There’s no denying the allure of Las Vegas, a beacon of lights, luxury and luck shimmering in the Mojave Desert. At this over-the-top destination, the action happens in the mega-resorts that offer exquisite dining, exciting entertainment, indulgent spas and, of course, buzzing casinos.
You won’t be taking a gamble with our hotel recommendations. Forbes Travel Guide has been rating hotels since 1958 using an objective and independent process. Our incognito inspectors pose as ordinary guests and stay at each property. The inspectors test hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. The remaining 30 percent comes from the quality and condition of the facilities.
Here’s where you should go on your next Vegas vacation:
Five-Star Hotels in Las Vegas
A hotel-within-a-hotel, ARIA Sky Suites caters to those who want a lofty stay. The chic, contemporary property within the ARIA Resort & Casino complex in Las Vegas offers vast views from the top of the gleaming glass tower as well as top-of-the-line perks (airport transportation) and exclusive service (personal concierges) that will make you feel like a VIP.
The luxurious accommodations — 400 residential-style suites with separate bedrooms, living rooms and dining areas — start at 1,050 square feet. Lavish touches like Jacuzzi tubs, steam showers and cutting-edge in-room technology set this hotel in a class of its own. See more.
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas delivers the same exceptional service and sophistication as its flagship property, Wynn Las Vegas, but with a boutique vibe.
The décor is playful and elegant, from the casino’s vibrant red chandeliers to the spa’s alluring golden peacock to the property’s butterfly motif. Suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Strip, swiveling ultra-high-definition TVs and limestone and marble baths.
Don’t miss the Five-Star spa, Sinatra’s Italian cuisine and the exclusive pools. The beautifully landscaped showpieces offer plenty of cabanas and daybeds for lounging, and they transform into one of the world’s hottest clubs at night. See more.
Housed within Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Tower Suites provides a more intimate and exclusive stay on the property with a private entrance, lobby bar and concierge.
Luxurious amenities abound, such as massage tables in the suites, and in decadent Vegas fashion, the marble-clad bathrooms include plenty of room for grooming, with soaking tubs, walk-in showers and spacious vanities.
Try your hand at gaming, visit the excellent spa, cool down at the pool or dine at one of the enticing restaurants — whichever you choose, this all-suite hotel offers a win. See more.
Occupying the top two floors of MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, the boutique hotel Skylofts at MGM Grand overlooks the Strip. The 51 spacious one- to three-bedroom lofts come with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to let you take in the city.
Each guest gets a butler available 24/7 to satisfy any whim, from custom gourmet room service to in-room movies on demand.
Skylofts’ location puts you within walking distance of all the attractions that the city has to offer — some of which are right outside your door within MGM Grand — but you have the privilege of a private entrance. See more.
When you need a break from the frenetic pace of the Strip, make your way to Wynn Las Vegas for a respite that doesn’t sacrifice Vegas-style opulence.
Wynn Las Vegas fuses nature, art and luxury with flowers and trees, waterfalls and lagoons scattered about the property along with original fine art draping the walls.
Check out resort entertainment like Awakening, a spectacle that immerses audiences in a 360-degree theater; the world-class Encore Theater; and the Lake of Dreams. While shopaholics will enjoy the opulent shopping experience of Wynn Plaza, those seeking more serenity will head straight for the Five-Star spa. See more.
Tucked within Wynn Las Vegas, the opulent Wynn Tower Suites offers the ultimate in intimate hotel experiences. It also has all the amenities to round out your stay (think fine cuisine, sizzling nightclubs, a decadent spa and high-end shops) along with extra perks (an exclusive restaurant and a private pool with personal cabanas outfitted with ceiling fans, lounge chairs, mini-bars and flat-screen TVs).
Guest rooms have the feel of residential apartments and feature wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows; automatic drapery and lighting controls; plush pillow-top beds; and enormous bathrooms with soaking tubs and glass-enclosed showers. See more.
Four-Star Hotels in Las Vegas
Architectural beauty abounds at ARIA Resort & Casino, but at this Sin City hot spot, there is more than meets the eye.
The property isn’t only aesthetically pleasing, it is also eco-friendly. Everything from the resort’s art to the energy-efficient exterior subtly showcases ARIA Resort & Casino’s success in exercising green practices.
This all-encompassing resort offers endless dining options, shopping, spa treatments and non-stop entertainment. From the excitement at Jewel Nightclub and the more sedate Alibi Ultra Lounge to the three pools and casino, you’ll be sure to find something to love at this luxe Las Vegas locale. See more.
Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Crockfords is the most luxurious hotel in the Resorts World complex (which also houses Conrad Las Vegas and Las Vegas Hilton). Its 236 accommodations aren’t limited to rooms and suites — the property also boasts lavish villas and palaces. Service is personalized: a pre-arrival team will prepare your stay, and while you are there, an ambassador will tend to your needs 24/7.
Just beyond Crockfords’ opulent lobby discover the buzzing hub: casino salons — look out for Andy Warhol’s vivid Marilyn Monroe and other art in there — more than 40 restaurants and bars, a 5,000-capacity theater with big-name residencies and pulsating nightlife. See more.
With all the action surrounding the Strip, a hotel away from the bustle could be just what you need. That’s where Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas comes into play.
Located on floors 35 through 39 of Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, this non-gaming property has its own entrance, restaurants and a pool with attendants at the ready to provide an Evian spritz, fresh fruit and chilled water.
Seek out tranquility at the Five-Star spa or meet up with friends at Press for a cocktail such as the cheekily named Tequila Made Me Do It (El Cristiano Extra Anejo, St-Germain, Grand Marnier, bitters, lemon peel and strawberry). See more.
The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
While The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is part of Vegas’ Italian-themed mega-resort, it takes a more understated approach to luxury than its adjoining sister property, The Venetian.
You’ll certainly feel as if you’re in a palace, but this all-suite hotel focuses more on offering perks without the flash. The accommodations are decorated in a contemporary Italian style with Egyptian linens from Anichini and remote-controlled Roman shades to block out that searing desert sun. Though, you can always embrace the rays and lounge in The Palazzo’s whopping seven pools. See more.
Guest suites with open floor plans, custom-designed artwork and a two-floor Five-Star spa are just a few of the details that set Vdara Hotel & Spa — an upscale, smoke-free, non-gaming boutique hotel — apart from the rest of the Las Vegas Strip.
As one of the major players in the massive CityCenter complex, this all-suite hotel is modern in design (the brainchild of famed architect Rafael Vinoly) with large picture windows and frameless glass-enclosed showers in each of the luxe guest rooms. See more.
Italian-themed The Venetian Resort Las Vegas features two towers comprising more than 7,000 suites, 80-some stores and 40-plus restaurants from celebrated chefs such as Thomas Keller and Emeril Lagasse. It also offers a network of canals like its namesake city.
The most exclusive suites are found in the Venezia Tower, which has a separate check-in area and offers access to the private Venezia Garden Pool Deck. But the best part? The bathrooms. Nearly a third of the size of the room itself, each bathroom includes a Roman tub with a separate glass-enclosed shower, marble countertops and intricate gold detailing. See more.
Recommended Hotels in Las Vegas
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World
The video-installation-like messages that flash on the façades of Resorts World Las Vegas’ bold red towers hint that art plays a large role at this property. But you’ll see it even more at Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World. In the lobby, artist Marlies Plank’s pink elephants surreally float in bubbles behind the front desk. Colorful, glowing multifaceted orbs from SOFTlab hover over the concierge desk.
More eye-catching art — many of it in vibrant shades of red and orange — adorns the walls of the accommodations in the 1,496-room property, the largest Conrad in the world. See more.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas just may be the Strip’s “it” place. Stylish locals, foodies and famous faces (don’t be surprised to see celebrities roaming the Vegas hot spot) are all drawn to The Cosmopolitan’s modern, luxurious vibe that’s evident from the moment you enter the smoked-glass doors, where you’ll see curated digital artwork on the video panels of the illuminated floor-to-ceiling pillars.
If you can peel your eyes away from the scene around you, there’s much more to explore — a 100,000-square-foot casino, one-of-a-kind shops, popular bars, restaurants from celebrity chefs and a scorching pool scene. See more.
Guests often retreat to M Resort Spa Casino to relax, gamble and escape the non-stop action of the Strip. The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended resort is about 10 miles south of Mandalay Bay at an ideal location for those who don’t want to be immersed in the late-night party culture or large crowds that Las Vegas attracts.
Although the hotel’s beauty is a draw, its 92,000-square-foot casino is the main attraction. It caters to gamblers of all skill levels with a high-limit salon for those hoping to hit it big, and sports fans can place bets on their favorite events, too. See more.
Trump International Hotel Las Vegas
A hotel doesn’t have to have a Las Vegas Boulevard address for it to be glamorous. Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, which is situated just two blocks west of the busy Strip on Fashion Show Drive, offers an upscale, non-gaming retreat that’s a serene breath of fresh air compared to other Las Vegas hotels.
The 64-story, 24-karat gold and glass building is adorned with plenty of glitz — upon entering the 10,000-square-foot marble-clad lobby, you’ll see three Swarovski crystal chandeliers overhead and plenty of luxe crown molding, and gold, white and cream hues. See more.
The non-gaming, non-smoking Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas brings the same sophisticated elegance and polished service that Waldorf Astoria is known for to the Strip. The newly renovated guest rooms include floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city or the Strip, desert-toned interiors with touches of warm colors and standalone deep-soaking tubs.
The public areas in this stylish hotel are every bit as alluring as the guest rooms, with some of the best views in Las Vegas thanks to walls of windows throughout the hotel (check out the vista from the 23rd-floor bar or Tea Lounge). See more.