5 Best Hotels in Center Strip, Las Vegas

This elaborately landscaped, pink, classic-era resort with a 15-acre pool complex (undergoing a major renovation at this writing) is still one of the best choices in town. GO rooms, with electronic window treatments and other high-tech touches, are downright stylish, and Fab Rooms feature vintage Las Vegas artwork. One-bedroom Cosmopolitan Suites are decorated in chocolate browns and hot pinks. Be sure to check out the on-site wildlife area, complete with a koi pond and, naturally, a flamboyance of Chilean flamingos. Two other big attractions: the 7,000-square-foot Pinky's by Vanderpump, and The LINQ Promenade—a retail, dining, and entertainment complex that's next door.

Old-school Vegas is alive and well at this affordable Center Strip property. The hotel, which opened in 1973, has undergone periodic renovations to keep up with the times, though it is no longer a destination property. Mountain Deluxe Tower Rooms are done in cool neutrals, Valley rooms have rain showers, and Cabana rooms have direct access to the pool. The casino floor, however, still has a lot of mirrors—a much less cool throwback to the 1970s. The sportsbook has mobile ordering, with food delivered to your seat. The pool, though small in comparison with others on the Strip, is relaxing and fun. The most rollicking time is had at Carnaval Court, where bartenders mix drinks with acrobatics and flair and there are live DJs.

Located in the heart of the Strip, Horseshoe, formerly Bally's, is an old-school property with contemporary rooms and suites that is an underrated choice for a Vegas vacation. Rooms are spacious at around 450 square feet, with Penthouse Suites ranging from 2,550 to 3,425 square feet, and some have a decent view of the Fountains at Bellagio. The seasonal Blu Pool has daybeds and cabanas as well as Foosball and cornhole games; it's also one of the few Strip resorts that still has tennis courts, although not as many as it used to have. Out front, check out the open-air mall dubbed the Grand Bazaar Shops.

Rooms in The LINQ (which was briefly known as The Quad after a long stint as Imperial Palace) are small but are regularly renovated with a modern, clean design. The hotel offers self check-in, and has a convenient monorail stop. District 3 Poolside Cabana rooms have private patios and easy access to Caesars Forum, which is just across the street. The Spa at The LINQ offers eucalyptus steam rooms, sauna, and pool. The property's biggest attraction is The LINQ Promenade, a retail, dining, and entertainment district next door, which boasts Brooklyn Bowl and the High Roller (LINQ offers packages that include two High Roller tickets). Be sure to check out O'Sheas, a lively bar and casino within the main LINQ casino floor.

Life is magnifique at this French-themed hotel, though some find the heavy-handed decor a little busy. Standard rooms have armoires for closets and marble baths with phones and make-up mirrors. West-facing rooms overlook the magnificent fountains and lagoon across the street at Bellagio. The rooms and suites that carry the appellation "Bordeaux" have elegant European-style furnishings with French-inspired decorative elements and artwork. Suites boast not only more space but also vibrant blue, brown, and white accents and rich fabrics. Downstairs dining options include Gordon Ramsay's steak house and Mon Ami Gabi bistro. The octagonal Pool Á Paris Las Vegas, on the rooftop just below the Eiffel Tower replica, is a great place to spend the afternoon.