When booking a hotel in Las Vegas, you might feel like it is nearly impossible to find the right spot for you and your travel buddies. It can be tough sorting through the different resorts, boutique hotels, and cheap hotels in Vegas that show up on your feed. Finding the perfect place feels a little like looking for a pin in a haystack. That is why I’ve created a list of tried and true steps for booking a hotel in Vegas. I’ve even added 3 additional tips if you’re completely new to the Las Vegas hotel scene!
Keep reading to find out how you can easily find the perfect hotel for the Vegas experience you’ve been dreaming of.
How to Book The Perfect Vegas Experience
- Figure Out Your Budget
When you are deciding between searching for cheap hotels in Vegas or expensive mega-resorts, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. First, I suggest setting a budget for your entire trip. This includes your hotel, food, entertainment, and anything else you want to do in Vegas. Then, decide which areas you want to spend the most money on. Maybe the hotel is the most important part of your Vegas experience, or maybe you want to spend that money elsewhere. Like a trip to the spa or a 5-star restaurant.
Break your budget into percentages to figure out how much money you are willing to spend on a hotel. This will keep you focused on spending how you want to – not just how advertisers think you should. Knowing your hotel budget will also be helpful as you work through steps 3 and 4.
- Determine Your Travel Style
Next up, you need to figure out what type of traveler you are for your trip to Las Vegas.
- Are you a solo traveler looking for cheap hotels in Las Vegas that are also social places where you can make friends easily? A hostel like The Bungalows might be a good fit. Their courtyard area and planned social activities make it easy to meet new friends to explore Las Vegas with.
- If you are traveling with a furry companion, then The English Hotel might be more your speed. The owner and local chef, Todd English, loves his dog, Pepper, and wants you to be able to bring along your own pup when you visit Vegas.
- Families with kids will most likely enjoy any spot with a fun pool. Circus Circus is a great option and provides swimming lessons. Mandalay Bay is also perfect for a fun day in the sun with its lazy winding river. Just keep in mind that Vegas gets a bit chilly in the winter. New York-New York offers a solution to this with their Big Apple Arcade and a roller coaster.
- Groups of adults wanting exciting nightlife and good food might look into staying at The Cromwell. It has a very Instagrammable pool and houses the rooftop nightclub, Drai, perfect for dancing the night away.
- Couples looking for a romantic getaway might try a place like The Venetian for an Italian-themed weekend. Or they might check out the Bellagio so they catch the beautiful fountain show each night.
- Narrow Down Your Neighborhood
People often overlook that Las Vegas is more than just The Strip. If you are looking for a Vegas experience as unique as you are, you will want to check out the different neighborhoods first.
- Are you looking for a truly local experience that is off The Vegas Strip? Then go with the Arts District. You’ll be impressed by the local artists, chefs, and shops that make the Arts District one of the best-kept secrets in Las Vegas.
- If you are looking for the Vegas you see in the movies and want lots of nightlife and casinos, you’re sure to find it here. For ease of walking between casino and resort destinations, you should consider staying somewhere along The Strip.
- Another option is to book in an old-school Las Vegas spot that is often set at an affordable rate. If you are looking to be in an area where hidden speakeasies are waiting to be discovered, then you’ll want to stay in Downton Las Vegas. There you can really feel the Old Vegas vibes shine. From historic neon signs to the Mob Museum, this is a fun place for history buffs to explore.
When you are checking out the different neighborhoods, use Google Maps to see what the area is all about. Check out the hotel surroundings from the street level using “Street View & 360” to take a look around. From there, you can virtually “walk” around the area to get an idea of what it is like.
- Decide on A Booking Platform
Once you’ve narrowed down your price range, travel style, and neighborhood, you can start your search.
- You can find some pretty good deals for Las Vegas packages on Groupon. Just make sure to double-check the fine print. I’ve seen so many people buy tickets through an app like Groupon without realizing they can only be used during specific dates or times of the year.
- Another option is to book through a travel search engine. I’ve had pretty good luck with Booking.com, especially when putting together last-minute trips. They also have a great search filter that allows you to check off everything you care about to narrow down the search.
- If you have memberships with Costco, Sams Club, or AAA you might consider their travel programs. They have a few individual travel discounts as well as complete Las Vegas packages that you can look through.
- You can also take advantage of your credit card’s travel perks. Whether it is a hotel-specific card like the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card or a credit card travel program like Capital One Travel, you will be able to find great deals while also earning points!
- Finally, you can also book through a home share application. This is a great option for extended stays where you want a kitchen and space to spread out. The best part is that it is not just Airbnb on the market anymore. There are a bunch of new companies coming out like Vrbo and Plum Guide to expand your search to.
As you narrow down the platform make sure you copy and paste the booking links you are interested in. That way you can easily find them to use in the next step.
- Create A Pros And Cons List For Your Top 3
This is the part where people can easily get overwhelmed if they try to compare too many hotels at once. There might be more than a few that stand out to you. Go with your instinct and pick just 3 to create pro and con lists for. Any more than that and you’ll be stuck making lists when you could already be out having fun in the Vegas sun.
- Book Your Trip & Enjoy Your Stay!
Look at your lists for your top 3 Las Vegas Hotels. You should have a pretty good idea now of which one you like the best. Book that one this time around. If you start getting FOMO (fear of missing out) about any of the other hotels on the list, you can always book them for your next Las Vegas visit. After watching the Bellagio Fountain Show, walking through The Fremont Street Experience, and eating at some of the best restaurants in the world – you’ll want to come back!
3 Pro Tips for Picking Your Vegas Hotel
Tip # 1: Check For Resort Fees
If you are going the resort route, check for resort fees. Most places on the strip will have an additional fee to the price you see in your initial searches. On the other hand, if you are staying in a hotel with a casino, you might be able to get a room comp based on how much you gambled during your previous stays.
Tip # 2: Focus On What YOU Want
A bunch of resources out there will try and tell you which is the best hotel in Vegas because they get paid if you book with that specific place. Remember, you are booking this hotel for yourself. You have to find one that fits what you are looking for so don’t feel pressured to book somewhere you aren’t that interested in. Just because someone online says it is great doesn’t mean it is great for you.
Tip # 3: Use The Search Function In The Reviews
We know you are going to read the reviews of different Las Vegas hotels before booking. Make Google Reviews work for you by using the “search” section. You can type in the keywords you care about to sort out all the reviews that have details about that aspect. For example, if you are looking for a spot with a nice pool, search “pool” and you’ll see what people are saying about their pool experience at that hotel.
Book The Perfect Hotel For Yourself
When you book one of the hundreds of Las Vegas hotels or casinos, you are booking an experience unlike any other. You’ll be spending time in a city known not just for its gambling but also for its shopping, food scene, live entertainment, and exciting nightlife. Make sure you are booking the perfect hotel for you and your group no matter what your interests are by using the 6 simple steps above.
Complete Your Vegas Experience With A Walking Food Tour
Once you get to Vegas, navigating where to eat and what to see can be overwhelming. Let Taste Buzz take the guesswork out of your trip by taking you around town to my favorite local restaurants and sightseeing spots.
The Las Vegas Strip Foodie Tour brings you to the best spots around The Strip. You can expect to try food from famous street carts, specialty shops, and even a few upscale spots along the way. While you indulge in delicious treats throughout Sin City, your guides will point out their favorite landmarks along the way!
The Downtown Delights Foodie Tour gives you a full Fremont Street tour and takes you through Old Vegas for an insanely fun day. Locals have raved about Downtown Vegas for years and your guide is here to show you why. From ridiculously good food to historic spots along the way, you’ll love exploring “Old Vegas” with a fun and knowledgeable guide.
Image Caption: One of our favorite food trucks serves up delicious brisket potato skins!
The Arts District Foodie Tour takes you to the heartbeat of Las Vegas by showing you where the local community hangs out. Your friendly tour guide will make you feel right at home as you stroll the streets of 18b. You will stop off at locally-owned spots for mouth-watering tastings and meet some new friends along the way. Your guide will also take you through the growing street art scene and to landmarks that are off the beaten path. This tour is perfect for anyone looking to live (and eat) like a local Las Vegas Foodie.
Wherever you decide to stay and whatever you decide to do while you’re here, I’m excited to welcome you to my city!
