The Best MGM Rewards Hotels in Las Vegas Based On Your Travel Style

Las Vegas is a city that has something for everyone, whether that’s shows, gambling, eating or pools. And in this city of endless possibilities, MGM Resorts dominate the Strip.

The mass of MGM Resorts is generally a great thing for travelers. Especially since hotel giants MGM Rewards and Marriott teamed up in a relationship that finally went live in 2024, that means most of these hotels are bookable on Marriott rewards points.

Marriott Bonvoy is one of the largest hotel loyalty programs out there, which means that many travelers have points they can spend on some hotel stays. Some even have Marriott elite status that they can flex in Vegas.

And of course, you can also choose to book through MGM Rewards, where you can earn and redeem points in their own loyalty program too.

The only real problem? With so many MGM Rewards hotels, picking the right one (particularly if you're trying to spend Marriott points) can be overwhelming.

To help you find the perfect MGM Rewards hotel for your next Vegas vacation, we broke out our top MGM Rewards hotels by a few categories:

• Best hotel overall: Bellagio

• Best for families: New York-New York

• Best for foodies: Park MGM

• Best pools: Mandalay Bay

• Best shows: MGM Grand

• Best budget pick: Luxor

• Best for travelers who appreciate calm: Vdara

If you're looking to indulge in the ultimate Vegas experience, the Bellagio Hotel and Casino is your destination. This iconic hotel is synonymous with elegance and sophistication. From the moment you first see the mesmerizing Fountains of Bellagio, to the time you step into the lobby and see the Dale Chihuly hand-blown glass flowers on the lobby ceiling, you'll be transported to a place unlike anything else.

The elegant hotel has all sorts of standout features, from an expansive gym to its own, aquatic-themed Cirque du Soleil show called "O," which features a combination of acrobatics and synchronized swimming in a pool-based stage custom-built to the hotel.

The Bellagio also stands out for its food. The 20-plus options range from the eclectic, such as Picasso, to the more traditional, such as PRIME Steakhouse. Plus, you can have dining seats with a view of the Bellagio fountains from multiple Bellagio restaurants.

And don't miss the one-of-a-kind dining experience at The Garden Table, where you can actually feast (brunch comes from the famous Sadelle's Cafe next door) at a table inside the world-famous Bellagio Conservatory.

» Learn more: Caesars vs. MGM Rewards: Which rewards program is better?

With a giant Statue of Liberty replica out front and a property designed to look like the New York City skyline, kids generally love the action and excitement of the New York-New York. The hotel's own roller coaster, called the Big Apple Coaster, might have something to do with it.

Food at the hotel is especially kid-friendly — but it's good enough to draw huge praise from adults with more refined tastes, too.

Shake Shack is a treasure, whereas Luke's Lobster is an up-and-coming gem. It's hard not to love the adorable latte art and other Hello Kitty-themed desserts at the Hello Kitty Cafe.

And if you really have a sweet tooth, don't miss the Hershey's Chocolate World, which is a 13,000-square-foot store celebrating all things chocolate. The highlight? A sculpture of the Statue of Liberty made out of almost 800 pounds of milk chocolate. An in-house bakery sells fresh Hershey's concoctions. Though, if you'd rather have your chocolate in souvenir form, you might customize your own chocolate bar.

Park MGM hardly has the most restaurants of any Vegas hotel, but it's about quality not quantity here. What's also unique is that Park MGM doesn't necessarily have many (if any, depending on your definition) fine dining restaurants. For that, you're better off at the Bellagio.

But Park MGM's food gets creative, offering unique flavors and a range of cuisines at a relatively-affordable price point.

For a taste of Roy Choi's iconic creations, head to Best Friend, where you can savor his signature Korean-American fusion dishes. Craving handmade noodles? La La Noodle offers slurp-worthy options.

If you don't have time for a sit-down meal but still want the Roy Choi experience, visit The Chef Truck. Yes, it's literally a truck parked in the lobby of the hotel. The truck itself is inspired by the 2014 film "Chef" starring Jon Favreau, co-produced by Choi. Here, you'll nosh on Cubano sandwiches and grilled cheese.

And definitely leave plenty of time to explore Eataly, a sprawling Italian marketplace featuring fresh pasta, artisanal cheeses, made-to-order bombolone and other authentic Italian cuisine.

And for those craving fried chicken perfection and have many mouths to feed, The Crack Shack is especially great for groups. The counter service-style restaurant has plenty of large tables, and its got entrees for all sorts of diets (from healthy, protein-forward bowls to juicy fried chicken).

This was a close call, but ultimately, the unique features at Mandalay Bay secure its place as the top pool spot. There’s both a lazy river and a wave pool, so you'll have more opportunities for fun than a standard pool would offer at other MGM Rewards properties. It also has the standard amenities that you'd expect at a Las Vegas pool, including a grill, a bar and cabanas for rent.

That said, the MGM Grand’s pool complex gives it a shot at least at runner-up status. Its pool complex is a massive 6.5 acres and includes a lazy river.

Though the MGM barely lost out on the best pool, it makes up for on its shows.

Most Vegas Strip hotels offer some sort of show, but few can match the variety at MGM. It has something for everyone, including comedy (Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club), a Cirque du Soleil offering (KA), a magician (David Copperfield) and a dance troop (Jabbawockeez). That list doesn’t even include national tours that stop by for shows throughout the year.

The Luxor is the pyramid-shaped hotel on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip. That means, yes, your room will likely have slanted windows.

Rooms here are ultra affordable. In fact, on some nights, rates start at just $29 per night. Just realize that's before resort fees (and yes, a $29 nightly rate means you'll actually pay more for the resort fee than the room itself). Thus, budget accordingly.

Also keep in mind that there is some level of 'you get what you pay for.' While its tough to argue with $29 for a Strip hotel, rooms are dated and service won't be as thoughtful as at most other hotels in this guide (especially the Bellagio, our top pick).

Still, the Luxor has plenty of fun amenities. The pool deck and gym is free for all hotel guests.

And anyone — hotel guest or not might enjoy any of its many interactive attractions. That includes PLAY Playground (a massive playground of oversized games designed for adults and kids), Particle Ink (which is a trippy story-telling experience using augmented reality), Bodies...The Exhibition (which features real full-bodies and organs) and more. Though, those all require a separate ticket.

Another benefit of being an inherently more affordable hotel? Its casino has a wide variety of games with low limits. Plus, its newbie friendly. The Luxor casino offers free daily lessons so you can learn how to play blackjack, craps or roulette. And if slot machines are more your speed, you’ll have over 1,100 to choose from. Don’t forget to accumulate points with your MGM Rewards card.

If you're seeking a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of Vegas — but you still want to be on the Las Vegas Strip — the Vdara is your spot. It's one of the few Strip hotels that doesn't have a casino, which makes its lobby way less crowded, and a lot more relaxing.

Its somewhat tucked away between the Bellagio, the Cosmopolitan and the Aria. Conveniently, all those hotels are connected via an indoor walkway, so you can access their amenities without even having to go outside.

There's no single best hotel for every visitor to Las Vegas, but there really is something for everyone.

Vegas is more than just parties and gambling. There's world-class entertainment, fine dining, fun dining and plenty of great people-watching. No matter which of these hotels you choose to stay at, it's free to mosey through the lobbies of all of them.

Whether you're gawking at the ceilings within the budget-oriented, pyramid-shaped lobby of the Luxor, or you're admiring the seasonal display at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, every MGM Rewards property is worth a visit.