Pets Welcomed in Las Vegas: Furiendly Hotels on the Strip

Time was not too long ago when parents who wanted to play the odds had to leave their kids with their Etch-a-Sketches and Mr. Potato Head games in the car parked outside the casino for an hour. Then later came the 1990s and a casino resort called MGM Grand created the consummate amusement park in its back lot and Las Vegas was soon seen as a re-fangled paradise for families

Today, the city of neon come-ons in mega-towers of glass and steel and cement is welcoming a new customer: dogs. And while it won’t be roller coasters that keep these canines happy, there are bright red fire hydrants, myriad patches of grass and greenery, and pampering packages galore to interest Fido and folks, ensuring pet-loving families do not miss a moment of Las Vegas-style fun.

Several hotels and resorts now warmly welcome dogs with some even accommodating cats. Here is a run-down of how to visit Las Vegas with a pet, places to stay, and what perks and services are available to keep the action rolling for all during a Las Vegas vacation.

Bellagio Las Vegas
As one of the original luxury hotels on the Strip, the Bellagio Las Vegas is also dog-friendly. They allow one or two dogs with a combined weight of less than 100 pounds for a fee of $150 per dog per night ($200 per dog per night for suites). Pet relief areas are conveniently located around the exterior of the hotel, and specific pet-friendly rooms must be reserved in advance. As with other MGM Resort properties, dogs cannot be left alone in the room unless crated and must be on a leash when they are walked. Health code regulations mean that, except for service dogs, pets are not allowed in most public areas, including the pool areas, except as passing through. Dog sitters are at the ready, reserved through the hotel concierge.

Caesars Palace and Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts
Caesars Palace and several other Caesars Entertainment resorts in Las Vegas, including Paris Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Resort, The Cromwell, The Horseshow, The LINQ, and The Flamingo, offer PetStay rooms. That means the properties provide in-room food mats, pee pads, waste bags, treats, and doggy dishes for guests traveling with dogs. Each hotel has at least one outdoor pet relief area, and pet-sitting services can be arranged. Up to two dogs are allowed per room and the dogs cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each. Not unlike other properties on the Strip, dogs must be crated if left alone in the room and these items can usually be rented from the front desk for a fee (dogs that make too much noise may be removed and taken to an offsite kennel at the owner’s expense).

PetStay rooms are priced higher than regular rooms, usually between $25 and $100 more per night, and an additional $100 damage deposit is required. Dogs are allowed to walk on leash through designated common areas with their owners or handlers. At the standard 4 pm check-in time at Caesars Entertainment hotels, guests with dogs receive welcome packets with maps to outdoor relief areas, dog walking routes, and nearby dog services such as grooming and veterinary care.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, known for its chic and sophisticated tone, keeps the cool youth vibe going with an upbeat welcome to four-legged guests. Pet owners can bring up to two dogs of any size or breed. Every room is a “dog-friendly” room at the Cosmopolitan. Owners need to show proof of current vaccinations and are checked in with a nightly charge of $100 plus tax per dog, but that buys some extras: specifically, Pupjoy gift boxes that include artisan-quality treats, an Eco-friendly toy, a collapsible water bowl to keep and a pee pad. Dogs also get access to two outdoor dog runs, including one adjacent to The Chelsea Pool.

However, unless they are certified service animals, dogs cannot visit food and beverage areas, the casino floor, or gaming areas, and are not allowed in the pool or fitness center areas. And they must be crated when in the room alone. But the hotel also makes it possible for pet parents to have their fun while Fido does too with an exclusive daycare rate at nearby Luxe Pet Hotels, a luxury pet boarding concession for premier day care and pet amenities. Those include outdoor runs, shaded cabanas and splash pads, and an expansive climate-controlled obstacle play area. A friends & family rate of $65 is available through The Cosmopolitan and features a full day of daycare (pet check-in begins at 8 am), plus pet pick-up and drop-off to and from the hotel.

Delano Las Vegas
As a non-smoking, all-suite luxury hotel, the Delano Las Vegas not only allows dogs but welcomes them with open arms. Up to two dogs with a maximum combined weight of less than 100 pounds are permitted for a fee of $150 per dog per night. Dogs cannot be left alone in guest rooms unless they are in a crate. The hotel provides an outdoor pet relief and play area, as well as doggy amenity kits and a special doggy room-service menu. For those owners waiting to check in and grab a quick cocktail, the hotel offers a quick pre-check-in petting-sitting service: for 10 minutes for $25. Regular dog-walking services are also available through the concierge. The hotel offers a Buddy’s Box with toys, treats, and a buddy bandana for $40.

Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Located within the Mandalay Bay Resort, the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas offers a luxurious, gaming-free oasis in the heart of the Strip. This dog- and cat-friendly establishment welcomes pets up to 25 pounds, with a per-pet, per-night fee of $75. The hotel provides pet beds, bowls, and a separate pet room service menu. However, pets may not be left in the room unattended, so guests are asked to contact the concierge to arrange professional pet-sitting services.

NoMad Las Vegas
Set within the Park MGM complex, NoMad Las Vegas brings an elegant and sophisticated retreat with a European flair, and it also happens to be a dog-friendly hotel. Guests can bring up to two dogs with a maximum combined weight of 100 pounds, and there is no surcharge or fee for furry companions. Pets must be crated when left in the room alone.

Park MGM is also dog-friendly and allows up to two dogs with a combined maximum weight of 100 pounds, as well, but for $100 to $150 per night per room.

One of the notable features of NoMad Las Vegas is its designated outdoor pet relief area, providing a convenient space for dogs to take care of their business – maps to this spot are available upon check-in from the concierge. Moreover, the hotel ensures that pets are treated with care and attention by offering dog treats and food that can be ordered from a special room service menu catering to the dietary needs of dogs. And, of course, A Buddy’s Box is available from the Front Desk with treats, toys, and a bandana for $29.99.

Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas
The Vdara Hotel & Spa was initially built as a quasi-residential property with kitchens and dining areas within the accommodations. Today it stands out as the only hotel on the Las Vegas Strip with its 24-hour doggy park – a manicured green space with grass, bushes, and that all-too-popular fake fire hydrant. This non-smoking, all-suite hotel offers dog-friendly Vdog suites, which must be reserved in advance. Guests can bring up to two dogs with a combined weight of up to 100 pounds for a fee of $150-$200 per night per dog. The hotel also provides amenity bags, a special doggy room-service menu, and access to the Vdara dog park.

… And More
While several other properties also allow dogs and even, at times, cats: Golden Nugget, Platinum. Luxor, Excalibur, Mirage, The English, Virgin, and many others on and around the central byway of Las Vegas Boulevard, the hotels listed above are the top Las Vegas Strip properties to consider when looking to travel with a pet. Visitors must remember that sidewalks heat up in summer to egg-frying temperatures and dogs left in cars can quickly expire in the desert heat, even in the shade. Similarly, the crowded casinos, resort lobbies and the crush to be expected on pedestrian paths along the Strip can be menacing for four-footed creatures,

Still, Las Vegas is a dog-friendly city with plenty of parks and greenspace surrounding the Strip and, in the right seasons, sensational places to hike. Pet policies and perks change frequently in Las Vegas so it is always advised to check before booking and know the pros and cons before arriving. Bringing a pet to Las Vegas does not have to be a roll of the dice, and, with an understanding of the landscape, a Las Vegas vacation with Fido can, indeed, be a “paws” worth taking.