room, just flip a coin. If pool partying is your thing, I'd give the nod to MGM. They have crazy pool parties. The character of the group that you're going with determines a lot. If its a bachelor party/group of buds and you don't give a rip about catching a wink of sleep, by all means, Luxor and MGM will suffice.
If you care about amenities, you should be choosing between Aria, Cosmopolitan, Wynn/Encore, Bellagio and the Venetian.
...see link. You can find plenty of interior pics of renovated rooms online. It's handy due to being right across the street from the airport, but everything is pretty close to the airport anyway. As noted below, you should be able to find a pretty cheap room at any of the newer spots, or a MGM. I stayed at MGM with my brother when we went to the '06 Fiesta Bowl, but it was strictly a place to sleep for about 6 hours. It was certainly serviceable at the time.
Last time I was there, it was a Mary Kay convention, so I stuck around for the scenery.
If you're unlucky and it's a bear or swinger convention, run (unless that's your cup of tea).
Actually, I heard the swingers like to rent out the Palms and keep all the doors open. I have no idea if that's true.
with the boys? Who cares?
If you're taking a date, neither. Go to
the Venetian.
It's newer, you don't have a casino directly below you but it's a short moving walkway to the main MGM.
If you are going this time of the year, there are many deals to be had.
I got an email from the Wynn/Encore this week with rooms for 150/night, Jan - early march.
I found the Palms Place just west of the strip that has great reviews, whereas most of the places on the strip have good and bad. I am thinking of doing that instead. Anyone ever stayed at Palms Place?
Edit: I looked at the Aria, Encore and Wynn and those were all around $250, while the Palms was $130. Those first 3 all look great, but I'd rather save the extra $100 to gamble or other vices.
It's not the shiny new Porsche, but it's not your dad's mini-van either.
Edit: you have to be honest with yourself about how much you're comfortable spending. I always tell the budget conscious person to give downtown a try. You'll have crazier, non-dance club related stories. You'll probably have just as much fun or more at half the price. Your business will be much, much more appreciated.
If you're looking to party like a rap star for a day or two, it is important for you to be on the strip and be comfortable with a trip costing $2k to $4k. Otherwise, I think you'll be on the strip and holding yourself back, whereas you could be having the time of your life downtown. If you're the type (like myself and most of my friends) that scans blackjack tables complaining that you cannot find anything under $15 min tables---just go downtown and quit trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
To answer the original question, I liked MGM much better than Luxor because Luxor is a dump. Mirage was similar to MGM. I've never stayed downtown.
I prefer staying at hotels with more amenities. A good spa, barber shop for a close shave and good restaurants without leaving the property.
The Palms always strikes me as the MTV crowd. Like the Hard Rock its more of a core party destination.
The MGM was in its prime 20 years ago, it doesn't hold a candle to Encore, Wynn, Aria, Cosmopolitan or even Bellagio. It's safely second tier.
That was in the works when I was there last Christmas.
Stayed there in November because of a work conference. I found the rooms to be nicely updated and the equivalent of other similarly priced strip hotels.
I know Bellagio has all their rooms updated, I haven't stayed in the MGM in a loooong time. I'm not even sure I've been anywhere on that end of the strip other than the Mandalay Spa (the best) in over 10 years.
I was there last Christmas and I thought they were quite dated but it did appear that they were planning on updating then.
I've never stayed at the MGM, but one night at the Luxor was more than enough for me.
the walk over to Mandalay Bay. Never spend a minute at Luxor if you don't have to.