Book this, not that: Las Vegas points hotels

The Las Vegas Strip is home to myriad hotels. And thanks to partnerships between the major hotel chains and casino groups, many of these properties can be booked on points.

World of Hyatt's partnership with MGM Rewards allows members to redeem points across MGM's portfolio of resorts, including hotels like the Bellagio, Aria, NoMad Las Vegas, Park MGM Las Vegas, MGM Grand and Excalibur, and receive reciprocal elite benefits. Similarly, Wyndham Rewards has ties with Caesars Rewards, allowing members to transfer points between the programs, match their status and book some of the biggest names on the Strip, such as Harrah’s Las Vegas, the Flamingo Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, The Cromwell Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

Marriott Bonvoy offers the ever-popular Cosmopolitan, part of the Autograph Collection, while IHG Rewards fields the iconic pair of Italianate towers, The Venetian and The Palazzo. Meanwhile, Hilton Honors has doubled down on its position in Las Vegas with the opening of the Resorts World complex and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of the Curio Collection.

Deciding which of these properties to stay at can be a challenging endeavor. So, for this installment of “Book this, not that,” we will look at some Las Vegas awards you want to book — and a few you should probably stay away from. Of course, this isn’t to say that these are the only hotels worth booking in Sin City, but these are simply a few that we believe deserve some extra attention.

Book this: Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World

Resorts World Las Vegas houses three different Hilton-branded hotels you could redeem your points at, ranging from mid-tier to upscale to luxury. There's the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World, Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World and Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels and Resorts. While the service and rooms get incrementally better from one hotel to the next, the differences aren't significant enough to command a high revenue premium. Most people are best off booking the Hilton.

The Hilton at Resorts World is basically on equal footing with the more upscale Conrad, but at a lower price point. The rooms are modern and spacious and Hilton guests have access to all of the same amenities as guests staying at the Conrad. The finishes are a bit more tasteful at the Conrad and rooms have slightly more square footage, but the difference is minimal.

Related: Formerly a ‘wasteland’ of points hotels, Las Vegas is awash with options for those loyal to chains

A standard award night at the Hilton ranges between 35,000 and 70,000 Hilton Honors points. By comparison, the Conrad usually costs at least 10,000 more points per night — a $60 premium based on TPG valuations.

Another reason you should book this hotel? Hilton Honors doesn’t charge resort fees on stays booked with points.

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Related: 8 ways to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions

Skip that: Crockfords Las Vegas

Crockfords, which occupies the top floors of Resorts World, is certainly more luxurious than the neighboring Hilton and Conrad. It also offers guests access to the more exclusive cabana pool and reserved chaise loungers. Still, it probably isn't worth paying double what the Hilton charges. An award night at Crockfords sets you back a whopping 80,000 to 95,000 points, so it's a significant premium over the Hilton and Conrad.

If you want luxury, you are usually better off staying at the Waldorf Astoria down the road. As a smaller property, the Waldorf is much quieter and has a more exclusive feel. The service also feels more premium with amenities like a complimentary house car. It's usually a bit cheaper, topping out at 80,000 points per night.

Related: Best ways to earn more Hilton Honors points

Book this: Marriott's Grand Chateau

If you want to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for a stay in Las Vegas, consider Marriott's Grand Chateau. The Grand Chateau is a Marriott Vacation Club property, so you can expect larger rooms with separate living areas and kitchenettes. For a couple thousand extra points, you could upgrade to a one-, two- or even three-bedroom villa with a full kitchen — perfect for the whole family. For better or worse, there's also no casino here, and the property is smoke-free.

A standard award night starts at 40,000 points, but pricing may vary due to Marriott's new dynamic pricing structure. You can upgrade to a one-bedroom villa for just 5,000 points on many nights, which can be a great deal.

Skip that: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Marriott's most iconic property in the city is The Cosmopolitan, part of the Autograph Collection, and for good reason. The rooms are stylish, the pool scene is lively, there are some great restaurants on-site and Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Elites have access to a VIP lounge. However, it probably isn’t worth your points.

At 70,000 to 100,000 points per night, redemptions at The Cosmopolitan are steep. Paid rooms can often be had for under $300 per night, so you'll only be getting around 0.3 to 0.4 cents in value per point — well below TPG's valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each. To put this into perspective, you can book a room at a hotel like The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, where rooms often go for over $700 per night, for the same number of points. To add insult to injury, Marriott does not waive resort fees on award stays so you'll need to pay an extra $45 per night if you redeem your points at The Cosmopolitan.

It's also worth pointing out that MGM will take over operation of this hotel sometime in the first half of 2022. While details have yet to be announced, it's likely that the property will soon cut ties with Marriott Bonvoy and join MGM Rewards.

Related: Book this, not that: New York City hotels edition

Book this: Caesars Palace

Most Caesars properties in Las Vegas can be booked for 15,000 to 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night (resort fees not included). That can be a good deal during peak periods when cash rates are high. However, Wyndham points can also be transferred to Caesars Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Caesars rewards credits are worth a flat 1 cent apiece when redeemed for stays, meaning that when cash rates are low, you'll pay lower award rates. So, if a room at Caesars Palace is going for $120, you'll pay just 12,000 points. You also won't be dependent on award space when booking through Caesars Rewards.

There are a number of good Cesars properties to choose from, but Caesars Palace is the brand's crown jewel. If you have Wyndham elite status, you can match it to Caesars to get the royal treatment.

Related: Match your Wyndham status to Caesars for perks in Las Vegas and beyond

Skip that: MGM Grand

As mentioned, World of Hyatt members can redeem points across MGM's portfolio of properties in Las Vegas. However, you'll probably want to skip the brand's namesake, the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Like Hilton, World of Hyatt doesn't charge resort fees on award stays. This can make a big difference in Las Vegas, where resort fees can exceed $40 per night. Still, you'll likely get poor value from your points here.

Award nights here cost 12,000, 15,000 or 18,000 points, depending on whether your date is off-peak, standard or peak. That might not sound like much, but considering the all-in rate is usually around $120 per night, you'll get a significantly lower value than TPG's valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents apiece.

Related: Why Hyatt elites should book through MGM when visiting Las Vegas

Book this: Bellagio

An MGM property you should consider redeeming your World of Hyatt points at is the Bellagio Resort & Casino. The redemption value still isn't earth-shattering here, but it's better than at most other MGM properties on the strip and the hotel is much nicer. The hotel began rolling out renovated rooms in April 2021 and offers a prime mid-Strip location. Amenities include great on-site restaurants, a beautiful conservatory and the iconic dancing fountains in front of the hotel.

Award nights cost 21,000 to 29,000 points but you should note that award availability is not guaranteed at MGM properties the way it is at regular Hyatt properties when rooms are for sale with cash. You might have an easier time finding availability at the nearby Aria, which costs the same amount of points and is still a solid option.

Related: Use this simple tip to avoid resort fees at 13 Las Vegas casinos

If you're willing to pay cash for your stay, you can maximize your experience by booking through the American Express Fine Hotel + Resorts program or Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. Doing so will get you benefits like a $100 food and beverage credit, free breakfast, late checkout, free upgrades and more. In fact, TPG's Summer Hull was able to get $200 in benefits here by booking via FHR for a single-night stay.

Also, keep in mind that if you're a World of Hyatt elite member, you can match your status to MGM Rewards and unlock perks like free parking, room upgrades and late checkout.

Related: Hyatt members, it’s time for another look at Vegas

Book this: The Venetian Resort

IHG Rewards members have a choice between The Venetian and The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort. The two hotels are adjacent to each other and are very similar overall, with both being Italian Renaissance-themed. The base-level rooms at both hotels are called "Luxury Suites" and have a suite feel, with a distinct living area a step below the sleeping area and oversize bathrooms. The only real difference is that The Palazzo offers slightly larger rooms and is a bit newer.

Both hotels are dynamically priced, starting as low as 24,000 points per night during the low season and exceeding 100,000 points per night during busier periods. The Palazzo usually commands a slight revenue premium over The Venetian. Given how similar the two hotels are, we recommend saving the points and sticking to The Venetian. Both hotels are under the InterContinental umbrella, so Ambassador members should get their usual benefits.

IHG Rewards doesn't waive resort fees on award stays, but both properties offer free parking for all guests.

Related: IHG’s credit card portfolio gets a major revamp

Bottom line

Las Vegas has a dizzying number of points properties to choose from. World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards offer the most options in the city, but you still have a range of choices with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG Rewards. Although some hotels provide great guest experiences, they can be a poor value when redeeming points, so a little research can go a long way.

Keep in mind that this isn't an exhaustive list of points hotels in Las Vegas. There are others to consider, particularly from MGM (Hyatt) and Caesars (Wyndham). Also, when cash rates are low, you should consider booking through your credit card's travel portal rather than transferring your points.