Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Review: Is It Worth Staying Off the Strip?
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I recently spent three nights at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas with my boyfriend, Tyrone. I originally chose this hotel because one of my favorite bands, Interpol, was performing at The Theater inside the resort. Since Tyrone lives in Las Vegas, it was the perfect excuse to spend a few nights together, enjoy the hotel and see the concert without having to worry about driving anywhere afterward.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas King Room
What surprised me most about Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was how large the resort was. I originally pictured a hotel with a casino, concert venue and a few restaurants, but there's actually a lot to do here. The property has a resort-style pool, casino, multiple restaurants and bars, event spaces and The Theater.
We ended up spending quite a bit of our three-night stay simply enjoying the resort rather than constantly heading to the Strip.
After experiencing the room, pool, restaurants and entertainment, here's what I liked about Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, what I didn't, and who I think this off-Strip hotel is best for.
Where Is Virgin Hotels Las Vegas?
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is located on Paradise Road, just east of the Las Vegas Strip.
The location is probably one of the biggest things to consider before booking this hotel.
According to Google Maps, Planet Hollywood is a little over a mile away and roughly a 30-minute walk. While that's technically walkable, Las Vegas gets extremely hot during the summer, so I wouldn't plan on regularly walking between the hotel and the Strip.
We had a car since Tyrone lives in Las Vegas, but if you don't have one, Uber and Lyft are easy options for getting to the Strip.
If your Vegas vacation is mainly about spending every day exploring the Strip and you want to be able to walk out of your hotel directly onto Las Vegas Boulevard, I would probably choose a hotel on the Strip instead.
However, if you're looking for more of a resort experience where you can enjoy the pool, restaurants and entertainment on-site and only head to the Strip occasionally, I think Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a great option. That's essentially how we spent our stay, and I really enjoyed it.
Free Parking at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
One perk I really appreciated was free parking.
Since we had a car, being able to park without adding another daily expense to our stay was a nice benefit.
There are different parking areas around the property, and we found the Paradise Parking Garage to be the more convenient option for accessing the hotel rooms.
One thing that surprised me about the entire property was just how large it was. There's quite a bit of walking between the hotel rooms, casino, restaurants and other amenities, although that's certainly not unusual for a large Las Vegas casino resort.
Tyrone didn't mind at all. He said he was getting his cardio in every day!
Free parking at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Our Resort One King Chamber
I booked a Resort One King Chamber, which is approximately 460 square feet with a dedicated dressing area and plenty of closet space.
Our room was 30721 on the seventh floor.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas King Room
Overall, I was really happy with the room. It was spacious, quiet and comfortable. We didn't have any problems with noise during our stay, the bed was very comfortable, and the elevators moved surprisingly quickly.
Our view wasn't anything spectacular. We mostly looked out over a parking garage, although we could see a little bit of the Strip and the Sphere in the distance.
I wasn't staying here for the view, though, so that didn't bother me.
Separate Vanity and Dressing Area
One of my favorite features of the room was the separate vanity and dressing area.
There was a vanity where I could actually sit down to do my makeup and hair instead of having to stand in the bathroom. There was also a full-length mirror, which I always appreciate when I'm getting ready and want to see my entire outfit.
There was plenty of storage as well, with two areas for clothes and luggage along with a digital safe.
For two people staying three nights, we had more than enough space.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Vanity area
Bathroom and Shower
The bathroom had one sink with plenty of counter space, nice lighting, a hair dryer, towels and Red Flower bath products.
The shower had both a rain shower head and a separate handheld shower head.
I did have one minor complaint about the handheld shower. It was positioned pretty low, and I would have preferred being able to place it closer to normal shower-head height.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas bathroom
We also had a slightly annoying issue with the toilet in our particular room. The toilet seat wasn't completely aligned, so it would shift and make a rocking noise whenever we sat down.
Obviously, that's most likely an issue specific to Room 30721 rather than something you're going to encounter throughout the hotel, but it was one of those little things that started getting on my nerves after three nights.
Lounge Area and Room Amenities
Another feature I really liked was the separate lounge area.
I love having somewhere comfortable to sit in a hotel room other than the bed, especially when I'm staying for several nights.
The room also had remote-controlled lighting near the bed, outlets, a TV, an ice bucket and other standard hotel amenities. The ice machine was conveniently located near our elevators as well.
The Minibar Refrigerator Was Annoying
One room feature I definitely didn't like was the refrigerator.
There was technically a refrigerator in the room, but it was completely stocked with minibar items, so we couldn't really use it to store our own drinks or food.
According to the information in our room, there was a $40 charge if we wanted the minibar items removed.
I would much rather have an empty refrigerator that guests can actually use, especially in Las Vegas where it's nice to be able to keep your own drinks cold.
The Pool at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
The pool ended up being one of my favorite parts of our stay.
We dedicated one day to doing basically nothing except hanging out at the pool for four or five hours, having some drinks and relaxing.
Virgin Hotels Vegas pool
The atmosphere was very chill, and there was a bar and food available along with games like cornhole and ping pong. We thought about playing some games, but eventually decided we were too lazy and went right back to relaxing.
My biggest tip is to arrive early if getting a good lounge chair is important to you.
During our stay, the pool opened at 9:00 AM. We arrived around 9:30 AM and were surprised to find that most of the lounge chairs were already taken, particularly the chairs around the sandy beach area.
If I stayed here again and planned another pool day, I'd try to arrive right around opening.
Restaurants at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Another thing I really enjoyed was having so many places to eat without leaving the resort.
We tried several restaurants during our stay, including breakfast at The Kitchen at Commons Club, dinner at Kassi Beach House, and Lucia Mexican Grill, which we ended up visiting more than once because we really enjoyed the drinks.
Breakfast buffet at The Kitchen
Kassi Beach House served Italian-inspired dishes, and we had some great pasta there. At Lucia Mexican Grill, we loaded up on chips and salsa, and I especially enjoyed the margaritas.
There are plenty of other options around the resort as well, including Nobu, pizza, Dunkin' and a cute coffee shop with a trendy seating area that made a fun photo spot.
There are also two convenience stores inside the resort, which is handy if you forget something like toothpaste or need to pick up medicine or other basics.
Lucia Mexican Grill margaritas
Kassi Beach House
Is Food Expensive at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas?
As you'd probably expect at a Las Vegas resort, eating inside the hotel isn't cheap.
What surprised me most was Dunkin'.
I assumed it would be one of the cheaper breakfast options, but the breakfast sandwiches were around $10 each during our stay. Once Tyrone and I ordered sandwiches and drinks, we spent around $50.
Dunkin Donuts at Virgin Hotels Vegas
At that point, it was almost the same price as sitting down and having the breakfast buffet at The Kitchen.
As for the breakfast buffet itself, I thought it was okay. They had a made-to-order omelet station, which was nice, but I wasn't particularly impressed with the rest of the selection.
If you're trying to save money, you'll find less expensive options outside the resort. But if convenience is more important, I really liked having so many choices without needing to leave the hotel.
Hilton Gold Benefits at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is part of Hilton's Curio Collection, and I'm a Hilton Gold member through one of my credit cards.
This ended up giving me some great benefits during our stay.
One of the best was a $15 per person daily food and beverage credit. Since Tyrone and I were both registered in the room, that gave us a total of $30 per day to put toward eligible food and drinks at the hotel.
Pasta and cocktails at Kassi Beach House
Hilton Gold members may also receive complimentary room upgrades based on availability. There weren't any free upgrades available when I checked in, and since our Resort One King Chamber was already plenty big enough, I was perfectly happy keeping our original room.
But my favorite perk was the 2:00 PM late checkout I received.
Standard checkout was 11:00 AM, and I was expecting maybe noon or 1:00 PM when I asked about a late checkout. Instead, the front desk gave me until 2:00 PM, which made our departure day much more relaxing.
Of course, Hilton Honors benefits and availability can change, so I recommend checking the current benefits associated with your status before your stay.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas King Room
Staying at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for a Concert
If you're attending a concert at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, this is where I think staying at the hotel really shines.
Seeing Interpol was the entire reason I booked Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in the first place.
Entrance into The Theater music venue
On the night of the concert, we were able to leave our room about 30 minutes before the show, head downstairs and walk right into the venue.
No driving. No parking. No worrying about getting an Uber after the concert.
And once the show was over, we simply walked back to our room.
That was incredibly convenient, and if I were attending another concert at The Theater, I would absolutely consider staying here again.
Paul Banks of Interpol
Interpol concert at The Theater Las Vegas
Pros and Cons of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
After spending three nights here, these were the biggest pros and cons for me.
Pros
Spacious and quiet room
Very comfortable bed
Separate vanity and dressing area
Relaxing resort-style pool
Lots of restaurants and dining options
Free parking
Friendly and helpful customer service
Very convenient for concerts at The Theater
Great Hilton Gold benefits during my stay
Cons
Off-Strip location isn't ideal if most of your vacation will be spent on the Strip
Food and drinks inside the resort can get expensive
Minibar refrigerator wasn't available for personal use without paying to have it emptied
Handheld shower head was positioned too low for my preference
Our particular room had an annoying rocking toilet seat
Colorful bar area by the lobby and entrance
Is Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Worth Staying At?
For me, yes, but I don't think it's the right Las Vegas hotel for everyone.
If your idea of a Vegas vacation is waking up every morning, walking outside and immediately being on Las Vegas Boulevard, I'd probably stay directly on the Strip instead.
But if you're looking for more of a resort experience where you can spend a relaxing day by the pool, have plenty of restaurants and entertainment without leaving the property, and only head over to the Strip occasionally, I think Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a great option.
Cute photo op spot at the coffee shop
Cute taco truck by the Mexican restaurant
And if you're attending a concert at The Theater, I'd put it even higher on the list.
I originally booked the hotel because I wanted the convenience of staying where Interpol was performing. But I ended up really enjoying the resort itself.
Between our relaxing pool day, dinners and margaritas, comfortable room, Hilton Gold perks and being able to simply walk downstairs for the concert, it turned into exactly the kind of relaxing Vegas stay I wanted.
Thinking about staying here? Check current rates and availability at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
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No. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is located on Paradise Road, east of the Las Vegas Strip. If being directly on Las Vegas Boulevard is important to you, I would choose a Strip hotel instead.
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Yes, but whether you'll actually want to depends on the weather and where you're going. According to Google Maps, Planet Hollywood is a little over a mile away and approximately a 30-minute walk. During the hot summer months, I would personally drive or use Uber or Lyft instead.
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Parking was free during my stay. We found the Paradise Parking Garage to be the more convenient garage for accessing the hotel rooms.
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Yes. The resort pool was one of my favorite parts of our stay. I recommend arriving early if you want a good lounge chair. When we arrived at approximately 9:30 AM, just 30 minutes after the pool opened, many of the chairs were already occupied.
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Absolutely. This was one of my favorite things about staying here. We were able to leave our room shortly before the Interpol concert, walk downstairs to The Theater and return directly to our room afterward.
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I think Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is worth considering if you want a resort experience and don't need to stay directly on the Strip. If your priority is being within easy walking distance of the major Strip casinos and attractions, I'd choose a hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard instead.
I spent three nights at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and was surprised by how much this off-Strip resort has to offer. Here’s my review of the room, pool, restaurants, location, Hilton Gold perks and what to know before booking.