A thrilling roller coaster and terrible food: My stay at the New York New York in Las Vegas
- You get a kitschy taste of New York City in the middle of Las Vegas.
- A recent renovation gives rooms a new feel.
- The new partnership with Marriott leaves elite-level Bonvoy members wanting more.
As someone who visits Sin City at least 12 times per year, I know how important where you stay is — and how a hotel can make or break your trip. Las Vegas has many hotels to offer guests, from hyper-themed resorts that mimic famous cities worldwide like The Venetian to ultra-luxury resorts like the shiny new Fontainebleau; there truly is something for everyone.
On my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I wanted to stay at an MGM property to test the benefits of the now-live partnership with Marriott.
If you're considering a stay at the New York New York Hotel and Casino, here's what you need to know before booking.
What is the New York New York Hotel and Casino
The New York, New York hotel opened its doors in 1997 and has been a staple of the Las Vegas strip ever since, leaving travelers wondering if they're in the desert or the middle of Times Square. The resort is just about a seven-minute drive from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and tucked on the south side of the Strip.
This hotel is home to a whopping 2,085 guest rooms and suites, as well as 24 restaurants, with 10 being full service; the rest are either food court joints or quick service.
It's also synonymous with the Big Apple Coaster that runs through the hotel as well as outside around the faux New York City skyline. The roller coaster is inside the Big Apple Arcade, which is a hit for tourists of all ages, making it one of the more family-friendly properties on the Strip.
It's Las Vegas, so naturally this hotel has a large casino with all the standard table games and slot machines; many of them are New York-themed.
The location
This hotel sits toward the end of the south side of the Strip. It's connected by land bridges to the world-famous MGM Grand, making it easy to catch a show there or go to the Hakkasan nightclub.
A land bridge also connects it to the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. The south side of the strip is home to most of the MGM properties, so if you want to casino hop and earn Tier Rewards, this hotel is in a great location.
How to book the New York New York Hotel
There are multiple ways to book a stay at New York New York. With the new partnership between MGM and Marriott, you can book and earn Loyalty Points via either Marriott Bonvoy or MGM Rewards. Guests can also redeem MGM points or Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights.
Rates can start as low as $55 a night up to $450, depending on the time you travel and what events might be going on in the city. The nightly rate was $348 when I stayed, likely due to a NASCAR event happening over the weekend. Weekend rates, on average, tend to be higher than weeknights.
Looking further into the year, this hotel could be booked for as low as 9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
New York New York also charges a nightly resort of $42 plus tax. This fee is only waived if you have MGM Gold status or higher or are a Marriott Ambassador elite.
MGM and Marriott partnership
MGM and Marriott recently started a new partnership and have been advertising it online; however, there was barely any mention of it inside the New York City-themed resort.
I chose to book through Marriott Bonvoy since I hold Titanium status; based on my experience, you shouldn't expect much as a Marriott Bonvoy elite member. At check-in, one sign mentioned that Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador elite members could use the MGM gold check-in area.
When I checked in, I was offered the choice of a welcome gift of 1,000 Bonvoy points or a daily $15 food and beverage credit. I opted for the latter. The agent who checked me in also offered me a late checkout of noon — a far cry from the usual 4 p.m. checkout I am used to at Marriott properties.
Every room has been renovated
Last summer, rooms and suites underwent a full-scale $63 million renovation. The renovations optimized the room's current dimensions, incorporating moveable work surfaces, installing readily accessible USB/USB-C power outlets and adding extra closet space and shelving.
In my SoHo double queen room, the beds were comfortable and quite plush. A small bedside table between the two beds held a phone, power outlets and USB/USB-C ports.
The rooms featured many elements inspired by New York City, including faux exposed brick, yellow cab-colored accents, and New York City-centric artwork; some parts felt a little contrived and on the kitschy side.
Each room has a 55-inch television with streaming capabilities, a small wardrobe closet, a small table and chair, and a safe; I would have liked the TV and seating area to be bigger, though.
I was also disappointed — but not surprised — that there was no minifridge. This meant that if I wanted cold drinks, I would have to go downstairs and buy them. There was also no coffee maker in the room. I would have had to go downstairs to Starbucks to get my morning caffeine fix. Believe me, those lines can be 20-plus people long in the morning.
The bathroom was small but made great use of the space, featuring a shower and tub combo with great water pressure.
The amenities in the bathroom were sparse and left more to be desired. However, my favorite part of the bathroom was the mirror and great lighting, making it the perfect place to take a selfie before going out.
The room had a decent view of the Big Apple roller coaster, but I was not a fan of the small, narrow windows. I would have preferred one large window to give a better view of the roller coaster and the Las Vegas strip.
New York City inspiration is everywhere
Since this hotel is themed after New York City, you can expect to find resemblances of the city throughout the property and not just in your room.
There are walkways filled with street signs, subway station signs and faux buildings designed to make you feel like you're really in the Big Apple. Outside, you'll notice that the building itself is actually made up of replicas of famous New York City buildings and landmarks, so you might even find yourself sleeping in the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building.
Amenities
Beyond gaming, eating and pretending to be a New Yorker, this MGM resort has plenty to offer guests.
Sadly, during my stay, the pool was closed for yearly renovations and painting in preparation for the upcoming spring pool party season, so I could not access it.
Las Vegas is known for hosting pool parties during the day with world-famous DJs at clubs like Wet Republic, Tao Beach Club and Encore Beach Club. Even in the colder months or during bad weather, you can head over to Marquee at the nearby Cosmopolitan for its Dome Pool party — the only covered pool party in Vegas.
New York New York does not have a spa, but there is a well-equipped gym that I found pleasantly surprising. I was expecting a small room with a few pieces of equipment, but it was enough for me to get a full workout in.
The gym featured a small free weight section, many cardio machines and a small variety of strength training machines. There were cold towels available for guests and a water bottle refill station.
Authentic New York-style food and bars galore
Being a foodie, I was excited to try the various cuisines the restaurants offered to see how they compared to the real New York's vibrant dining scene.
My toughest decision during the trip was deciding which restaurants to eat at, and it's safe to say no one will go hungry here. There were options for every budget, from simple, fast casual food court eateries to full-service sit-down restaurants.
I stopped at Broadway Burger Bar and had a Broadway Signature burger and fries ($17), which was a below-standard burger with bacon, lettuce and tomato. While filling, it lacked flavor or character. At that price, I should've just gone to Shake Shack, a staple New York City restaurant; at least the burgers there are consistently good, and I know what to expect.
The next night on the trip, I stopped at II Fornaio, as I was in the mood for Italian. Once again, the food was underwhelming. I went with the calamari ($18) as a starter. It was undercooked, and the sauce was not very good.
Then, I went with the Fradiavola pizza (24). The pizza lacked any real flavor and was undercooked, as well. For the price, I can't recommend this at all. Save your money and opt for the pizza-by-the-slice restaurant in the food court upstairs or the Sbarro across the street.
I didn't get a chance to eat at Gallagher's Steakhouse, but the staff highly recommended it; although, with the previous meals I had on the property, I was hesitant about that. The steaks start at $65, but I decided against it as I wanted to stretch my dollars — and potentially save myself from (expensive) disappointment.
There was also a full room service, but once again, I opted out of trying that to save money.
Outside the hotel is The Park, an outdoor dining area full of food carts and chain restaurants like Shake Shack, Tom's Watch Bar and Luke's Lobster.
New York New York's bar scene offers seemingly endless options. From the Las Vegas outpost of Coyote Ugly to a dueling piano bar and a buzzy Irish pub, there is something for every palette.
At Hersey Chocolate World's Chocolate Bar, I tried the $16 chocolate raspberry espresso martini, which was outstanding. The bar also had plenty of sweet treats and nonalcoholic drink options. I had to walk by this bar to get to my room every time, and it was always packed to the brim with people.
Attractions for all ages
The New York New York hotel has attractions for all ages, like a world-famous Cirque de Soleil show, as well as the Hershey Chocolate World, synonymous with Times Square. You can also find a large arcade with games for young folks and the young at heart.
The most notable attraction is the Big Apple roller coaster. The red-colored track stands out in the Las Vegas strip skyline; it goes outside, around the building and ends back inside over the casino floor. I got a chance to ride the roller coaster, and it was a rough and painful, yet thrilling, experience. I recommend riding it at least once if you're a thrill seeker. Tickets for one ride start at $25, and you can get a discount for another ride if you didn't get enough adrenaline pumping.
Checking out
As a regular in Las Vegas, I have stayed at many hotels up and down the Vegas Strip. If the nightly rate at New York New York exceeds $180 or more than 20,000 Bonvoy points, I recommend checking out other options like its next-door neighbor, the Park MGM. This is one of the strip's better budget-friendly options with recently renovated rooms. I would also opt for food elsewhere, but if you are in a pinch, there are some serviceable options.
I would have liked to see more signage detailing the partnership between MGM and Marriott, and I hope the benefits will improve in the future. But if the nightly rate is good, I will stay here again because of the location alone.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.