As Las Vegas veterans, we’ve had the opportunity to stay at a number of the Strip’s famous hotels and resorts. Here’s a list of our favorites and the things we like about them (in no particular order):

BELLAGIO
With it’s majestic fountains and perfect mid-Strip location, Bellagio Resort & Casino is a definite favorite. The minute you walk into the lobby with its glass flowers on the ceiling, you know you’re in elegant paradise. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, located next to the lobby, add to the elegance with their absolutely amazing floral displays. The Conservatory updates their display regularly so visiting often is a must!

The hotel rooms and suites at the Bellagio are luxurious and beautiful. They are decorated in a contemporary and elegant style and feature high-end amenities. A number of the rooms offer views of the Las Vegas valley or the iconic Bellagio fountains right from your suite – upgrading to a room with a view is definitely worth the extra money!

The Bellagio pool area is an oasis surrounded by lush landscaping and palm trees. With its five distinctive pool courtyard settings, it offers a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere perfect for relaxation and recreation. The lounge chairs are super comfortable and the poolside service is top notch.

The Bellagio Buffet is an all-you-can-eat dining experience like no other with its wide variety of food options, including Italian, Japanese, Chinese and American cuisines. It’s open daily for brunch and on the weekends for dinner. It offers good value for the price which you can offset with a 2-for-1 coupon from MYVegas.com.

Bellagio is conveniently located mid-Strip (which also makes it fairly busy) and within walking distance to Caesars Place and Horseshoe. It offers tram service to the luxury shopping experience at the Shops at Crystals and the Aria Resort & Casino.

WYNN
Wynn Resort & Casino is pure luxury and opulence with its amazing water wall viewable from the lobby and its floral gardens complete with a mini carousel. The parasols that move up and down over the lounge and the complimentary Lake of Dreams show are also totally worth checking out.

The hotel rooms at the Wynn are serene and stylish and offer amazing views of the Strip, mountains or the Wynn 18-hole championship course. They are high-class and elegant and offer high-end luxury amenities and high-end service.

The Wynn pool is a luxurious, dream oasis that offers the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the Strip. The lounge chairs are very comfortable and the poolside service is amazing.

Similar to the buffet at the Bellagio, the Wynn Buffet is an award-winning dining experience. It offers 16 tantalizing food kitchens from renowned chefs around the world plus all the classics. The food and service are amazing which makes the high price worth it. The buffet is open daily for brunch and dinner but is very busy so it is recommended that you pre-book online.

The Wynn has featured some mind-blowing shows and entertainment over the years, including one of our favorites, La Reve. Their new show, Awakening, is sure to be a show-stopper too – we hope it check it out soon.

If you love shopping, Wynn has not one but two upscale shopping malls. And, it’s conveniently located across the street from the Fashion Show Mall with its more than 250 retailers and over 30 restaurants.

From the Wynn it’s a short walk to the adjoining Encore, which is a beautiful and elegant resort too, and the Palazzo is located right across the street.

MANDALAY BAY
Located at the south end of the Las Vegas strip is the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. From the moment you walk into the lobby, you’re immediately mesmerized by Mandalay’s striking architecture, lush tropical surroundings and its amazing scent.

The rooms are clean and comfortable and their floor-to-ceiling windows provide inspiring views of the Strip, Mandalay Bay Beach or the majestic mountains. A heads up that the elevator area can be a bit chaotic if the hotel is busy which can make getting to your room challenging.

Mandalay Bay has a white sand beach, wave pool, lazy river and several other pools to enjoy and cool off in. Mandalay Beach is the perfect place for loads of family fun as is the Shark Reef Aquarium with all its marine animals.

Mandalay Bay is close to the Shoppes at Mandalay Place which includes shopping, bars and restaurants and links to the Luxor Hotel & Casino. If walking isn’t your thing, there is a tram that runs from Mandalay Bay with stops at the Luxor and Excalibur. Mandalay Bay is also within walking distance of the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders.

VDARA
Vdara is a hidden gem on the Las Vegas Strip. Nestled between the Aria, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan, this all-suite, non-smoking, non-gaming boutique hotel and spa is perfect if you are looking for a quiet place to stay on the Strip.

The Vdara’s lobby is bright and inviting and features a lounge, a modern café with breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as a small grocery store. There’s also a Starbucks for your daily caffeine fix.

Their Studio Suites are clean and include a little kitchenette with a table and a sitting area divided from your sleeping quarters. A second sink in the bathroom would have been nice but overall the bathroom is very well laid out. We can’t comment on the other suites available at the Vdara but imagine they are extremely nice as well.

The pool area at Vdara is quaint but if you aren’t feeling the vibe at the Vdara Pool, hotel guests are also able to use the pool at the Aria.

The best thing about the Vdara is its convenient location to the Aria, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan. It’s a short walk to any of these three Strip resorts.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
In addition to the hotels featured above, we would also recommend the Aria, W Las Vegas & MGM Grand.

Book your next Vegas stay at one of these amazing hotels and be sure to save with our amazing deals.

Vegas is an adult playground and isn’t necessarily an appropriate vacation destination for kids given that they aren’t allowed near the slot machines and gaming tables inside casinos, and there are many “sinful” sights they might see. Having said that, Vegas does offer a number of family-friendly hotels, pools, shows and attractions. Here’s just a few of the things that families can see and do.

CIRCUS CIRCUS – ADVERTUREDOME, MIDWAY, CIRCUS ACTS & SPLASH ZONE/POOL
Circus Circus Hotel & Casino on the north end of the Strip is by far the most family-friendly property in Vegas. It is home to the Adventuredome, a midway, free circus acts and the Splash Zone & Pool.

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is a five-acre indoor amusement park that is a great place for kids of all ages. It is open year-round and offers a variety of packages for families, groups, and special events. For extreme adventure seekers, the Adventuredome features thrilling rides, including the Canyon Blaster and El Loco roller coasters, the Inverter – a spinning ride that flips guests upside down, and the Sling Shot – a vertical launch ride that propels riders up to 400 feet in the air. For those less adventurous, there are bumper cars, a hot air balloon Ferris Wheel, and a classic carousel. Note that there is a height requirement on some of the rides. In addition to the rides, the Adventuredome features carnival-style games, miniature golf, indoor rock climbing, an arcade, a virtual reality room, a 4D movie theater, and a variety of shops and restaurants.

Circus Circus also features a midway with state-of-the-art video games and plenty of prizes. There is also an arcade with 200 of today’s most popular and yesterday’s most classic games. The midway surrounds the circus stage which showcases free world class circus acts daily, including trapeze artists, aerial dancers, jugglers, and circus clowns.

The Splash Zone & Pool at Circus Circus features swimming pools, whirlpools, a splash pad with water cannons and rain trees, a 50 ft slide tower, a food truck, and cabanas for rent.

MANDALAY BAY – MANDALAY BAY BEACH & SHARK REEF AQUARIUM
Mandalay Bay Resort at the south end of the Strip is another property that is family-friendly. It is home to Mandalay Beach and the Shark Reef Aquarium.

Mandalay Bay Beach is an 11-acre aquatic playground featuring three pools, a lazy river, a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool and a white sand beach. Note that there is a height requirement to swim in the wave pool. You can grab a bite to eat at the Beach Bar & Grill, and there are cabanas for rent.

The Shark Reef Aquarium is a popular attraction for kids. It’s home to more than 2,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, turtles, and tropical fish. You can enhance your visit to the aquarium by learning about the food that sharks and stingrays eat and then feeding them.

NEW YORK-NEW YORK – ARCADE & ROLLER COASTER
The New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the Strip has two family-friendly attractions – The Big Apple Arcade and The Big Apple Coaster.

The Big Apple Arcade, open daily, is an exciting and fun-filled experience for the whole family and the perfect spot to spend an afternoon or evening. Located on the second level of the iconic hotel, the arcade features more than 150 classic and modern arcade games, such as Skee-Ball, Air Hockey, and NBA Fever.

Thriller seekers can ride The Big Apple Coaster, the world’s first coaster to feature a 180-degree “heartline” twist and dive maneuver and 203 ft drop. Note that ticket entry is timed in order to manage capacity limits and provide a great experience so riders should reserve their tickets in advance. There is a height requirement to ride the coaster.

OTHER ARCADES
The Fun Dungeon at the Excalibur is a great place to have some fun and make family memories. Located downstairs from the casino, the arcade offers over 200 games, including carnival midway games, kid’s games, and arcade and sports games. While you’re at the arcade, enjoy a tasty treat from Dairy Queen or Orange Julius.

With more than 80 games, the Arcade at Horseshoe offers something for every gamer, from immersive state-of-the-art VR adventure games like King Kong and Jurassic Park to your favorite retro classics like Pinball and Skee-Ball.

The Pinball Hall of Fame Museum, located south of Mandalay Bay, is home to the world’s largest collection of pinball games from the 1950s up to the 1990s. All machines are available for play, so not only can you see them, you can actually play your old favorites. The pinball machines are all restored to like-new playing condition. The cost to play older pinballs is 25 cents and 50 cents per play for the newer pinballs. The Pinball Hall of Fame is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday they are open until 10 p.m.

SHOWS
One of the most popular things to do in Vegas is to take in a show, and there are several kid-friendly shows in Vegas that are sure to entertain and amaze the whole family, including any one of the following:

Blue Man Group uses music, comedy, and colorful visuals to create a unique and interactive experience that appeals to all ages.

Jabbawockeez is a fast-paced, high-energy performance filled with powerful music, dance and captivating special effects.

Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater features over 30 trained animals performing tricks and stunts.

Potted Potter condenses all seven Harry Potter books into a funny show featuring all your favorite characters.

Tournament of Kings allows you to eat an authentic medieval meal with your hands while watching jousting, horse races and sword combat.

Nathan Burton Magic Show is the perfect afternoon magic show that will amaze and delight people of all ages.

Cirque du Soleil offers several family-friendly performances, including Kà, O, Mystère and MJ One.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Families are encouraged to check out these cool attractions on the Strip – Hershey’s Chocolate World, the Coca-Cola store, the M&M’s Store, the High Roller and the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat.

Chocolate World at New York-New York features exclusive Hershey’s chocolates and candies, as well as unique gifts. There is also a Statue of Liberty made entirely from almost 800 lbs. of chocolate.

The Coca-Cola Store offers exclusive Coca Cola branded merchandise, and a Coca-Cola Fountain where you can enjoy floats and sample 16 different international beverages.

The M&M’s Store offers M&M’s candies, merchandise, and an up-close look at a replica of Kyle Busch’s 18 M&M’S sponsored NASCAR.

The High Roller at The LINQ is the world’s tallest observation wheel, and kids will love the stunning views of Vegas from the top.

The Flamingo Wildlife habitat is a four-acre garden complete with meandering streams, waterfalls, exotic birds, turtles and fish. It’s a fun experience for the whole family, and it’s completely free.

Vegas Vlogs – The Best Way to Experience Vegas Without Actually Visiting. While global travel was restricted during the pandemic, we relied on the vlogs and live streams of a number of Vegas Vloggers to experience the sights and sounds of Vegas. Even now that we are able to visit Vegas, we continue to watch these Vegas Vloggers because they produce Vegas content that accurately reflects Vegas and is engaging and fun. And, we’ve learned a lot about Vegas that we didn’t know. For example, it was a Vegas Vlog that introduced us to the free Downtown Loop. In no particular order, here’s some of our favorite Vegas Vloggers and the reasons we like their vlogs.

The Coin Show – Jason & Cailey are a husband and wife team from Hawaii that vlog their Vegas vacations – it’s like you are on vacation with them! Their vlogs include tours of their hotel room (they generally stay at the Cosmopolitan or Wynn), their experiences with high-end dining in Vegas, and their slot play (they focus on showing their bonuses). We appreciate that their vlogs show you the food and specialty drinks that they order and how much they cost. We also like that they share the gambling system they use while in Vegas – they restrict their gambling to $350 each per day and if they win $500 or more, they cash out the TITO and set that amount aside as a win. They are very good about sticking to their gambling budget. It is clearly obvious in their vlogs that Jason & Cailey are having fun and by extension it makes you feel like you are having fun with them. They have infectious personalities and seem very approachable and down-to-earth.

J&K Stay in Vegas – Jeff is a local Vegas realtor who is occasionally joined on his vlogs by his wife, Kristina. J&K produce a vlog series called Where’s My Coffee? Where’s My Room? which provides an indepth walk around each of the hotel properties. In addition to pointing out where the lobby and elevators are located in each hotel, the virtual tour shows you where the restaurants, bars, attractions and shopping can be found. These vlogs offer some of the best property overviews. In addition, J&K do a weekly live stream on Saturday nights which sometimes show you things only a local would see or be aware of – things such as road construction going on just off the Strip. The video quality of the live streams is far superior to anyone else that live streams – it is consistent and reliable (signal very rarely goes blurry or drops). Jeff has a very a calm, genuine personality and Kristina seems like a lot of fun. They are also very appreciative of their viewers – Jeff always stops to personally thank anyone who donates or makes a nice comment.

Turn It Up World – Dave & Tanya are a husband and wife team from Vegas that provide a candid, unbiased opinion about Vegas hotel rooms, buffets and other dining experiences, including their favorite restaurant – Mon Ami Gabi. The best part of their room reviews is the “bed test” where they fly onto the hotel bed and rate its overall comfort. Dave & Tanya also produce “best of” lists and informational vlogs, and they do a lot of live streaming where they take you on a walk with them on the Strip and you get to see exactly what they are seeing in real time. Their vlogs also include some slot gambling. They are a quirky, fun and likable couple. Tanya is very outgoing and will occasionally break into song and dance. Dave is a little more reserved but he does dance too! They are super fun to watch and I’m sure they would be fun to meet in person.

Travel Ruby – Mr. & Mrs. Ruby are a husband and wife who recently moved to Vegas. They provide extensive hotel room and food/dining reviews that are candid, honest and thorough. They also offer “best of” lists and a very informative monthly vlog that captures what’s happening, new or upcoming in Vegas. The vlogs are well researched, offer a lot of knowledge about Vegas, and include pricing so you know what things cost. Travel Ruby has a separate slots channel.

Matt Bridger – Matt is from the UK and visits Vegas multiples times per year, sometimes alone and sometimes with his wife. The primary focus of his vlogs is slot play, specifically on his bonuses; however, he does provide a brief tour of his hotel room and the Vegas sights that he visits. In short, he tells you about his day in Vegas – what’s he’s doing – and he also shares his gambling journey – all the highs and lows. You might think that this would be mundane and boring but it’s not – it must be his British accent! Matt has an electric personality and is super fun to watch. It’s a shame he doesn’t visit Vegas more often so he would have more content.

Pompsie – Pompsie (his nickname) and his wife, Greta, live in Vegas and were one of the first vloggers we started watching during the pandemic to get our Vegas “fix”. At that time, they regularly live streamed from Vegas, allowing people to experience the Strip and downtown without actually visiting. They offer a number of hotel reviews – they are artistic and creative vlogs which give viewers a unique and entertaining experience. Sadly, lately he hasn’t been producing as much Vegas content and instead has been focusing on his new channel featuring daily slots videos. Pompsie and Greta offer a youthful vision of Vegas (without drinking and clubbing) and quite often their vlogs feature other young YouTubers, including Norma Geli, SayHiToMatthew and Jacobs Life.

Norma Geli – Norma is a Vegas local and her vlogs offer a more local perspective of Vegas – she talks about popular local restaurants and spots that aren’t necessarily on the Strip or downtown. Her vlogs are very creative – you can see that she puts a lot of time and effort into creating them. Some of our favorite vlogs are where she spends 24 hours in a Vegas property without leaving so that she can fully experience all that it has to offer. She also produces a lot of “best of” and Top 10 vlogs such as how to eat cheap and save money. She truly explores Vegas and provides super valuable tips. (It was from one of Norma’s vlogs that we learned about the free Downtown Loop shuttle.) The best part of Norma’s vlogs are the bloopers at the end and her friend Lydia also makes the vlogs a lot of fun.

Brian Christopher Slots – Although Brian Christopher doesn’t vlog about Vegas but instead focuses exclusively on slot play, we wanted to make sure to include him because he creates the ABSOLUTE BEST slots videos. Brian’s videos feature slot play in locations across the United States, including Vegas, and on special cruises. He plays all sorts of slots and bets at every denomination level ($25 or higher per spin) which sometimes makes us faint of heart just watching. His videos include live streams, group slot pulls and unique slot challenges which are a lot of fun to watch. We enjoy Brian’s videos because he clearly researches the slots before playing and can fully explain how the slot pays and when the bonuses are triggered. He also genuinely seems to be having fun when he’s playing slots, especially during a bonus. He’s excited when he wins and this excitement is infectious and clearly comes across in his videos, even when he has probably played the slot a million times before. Brian has a smoke-free area (two thumbs up) dedicated to his favorite slots at the Plaza in downtown Vegas. He also has his own slot machine, Pop’N Pays, which has some unique features not found on other slots machines. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a lot of success playing yet. Brian Christopher Slots are hands down the best slot videos.

Tips to survive your first trip to Las Vegas – if you’re planning your very first trip to Las Vegas, here’s a few tips to make sure it’s enjoyable and fun!

1. Book in advance: Book your hotel room and show tickets through www.lasvegasdeals.vegas to ensure you get the best price. Economical hotels on the Strip include the Luxor, Excalibur, Flamingo, Harrah’s and the LINQ. Circus Circus is cheap too but it’s located at the north end of the Strip (far from the action) and is run down. When booking your trip, you may want to consider visiting during off peak times. The Strip can get incredibly crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.
   
   
2. Select a transportation option: When you arrive in Vegas, there are several transportation options available to get you to your hotel – taxi, Uber/Lyft, shuttle bus or limousine service. Taxi service is a flat rate fee based on the location of your hotel and is anywhere from $19 to $27 plus gratuity and fuel surcharge. The average trip price for Uber/Lyft is $19 to $33 (you can use their price estimator tool to get a real-time estimate). Shuttles buses cost between $11 and $15 for a one-way trip but be aware that they make a lot of stops so it can take awhile to get to your destination. Limousines are the most costly option at $45 to $65.
   
   
3. Avoid check-in lines: Once you arrive at your hotel, you can avoid the sometimes long check-in lines by using a self-serve kiosk or checking in online.
   
   
4. Set a budget: Before you start gambling, it’s important to decide how much money you’re willing to spend. Set your gambling budget and stick to it. Don’t start gambling without knowing the basics – learn the game first. And, don’t chase your losses in an attempt to win back what you’ve lost.
   
   
5. Stay hydrated: Las Vegas is hot, especially in the summer, and it’s easy to become dehydrated. Carry a water bottle with you and stay hydrated throughout your trip. Bottled water is also available at CVS, Walgreens and the ABC Store for way cheaper than you can buy it at the hotel sundry shops. And, avoid the bottled water in your hotel room – it’s very expensive.
   
   
6. Wear comfortable shoes: Las Vegas casinos and resorts are larger than you think so you will be doing a lot of walking. Wear runners or good walking shoes to avoid tired, exhausted feet at the end of the day. You can reduce some walking by taking advantage of the Monorail, free trams and the bus to get up and down the Strip.
   
   
7. Take advantage of freebies: Many casinos offer free drinks when you are gambling in the casino. They also offer other perks to players when they sign up for a player’s or rewards card, such as free play and comped rooms. Take advantage of these freebies.
   
   
8. Take advantage of the free attractions: Las Vegas offers plenty of free attractions, such as the Fountains and Conservatory at the Bellagio.
   
   
9. Avoid timeshare sales pitches: Be aware of the timeshare sales people, often located at the entrances of casinos, that are offering you free or reduced pricing on show tickets. They will generally try to engage you in conversation by asking where you’re from or if you will be in Vegas for the evening. Their sole purpose is to get you to attend a timeshare presentation that will take up hours of your time in Vegas. Politely tell them you’re not interested and keep walking (or tell them you live in Vegas or are leaving Vegas that day).
   
   
10. Have fun: Las Vegas is fun. Enjoy the lights, sights, sounds, and people. Try something new – a new type of food or a unique show. Make some great memories and don’t be afraid to take a chance.

Experience Las Vegas – Entertainment Capital of The World – Las Vegas Insider

Las Vegas Insider brings you a variety of information on Las Vegas Nevada, from the latest on headliners and new restaurants to detailed descriptions of Las Vegas hotels, our aim is to bring you the best of Vegas. Las Vegas is constantly evolving in an effort to remain the entertainment capital of the world. From new hotels and resorts, renovations, special promotions, events and new attractions and shows, there is always something changing. Las Vegas Insider brings you updates on happenings on and around The Las Vegas Strip with our insight and perspective.