
There’s an old saying that bigger doesn’t always mean better, but when it comes to life on the Las Vegas Strip, size usually matters. When you’re traveling to “Sin City” or “Disney World for Adults,” you want as many amenities on tap as possible. Whether it’s dining options, expansive varieties of table games, nightclubs, or just a great choice of accommodation, you’ve simply got to go big or go home.
Below, we shine a spotlight on the biggest destination resorts that line the Las Vegas Boulevard Strip, with options at both the north and south ends of this world-renowned road.
MGM Grand
The MGM Grand is comfortably the most expansive hotel resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s currently the world’s biggest single hotel, boasting 6,852 rooms on-site. The Venetian is larger, with 7,092 rooms, although this figure is across its shared complex with The Palazzo. For almost 30 years, MGM Grand has been delighting visitors with the best in live casino and sporting entertainment, as well as a host of headline stage and music acts.
Everything it does is, quite simply, big. There are 6.6 acres of outdoor pools, lazy rivers, and waterfalls for guests to relax in. Not to mention the 17,000-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena, the 380,000 sq. ft Convention Center, and the largest casino floor in Nevada at 171,500 sq. ft. The MGM franchise doesn’t appear to do anything by halves. Its online casinos have taken flight in regulated US markets, thanks in no small part to its partnership with iGaming behemoth Entain. As a result, it’s able to launch one of the most competitive no deposit casino bonuses for online users. Offline, its MGM Rewards program is also a market leader, giving visitors a chance to earn rewards on spending and gaming to put towards future stays, meals, tickets, and more.
The Venetian
The entire Venetian-Palazzo complex is one of the most epics on the Vegas Strip. Aside from its thousands of hotel rooms – and almost the same number of plush suites – The Venetian has lots to shout about. Not least is its impressive replication of the Venice canals, with gondola rides taking place day and night for guests. There’s also the massive Venetian Convention and Expo Center, which is approximately 1.1 million sq. ft and the second largest of its type worldwide.
Let’s not forget about its casino floor, which is the bread and butter for most Las Vegas Strip resorts. The Venetian casino floor is 120,000 sq. ft, which is only just smaller than the MGM Grand. The Venetian is also set to unveil a next-generation entertainment arena for guests, with the uniquely shaped MSG Sphere providing a 17,500-capacity auditorium that’s due to open for concerts in 2023.
Wynn Las Vegas
The Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Resort is a high-end experience for any guest. Constructed on the site of the former Desert Inn resort, the Wynn – as it’s commonly known in Vegas – was built at the cost of $2.7 billion in 2002. The entire Wynn complex – including the sister Encore site – consists of 4,748 rooms in total and 188,786 sq. ft of combined gaming floor space.
To put into context the amount of space involved at the Wynn, there’s also an impressive 18-hole golf course on-site, affording magnificent views of the Strip. Unlike most other Strip resorts, the Wynn is not themed per se. That doesn’t mean this place lacks character by any means. It’s slick and contemporary – essentially a roadmap for 21st-century Vegas. Its buffet is renowned as one of the most extensive on the Strip, including a raft of fresh seafood like crab and lobster.
Aria
The Aria Resort and Casino is in the same era as the Wynn, opening its doors in December 2009. Aria boasts a 150,000 sq. ft gaming floor, which is on par with the MGM Grand. The entire Aria Resort and Casino boasts 4 million sq. ft of prime real estate, including a 1,800-seat theater, an 80,000 sq. ft spa and salon for the ultimate in pampering, and a stunning 215,000 sq. ft pool area that makes this place just as much about relaxation as it is gaming.
On-site, Aria boasts some of the most competitive dining and bar choices, with no less than 16 restaurants and almost a dozen bars and nightclubs. The construction of Aria also has to be noted. It’s one of the most technologically diverse buildings on the Strip and the only one to receive LEED Gold certification. That’s due largely to its investment in smart technology, closing curtains and turning off unused lights and electronics to save energy.
Luxor
Luxor Las Vegas is one of the most iconic hotel designs on the planet, let alone the Strip. This Egyptian-themed resort is set within a pyramid shape, with the hotel rooms lining the interior of the main tower. Opened in 1993, it’s still one of the main landmarks at the south end of the Strip, with 4,407 rooms ideal for cost-conscious travelers. Less than a tenth of its rooms are suites, which tells you a lot about its typical clientele.
When it comes to Luxor’s amenities, it all starts with a 20,000 sq. ft convention center, while its exclusive eSports arena has become the hub for eSports tournaments across Las Vegas. The Atrium in Luxor is also the biggest on the planet in terms of volume, weighing in at 29 million cubic feet. Recent renovations in 2017 and 2021 have helped to futureproof Luxor as an enjoyable destination for millennials and Gen Z first-timers in “Sin City.”
Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay is the neighboring hotel resort south of Luxor. This 43-story complex emerged six years after Luxor, and it’s been considered in a higher league than its counterpart ever since its opening. It may not be quite as large as Luxor, with 3,209 rooms compared with Luxor’s 4,407, but what it lacks in accommodation, it more than makes up for in facilities.
The Mandalay Bay resort is themed in the South Pacific region, and its expansive 11-acre pool area contains its very own manmade beach, complete with 2,700 tons of imported sand. There’s also a wave machine that kicks up waves as high as six feet. It has a string of on-site shows within its 1,800-seat theater, alongside its 147,992 sq. ft casino floor. The real jewel in the crown of Mandalay Bay is its Convention Center, which totals 2.1 million sq. ft.
Five of the world’s top ten biggest hotels are on the Vegas Strip. This is a city that doesn’t accept half-measures.