Las Vegas Hotels: Where to Stay on the Strip, Downtown & Beyond

About Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the "Entertainment Capital of the World," a 24/7 desert resort city where gambling was legalized in 1931, turning a railroad stop into a destination that drew 40.8 million visitors in 2023 and generated $85.2 billion in economic impact for Southern Nevada. The city holds roughly 154,000 hotel rooms (2024), one of the largest hotel markets anywhere, anchored by the $2.3 billion Sphere at The Venetian, a 366-foot LED-covered orb that opened in 2023 with immersive shows and major artist residencies. The Strip alone packs several of the most-visited free attractions in the city: the Bellagio Fountains run choreographed water-and-light shows every 15-30 minutes, while the adjacent Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens rotates massive seasonal floral displays. Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience pairs the Viva Vision canopy, one of the world's largest video screens, with hourly light shows, free concerts, and the 1,700-foot SlotZilla zip line, and the 550-foot High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ (the largest in the United States) completes a full rotation in 30 minutes for 360-degree Strip and desert views. Away from the casinos, Las Vegas has reinvented itself as a major-league sports town, now home to the NHL's Golden Knights (2023 Stanley Cup champions), the NFL's Raiders at 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium, and an annual F1 Grand Prix on the Strip.

Las Vegas Travel Essentials

Getting Around

• The Strip stretches 4.2 miles end-to-end, roughly a 90-minute walk. Hotels that look adjacent on a map can be 10-30+ minutes apart once you factor in sprawling properties and pedestrian bridges, so group your activities by zone (North, Mid, or South Strip).
• Taxis from Harry Reid Airport to Strip hotels use flat zone fares of $21, $25, or $29 depending on location. Tell the driver "no tunnel": it's a common long-hauling trick that inflates the fare by taking the longer tunnel route.
• The Deuce double-decker bus runs 24/7 along the Strip and to Downtown, stopping at nearly every major resort every 10-15 minutes. A 24-hour pass costs $8. Buy it through the rideRTC app or at ticket vending machines at major stops.

Food & Dining

• Las Vegas has become a serious culinary destination: it hosted the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards in 2024, the first North America's 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in 2025, and welcomed the return of the Michelin Guide with a new Southwest Edition.
• Esther's Kitchen in the Arts District, by Chef James Trees, is the city's most acclaimed off-Strip Italian spot (4.9+ stars). Signature dishes include tortellini with seafood and trout caviar, duck confit agnolotti with hazelnut, and chocolate Basque cheesecake. Reservations are essential.
• John Mull's Meats & Road Kill Grill in Northwest Las Vegas is a legendary butcher-shop-smokehouse hybrid (4.6 stars, 3,600+ reviews). The beef brisket, smoked low and slow with a barky exterior, is the star, and portions are generous enough that a two-meat combo plate (~$28) rivals what you'd pay $50+ for elsewhere. Closes at 6 PM, closed Sundays.

※ Prices and policies vary by season and are subject to change. Confirm with official sources before booking.