Luxor Las Vegas Hotel Review: Is It Worth Staying Here?
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There are some hotels you book because they have the best rooms, the perfect location, or a pool you cannot wait to spend the afternoon beside.
I went back to Luxor Las Vegas for a completely different reason.
The Luxor holds a special place in my heart because my boyfriend, Tyrone, and I stayed here when we first met in Las Vegas. When I returned to Vegas, we thought it would be fun to spend two nights here and relive a little bit of that experience.
And of course, if we were going back to Luxor, I wanted to stay inside the pyramid.
The iconic Luxor pyramid
There are newer and more modern rooms available in the Tower, but where is the fun in staying at Luxor if you are not actually staying inside that giant black pyramid?
At least, that was my thinking.
After spending another weekend here, though, I walked away with a very different impression of the hotel.
I’m glad we came back. I’m glad we stayed in the pyramid again. But I also realized that this will probably be our last stay at Luxor.
So, is Luxor Las Vegas worth staying at? Here’s what our experience was really like.
Staying Inside the Luxor Pyramid
We booked a standard Pyramid Two Queen room for our two-night stay.
The pyramid is still undeniably cool. The angled walls remind you immediately that you are staying somewhere unusual, and even getting to your room is an experience.
Pyramid Two Queen
Instead of a traditional elevator traveling straight up, Luxor has what it calls an inclinator. It travels diagonally along the pyramid at a 39-degree angle. You can actually feel yourself moving slightly sideways as you go up.
It's one of those wonderfully weird Vegas experiences that you probably won't find anywhere else.
Once we got inside our room, though, some of that excitement started to wear off.
The room itself was fine. Not terrible, but definitely dated.
We had two queen beds, a desk, chairs, plenty of storage and a surprisingly nice view overlooking the pool. The room was also very quiet. We didn't hear noise from the hallway or outside, and we both slept well. The beds weren't amazing, but they were comfortable enough.
There was plenty of counter space in the bathroom, lots of towels and really good water pressure in the shower. I also appreciated having a bathroom fan, something that is strangely missing from a lot of hotel bathrooms.
But there were also signs of age everywhere.
The bathroom ceiling was chipped. The TV was old and difficult to use. We couldn't properly adjust the volume, and some of the channels were staticky. There also appeared to be an empty space where a mini fridge may have once been.
Dated but functional bathroom
No conditioner provided!
And here's one of those tiny hotel details that probably wouldn't bother everyone but definitely bothered me: there was no conditioner.
Luxor provided shampoo and body wash, but no conditioner. My hair does not cooperate with shampoo alone, so Tyrone ended up taking me to a grocery store so I could buy some.
Was any of this disastrous? No.
It just didn't feel like a room I was excited to come back to.
Spacious two queen bedroom
Saturday Check-In Was Rough
If you're arriving at Luxor on a busy weekend, give yourself some extra time.
Tyrone arrived around 6 PM on Saturday and ended up waiting about an hour to check in. The self-service kiosks weren't available, which pushed everyone into the regular check-in line.
Parking wasn't much better.
The kiosks were out of order at time of check-in
Tyrone checking out
The garage was so full that Tyrone was worried about leaving to pick me up at the airport because he wasn't sure he'd find another spot when he returned.
We eventually found one by patiently waiting for someone else to leave.
Self-parking during our stay was $20 per day. They do have valet parking available but it’s a whopping $40 per day.
If you're staying over a weekend, I would factor both parking costs and extra arrival time into your plans.
Eating at Luxor Was Very Hit or Miss
You won't go hungry at Luxor, but the dining options ended up being one of the weaker parts of our stay.
Our first night, we arrived late and tried to eat at Diablo's Cantina. They were packed, so we eventually ended up downstairs at Public House.
The service was excellent. Our bartender was wonderful, and my watermelon margarita was really good.
I do not recommend PUblic House for the food
The Mushroom Swiss burger?
That's another story.
It was so bad I couldn't finish it. Tyrone, who apparently has a much stronger commitment to not wasting food than I do, somehow ate the rest.
The next night we gave Diablo's another try, and strangely enough, we had almost the exact opposite experience.
The food was good. The cocktails were not.
My drink was far too sweet for me.
Cool ambiance at Diablo’s
The Cheapest Breakfast Surprised Us
Breakfast at Luxor turned into its own little investigation.
We first looked at Backstage Deli, assuming that would be an inexpensive option. Then we saw a breakfast sandwich for around $16.
At that price, we figured we might as well eat at the Pyramid Café. But there was a long line there, and entrées were roughly $16 to $25 during our visit.
Long line at Pyramid Cafe
Starbucks was the cheapest option for breakfast at Luxor
Then we checked Starbucks.
And somehow, Starbucks became our budget breakfast option in Las Vegas.
Their breakfast sandwiches were around $8, about half the price of the sandwich we had looked at elsewhere.
The Luxor Pool Was One of Our Favorite Parts
The pool was easily one of the highlights of our stay.
We went around noon on Sunday and were surprised to find plenty of lounge chairs available. We didn't reserve a daybed or cabana. We just grabbed regular chairs and spent a relaxing afternoon swimming and lying in the sun.
The whole atmosphere felt surprisingly chill.
There are two large pools, and our cocktails were around $16 each during our visit.
Relaxing pool day at Luxor
There Is Plenty to Do Without Leaving the Hotel
One advantage of staying at a huge Las Vegas resort is that you don't necessarily need to leave for entertainment.
Luxor had shows such as Blue Man Group and Carrot Top during our stay, along with PLAY Playground, which has oversized interactive games. We didn't get a chance to try PLAY, but it's something I'd like to do on another Vegas trip.
If Luxor's restaurant selection isn't enough, you can also use the free tram connecting Luxor with Mandalay Bay and Excalibur.
We've previously stayed at Mandalay Bay and much preferred its selection of restaurants and entertainment.
Luxor lobby and entrance
Luxor Las Vegas Pros and Cons
Pros
Staying inside the pyramid is a uniquely Vegas experience
Our room was quiet
Nice pool view from our room
Strong shower pressure
Relaxing pool area with plenty of chairs during our Sunday visit
Entertainment available within the resort
Free tram provides easy access to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur
Room rates can sometimes be very inexpensive
Cons
Pyramid room felt dated
Old TV with volume and reception issues
No conditioner provided in our room
Dining options felt limited compared with other Vegas resorts we've stayed at
Food quality was inconsistent
Very long Saturday check-in during our experience
Parking garage was extremely busy
Fun photo ops near the entrance
Upstairs entertainment area
Would I Stay at Luxor Las Vegas Again?
Probably not. And I'm completely okay with that.
Going back gave Tyrone and me a chance to revisit a place connected to the beginning of our relationship. We stayed inside the pyramid again, rode the funny sideways inclinator, relaxed by the pool and got to relive a little piece of our story.
That made the weekend worth it.
But we've also stayed at quite a few Las Vegas hotels since our first Luxor visit. After experiencing places like Mandalay Bay and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Luxor ended up being my least favorite of the group. That's not because everything about it was bad. It simply doesn't offer the overall hotel experience I now know I can get elsewhere.
For a first-time visitor who finds a great rate and has always wanted to sleep inside that famous pyramid, I still think there's something fun about doing it once.
For us, once was apparently not enough.
Twice was.
And now I'm ready to leave our Luxor memories right where they are.
Thank you for the memories, Luxor!
FAQ
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Luxor can be worth staying at if you find a good rate and want the unique experience of sleeping inside one of the most recognizable hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort has multiple restaurants, pools, entertainment, a casino, spa and convenient access to neighboring resorts. We enjoyed the novelty of staying inside the pyramid and had a relaxing afternoon at the pool, but our particular Pyramid room felt dated compared with other Las Vegas hotels we've stayed at.
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Luxor offers accommodations inside its iconic pyramid as well as its Tower buildings. Staying in the pyramid gives you the more unusual Luxor experience, complete with slanted walls and the hotel's diagonal inclinators. Luxor also offers updated Pyramid Premier accommodations, so not every room inside the pyramid will be like the room we stayed in. If having a more contemporary room is important to you, compare the current Pyramid and Tower room categories before booking.
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Yes. Luxor has considerably more dining options than the handful we tried during our stay. Current choices include Diablo's Cantina, TENDER Steakhouse + Lounge, Public House, Pyramid Café and Backstage Deli, along with Starbucks and other casual options. There's also a food court with quick-service restaurants including Johnny Rockets, Bonanno's Pizzeria, L.A. Subs, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs and Original Chicken Tender.
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Yes. Luxor's Oasis Pool complex currently features two spacious pools, complimentary lounge chairs for hotel guests, and upgraded seating options including private cabanas and daybeds. Complimentary towels are also available.
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Standard Luxor rooms do not include refrigerators or coffee makers. Refrigerators can be rented for an additional fee, while complimentary small refrigerators may be requested for medical purposes, subject to availability. Suites include a refrigerator. Standard rooms also do not include microwaves.
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Luxor's standard check-in time is 3 PM, and check-out is 11 AM. Guests arriving before their room is ready can store luggage with the Bell Desk. Our Saturday evening arrival was particularly busy, and Tyrone waited about an hour to check in, so I would allow some extra time if you're arriving during a busy weekend.
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Yes. Luxor offers both paid self-parking and valet parking. During our stay, self-parking was $20 per day and valet parking was $40 per day.
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Yes. Luxor is connected to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur by the complimentary Mandalay Bay Tram. Luxor currently lists the tram as operating daily from 10 AM to midnight, although hours can change.
I returned to Luxor Las Vegas for a nostalgic two-night stay inside the iconic pyramid. Here's what I really thought about the room, pool, restaurants, parking, prices, and whether we'd stay again.