Las Vegas is a desert resort city in southern Nevada, built around gambling, shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife. The venues that draw most visitors sit in two clusters: the Las Vegas Strip, which lies outside the city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester, and downtown Las Vegas, home to Fremont Street.
For a visitor, the practical question is which of those two poles to base yourself in, or whether to stay along the main roads leading away from the Strip. This guide covers the areas the sources identify, who each one suits, and the booking quirks that shape a stay here.
Best areas to stay in Las Vegas
1. The Las Vegas Strip
The Strip is where the city's luxurious casino-hotels are concentrated, along with most of its shopping, fine dining, entertainment and nightlife. If you want the resort experience itself to be the trip, this is the base that puts you inside it.
Expect large casino-hotels with long walks from parking to room, often through the gambling floor, but also a wide range of restaurants, bars, shops and coffee shops, many open 24 hours. Be aware that the flamboyant atmosphere means noise: drunken parties and associated recklessness are frequent in most motels and hotels on the Strip, especially on weekends. A handful of quieter properties exist, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
2. Downtown / Fremont Street
Downtown is the other main cluster of casinos, centred on Fremont Street, and it is also where you will find the few hostels Las Vegas has. Most accommodations here tend to be of the budget variety, owing to the distance to the Strip.
This area suits budget travellers and anyone who wants to be within very close distance of the Fremont Street casinos rather than the Strip. The trade-off is straightforward: lower rates and a different scene, in exchange for being away from the Strip's resort corridor.
3. Off the Strip
Along the main roads leading off the Strip you will find a wide variety of accommodations, ranging from basic budget motels to splashy, full-size resorts every bit as expensive as those on the Strip. This suits travellers who want a choice of price points while staying close to the Strip corridor by road.
Because these properties line the approach roads rather than the resort core, you will generally need to travel to reach the casinos and shows, so consider how you will get around before committing.
4. Further out, including Henderson and North Las Vegas
Many modest hotels sit well away from the Strip and downtown and cater to locals, often offering lower rates. These are complemented by plush, full-resort hotels and casinos in some locations, and there are also a number of RV parks further out. The suburbs of Henderson and North Las Vegas have plenty of cheap accommodations.
This is the option for travellers with a car, a tight budget, or a preference for quieter surroundings. The distance from the Strip and downtown is the main practical cost.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: basic budget motels along the roads off the Strip; most accommodations downtown, where rates are lower owing to the distance to the Strip; cheap accommodations in the suburbs of Henderson and North Las Vegas; the city's few hostels, found downtown.
- Mid-range: modest hotels away from the Strip and downtown that cater to locals, often with lower rates; mainstream hotels without gambling, which differ from casino hotels in size and layout.
- Splurge: the luxurious casino-hotels of the Strip; splashy, full-size resorts along the main roads off the Strip that are every bit as expensive as those on the Strip; plush, full-resort hotels and casinos in some outlying locations.
Best area for a first visit
Base yourself on the Las Vegas Strip. It concentrates the casino-hotels, shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife that define the city, so a first visit needs the least planning and the least travel. If noise is a concern, note that quiet properties on the Strip are limited, and plan accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to book a room in Las Vegas?
The vast majority of visitors arrive on Friday or Saturday nights and stay for the weekend, so rates can seem very cheap from Sunday to Thursday and rise sharply on weekends. Staying Sunday through Thursday can save a bundle, and package deals including a show, meals and gambling coupons are occasionally worth more than the cost of the room.
What is a resort fee, and will I have to pay it?
Many hotels collect a resort fee on top of the room charge when you check in, typically between $10 and $20 per night but sometimes more. You will not get around paying it even if your booking site showed the total as final. It typically covers use of the swimming pool and fitness centre, and some hotels do not collect it at all.
What costs extra inside a Las Vegas hotel?
Even the resort fee does not always cover amenities that are free elsewhere. Most hotels charge separately for the fitness centre, local calls are usually billed, wireless internet is generally charged per day, and in-room coffee and mini-bar items are heavily marked up. Unless a service is clearly marked as free, it is better to use your own phone or mobile router.
Can I book a room if I am under 21?
With some exceptions, hotels and other sleeping establishments will not allow anyone under 21 to reserve a room because of on-site gambling. If you are 18 to 20, research and reserve well in advance of arrival.
Compare live prices for these areas with the booking tools on this page before you commit.