Why Vdara Might Be the Most Underrated Stay on the Strip

Why the casino-free, smoke-free resort keeps quietly winning me over

Nov 05, 2025

Let’s get this out of the way: I was not paid for this review.

No comps, no free nights, no fake “host invite.” I’ve stayed at Vdara over 30 times, paid my own way, and I keep coming back.

An average Studio room runs around $200 a night (give or take depending on the chaos of Vegas pricing). But here’s the real game: earn status. Use the MGM credit card, stack your points, hit Gold, and suddenly you’re skipping resort fees, landing comped nights, getting discounted rates, upgrades, and food & beverage credits. It’s not magic, it’s math, and anyone can do it.

Now, if you’ve never stayed here, your first thought’s probably: “Wait, isn’t that the one with no casino? Isn’t it kind of a business hotel?”

Yeah, it is. But also, not really.

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The Feel

Walk into Vdara and you’ll immediately notice what’s missing, slot machines, smoke clouds, and chaos. It’s weirdly peaceful. The air smells like an actual luxury spa (fun fact: it’s a custom scent blend of green fig, black currant, plum, jasmine, and sandalwood).

The vibe’s upscale, modern, and calm. You might miss the flashing lights for about 10 seconds… then realize how nice it is not to be bombarded by “BUFFALLLOOOOO!” every five minutes.

The Rooms

Vdara has 1,495 all-suite rooms, which already sets it apart from nearly every other property on the Strip. There are no basic “standard rooms” here; every stay comes with space to breathe and enough amenities to feel like a short-term apartment rather than a crash pad.

Every suite includes a mini fridge, kruig pod style coffee maker, microwave, and two-burner stovetop, which means you can actually use your leftovers instead of pretending cold nachos are still fine at 3 a.m. Move up a level and you’ll find full-size refrigerators, washer/dryer combos, dishwashers, and larger kitchens, something you’ll rarely see anywhere else in Vegas unless you’re in a high-end penthouse.

Room types range from the Studio Suite (about 582 sq. ft.), to the Studio Parlor and City Corner Suites (around 600–800 sq. ft.), up to the Panoramic and Executive Corner Suites that stretch close to 1,000 sq. ft. Some of the best have wraparound views of the Bellagio Fountains, Aria, and now even the Sphere, depending on your angle and luck.

Originally, every single one of these was supposed to be a privately owned condo-hotel unit, part of the grand CityCenter plan to let investors buy into luxury living while MGM handled rentals. Then the 2008 crash hit, sales froze, and MGM pivoted, turning Vdara into a full-service hotel. But here’s the cool part: some people still live there full-time.

That gives the place a very specific vibe, it doesn’t feel overdesigned or overly “themed.” It’s clean, modern, and quietly confident. You get the sense that someone could actually live here, not just stumble through it between pool parties.

In a city built on chaos, that’s the charm: Vdara feels less like a weekend fling and more like a comfortable long-term relationship in the middle of the Strip.

The Lobby & Lounge

The Market Café is solid for snacks or a quick breakfast, and Vice Versa Lounge is a low-key gem for cocktails and bites, especially on the outdoor patio when the weather is nice.

Pro tip: Ask for Todd, he makes a killer Old Fashioned.

There is a small market with usual high-priced items and some microwaved meals and things. Skip this, and honestly, skip CVS and ABC. You have to get to VDARA by car in some kind of way, whether it’s your own or an Uber from the airport. Order cases of water, liquor, beer, Cokes, and snacks from Total Wine for pickup and have Uber make a quick stop; it takes under 5 minutes. We usually throw a few bags of microwaved popcorn in our luggage as well. Use their amenities. We sometimes Instacart things in also.

Check-ins are a breeze. Kiosks and the app work flawlessly, and if you’re Gold or above, you have a shorter line (if there is one) to wait in; you usually get water and cookies handed to you like a VIP welcome-home. There is no airport-terminal style chaos like at some other MGM properties. (cough cough Bellagio)

The Pool

The pool’s not massive, but it’s calm, clean, and rarely overcrowded. There’s plenty of umbrella coverage, though the hotel’s reflective glass will cook you alive at certain hours, so plan your swim time wisely. I’d suggest the morning, and if it isn’t your vibe and you want some more action, you can use Aria’s pools with your VDARA room card.

Drinks and snacks are predictably overpriced, but I’ve never been hassled for bringing down a couple of cans from the room. I’m not cheap, I’m resourceful… lol

Location, Location, Location

Here’s the kicker: Vdara’s casino-free, but Aria is literally a 2-minute walk away, and Bellagio and Cosmo are connected via indoor walkways. You’re right in the center of it all, minus the madness. So, instead of trying to eat dinner or play at your hotel, you have access to all the restaurants, bars, and gaming at Bellagio and Cosmo without ever having to go outside in the heat. A quick two-minute walk outdoors also puts you inside both Aria and Park MGM, which are connected by an indoor walkway.

Here’s a quick rundown of my dining favs (all part of the MGM family, so charge to your room for points)

Cosmo: Zuma, China Pablano, Superfrico, Hattie B’s, Amaya

Bellagio: Mayfair Supper Club, Spago (brunch on the patio)

Aria: Din Tai Fung, Javier’s, Blossom

Park MGM: Bavette’s, Best Friend, LaLa Noodle

Need a ride? Uber and Lyft pickups are right out front, no wandering through parking garages or trying to find “Ride Share Bay 3.” You can literally finish your drink at the bar with Todd and walk outside to your driver.

History & Insider Notes

Vdara was part of the original CityCenter mega-project, a $9.2 billion collaboration between MGM Resorts and Dubai World, designed to redefine luxury on the Strip when it opened in 2009. The plan was to sell every unit as a condo-hotel suite, letting owners rent out their space through MGM’s program.

But as I mentioned, the 2008 financial crash hit, sales froze, and MGM converted the project into a full hotel. Some units remain privately owned and rented back through MGM today.

While Vdara doesn’t have the neon pull of Bellagio or the nightlife chaos of Cosmo, it quietly carved out its niche: a non-smoking, non-gaming sanctuary for people who want Vegas access without Vegas overload.

Final Take

Vdara isn’t going to win over everyone, and that’s the point.

If you need 24-hour blackjack tables, themed showrooms, and club anthems echoing through your hallway, this isn’t your spot, but that is down an A/C corridor.

If you want a clean, calm, modern stay in the heart of the Strip, somewhere you can actually breathe after a long night, then Vdara nails it, and this is coming from someone who was a die-hard fan of the off-strip Hard Rock.

And service, is luxury, they treat people well, are unobtrusive and you certainly dont have to worry about cheap upsells, i’ve never been asked for a fee to check in early, I’ve never had a reasonable request denied, and when we have had a few issues here and there they are aways addressed quckly, and to me, thats the mark of a great staff.

It’s the rare Vegas property that feels like a home base, not a circus tent.

-Jason