Location: 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South (The Strip)

What makes it Special?  The Mirage Hotel was awarded 4 out of 5 Green Keys by the Green Key Eco-Rating program. They also received the 2010 ‘Friend of Glass’ award from the Glass Packaging Institute.

Entertainment Attraction: While we do enjoy our Boyz II Men, there’s something special about the concept behind “LOVE” – a Cirque de Soleil performance inspired by The Beatles’ music.

Number of Rooms: 3,044

Overview:

It’s hard to figure out exactly where The Mirage Hotel sits in the pecking order of Vegas’ best hotels. In terms of attractions it is very close to the top but is just a little out of reach of its competitors. Then again, it is the only hotel with a volcano out in the front yard.

Many credited The Mirage Hotel with rejuvenating the Strip when it opened back in 1989, and that reputation has been maintained ever since. If we were running a hotel, our ideal scenario would be to have the attractions of Caesars Palace along with the street cred of The Mirage. But if we had to choose between the two, we would say that a business is nothing without its reputation. That reputation is part of the reason this hotel is able to charge what it does.

The Mirage has some great restaurants with fare from the likes of Masaharu Morimoto and Tom Colicchios. There are also 11 different venues to help pass the night away, so you know you won’t be lacking in options there. Among these is the Beatles-inspired REVOLUTION lounge, which was designed by the people from Cirque de Soleil.

What really sets this hotel apart for us is the day-life. Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is one of the coolest things we’ve seen offered on the Strip and compliments the eco-friendly status. There is also Atrium, which is basically a rainforest under a 100-foot dome. The attraction is a good one – although it is a concern if we are relying on The Mirage to replenish the world’s rainforests.

*Key to Rates

$ – Up to $100

$$ – $101 to $130

$$$ – $131 to $190

$$$$ – $191 to $250

$$$$$ – Above $250

All rates based on a regular undiscounted room for the first weekend of October.