7 Quintessential Vegas Stays with Slot Machines and the Bright Lights of the Strip

The El Cortez is vintage Las Vegas at its best. The longest continuously-running hotel and casino in Vegas was once owned by notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel and retains its historic exterior with modern upgrades to the interior has brought it to 21st-century comforts. Get your quarters ready for the slot machines and relax in their Miami styled Cabana Suites while planning your Vegas wedding at the Cortez.

The Golden Nugget revs the old-Vegas glitz & glam ambiance as one of the swankiest places to gamble in town despite having lost the crown for world’s largest casino. Slide into the lagoon swimming pool and swim next to a three-story shark tank. The hotel houses the largest single golden nugget in the world weighing in at 61lb and 11oz. You’ll be right in the hustle and bustle of Fremont Street and many rooms sport fabulous views overlooking Freemont Street.

The atmosphere at The Main Street Station is basically an antique roadshow: carved-oak fireplaces looted from Scottish castles, chandeliers from a Parisian Opera House, bronze doors that once welcomed visitors to the Kuwait National Bank, and the showstopper– the Berlin Wall urinals in the casino. While the casino revels in its Old World mishmash, the hotel rooms are elegantly appointed and modern to give your senses a rest while you catch up on sleep.

Sam’s Town is where Las Vegas locals visit to let their hair down. A few miles from the lights of the Strip on the Boulder Highway, this Wild West hotel has an 18-screen movie theater and 24-hour bowling alley. The big draw is the surreal indoor park, Mystic Falls, the best people-watching light and water show in town. This is definitely a family-friendly hotel and free shuttles to the Strip and Downtown mean you can leave the car in the parking lot and focus on having a good time!

If their Facebook albums say anything, it’s that The Artisan is the place to have a good time in Vegas. While the exterior looks nothing out of the ordinary, it hides a Gothic lair full of statues, candlelight, marble, and reproductions of famous paintings hanging from dizzying angles. Keep in mind this hotel has a no-children policy, a topless-friendly pool, and all-night parties. Watch the sunrise from their patio—what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas after all.

If you’ve come to Vegas to rock out, do it at The Hard Rock Hotel. The onsite concert space has played host to some of Rock ‘n’ Roll greats like Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe and Kiss. No one big playing while you visit? No problem. The rock memorabilia is reason enough to visit, as is the swim-up blackjack and the outrageous party atmosphere.

Treasure Island is friendly and unpretentious and smack in the middle of all the lights of Vegas. While the hotel has grown out of its Jolly Roger pirate theme slightly, the hotel and casino have solidified its landmark position on the Strip over time. If shows are what you’re after, grab tickets for Mystère — the longest running permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas — which runs at TI.