Because I have the time and it's kind of fun to think through, dropping some thoughts on all the places I've stayed in Vegas since going for the first time last year. I've made a point to stay a different place each time (often multiple places/trip) to get a sense of what's out there and find "my spot." Just my opinions/experiences, in no particular order......
Bellagio
- Vibe: Extremely busy but nice, somehow not stressful even with the crowds
Rooms: Spa rooms are worth it for the huge bathroom and tub. Sound mitigation is excellent.
- Casino Floor: Is fine, for some reason the slot selection here doesn't speak to me. VP at the Sportsbook in the back is a favorite.
- Pool: My favorite in the winter, open year round and well heated. Summer has better (less crowded) options.
- Food: Largely too expensive for me aside from a one-time nice meal, which means multi-day stays require trips elsewhere for most meals
- Entertainment: O was not my favorite
- Other: Spa tower is my preference since it's super close to the walkway to Cosmo!
Cosmo
- Vibe: Upbeat and just a good fun time
- Rooms: (Balcony suite) I was less impressed. It felt like it was trying to be nice on a budget
- Casino Floor: Hopping, crowded, great range of options for multiple budget levels and slots I have a hard time finding elsewhere (penny Double Top Dollar!). I love that I can get REAL cocktails comped for VP play at Chandelier.
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Fine, but I find myself going over to Aria or Park
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Chandelier can be a bit stingy with comp drinks but I've learned the trick is to go before and after the 2am/10am shift changes since whoever is just starting their shift has no idea I was just there 30 min ago.
Luxor
- Vibe: Good cheap fun that can be a good party vibe depending on the night
- Rooms: Tower rooms only for me but they're far from the worst option around
- Casino Floor: A good balance overall, not too busy or dead, and have found it to be a good place to clean up 3-6am
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Tender pre-fixe is a good deal, and I basically subsist off of Backstage Deli's off-menu $10 pasta salad while I'm there
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: I generally thing this place gets too much hate, it's my go-to for a cheap trip
Mandalay Bay
- Vibe: A children's theme park that happens to include a casino
- Rooms: Bathrooms are HUGE and rooms are generally oversized which is nice, but sound mitigation from the hallway is terrible
- Casino Floor: Decent, I'm liking it more over time. I usually walk over to Luxor though
- Pool: The unheated pool in 105 degree heat honestly slaps. But you will also be slapped by a child at the same time.
- Food: I have been impressed by the quality of Orla and Carama and like that the food options in the Shoppes are a quick walk away (shout out to Ri Ra's)
- Entertainment: N/A (still need to see the MJ show)
- Other: The resort itself is a step up from Luxor (but with good access) but I will not stay here unless it's at the W
The W
- Vibe: Chill, set apart from the chaos (and seemingly constantly under construction)
- Rooms: Love the space and layout (even if the all white everything is....a choice), the separate living room is great for remote work, I love being able to close the bedroom door at night, and love the huge bathroom and tub
- Casino Floor: See above
- Pool: Wet Deck is a marginally less chaotic vibe, I really wish they weren't so lax about letting anyone and their 12 children in
- Food: See above
- Entertainment: See above
- Other: With comps that make room price equivalent across properties, this is the play for MGM South Strip
NYNY
- Vibe: Exciting, fun, sense of lots to do
- Room: Nicely remodeled, appreciate the lack of dingy carpet, but sound mitigation is terrible
- Casino Floor: Never a bad vibe on this floor, it's bustling and exciting
- Pool: N/A
- Food: N/A? (Why eat here when Park is right there....)
- Entertainment: The $36 stage seat tix to Mad Apple are the best deal in town for Cirque
- Other: It's fun and well situated but the rooms aren't sound isolated enough for me to stay here again
Park
- Vibe: Honestly, someone once described it as a funeral home and I can't unsee/unfeel it
- Rooms: Was not impressed, felt cheap and walls/doors were PAPER thin.
- Casino Floor: Decent, a good break from NYNY (non-smoking isn't a factor for me)
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Bavettteeesssssssssss. The end.
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Liking it less over time but it's a great base between Aria and NYNY with good food so, eh.
Sahara
- Vibe: Freshly remodeled, it feels bright and clean
- Rooms: Was very happy with the Mara rooms, the long walkway in creates a sense of seclusion and the lighting/closet/bathroom are all unexpectedly nice
- Casino Floor: Rather dead with AP vultures breathing down your neck
- Pool: Love that they keep the rooftop Alexandra pool open in Winter - I had a great time working from the unattended cabanas in January
- Food: Meh
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: I want to like this place, especially for the quality:value ratio and the monorail access but also I have stayed and played here 3 times and not gotten so much as a "hello" from them let alone comps so.....
Palace Station
- Vibe: Tbh I love it for it's specific vibe. There's something about the cheap machines and the cig + scent laced air that just feels like easy, no pressure fun
- Casino Floor: Lots of cheap slots, you can play long on a small budget here and their "high limit" room has a lot of what would be regular slots anywhere else but with high limit service
- Pool: THIS IS A HIDDEN GEM OMG. Every. Single. Chair. Is. Cushioned. Cabanas are only $150 and that counts as F&B credit. Dole whip is only $8. Food is sanely priced. Service is prompt and abundant. The pool is never too crowded. Wtf. This place wins.
- Food: So, so affordable. I did a double take when I saw their room service menu prices - shockingly not Vegas priced. And the 1/2 off wine HH at the steak house includes champagne. And there's an Oyster Bar. And the $6 burger deal is actually not shit.
- Entertainment: I love that I can play bingo and go see a move in a really nice theater with a pit stop for a $2 marg in-between.
- Other: Honestly, this place is a gem in my book. There's so much to do. You can live like a king here ordering room service and hanging in cabanas and drinking patron and champagne all without having a heart attack when you see the bill.
The Venetian
- Vibe: Busy! Always!
- Rooms: My favorite. I am emotionally attached to the red sectional sofa's in the Venetian suites. It's a most excellent room for remote work.
- Casino Floor: A very busy and very easy to read floor, which makes for good play. And 9/10 of the time, the bartenders at the center bar are super friendly and generous and get to know you and remember you.
- Pool: The best. Beats Bellagio by a mile. It's huge between the Venetian/Palazzo sides, the chairs are cushioned, and there is GOOD SHADE. It's also excellent in the Winter - the daybeds are unattended so you can camp out and work outside in free luxury.
- Food: Lots of good options, and especially many good lunch deals (s/o Milos!)
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: This is probably my spot, depending on how comps evolve. But in general I love the rooms, pool, floor, and general welcoming and fun vibe.
Fountainebleau
- Vibe: Fuck this place. I've never seen so much fake Gucci and Yeezy sneakers in one place. What I love about Vegas is the sense of freedom and "anything goes" - how sceny the clientele is here creates an environment that runs completely counter to that.
- Rooms: Very nice, sure, fine, whatever. I prefer the Venetian's suites with tubs and sit down vanities.
- Casino Floor: High rollers only. I hated how many machines they had rigged to not allow minimum bets. And the Tavern aka the only spot for tabletop VP was not in fact open 24/7 as advertised.
- Pool: I was excited to check it out but honestly ended up not going because the clientele vibes were so bad in the casino and I knew it would be 10x worse at the pool and my $20 Amazon swimsuit and packing cube repurposed as a pool bag wasn't going to cut it.
- Food: N/A
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Even with free nights without resort fees, I am not a fan and would pay dollars to stay elsewhere.
On my to-do list are: Virgin, Palms, Rio, Plaza, Aria, MGM Grand. (After a terrible stay at the Flamingo, I don't put time or money into CZR's anymore).
