Staying In Las Vegas’ Infamous Luxor Resort: A Personal Experience
Las Vegas is known for its extravagant resorts and unique themes, and the Luxor is no exception. Yet, it’s infamous for its declining reputation over the years. In this blog, I’ll share my firsthand experience of staying at the Luxor, exploring its history, room quality, amenities, and overall value.
Early Concepts & Resort History
Since its opening in 1993, the Luxor has stood as a literal beacon of light along the Las Vegas Strip. Built by Circus Circus Enterprises, this nearly $400 million project aimed to create a family-friendly resort with a highly themed Egyptian motif. The Luxor's pyramid, towering at 357 feet, became the 12th largest man-made pyramid in the world. Initially, it garnered excitement and admiration, but over the years, it has seen better days.
Once a popular destination, the Luxor has now become a staple of jokes and warnings about places to avoid in Vegas. On my first trip, driven by curiosity, I decided to book a suite and see what all the fuss was about. Surely, it couldn't be that bad, right?
Room/Suite Tour
Upon arrival, I was greeted by an advertisement covering the eastern face of the pyramid — a giant Doritos ad, which felt like an odd introduction to the Egyptian-themed resort. We were assigned a Pyramid Elite Suite on the 29th floor, just below the apex. The elevators, known as inclinators, travel at a slant and offer a rather unsettling experience due to their rattling and vibrations.
The suite itself was spacious, featuring a guest bathroom, a wet bar with a gold and black sink, and a living room equipped with a dining set and a large L-shaped couch. The bedroom was equally generous in size, boasting a king bed and another TV. However, the decor felt generic and lacked any strong connection to the Egyptian theme, aside from a genie lamp faucet in the bathroom — a remnant from the original fixtures.
Upon closer inspection, the suite showed signs of wear and tear. The overall cleanliness was concerning, with filthy air conditioning units and a couch that appeared to have survived better days. The living room air conditioning was faulty, blasting hot air despite my attempts to cool it down. The bedroom AC worked, but the lingering smell of cigarette smoke was hard to ignore, even in a supposedly non-smoking room.
As for the view, it was obstructed by the massive MGM bet scrim, significantly reducing natural light. I woke up the next day uncertain if it was day or night. While the suite was passable, it certainly didn't live up to the expectations one might have for a hotel named Luxor.
Resort Amenities
The Luxor offers a range of amenities, but the quality leaves much to be desired. Walking through the resort, you encounter a dimly lit casino floor that looks much like any other on the Strip. Surrounding it are several restaurants, including Public House, Pyramid Café, and two Starbucks located unusually close to each other.
There’s also an Esports arena and a buffet tucked away in the basement. The open areas around the casino felt claustrophobic, with low ceilings and large Egyptian statues. The second level of the atrium features entertainment options, including live shows like the Blue Man Group and a variety of exhibits.
Titanic Museum
One of the highlights of my visit was the Titanic artifact exhibition. The display includes the infamous big piece, a massive section of the Titanic's hull, along with numerous authentic artifacts from the shipwreck. While I found it fascinating, the setting felt inappropriate for such a significant historical event, surrounded by a casino and campy attractions. The $70 entrance fee for two seemed worth it for the experience, but the ethics of commodifying such tragedy lingered in my mind.
Other Amenities
Beyond the Titanic exhibit, there were additional attractions, including a Mexican bar and an O2 Vitality bar, which felt more like pseudoscience nonsense than a legitimate wellness option. The food court had mixed reviews, and my experience at Bonano New York Pizzeria was less than satisfying. I paid an outrageous $29 for a subpar meal.
Shopping options were available, as the Luxor is connected to the Shops at Mandalay Bay, which offer a more premium shopping experience. However, the opposite side of the building led to the Excalibur Resort, which appeared to be in worse shape, filled with tacky shops that weren't worth the time.
What Has Been Lost & De-theming
Sadly, the Luxor has lost much of its original charm and theming over the years. Initially, the resort featured a highly themed indoor experience, complete with a boat ride and a simulator. However, by 1996, the boat ride was removed, and the simulator followed suit in 2004. Plans for expansion with Egyptian-style lodging buildings never materialized, replaced instead by two black glass towers.
The resort's former grandeur has diminished significantly, making it feel tired and dated. The once-vibrant atmosphere has been replaced by a bland and generic feel, leaving many aspects of the original vision lost to time.
What We Paid & Alternatives
Despite my complaints about the condition of the hotel, I must admit that the price was reasonable. We paid just $164 for the suite, which is quite affordable for Las Vegas. While the value is decent, the overall experience reflects the price point. The cheapest standard king bedroom can be found for around $62 a night, which is incredibly cheap but comes with its own set of drawbacks.
For those seeking a better experience, I would recommend considering other nearby hotels. The Flamingo and The Link offer better locations and room quality for a similar price. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Virgin Hotel and Park MGM are also great options.
Score: Is It Any Good?
To sum it up, I evaluated the Luxor using a scoring system based on five categories:
- Location: 5/10 - While it's on the Strip, it's far from the center.
- Amenities: 4/10 - Plenty on paper, but low-quality experiences.
- Luxury: 3/10 - The rooms need updating and cleaning.
- Service: 4/10 - Average service, not exceptional.
- Value: 6/10 - Affordable rates, but you get what you pay for.
This brings the total score to 22 out of 50, making the Luxor one of the lowest-rated hotels I have encountered. Overall, I wouldn’t choose to stay here again, as there are far better options available. If you're planning a trip to Vegas, it's essential to prioritize the quality of the resort over the price per night.
Final Thoughts
My stay at the Luxor was certainly an experience, though not one I would like to repeat. While it was interesting to see the once-grand resort, the decline in quality and atmosphere made it less appealing. If you find yourself in Las Vegas, consider exploring other accommodations that offer a better combination of price and quality. There’s much to see and do, and a comfortable place to stay can enhance your experience significantly!
