MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is a flagship MGM property. The resort opened in 1993 as one of three hotel casinos ushering in a new era in Las Vegas. The Mirage opened in 1989 and the Excalibur in 1990, with each property seeking to outdo the previous one in size and glamour, a trend that has continued for over 30 years.
When MGM Grand opened in 1993, it boasted the largest hotel in the world (over 5000 rooms) and the largest casino floor (171,500 square feet). The original theme was The Wizard of Oz, with replicas of the main characters at the entrance and a theme park in the back. The Wizard of Oz theme was replaced a few years later and the theme park eventually replaced with The Signature at MGM, three condominium towers. As an MGM property, staying at MGM Grand can earn points with an MGM Rewards card for discounted hotel rates, cash bonuses and other awards. We have stayed there several times.
MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino – The Location
MGM Grand has a great location on the Las Vegas strip. It is the closest major casino to Harry Reid Airport now that the Tropicana has closed. It is also close to T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium via a pedestrian bridge to New York New York and then to Excalibur (for Allegiant). Excalibur has a tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. MGM Grand is the endpoint of the Las Vegas Monorail that goes 3.9 miles to Sahara. From New York New York it is a short walk to Park MGM, the endpoint of the Aria Express Tram that goes to Bellagio.
You can get to a large number of hotels and attractions without needing Uber, Lyft or a taxi. In addition to restaurants and attractions inside the MGM Grand, all of the New York New York and Park MGM venues are just a short walk away. The Park Las Vegas is an outdoor dining and entertainment district between New York New York and Park MGM similar to the Linq Promenade. Beerhaus at The Park is an excellent place for craft beers and sausages, and is packed before Golden Knights games.
Amenities
Rooms at MGM Grand are pretty standard for Las Vegas. Rooms are clean, shower pressure is good and room sizes are adequate. Pricewise, MGM Grand is one of MGM’s mid-tier hotels. Prices are typically lower than high end properties like Bellagio and Aria, but higher than New York New York, Excalibur and Luxor. My biggest complaint (which is the same at almost every Las Vegas hotel) is that the mini fridge is reserved for products for sale. There is no place to keep leftovers or beverages cold other than the ice bucket.
The “Grand Pool Complex” pool area at MGM Grand is spectacular. There are four pools on 6.5 acres. The highlight is an endless lazy river where you can rent an inner tube and float down the river or just walk it and get some exercise to work off last night’s partying. The lazy river itself is an endless party, with people hanging on the sides and sometimes offering shots or beers to passers by. The fitness center is very small for a resort this size. The pickup spot for Uber and Lyft riders is inconvenient. It is a long walk through the “Underground” section of the hotel.
Restaurants, Entertainment & Gaming
MGM Grand has many dining and entertainment options like all large Las Vegas resorts. See the dining options at Dining. We have been to TAPS Sports Bar several times, which is a great place to have a beer and a burger and watch sports on several very large screens. Major entertainment options are listed at Entertainment, including Cirque du Soleil, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, David Copperfield and more. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club is a bit pricey for a comedy show. We prefer Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The Linq Promenade. Other nightlife options are listed at Nightlife. Finally, Topgolf is located adjacent to the resort.
As for gaming options, the casino is very large at 175,100 square feet and has all the standard games. We could not find any Blackjack or Craps tables under $15 and most are $25 or higher. Card counters beware, as many Blackjack tables have automatic shufflers and/or 6 to 5 blackjack payouts. MGM does have a very good poker room with many $1-$2 blind no limit hold-em tables. The staff is friendly as well as most players, especially on weekend nights. This is our favorite Las Vegas poker room.
MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino – The Bottom Line
We like the MGM Grand as a place to stay in Las Vegas. It is a great location and the pool area is unbeatable if you go during pool season. However, the venue is large and can be hard to navigate and overwhelming for some. If you are looking for luxury, there are a number of higher end Las Vegas hotels. But overall MGM Grand is a great place.
See our review of New York New York Hotel & Casino Review in Las Vegas at New York New York.
