To the point
Featuring impressive architecture adorned with a beam of light that pierces the night sky, Luxor was one of the pioneers that helped shape the landscape of mega-resorts in Las Vegas. Here's my review of this hotel, which has already been in operation for 30 years.
Luxor Las Vegas - Location and access
The Luxor is one of the Strip’s closest hotels to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, just 7 km from Terminal 3 serving Air Canada and WestJet. The cab fare from the airport to the hotel takes around 15 minutes and costs around 25 USD (excluding tip).
The Luxor pyramid is surrounded by four separate entrances, one on each side of the pyramid. The original 30-storey hotel was inaugurated in 1993.
Two additional towers, each 22 storeys high, with extra rooms, were inaugurated in 1997.
Your first contact with Luxor will probably be the drop-off area, which will then lead you to the entrance hall.
To the east, a main drop-off area welcomes arrivals and departures by cab, as well as a free monorail station offering direct access to the Mandalay Bay hotels to the south and Excalibur to the north. The monorail is in operation every day from 10 am.
On the west side of the pyramid, ample parking is available for those who have a car to park during their stay. On both the north and south sides of the pyramid, indoor pedestrian walkways and shopping arcades provide easy access on foot to the Excalibur and Mandalay Bay hotels.
Along with the Mandalay Bay, the Luxor is the Strip’s closest hotel to Allegiant Stadium. So you’re just a 10-15 minute walk from the Las Vegas Raiders soccer games.
Luxor Las Vegas - Lobby and common areas
The Luxor has never been one of the city’s most luxurious hotels, and it’s with this in mind that a stay here should be considered. It’s a quality three-star hotel that nevertheless offers a unique experience in terms of architecture and attractions.
The interior atrium is simply breathtaking and well worth a visit. In comparison, the atrium of Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando seems modest compared to the vastness of the Luxor pyramid.
This is the main entrance hall and reception area:
For your essentials, a small convenience store is located just inside the entrance, next to the check-in counter in the lobby.
Since the hotel has around 4400 rooms, expect the check-in desk to be very busy most of the day.
If you plan to check in before the official 3 p.m. check-in time, please feel free to pay the extra 25 USD for this privilege. Believe me, this will be the best $25 investment of your entire stay.
To avoid long lines at the check-in counter, check in ahead of time with the hotel app on your phone and get your room key automatically.
Let’s make one thing clear: contrary to what some would have you believe, the hotel elevators are not an attraction in themselves. Although they climb the floors at an angle of 39 degrees, following the walls of the pyramid, this in itself is not very exciting, especially as there is no glass to observe the ascent.
Some say the hotel is haunted and the elevators seem to want to stop at random floors or to not work properly. I think this is a roundabout way of saying that the elevators simply need upgrading and renovating.
Once you’ve reached your floor, you’ll find that the view of the pyramid’s inner atrium from the corridors is even more impressive than that from the first floor.
Elevators are installed in each of the four corners of the pyramid. Depending on the floor of your room, you should always use the elevators located in the same corner of the pyramid.
Luxor Las Vegas - The room
Our room belongs to the category that is typically the least expensive, and is called the “pyramid room”. Tower rooms are located in the two adjacent 22-storey towers and are more luxurious.
Our room is about 420 square feet in area, and of course, its large window is sloped – the geometry of the pyramid obliges! If you’re unlucky enough to come across a rainy day in Las Vegas (it happens a few times!), the sight of water streaming down the glass is well worth it.
In the past, I’d occupied a similar room during a rainy day, and the spectacle quickly turned into water seepage that completely flooded part of the bedroom floor.
As with room 19133, which I stayed in, if you get a room with an east-facing view, you’ll have a never-before-seen view of the back of the Sphinx, the Strip (although less spectacular in this area) and the airport runways. If you’re an aviation fanatic, you’ll be well served, as take-offs and landings are non-stop!
Luxor Las Vegas - The casino
The Luxor‘s gaming floor is as ordinary as it gets for a casino of this kind in Las Vegas.
I didn’t spend much time there, but there’s a wide range of gaming options, including a large selection of slot machines, video poker and electronic table games. Traditional table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps and poker are available.
There’s a sports betting area, but also a poker room that always seemed very busy every time I passed it on my way to the elevator.
Luxor Las Vegas - Hotel attractions
Inside the pyramid, on the mezzanine level, are the hotel’s three main attractions:
- Titanic, The Artifact Exhibition:
The exhibition poignantly presents authentic artifacts recovered from the site of the sinking of the Titanic. Visitors have the unique opportunity to explore faithful reproductions of the ship’s cabins and common areas, while discovering the moving stories of passengers and crew.
- King Tut Exhibition:
The exhibition highlights authentic treasures discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb, some of which are on display for the first time outside Egypt. Visitors can admire artifacts, jewelry, ritual objects and more, while exploring the mysteries surrounding the life and death of this legendary pharaoh.
- Bodies Exhibit:
The exhibition features real anatomical specimens, offering a unique perspective on the complexity and beauty of the human body. Visitors can explore the muscular, circulatory and other vital systems through carefully preserved dissections.
Also on the mezzanine floor are two performance rooms, including one reserved for the Blue Man Group. I particularly enjoyed this show, which I found very surprising and full of funny moments, all without the three main characters uttering a single word, from start to finish. Please note that spectators in the front rows are invited to wear a poncho to avoid being splashed by “materials” used during the show. A must-see!
Luxor Las Vegas - Swimming pools and gym
The outdoor pool is overlooked by an elevated corridor that crosses it, linking the parking lot and the pyramid.
The spa and fitness room offer lockers and everything you need to stay in shape. The gym isn’t very big for a hotel with 4,400 rooms, but it wasn’t very busy when I visited.
The MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy members can now earn and redeem points at 16 MGM hotels on the Marriott Bonvoy website. Seven MGM hotels are categorized under the “MGM Collection” banner, including the Luxor.
Many flexible rewards programs also offer you the option of converting your points into an account credit and applying them to travel expenses charged to your card. Popular flexible programs include :
Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
Bottom Line
For the discerning traveler who deliberately chooses to stay at Luxor, the experience that awaits him or her will certainly not disappoint. The prices are excellent, the rooms are clean and the location on the Strip is not bad at all. On foot, just take the monorail and you’ll be dropped off at the corner of Tropicana Avenue in just a few minutes. From here, you can explore the Strip on foot to the north.
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