Top Five Las Vegas Hotels

The Deal Detective is SmarterTravel.com's resident bargain hunter, Kate Hamman. She's always on the lookout for new travel deals and invites you, dear reader, to submit your own questions.

Lynn writes, "Hello, I am taking a trip next year with another couple to Las Vegas. What hotel would you recommend that is nice and is centrally located to different activities? We stayed at the Bellagio two years ago, and it was very nice. Is there another hotel in Las Vegas with similar hospitality?"

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, I've come up with a list of my top five picks (in no particular order) for places to stay in Sin City.

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.

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. I 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 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 an outdoor 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 I hope it's helped you narrow down your search.

Now I'm sure many of my other readers have stories about visiting Las Vegas. And I know that what happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas, but I'm 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 Lynn win big on her trip.

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All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.