Where to Stay in Las Vegas: Our Honest Hotel Reviews - Part 2
We’re back with Part 2 of our Las Vegas Hotel Guide!
After more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas, we’ve learned that choosing the right hotel can completely change your experience. And with so many resorts lining the Strip, and even more options Downtown, figuring out where to stay can be overwhelming.
That’s exactly why we created this two-part series.
In Part 1 of our Las Vegas Hotel Guide, we shared our firsthand experiences staying at Treasure Island, Resorts World, Mandalay Bay, and MGM Grand. We broke down what we loved, what we think travelers should consider before booking, and who we think each resort is best for.
Haven’t read Part 1 yet? Make sure to check it out for our full reviews of those four resorts before, or after, you dive into this one!
Now, we’re continuing with five more Las Vegas hotels we’ve personally stayed at:
The Mirage
Just like Part 1, we’re not here to simply rank these hotels from best to worst. After visiting Vegas so many times, we’ve realized that the “best” hotel really depends on who you’re traveling with, what you want to do, and the kind of Vegas experience you're looking for.
For each property, we’ll share:
Best for: Who we think will enjoy the hotel most
What we loved: Our favorite parts of the property and our stay
What to consider: The things we think you should know before booking
Would we stay again?: Our personal verdict
And there’s one hotel on this list that you can no longer book.
We also wanted to include The Mirage, because it was part of our Vegas travels and deserves a place in this series. While The Mirage officially closed its doors in 2024, we’re still sharing our experience staying there, and remembering one of the iconic resorts that helped define the Las Vegas Strip for decades.
Between New York-New York's unmistakable Vegas energy, the luxury of The Cosmopolitan and The Palazzo, a completely different Downtown experience at Circa, and one final look back at The Mirage, Part 2 has some of our most memorable Vegas hotel stays.
So, which ones would we stay at again?
Let’s get into it.
New York-New York: Fun, Energetic, and Right in the Action
Best for: Friend trips, first-time visitors, families looking for entertainment, and travelers who want a lively Vegas atmosphere with easy Strip access.
We stayed at New York-New York on a trip with friends, but this is one of those Vegas hotels we’ve found ourselves returning to again and again, even when we weren’t staying there.
One of the biggest things we remember loving about New York-New York is the location and easy access to the Strip. Compared with some of the massive Vegas resorts where it can feel like a journey just to get outside, New York-New York felt relatively easy to navigate from our room to Las Vegas Boulevard.
The hotel itself also has a really fun energy. There’s always something going on, and between the casino, entertainment, arcade, roller coaster, bars, restaurants, and shows, it’s an easy place to spend a lot of time without getting bored.
What We Loved
New York-New York has a great variety of gambling tables and attractions, which makes it especially fun for a group trip.
On one friends trip, several people in our group ended up riding the Big Apple Coaster, and we also spent a night at the Dueling Piano Bar, which was such a fun group activity.
We’ve also brought our kids back to New York-New York on another trip specifically to visit the large arcade area, so this is one of those hotels we think can work surprisingly well whether you’re visiting with friends or with family.
And one of our personal favorites? Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil.
Mad Apple is easily one of our favorite Cirque shows in Las Vegas. It combines incredible stunts with comedy and a much more playful, adult sense of humor than some of the more traditional Cirque productions. If you’re staying at New York-New York, or even just visiting the property, we think it’s absolutely worth considering.
What to Consider
The pool area at New York-New York is nice, but there was one thing that stood out to us: the roller coaster.
While the coaster adds to the fun atmosphere of the hotel, I remember not loving hearing and seeing it go by while I was trying to relax at the pool. If your ideal Vegas pool day involves a quiet, peaceful resort atmosphere, this probably wouldn’t be our first choice.
We also don’t remember much about the actual hotel room, which, if we’re being honest, probably means it simply didn’t stand out to us.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The room was perfectly fine for our trip, but New York-New-York is a hotel we remember much more for everything happening outside the room than for the accommodations themselves.
Why We’d Choose New York-New York
Central Strip location
Easy access from the hotel to Las Vegas Boulevard
Fun and energetic atmosphere
Great variety of casino games
Big Apple Coaster
Large arcade area
Great option for a friends trip
Plenty for families to enjoy
Dueling Piano Bar
Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil
Would We Stay at New York-New York Again?
Yes, especially for a fun, activity-filled Vegas trip.
New York-New York probably wouldn’t be our first choice if we were planning a quiet luxury getaway or wanted to spend most of our trip relaxing by the pool.
But for a friends trip, first Vegas visit, or family trip where entertainment and location matter more than having an ultra-luxurious room, we think it’s a really solid option.
And even when we aren’t staying there, New York-New York is still one of those hotels we somehow keep finding our way back to, which probably says more than anything else.
The Cosmopolitan: Our Pick for a Romantic Vegas Getaway
Best for: Couples, romantic getaways, foodies, and travelers looking for an upscale hotel in a fantastic Strip location.
The Cosmopolitan had been on our Las Vegas hotel wish list for a long time, especially for a trip with just the two of us. We finally had the chance to stay here over Valentine's Day weekend, and it ended up being the perfect hotel for that kind of Vegas getaway.
From the moment we arrived, The Cosmopolitan felt more upscale than many of the other Vegas resorts we've stayed at. Our room was stunning and had that luxurious feel we were hoping for on a couples trip.
The location is another huge advantage. The Cosmopolitan sits right in the heart of the Strip, making it incredibly convenient for exploring other hotels, restaurants, shows, and attractions without feeling like you're starting a marathon every time you leave the resort.
What We Loved
Let's start with the food because we ate VERY well on this trip.
We had an amazing Mexican dinner at Amaya Modern Mexican and also tried Wicked Spoon, The Cosmopolitan's buffet. Calling it a "buffet" almost doesn't do it justice. It felt much more elevated and upscale than the traditional Vegas buffet experience we were expecting.
And, of course, we had to stop at The Chandelier Bar.
One of the most unique drinks we tried was the Verbena, a cocktail famous for the edible flower served alongside it. You eat the flower first, which creates a tingling, numbing sensation in your mouth and completely changes the way the cocktail tastes. It's definitely one of those quirky Vegas experiences that's just as much about the experience as it is about the drink.
We also spent a relaxing day at the pool, which was a nice break between everything else we had planned.
Our particular weekend made the atmosphere even more fun. We were in Vegas to see the Backstreet Boys at Sphere, and throughout the hotel we kept seeing other couples dressed in silver and white for the show. It added this fun energy to the entire weekend and made an already memorable Valentine's trip even better.
What to Consider
If having a huge Vegas pool complex is at the top of your priority list, The Cosmopolitan might not be our first choice.
We enjoyed our pool day and found it relaxing, but the pool area felt smaller compared with some of the larger resort-style pools we've experienced at other Las Vegas hotels.
For us, that wasn't a major downside because the pool wasn't the main reason we chose The Cosmopolitan. We were much more interested in the location, restaurants, nightlife, beautiful room, and overall atmosphere.
Why We’d Choose The Cosmopolitan
Fantastic central Strip location
Beautiful, upscale rooms
Perfect atmosphere for a couples getaway
Excellent dining options
Wicked Spoon
The Chandelier Bar
Unique cocktails and experiences like the Verbena
Easy access to other major Strip resorts
Fun, energetic atmosphere without sacrificing the luxury feel
Would We Stay at The Cosmopolitan Again?
Absolutely, especially for another couples trip.
The Cosmopolitan gave us exactly the kind of experience we were hoping for when we booked a Valentine's weekend in Las Vegas. It felt romantic and upscale while still having the fun, energetic atmosphere we love about Vegas.
If we were traveling with our kids, there are other properties we've stayed at that we'd probably choose first. And if our main goal was spending several days at a massive resort pool, we'd likely look elsewhere.
But for just the two of us?
The Cosmopolitan would easily be near the top of our list.
Between the beautiful room, fantastic location, great food, cocktails, and overall atmosphere, this is one Vegas hotel we'd happily turn into another date weekend.
Circa Resort & Casino: Our First Downtown Vegas Stay
Best for: Adults, couples, friend trips, pool lovers, sports fans, and travelers who want to experience a completely different side of Las Vegas.
After more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas, Circa is still the only hotel we've actually stayed at in Downtown Las Vegas, and it was such a fun experience!
Even when we're staying on the Strip, we usually make our way Downtown for at least one night. There's just something about the atmosphere that feels different from the Strip. We love exploring Fremont Street, and we certainly don't mind finding some of the cheaper blackjack tables Downtown!
But staying at Circa gave us the chance to experience Downtown Vegas in an entirely different way.
Circa is a newer resort, but we loved how it still manages to capture some of that nostalgic Las Vegas feeling. The neon signs and vintage Vegas touches throughout the property give it personality while the rooms and amenities still feel modern and upscale.
What We Loved
Our room at Circa was large, beautiful, and overlooked the massive pool and outdoor screen area. It was easily one of the highlights of our stay.
And then there's the pool.
We absolutely loved spending time at Circa's huge outdoor pool complex. The area was large enough that we never felt like we were sitting on top of everyone else, which can make such a difference when you're trying to actually relax.
We visited in February, but the pools were heated, so we were still able to enjoy a pool day even during a winter Vegas trip. Sitting in a heated pool in February with a massive screen in front of us was definitely a memorable Vegas experience.
Another thing we loved about staying at Circa was simply being able to walk out of our hotel and experience Downtown Vegas.
We rode SlotZilla over Fremont Street, grabbed some amazing pizza at Evel Pie, and explored Downtown Container Park, where we stopped for late-night drinks.
We've also visited The Mob Museum during one of our Vegas trips, which is another Downtown attraction we'd recommend if you want a break from casinos and gambling.
What to Consider
The biggest consideration with Circa is obvious: you're not staying on the Las Vegas Strip.
If this is your first trip to Vegas and your dream vacation involves walking between Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, The Venetian, and all the iconic Strip resorts, we probably wouldn't choose Circa as your home base.
But if you've visited Vegas before, or you're specifically interested in experiencing Fremont Street and Downtown Las Vegas, staying here gives you a completely different Vegas experience.
Another important thing to know is that Circa is an adults-only resort, so this isn't an option for a family Vegas trip.
For a couples getaway or friends trip, though? That can actually be part of the appeal.
Why We’d Choose Circa
Adults-only resort
Perfect for experiencing Downtown Las Vegas
Large, beautiful rooms
Incredible pool complex
Heated pools that we could enjoy even in February
Fun nostalgic Vegas touches and neon
Easy access to Fremont Street
Great option for couples and friend trips
Downtown gambling can offer lower table minimums than what we've found on the Strip
Plenty of Downtown attractions, restaurants, and nightlife nearby
Would We Stay at Circa Again?
Absolutely.
Circa showed us just how much fun it can be to actually stay Downtown instead of simply visiting for a few hours.
We still love staying on the Strip, and we'll probably always spend time there when we're in Las Vegas. But if we were planning an adults-only couples trip or a getaway with friends and wanted something different from our typical Strip experience, Circa would absolutely be on our list.
Between the huge room, heated pools, nostalgic Vegas atmosphere, Fremont Street, and all the fun places within walking distance, this stay gave us a completely different side of Las Vegas, and we're glad we finally tried it.
If you've been to Vegas several times but have never stayed Downtown, Circa might be the hotel that convinces you to give it a try.
The Palazzo: An Upscale Vegas Stay with Plenty of Luxury
Best for: Couples, luxury travelers, foodies, shoppers, and anyone who wants an upscale resort with convenient Strip access.
If you're looking for a more luxurious Las Vegas experience, The Palazzo definitely delivers.
We remember this stay for the beautiful, spacious accommodations and overall upscale atmosphere. The rooms felt higher-end than many of the other Vegas hotels we've experienced and made the hotel itself feel like part of the getaway rather than simply a place to sleep at the end of the night.
Another thing we really appreciated was the location. We had easy access to the Strip, while also having so many restaurants, shops, and things to explore without ever leaving the resort complex.
What We Loved
One of our favorite things about The Palazzo was simply walking around and taking everything in.
The Palazzo connects with The Venetian, giving you access to an enormous collection of restaurants, shops, entertainment, and attractions. We spent time browsing some of the luxury stores and exploring the resort, which is an experience in itself.
And, of course, you can't visit The Venetian and Palazzo without stopping to watch the gondolas travel along the indoor canals. We loved watching the gondoliers sing as they took passengers through the resort. It's one of those completely over-the-top Vegas experiences that somehow works—and it's something you don't find at any other hotel.
We also remember eating really well during this stay. There are so many upscale dining options throughout The Palazzo and The Venetian that this would easily be a property we'd recommend for travelers who want great restaurants to be a big part of their Vegas trip.
What to Consider
The Palazzo definitely falls into the higher-end category, so this probably isn't the property we'd choose if keeping hotel costs as low as possible was our main priority.
It's also a massive resort complex. While we appreciated having so much to explore without leaving the property, all those restaurants, shops, casinos, and attractions mean there's a lot of ground to cover.
For us, though, that's also part of the appeal. This is the type of Vegas hotel where you could easily spend hours wandering around without realizing how long you've been inside.
Why We’d Choose The Palazzo
Beautiful, upscale rooms
Luxury resort atmosphere
Easy access to the Las Vegas Strip
Connected to The Venetian
Excellent upscale dining options
Incredible shopping
Indoor canals and gondolas
Plenty to explore without leaving the resort
Great option for a couples getaway
Would We Stay at The Palazzo Again?
Yes, especially when we're looking for a more luxurious Vegas experience.
The Palazzo isn't necessarily the hotel we'd choose for every Las Vegas trip, particularly if we were trying to keep the trip more budget-friendly. But for a couples getaway where we wanted beautiful accommodations, great restaurants, shopping, and plenty to experience right at our hotel, we'd absolutely consider staying here again.
There's something very Vegas about being able to leave your beautiful hotel room, eat at an incredible restaurant, browse luxury shops, watch singing gondoliers float down an indoor canal, and then walk straight out onto the Strip.
If luxury, dining, and atmosphere are high on your Vegas hotel wish list, The Palazzo is one we'd keep near the top.
The Mirage: A Nostalgic Goodbye to Classic Las Vegas
Best for: A little Vegas nostalgia and remembering one of the iconic resorts that helped define the Strip.
Even though you can no longer book a stay at The Mirage, it only felt right to include it in our Las Vegas hotel series.
The Mirage was part of one of our first trips to Las Vegas, and we absolutely loved staying there. When we think back on our earliest Vegas memories, this is one of those hotels that immediately comes to mind.
To us, The Mirage was classic Las Vegas.
Maybe it's because we grew up watching Vegas Vacation, but walking through The Mirage always made us think of Chevy Chase wandering around Vegas. There was just something about the property that captured that classic, slightly over-the-top Vegas feeling we fell in love with on those early trips.
What We Loved
One of the things that made The Mirage so unique was how much there was to experience beyond the casino.
We loved visiting the dolphins and seeing the tigers at the resort. Those were such distinctive Mirage experiences and part of what made the property feel different from anywhere else on the Strip.
The Mirage was also home to what is still one of our favorite Cirque du Soleil shows we've ever seen, The Beatles LOVE.
We absolutely loved this show. The music, performances, costumes, and energy made it one of those Vegas experiences we still talk about years later. We've seen several Cirque shows throughout our Vegas travels, but LOVE will always be a favorite.
Between the tropical atmosphere, entertainment, attractions, and unmistakable Vegas personality, The Mirage was simply a fun place to stay.
Why The Mirage Will Always Be Part of Our Vegas Story
One of the hotels from our earliest Las Vegas trips
Classic Vegas atmosphere
The dolphin habitat
The tigers
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil
So many nostalgic Vegas memories
A property that truly felt unique
Why We’ll Miss The Mirage
We're genuinely sad that we'll never get the chance to stay at The Mirage again.
Las Vegas is constantly changing, that's part of what makes it exciting to return year after year, but it's still bittersweet watching some of the hotels and attractions from our earliest trips disappear.
The Mirage will always hold a special place in our Vegas memories, and we're glad we had the opportunity to experience it while it was there.
But as sad as we are to see one chapter close, we're also pretty excited about what's coming next.
The former Mirage site is being transformed into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, bringing an entirely new resort experience to this part of the Strip. It's currently expected to open in 2027, and you better believe we're already thinking about how we can plan another Vegas trip to check it out.
It seems only fitting.
One of the hotels that helped start our love for Las Vegas may be gone, but now we have a pretty good excuse to come back and experience what's next.
So...Which Las Vegas Hotel Would We Choose?
After more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas and stays at hotels all over the Strip and Downtown, we've learned that there really isn't one hotel we'd recommend to everyone.
The hotel we'd choose for a weekend with friends is different from where we'd stay with our kids. And the resort we'd book for a romantic couples getaway isn't necessarily where we'd send someone visiting Las Vegas for the very first time.
So after sharing our experiences in Parts 1 and 2, here are our personal winners based on the hotels we've actually stayed at.
Best for First-Time Vegas Visitors: Treasure Island
For your first trip to Las Vegas, location matters, and that's one of the reasons we'd choose Treasure Island.
It's centrally located, getting from the hotel to Las Vegas Boulevard is relatively easy, and the rates can be more affordable than some of the luxury resorts nearby. You can stay right in the action without necessarily spending a fortune on your hotel.
It may not have the luxury feel of some of our other favorites, but as a home base for exploring Vegas for the first time, we think it's a great choice.
Our pick: Treasure Island
Best for a Couples Getaway: The Cosmopolitan
This one is probably no surprise after reading about our Valentine's Day stay.
The Cosmopolitan just feels like a couples hotel to us. The beautiful rooms, central location, fantastic restaurants, cocktails at The Chandelier Bar, and overall upscale atmosphere made it perfect for a getaway with just the two of us.
If we were planning another romantic Vegas weekend, The Cosmopolitan would be very high on our list.
Our pick: The Cosmopolitan
Best for Families: MGM Grand
We've actually stayed at MGM Grand both without our kids and with them, which gives this one the edge for us.
When we brought our kids, we loved that we didn't constantly feel like we needed to leave the property. We had restaurants, the pool, and entertainment all right there. The kids especially enjoyed seeing KÀ by Cirque du Soleil.
Yes, MGM Grand is enormous, and getting from your room to the Strip can be quite the walk. But when we're traveling with kids, having so much entertainment available without leaving the resort is a huge plus.
Our pick: MGM Grand
Best for a Friends Trip: Resorts World
We've stayed at Resorts World twice, once with another couple and once with a large group of friends, and we'd happily do it again.
The beautiful resort, fantastic restaurants, great drinks, amazing pool complex, and more adult atmosphere make it such a fun place for a group getaway.
The location isn't our favorite if you plan on spending your entire trip walking the Strip, but Resorts World has so much happening that we're perfectly happy spending a lot of our time right at the resort.
Our pick: Resorts World
Best Pool Experience: Resorts World
We've enjoyed several Vegas hotel pools, but our pool days at Resorts World stand out.
We loved the size of the pool complex, the atmosphere, and being able to spend the day relaxing with drinks before getting ready for the evening.
Circa comes in VERY close here, especially because we were able to enjoy its heated pools during a February trip. But for our overall favorite pool experience from the hotels we've stayed at, we're giving this one to Resorts World.
Our pick: Resorts World
Very close second: Circa
Best Luxury Stay: The Palazzo
If we wanted that classic, upscale Las Vegas resort experience, we'd choose The Palazzo.
The rooms are beautiful, the dining is excellent, and you're surrounded by luxury shopping, restaurants, and all the incredible details of The Palazzo and The Venetian.
The Cosmopolitan gives it some serious competition, but the overall scale and atmosphere of The Palazzo make it our pick when we're looking for a true luxury resort experience.
Our pick: The Palazzo
Best Location: The Cosmopolitan
For us, The Cosmopolitan has one of the biggest advantages you can have in Las Vegas: a fantastic central Strip location.
You're surrounded by some of the most popular resorts, restaurants, attractions, and entertainment in Vegas, making it a great home base if you plan to explore.
After staying at resorts on both ends of the Strip, we've learned to appreciate just how valuable a central location can be.
Our pick: The Cosmopolitan
Best Downtown Vegas Stay: Circa
This one is easy considering Circa is the only Downtown Vegas hotel we've actually stayed at, but we'd still happily recommend it.
Circa gave us a completely different Vegas experience. We loved the huge room, incredible heated pool complex, nostalgic neon touches, and being able to step outside and immediately experience Fremont Street.
If you've visited Las Vegas several times and always stayed on the Strip, we think spending a trip Downtown is worth considering.
Our pick: Circa
Best for Value: Treasure Island
Vegas hotel prices can change dramatically depending on when you're traveling, so "best value" doesn't necessarily mean it will always have the cheapest room.
But based on our experience, Treasure Island offers a nice combination of location, convenience, cleanliness, and affordability. Add in free parking, and there are some real advantages for travelers trying to keep their Vegas budget under control.
Our pick: Treasure Island
Our Overall Favorite Las Vegas Hotel We've Stayed At...
This one is hard.
The Cosmopolitan gave us an incredible couples getaway. Circa made us want to stay Downtown again. The Palazzo gave us the luxury Vegas experience. MGM Grand worked surprisingly well with our kids.
But if we had to choose one hotel based purely on where we've loved staying enough to return...
Resorts World gets our vote.
We've already stayed there twice, for two very different types of trips, and loved both experiences.
We love the rooms. We love the pool. We love the restaurants. We love the drinks. We've consistently had great service. And the resort is beautiful enough that we genuinely don't mind spending a significant portion of our Vegas trip right there.
Would we choose Resorts World for every trip? No.
And that's really the point of this entire series.
The best Las Vegas hotel isn't necessarily the fanciest, most expensive, or highest-rated hotel. It's the one that fits the trip you're trying to have.
After more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas, that's probably the biggest lesson we've learned about choosing where to stay.
Which Las Vegas Hotel Should You Choose?
Here's our quick cheat sheet:
First Vegas trip: Treasure Island
Couples getaway: The Cosmopolitan
Family trip: MGM Grand
Friends trip: Resorts World
Pool trip: Resorts World
Luxury getaway: The Palazzo
Central Strip location: The Cosmopolitan
Downtown Vegas: Circa
Value: Treasure Island
Our overall favorite: Resorts World
And while The Mirage may no longer be part of the Las Vegas skyline, it will always get our vote for most nostalgic.
Vegas continues to change, and that's one of the reasons we keep going back.
With the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino taking shape where The Mirage once stood, we're already thinking about our next trip and which hotel we'll add to this list next.
One thing is certain: our Las Vegas hotel reviews aren't finished yet.
And if you're planning your own Vegas getaway and still aren't sure which hotel fits your trip, reach out to Memories for Miles Travel. We'd love to help you find the right resort and start planning your own Vegas memories.
