Wynn Las Vegas

Rooms and decor

In a city where every casino competes to shout with neon, slot-machine noise and loud themes, Wynn Las Vegas chooses to be something else from the first step inside — a resort that's pretty, refined and tastefully luxurious. It's the masterwork of Steve Wynn, the man behind modern Strip icons like Bellagio and Mirage, and it opened in 2005 with a glossy curved bronze tower that became the signature image of the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard. The first thing you feel is an interior that feels more like walking through a flower garden than a casino — an atrium dressed with real fresh flowers the team swaps by season, floral carpets and ceilings in bright colors, crystal chandeliers, and warm-toned lighting that keeps the whole place feeling soft rather than hard-edged. Go deeper and you reach the Lake of Dreams, the resort's private lake ringed by waterfalls and trees, with a recurring evening show of light, music and images projected on a curtain of water. The overall feel is a luxury garden resort more than a gambling hall, and anyone tired of the flashy chaos of Vegas tends to fall for it from the lobby on.

Food and amenities

Wynn's rooms are known for being spacious and easy on the eye, done in warm tones with woodwork, good fabrics and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto city or green golf-course views. Beds are soft, the marble bathrooms are roomy with a separate tub and shower, and many reviews agree on cleanliness and comfort above the usual casino standard. What really sets it apart is how complete the amenities are — there's an 18-hole golf course of its own hidden behind the hotel in the heart of the city, a real rarity on the Strip; the large Wynn Spa reviewers praise for relaxing treatments and a calm atmosphere; and several pools surrounded by greenery with cabanas to rent. Food is another standout, with the resort gathering 20+ celebrity-chef restaurants in one place: SW Steakhouse by the lake where you can watch the Lake of Dreams show, Mizumi for Japanese food with its own garden and waterfall, Lakeside for seafood with water views, down to easier spots and cafes for breakfast. There's a casino, the Encore Theater and brand-name shopping too — all in all a resort you can spend the whole day in without stepping outside.

Location and getting there

Wynn sits on Las Vegas Boulevard at the North Strip, set a little further north, opposite Fashion Show Mall. That location feels a touch more open and upscale than the packed cluster of landmarks at the center of the Strip. The standout is the indoor walkway straight over to Encore, its sister hotel in the same group, which lets you use both sides' restaurants, pools, spa and nightclubs without going out in the heat. The central Strip — Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The LINQ and the Bellagio fountains — is south of here; walkable but a fair distance, and Vegas runs brutally hot in summer, so many people take a short taxi or Uber, or walk over to the Las Vegas Monorail at the Harrah's/The LINQ stop about a 10-12 minute walk away. From Harry Reid airport (LAS) it's roughly a 10-15 minute drive. In short, if you want a luxury stay calmer than the center of the Strip and you're not set on walking to every landmark, the North Strip works well — but if you plan to explore the heart of the Strip on foot every day, build in extra travel time.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the first thing to weigh is the far-north location. The atmosphere is upscale and airy, but it's set off a fair way from the central cluster of landmarks like Bellagio and Caesars Palace. You can walk it, but it's fairly far and you'll hit harsh summer sun, so anyone planning to walk the center of the Strip daily should budget extra time or a short taxi or Uber. The second is price and hidden costs — rates here are firmly in luxury territory, and there's a daily resort fee added on as is the Vegas custom, so the per-night total runs noticeably higher than the starting price; pull up the full total when you book. The third is the sheer size of the resort — it's so large that getting from your room to the lobby, the restaurants or the pool means a long walk through casino floor that's smoky in some zones. Some reviews say the first few days left them lost and worn out by the distances inside; studying a rough floor plan or asking staff helps a lot.

Our take

From working through a lot of real reviews, Wynn Las Vegas is a resort that sells beautiful, tasteful design, relaxed luxury and Five-Star service with full confidence. The point reviewers agree on most is the garden-like interior, a world apart from the loud casinos elsewhere on the Strip, and staff service so attentive and polite that many guests come back to stay again. If the trip in your head is waking up in a big luxurious room, heading out for a morning round of golf, soaking in the spa, swimming by a cabana, then closing the night with a steak dinner beside the Lake of Dreams and its light show, all with service looking after your every step, this is the most well-rounded luxury version of Vegas. But if the heart of your trip is walking the central Strip landmarks every day on a budget, the far-north location and luxury rates may not be the nimblest choice. Overall we give it 9.0/10 — best for couples, luxury travelers and business guests who want luxury, beauty and top-tier service more than a central location and a low price.