There was a time when getting a free night on the Las Vegas Strip was a tall task, if not impossible. But that's changed, and changed fast.
Thanks to partnerships between hotel chains and some of the Strip's most famous properties, you can use points from hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and Hilton to stay in Las Vegas.
I'll give you a rundown of the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip that can be booked with points, and just how exactly you can earn those points. And while that can save you some serious money on the notoriously spendy Strip, you'll still be on the hook for Las Vegas's notorious daily resort fees. These unavoidable fees can range from $20 to $50 each night.
Thanks to an exclusive partnership between Hyatt Hotels and MGM Resorts, it is possible to book all of the MGM owned hotels on the Las Vegas Strip with World of Hyatt points. And that includes one of the most famous properties on the Strip.
A gem in the MGM portfolio and jewel on the Strip, the Bellagio can be booked for 25,000 World of Hyatt points each night. As one of the more upscale properties in Las Vegas with its iconic water fountains, it isn't uncommon to pay $300 to $500 a night if paying cash. At 25,000 points, this is a great way to get a solid value of your World of Hyatt points.
Just for opening the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you will earn 25,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of opening the card and another 25,000 World of Hyatt points after spending a total of $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.
Click Here to learn more about the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
The MGM Grand is another great option if you want to save some points. It can be booked starting at 15,000 points per night.
And because the MGM Grand is considered a Hyatt category 4 hotel, you can also use the annual free night certificate offered by the World of Hyatt Credit Card for a free night stay.
One of my personal favorite properties on the Las Vegas Strip is Aria, adding some upscale luxury to the Strip. Another gem in the MGM portfolio, Aria can be booked for 25,000 World of Hyatt points each night.
Both the Palazzo & The Venetian are some of the nicest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. All of the rooms at both properties are considered suites, and a paid night at either property will easily run between $200 and $400 depending on the time of year and the events in town.
Thanks to their partnership with IHG Hotels, you can book a night at either property for 60,000 IHG Rewards points each night.
Just for opening the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, you will earn 80,000 IHG Rewards points after spending $2,000 within the first three months of opening the card and paying the $89 annual fee.
Click Here to learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card.
Another product of the Hyatt & MGM Hotels partnership is the Park MGM Las Vegas. Formerly the Monte Carlo, the Park MGM recently opened and is now the newest hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The property can be booked starting at 15,000 World of Hyatt points each night.
Because the Park MGM Las Vegas is considered a Hyatt category 4 hotel, you can also use the annual free night certificate offered by the World of Hyatt Credit Card for a free night stay.
In the fall of 2018, The Waldorf Astoria took over the famed Mandarin Oriental on the Las Vegas Strip. That means you can book one of the most luxurious properties on the Strip using points.
A cash night at the property will cost between $200 and $400 depending on the time of year and the events in town. Luckily, however, you can book a night at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas for only 80,000 Hilton points per night.
Hilton also makes it incredibly easy to pool points with fellow Honors members, making award stays even easier. You can combine points with up to 10 other members, with few restrictions on who qualifies.
There are plenty of options to pile up Hilton Honors points. The American Express Hilton Honors Ascend card is offering 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in three months. This card also comes with some great benefits like Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounges, automatic Hilton Gold status and more.
Click Here to learn more about the Hilton Honors Card from American Express.
Another option for those with a stash of World of Hyatt points is the New York-New York situated across the street from the MGM Grand on Las Vegas Boulevard. In my opinion, the New York-New York offers one of the most fun atmospheres of all the hotels on the Strip. A night here can be yours for 15,000 World of Hyatt points.
While the Tropicana isn't the newest or most exciting hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, it does have a great pool with an unbeatable location. It can also be booked for 50,000 Hilton Honors points a night.
The American Express Hilton Aspire card's $250 annual resort credit also applies to reservations at the Tropicana, which can easily cover a two to three-night stay. Hilton also makes it incredibly easy to pool points with fellow Honors members, making award stays even easier. You can combine points with up to 10 other members, with few restrictions on who qualifies.
If you have a stash of Marriott points to burn, the Cosmopolitan is worth a look. The category 6 hotel is located in a prime location on Las Vegas Boulevard and is the largest property in Marriott's Autograph Collection. A night at the property can be booked for 50,000 Marriott Rewards points.
Marriott Rewards points can be earned from a host of both American Express and Chase co-branded credit cards. Just make sure you understand the restrictions for opening them before you apply.
Located between Aria and the Bellagio is the Vdara. Another great value in the MGM portfolio of hotels it is one of the only hotels on the Strip that is smoke-free since it doesn't have a casino. A night at the property can be yours for only 20,000 World of Hyatt points. If gambling isn't your thing, the Vdara is a great option.
The Mirage is a classic on the Strip, with one of the best pools in Las Vegas and a great, central location. No matter what night you're heading there, you can stay at The Mirage for just 20,000 World of Hyatt points.
Located on the Southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard is the Mandalay Bay. It's another great property in the MGM portfolio that can be booked for 20,000 World of Hyatt points a night. The property is the home of the Michael Jackson ONE Cirque du Soleil show and one of the best pools on the Strip. While the location isn't the most convenient on the Strip, it's a great property and a steal at 20,000 points per night.
You may have noticed this list is dominated by Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG hotel points options. That's no accident.
Through a partnership with Wyndham hotels, it's technically possible to book hotels like Caesar's Palace and The Flamingo with Wyndham Rewards points. But after searching for availability, I wasn't able to find many dates that worked using Wyndham Rewards points. On top of that, earning points with the other hotel brands listed above is much easier as their co-branded credit card partnerships are stronger.
That's because there are more options to get those points for a free stay in Vegas. You earn points in these programs through the co-branded credit cards, but they are also all transfer partners of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This means you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG, Hyatt, and Marriott on a 1:1 transfer ratio (1 Chase point equals 1 hotel point) instantly.
And among these chains, Hyatt is our favorite. While we wouldn't necessarily recommend transfers to either IHG or Marriott, it can make sense if you are topping off your account for an award booking. This makes holding cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve solid options for those who want to save money on a Las Vegas hotel stay.
Not long ago, using points for hotel stays on the Las Vegas Strip was next to impossible. These days, some of the best spots on the Strip are bookable using points.. Additionally, Vegas can test whether you should use points or pay cash. While using points is great, cash prices in Vegas are often very low, especially on weekdays. Using points for a weekend stay in Las Vegas, on the other hand, could save you a boatload.