When most people think of Las Vegas, they envision gambling, shows, and clubs – a decadent place for singles and couples to let their hair down and party. As such, the resorts that line Las Vegas Boulevard and the downtown core have routinely designed their accommodations as standard hotel rooms for 2 to 3 people. From hotel to hotel, they vary in spaciousness, bed size, and amenities, but they essentially were (and in most cases remain to be) conventional rooms. The Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip has other ideas.
As Vegas expanded with themed hotels and attractions designed to lure families, hotels like The Rio and The Luxor developed suites – essentially the same as a conventional room but with a small living area attached, in which the couch opened to a queen-size sofa bed. This allowed families to remain together in the same room, sometimes with a few conveniences included such as a small fridge and coffee maker, but it didn’t offer much in the way of space or privacy.
With Vegas growing so quickly and now offering more family-friendly entertainment as well as hosting more travelers for business purposes, the notion that it is a destination just for gamblers and partiers is no longer accurate. No doubt the party atmosphere of Vegas is still alive and well, but it now exists in harmony with thrill rides, all-ages shows, and family-style restaurants while simultaneously hosting plenty of conventions, events, and girls or guys getaways, where these travelers want rooms that allow them to stay together with a few of the conveniences of home. Thankfully, some hotels have picked up on this trend by offering more family and group-style accommodations. And there is one resort on the Vegas strip that does this exceptionally well — Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip. (Yes, the name feels unnecessarily long)
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- Las Vegas – Hilton Grand Vacations – At Night
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- Hilton Grand Vacations Entrance
Located on the quieter north end of The Strip, between Circus Circus and The Stratosphere, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club glitters in gold and welcomes guests with a vast array of palm trees and an aura of luxury. A valet and bellman greet guests as they arrive on the circular driveway, and the hotel doors open to an opulent lobby area that houses a lounge, several seating areas, and the check-in desk.
The double towers of the resort, with the north tower considerably taller, feature 1,228 rooms, including studio units as well as one, two, and three-bedroom suites. In 2017, the lobby received some updating as did the guest rooms, which were redesigned and fully renovated with a sleeker and more eye-popping look.
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- Renovated One Bedroom Living Area
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- Renovated One Bedroom King Size
Guests have their choice of overlooking the pool and lounge area while facing the Stratosphere and the lights of downtown or overlooking the hotel entrance with its beautiful landscaping of palm trees and waterfalls. Rooms on the south-facing side of the south tower tend to lack a substantial view given the condo property next door. However, partial views of The Strip can be seen from penthouse suites on the south-facing side of the North Tower.
As for the suites of one, two, and three-bedroom units, they are roomy, comfortable, and stylish, with fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, living areas with a flat-screen TV and sofa bed, and spacious bathrooms with glass shower enclosures and multiple body jets. The bedrooms include a mini wall safe, yet another flat-screen TV, lamps with bases conveniently fitted with 2 outlets for charging handheld devices, a whirlpool jet tub, and plenty of storage space. It’s the perfect setup for travelers desiring more than just a conventional room with a bed and bathroom.
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- Fully Equipped Kitchen
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- Whirlpool Tub
Although this resort is one of the rare few in Vegas that does not host a casino or major restaurant, it does feature a games room, fitness center, spa, and business center. It also houses a bar and grill adjacent to a gorgeous pool and deck.
Unlike most Vegas hotels with seasonal pools that close during the winter months, The Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Boulevard maintains their pool year-round, although the poolside bar does indeed close.
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- Pool Open Year Round
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- Pool Deck
Inside the resort, a convenient ‘Marketplace’ is located on the lower level. Here guests can find a Starbucks counter for a selection of coffees and specialty drinks, as well as a gourmet deli, which serves up soups and sandwiches, homemade pizza, and a selection of decadent pastries. It’s incredibly handy for a quick lunch on the run, or for a light dinner if you’re not in the mood to head out for a night on the town. There is also a small and limited market for snacks and drinks, a few staples, and some frozen and microwaveable dinner options suitable for preparation in the guest suites. Since the resort operates as ‘cashless’, be warned that the Marketplace (and the hotel as a whole) accepts only credit cards or charges to the room.
A CVS pharmacy is conveniently located directly next door to the resort, not more than a 5-minute walk from the front door should guests need or want to purchase toiletries, medications, beauty products, or food items not available in the Marketplace.
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- Stairway to Lower Level Marketplace
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- Marketplace with Deli and Starbucks
Considering that Hilton Grand Vacations is such a nice change of pace from the huge and hectic resorts further north or south on The Strip, it’s not uncommon for visitors to inquire about purchasing the units. And for that reason, an on-site marketing team is on hand for timeshare presentations that result in show tickets, spa massages, and dining credits for those guests who wish to participate. However, hotel guests needn’t worry that they will be harassed to attend a presentation because the initiative carefully avoids being aggressive.
From the representatives on the check-in desk to those working in housekeeping or in the Marketplace, the staff at this hotel go above and beyond in order to make travelers and owners comfortable and happy. As with all hotels in Vegas, rates will depend on the time of the year you wish to visit, but they are reasonable taking into account that accommodations here offer much more than you will find at a typical resort further down the boulevard. Regardless of how you book your stay, upon arrival be prepared to pay an extra daily resort fee – standard at most Vegas hotels. This fee includes internet access, free local phone calls, in-room bottled water, and self-parking.
PROS: Reasonable Rates. A variety of room configurations to choose from. Clean, modern rooms. Convenient deli and Starbucks on the lower level. Beautiful pool area. Friendly, helpful staff.
CONS: Views are limited from most towers. Except for the deli, there are no other dining options. The location on the strip leads to long walks or the need for a car, taxi, or Uber in order to get to most hot spots (ie. dining, casinos, attractions).
Everything considered The Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip is a pleasant alternative to the iconic hotels that dot the downtown core and line the boulevard. You may be in Vegas, but staying here is never a gamble!