weekend in November and New Year's Eve are typically the most expensive.
Most Strip resorts and many Downtown hotels charge a mandatory nightly resort fee covering things like Wi-Fi and pool access, and Clark County room tax is added to both the room rate and the fee. US rules now require mandatory fees to be included in the advertised total price, but always check the final amount.
Harry Reid International is only a few kilometres from the Strip, so a taxi from the ranks takes about 10 to 20 minutes to most resorts. Ride-hailing pick-ups are in the parking garages, and RTC buses run to the Strip and Downtown. If you are hiring a car, take the free shuttle to the Rent-A-Car Center.
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