7/10The STRAT
Far north end of the Strip, the most northern hotel on the Strip7 min read
A basic, slightly dated room saved by an incredible observation deck and a 99-dollar all-in deal. I give it a 3.5.
Best for: Anyone doing a longer Vegas trip who wants the tower novelty, easy access to Fremont, and a cheap room they do not mind being a bit off the action.
David X Las Vegas earns a commission on bookings made through this link, at no extra cost to you. It never changes my honest take.
I checked into the Strat and tried the 20-dollar trick at the front desk first. Honest result, it did nothing. No upgrade, no better view, no food comp, no early check-in. They just took the money, said thank you, and that was it. Up in the room, I checked the view from the 20th floor and got mostly older houses and the highway, with Atomic Golf and the mountains off in the distance. Not my favorite.
There was a musty, smoky, stale air smell when I walked in, and the room is very basic with a dated look and really small pillows. But I did not write the place off, and there is a good reason why. Here is the honest version.
What I liked
- The observation deck was my favorite part. You go up over a thousand feet, the tickets are good all day so you can go up in daytime and at night, and it is only 10 dollars if you are staying here versus 27 if you are not
- The room has an air vent on the window that circulates fresh air, and the musty smell was gone after a few hours
- Decent casino floor that is more spread out than small, with 10 and 15 dollar table minimums and a really nice sportsbook with lots of big screens
- Cheap and a quick 10-dollar Lyft to Fremont, about 10 minutes, if that is the direction you are headed
What to know
- The location is far off. It is the most northern hotel on the Strip, so wandering the Strip at night means a long walk
- The room is very basic and a little outdated, with a musty smell on arrival and small pillows
- The pool area is very basic, one medium-ish pool
The room and the smell
Twentieth floor, basic and outdated room. The view was mostly older houses and the highway with Atomic Golf nearby. The bathroom is super basic with a single sink, a tub-shower combo, and oddly a toilet that looked newly replaced while everything else looked dated.
There was a musty, smoky, stale smell when I walked in that was honestly not pleasant. The good news is this room has an air vent you can open on the window to circulate air, and after a few hours the smell was gone. Some Vegas rooms do not have that, so it helped here. I had a decent sleep with no noise.
The tower, pool, and casino
Go up the tower. The viewing deck on level 109 is really cool, the tickets are good all day so you can do daytime and night, and they have binoculars that need quarters, so bring a few. It is a beautiful perspective where you can see downtown and the whole Strip. The night view is worth coming back up for.
The pool is medium-ish with lots of chairs, a bar, and a small casino out there so you can gamble poolside. The main casino is more spread out than small, with 10 and 15 dollar tables, a couple of 25s, and a really nice sportsbook. I ate pho at a place on property, it was good, not the greatest but not the worst, and I would recommend it if you are in the area.
What I paid
When I first looked it was going to be about 140 dollars on a Saturday, which is when Strip prices go up. I went back a week later and they were running a deal for 99 dollars all in, and that included the room, a 25-dollar food comp, and two admissions to the tower. If you value the food at 25 and the admission at 20, you are really getting the room for about 50 bucks, which is a steal on the Strip on a Saturday.
David's tip
If the room smells musty when you arrive, do not panic. Open the air vent on the window and it clears out within a few hours. And always check back on your dates, I caught a 99-dollar all-in deal that bundled a 25-dollar food comp and two tower tickets, which made the room basically 50 bucks.
Ready to book The STRAT?
Check live rates and packages, then decide for yourself.
David X Las Vegas earns a commission on bookings made through this link, at no extra cost to you. It never changes my honest take.
Frequently asked
How much does a room at the Strat cost?
I first saw it around 140 dollars for a Saturday, then a deal dropped it to 99 dollars all in, which included the room, a 25-dollar food comp, and two tower admissions. Counting the comp and tickets, the room was effectively about 50 dollars.
Is the Strat tower worth it?
Yes, it was my favorite part. The observation deck is over a thousand feet up, the ticket is good all day so you can go up in daytime and at night, and it is only 10 dollars if you are staying there versus 27 if you are not.
Keep planning your Vegas trip
More Strip reviews
Mid-range7/10Treasure Island (TI)
On the cusp of center and north Strip, near the Fashion Show Mall and the Forum Shops
A clean, decent-sized room in a great location, and a steal when you catch the promo. I give it a 3.5.
Mid-range6/10Harrah's
Center Strip, across from the Forum Shops and beside the LINQ Promenade
A cheap center-Strip base camp, but the room is tiny and there is not much to do on property. Three stars for me.
Budget6/10Excalibur
South Strip, across from New York New York and MGM Grand
Cheap bed on the Strip for around 80 dollars all in, but the room gets musty and there is not much to do. Three stars.