Las Vegas’ Non-Smoking, Non-Gaming Hotels Offer Modicum of Serenity on the Strip

For clients who appreciate the action on the Las Vegas Strip, but don’t necessarily want to be directly immersed in it, several non-smoking, non-gaming resort alternatives are ready to host them. Conveniently, however, these options are all directly adjacent to other properties that do offer the full spectrum of sins available in Sin City.

Vdara Hotel & Spa

Originally opened as a condotel just as the Great Recession was winding down in 2009, Vdara’s sleek, 57-story tower now operates as a dedicated hotel within MGM Resorts’ CityCenter campus. And although all of the 1,495 suites are equipped with kitchenettes and washer/dryer units, those features are secondary to the inherent, upscale charms of the property. Vdara gives off sophisticated, urban vibes, with all the conveniences that description implies. A full-service wellness spa is on property, along with a resort-style pool, business services center, fitness center, cafe and concierge. All suites feature king beds, sofa sleepers and a minimum of 500 sq. ft. of space, with the 250 corner-end suites – and their panoramic views – representing a particularly good value. Spa-style baths in all units feature a soaking tub and separate walk-in shower. The property’s super-fast elevators are mere steps from the front doors, making the journey from entrance-to-suite as short as 3 minutes, a welcome rarity at a Las Vegas Strip hotel. Seamless walking access to ARIA, right next door, provides a full gaming, dining and entertainment experience, while similarly easy access to the upscale Shops at Crystals offers guests over 50 elite brands plus a free tram to/from Bellagio. A small convenience store in the lobby expedites food, beverages and other items directly to suites via robot delivery.

W Las Vegas

Originally known as THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, this standalone tower once functioned primarily to host conference attendees at the adjacent, massive Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Next, in a 2014 rebrand, THEhotel became Delano, a chic, South Beach-meets-Southwest fusion that turned what was an unexciting convention property into an atmospheric boutique hotel. And yes, only in Las Vegas could a 1,117-suite property be considered “boutique.” Now, after yet another rebrand into W Las Vegas – Marriott’s luxury lifestyle brand – the sleek, white-on-white, all-suite room product fits nicely into both companies’ respective portfolios. Unfortunately, guest favorite Della’s, a farm-to-table, cozy eatery has closed, and parent MGM Resorts does not yet have a timeline for a replacement. Once inside the luxurious, tranquil oasis, guests can easily lose sight of the fact that they’re within Mandalay Bay’s bustling complex – although it’s literally steps away via an indoor corridor. Concurrent with the rebrand, Marriott Bonvoy members can now book stays and earn and redeem points at the W Las Vegas, which is now part of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy.

The Signature at MGM Grand

Although located just east of Las Vegas Boulevard, The Signature at MGM Grand’s three, 576-suite towers are connected via interior walkways to the MGM Grand, thus technically qualifying them as Strip properties. Built on land previously used by the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park – a brief but unsuccessful flirtation with Las Vegas’ disastrous, family-friendly marketing push in the ‘90s – The Signature’s condo-hotel business model was established just prior to the 2007-2009 Great Recession, thereby enabling its success. The all-suite property features units ranging from 550 sq. ft. to 900 sq. ft., all with full kitchenettes, dedicated sitting area, whirlpool spa tub and dual-sink vanities. Most units also feature private balconies. Bedrooms are furnished with only king-sized beds, but suites can accommodate up to four persons with a queen-size sofa bed. All three towers boast a low-key, quiet atmosphere with serene pool areas and valet-only parking. Fitness centers are available only in Towers 1 and 3. Guests reach the MGM Grand easily – in about 10 minutes – via interior, air-conditioned walkways. Dishware and cookware sets are available upon request.

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas

Nearly hidden in plain sight fronting the mid-Strip, CityCenter campus, the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas (formerly the Mandarin Oriental) may represent the world’s most low-key, 47-story luxury hotel and condo tower. For amid the flash of the nearby ARIA and Vdara’s gleaming glass and steel towers, the Shops at Crystals and the Strip’s visual and auditory excess, one could almost miss the Waldorf Astoria. But in the middle of all that commotion lies a luxurious hospitality product that beckons clients seeking an upscale, glamorous escape from the cacophony of the Strip, while being smack-dab in the middle of it. Making that juxtaposition possible is the venerable hotel brand’s business model of understated elegance, high-touch service and luxurious accommodations. Now on the tail end of a multi-year, multi-million dollar, property-wide renovation, the resort sparkles anew with a floor-to-ceiling redesign of all guest rooms and suites, updated meeting and event spaces, a new hotel bar, and a long-overdue relocation of the 23rd-floor lobby and front desk to the ground floor. And for an extra dose of relaxation, the 27,000-square-foot, two-story Waldorf Astoria Spa also features a yoga room, vitality pool and salon. But perhaps the property’s best-known feature is its 23rd-floor Tea Lounge, which offers a classic English afternoon tea with dramatic views of the Strip.