Top five hotels in Las Vegas

With Las Vegas hotels running the gamut from the super cheap to the ultra-luxurious, it’s easy to find a property that fits any budget and needs. Since you asked for lodging that is centrally located and on par or somewhat close to it with the Bellagio, We’ve come up with a list of our top five picks (in no particular order) for places to stay in Sin City.

Wynn

If you want to stay in the same luxurious vein as the Bellagio, the Wynn is the belle of the Las Vegas ball.  The hotel may be farther down the  Strip than many of the other options, but it’s directly across the street from a mall with 250 stores, and it has its own golf course. Plus, the Wynn offers top-notch dining, drinking, and entertainment options (Le Reve is not to be missed) in a grand Monte Carlo-esque setting. Rooms can be pricey (I found rates starting at $179 in February), but you can also find discounts by visiting during the shoulder season and by staying in the resort rooms versus the tower suites.

Venetian las vega

Another contender for grandeur (at a far more affordable price) along the Strip is the Venetian, which captures the essence of Venice (including its own canal and singing gondoliers). The hotel features theaters, shops, restaurants, trendy clubs, and a casino to keep you busy, or you can

just sit by the water and watch the indoor sunset on the ceiling overhead. Since the hotel only offers suites, you’re certain to stay in the lap of luxury. We found suites starting at $139 per night during the winter, but keep an eye out for promotions for summer stays.

Located almost across the street from the Bellagio, Caesars Palace is an ideal location to enjoy all the glamour and glitz of the Strip. With a

Caesars Palace

Roman theme complete with costume-clad centurions the hotel features a casino, shopping mall, choice of restaurants, nightclubs, spa, pool, and theater, making it easy for you to never leave the grounds. You can find rooms starting at $100 per night during the winter through the website’s hot deals section.

For a little romance along the Strip, the Paris brings the City of Light to Las Vegas, with its very own half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. The

hotel offers a spa, a casino, a pool, nightclubs, and an indoor street filled with cafes and shops. And the Bellagio fountains are located directly across the street, making it a breeze to enjoy the free show. Rooms are decorated with a French flair, and at press time started at $90 per night in January. You can save throughout the year by booking your room through the website’s hot deals section.

It may not be the most glamorous hotel on the Strip, but what Bally’s lacks in glitz, it more than makes up for in price and location.

With anoutdoor walkway that leads to the Bellagio and a passage to the Paris from inside the hotel, you can take full advantage of three casinos with very little effort. Plus, the hotel has its own casino, spa, nightclubs, and restaurants to keep you entertained. The best part, however, is the price of rooms start at $59 per night in January (at press time). Plus, you can save on stays any time of year through the website’s hot deals section.

These are only five of the many exciting places to stay in Vegas, but we hope it’s helped you narrow down your search.

We know that what happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas, but we are asking you to break this rule just this once and share any and all tips on the best places to stay, ways to save, and even things to do to help our readers plan a great vacation.

When to travel to Las Vegas

Rather than ask when to visit Las Vegas, you should ask when not to go: The city has become so popular that an “off season” is nonexistent. There are times to avoid Las Vegas, however, such as during New Year’s, most three-day public holidays, July 4th, and school vacations. Valentine’s Day is also out unless you are planning to get married—fast.

Las Vegas Strip

Throughout the year, the city is relatively crowded and the weather remains dry and sunny. For swimmers and sunbathers, the weather is ideal from May to September. Spring and fall are the best for walking the Strip or venturing into the surrounding desert.

high season: January to mid-November

shoulder season: late November to December

If there are times that peak more than others, they’re New Year’s Eve through mid-February during winter escape time and July 1 through Labor Day due to family vacations.

Weather Information

Although Las Vegas is a land of warmth and sunshine, winter and summer can be extreme. While winter highs hit the 50s and 60s, the lows can dip to freezing. Coats and sweaters are necessary and layering is a must. Summers are simply deadly. Starting in mid-May, temperatures begin to top 100 degrees or more before returning to the 90s in September. However, evenings are delightful as the sun goes down and the neon comes up.

Keep in mind that it tends to rain during January and July, and when it rains, it usually storms. Flash floods are not uncommon, but a hotel has yet to float away.

Crowd Information

Las Vegas is less crowded between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and Tuesdays through Thursdays the rest of the year when hotels and resorts put out their best room rates and incentive packages. Typically, there are more convention attendees in the first few months of the year.

Whether shopping, walking, dining, or gaming, you’ll likely encounter crowds. Sidewalk navigation on the Strip is an art as you dodge the camera snappers toting oversized pink elephants from Circus Circus in one hand and a Neiman Marcus shopping bag in the other. Optimum times to beat the crowds are mid-morning, Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Closure Information

Some shows go dark just before or after big holidays. Check shows ahead of time for holiday breaks, closures, and schedule changes.

When to Save

To save on hotels, the best time to go is between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, or during the weeks following Labor Day. However, hotels don’t like to reduce rooms until they’re certain they won’t sell, so don’t expect the best deals until the last minute. And even then, there’s no guarantee.

When to Book

As often as not, a trip to Las Vegas is a spontaneous decision. And you will not find a destination that is as easy to fly to, as inexpensive to fly to, or as fun to drive to when traffic isn’t bad. The problem is the secret is out, so booking in advance is necessary to get the best value. Plan three weeks to a month in advance to ensure that a cheap flight is still available; further out if you want to pick your seat, route, and time.

With thousands of hotel rooms, Las Vegas likely has one to spare whether you book a month in advance or walk up to the desk. However, check the city’s convention schedule before you decide to take a chance. Huge conventions gobble up most of the rooms in all corners of the city, and any leftover inventory is sold at premium prices.