The Mirage Hotel & Casino

One of the first mega-resorts to hit the Las Vegas Strip, the Mirage Hotel and Casino opened in 1989, the first project for now-famed casino developer Steve Wynn. Somewhat of an elder statesman of the Strip, the 3,044-room Mirage goes relatively light on the glitz, though it certainly doesn't spare entertainment, with a resident Cirque du Soleil show, and a volcano feature at its entrance that "explodes" hourly every night. The lobby is equally attractive, particularly during the day, thanks to a 90-foot-tall garden atrium full of tropical greenery. A huge outdoor pool complex and kid-friendly Dolphin Habitat add additional appeal, as do the typical Vegas hotel features such as a buffet restaurant, casino, and extensive spa. Overall, The Mirage is among the more family-friendly destinations in Las Vegas, with entertainment for all ages, though there are a few features, notably the topless Bare Pool Lounge, that might deter families from staying here. Note that as is typical with Las Vegas hotels, a daily resort fee is charged to rooms.

The Mirage  is located on the densely packed stretch of hotel-casinos known as the Las Vegas Strip, between the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and Treasure Island. Other hotels near The Mirage Las Vegas include the Venetian and Harrah's, which are across the street. A free tram takes guests between the Mirage and Treasure Island. Taxis are easy to find at virtually any time of day or night, plus ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft currently operate in Las Vegas. A generally less expensive option is the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the strip 24 hours a day. There's also a monorail system, which stops at MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/The LINQ, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Westgate, and the SLS Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport is about a 10-minute drive away.

Starting at 394 square feet (36.6 square meters), rooms are a decent size, if a bit smaller than other properties in this price range. Nevertheless, they pack in plenty of thoughtful touches that enhance comfort and maximize the spaces. They're tastefully decorated with a contemporary, dark palette including a deep-red, brown, and tan color scheme, patterned carpets, and beige and gray accents, though some rooms are showing signs of wear and tear. Amenities include iPod docks, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, electronic safes, well-stocked minibars, and free Wi-Fi, but no coffee- and tea-making facilities. Bathrooms are smallish at 45 square feet (a touch over four square meters), but perfectly functional. Shower/tub combos come standard and are kept in good condition.
Stay Well rooms have wellness-centric touches such as air purifies, aromatherapy diffusers, circadian mood lighting, and Stay Well mattresses.
Guests can upgrade to the Tower Deluxe rooms on the 24th or 25th floors, which include soaking tubs and separate walk-in showers. Suites range from the 812-square-foot (75.4-square-meter) Mirage Suite with two bathrooms and a whirlpool hot tub, to the 1,714-square-foot (159-square-meter) one- or two-bedroom Hospitality Suites. For something even more luxurious, two- and three-bedroom villas have private backyard pools and loads of modern amenities such as Apple TVs, iMacs, and iPads, plus private entrances and 24-hour personal chef and butler service.

The Mirage Las Vegas pool befits the hotel's stature as an upper-tier Vegas mega-resort, which is to say: it's gigantic and full of waterfall features. There are beautiful greenery, luxury cabanas, a nearby bar, and a cafe, plus ample loungers. There's also a separate adults-only pool, Bare Pool Lounge, where women are allowed to go topless. It offers drink service from bikini-clad servers and live DJs play the latest in pop and hip-hop. However, it costs extra to access.

The Mirage Las Vegas has a wide range of features with a heavy emphasis on entertainment and fun. The casino here is popular, and along with the typical slots and table games, there's also high-limit lounge for big spenders, a 25-table poker room with four different games and "sit-and-go" tournaments, and a 10,000-square-foot sports book with 150 individual viewing screens. Entertainment options include the Cirque du Soleil show "Love," an extravagant circus performance set to Beatles songs, which has been highly successful since its 2006 debut (the soundtrack won two Grammy awards in 2008). Ventriloquist and impressionist Terry Fator, who won the second season of TV's amateur-hour show America's Got Talent, occupies the Terry Fator Theatre, where standup comedians Jay Leno, Ray Romano, and Lewis Black have been known to make appearances.
The spa offers a variety of treatments, along with steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools. A salon and huge, well-equipped fitness center offering fitness classes are also located here. Dolphin Yoga is available at the on-site dolphin habitat, which offers several other experiences, including painting with the dolphins. Note that there's a daily resort fee added to rates here, which is typical for Las Vegas area hotels. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
Be aware that there’s a daily resort fee, which doesn’t include on-site parking. Parking is free for Pearl, Gold, Platinum and NOIR M life Rewards Members.

The Mirage Las Vegas provides a variety of culinary experiences, with around a dozen restaurants ranging from casual to fancy. Restaurants in Mirage Hotel Las Vegas include Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak, an Italian restaurant, a restaurant specializing in shared plates, an East-coast-style deli, a burger joint, and a branch of California Pizza Kitchen. The Mirage Hotel buffet restaurant is Cravings, which is open for all three meals and brunch on weekends. There are also a Starbucks, cafe, and a frozen yogurt place, and room service is available 24/7.