What we know of Las Vegas today—the over-the-top offerings, the temples of excess, all with the notion that luxury can be attainable even by regular folks—all started with The Mirage when it opened in 1989. Since then, hotels have only been getting bigger and more extravagant.

But not all of them have an exploding volcano out front.

It’s not just the volcano that’s set to explode every hour to music, but also the lush foliage in the domed atrium, the 20,000-gallon aquarium behind the check-in desk, and Siegfried and Roy’s (yes, they’re still around) Secret Garden Habitat, that keep the Mirage top-of-mind to would-be visitors. Even if you’ve never been here before, you know that volcano. You know Siegfried and Roy.



And beyond the fake lava, this is a darn nice place to stay. Accommodations are downright luxurious for the price point, with clean lines, bold colors and natural wood furnishings surrounding a great pillow top mattress on the bed. Neutral-colored marble in the bathroom is a nice touch, and the hotel is vocal about its ADA-accessible rooms.

Dining options in the past few years have gotten on par with the rest of the Strip: Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak focuses on good, properly-sourced meat cooked over an open fire; The Pantry serves as the 24-hour coffee shop, but feels more like you’re eating in your mom’s kitchen; Carnegie Deli still serves some of the best football-sized, New York–style pastrami sandwiches in town.


The pool is open and heated all year, and considered one of the best on the Strip thanks to a lagoon-like setting, waterfalls, and waterslides. The adult-oriented Bare Pool Lounge allows for European-style sunbathing (read: topless) and is a nice oasis in its own right.