We’ll be honest, when the Park MGM used to be Monte Carlo, we had never thought to stay there. In fact, we’ve never actually stepped foot inside the Monte Carlo.
When the Monte Carlo transformed into Park MGM in 2018, we were drawn in and immediately hooked by the photos of the hotel. This Palm Springs-like hotel with its sage green theme was so my vibe. After the property received its much-needed facelift, Park MGM shot up on our list of budget-friendly hotels to stay in on the Strip.
Since then, we’ve stayed at Park MGM way more than a few times and have continued to recommend it to the people we know IRL (in real life). It’s so affordable, quiet and clean, centrally located, and packed with trendy, low-key eateries — what’s not to love?
Needless to say, we love Park MGM. Here are all of the reasons why Park MGM should be on your radar if you’re looking for an affordable stay on the Las Vegas Strip.
1. The price is so right, especially for budget-minded travelers.
Rooms at Park MGM start at $59/night, which is not bad at all when you consider the fact that nearby hotels with a similar atmosphere (like ARIA or The Cosmopolitan) start in the $150-200 range.
You could go cheaper and stay further south on the Strip (New York-New York, Excalibur, Luxor), but the entire atmosphere of your stay will change at that point — the properties are older, less centrally located, the rooms are dingier, etc.
Park MGM sits in that sweet spot that gives you the best of both worlds: value and upper-middle-class sophistication. It’s hard to find another hotel that fits this criteria!
Unfortunately, you’ll have to tack on that pesky resort fee to your nightly total, but given that most hotels on the Strip charge some sort of resort fee too, Park MGM will still be lots cheaper than many other hotels you’ll find on the Strip.
2. The entire property has a smoke-free policy.
If you’ve ever been to Vegas as a kid, you might be familiar with the headaches you get just from standing around in the casino area. For me, I always got these headaches while standing in line for the buffets.
Even as an adult, this is one of the major reasons why many Vegas Strip hotels gross me out.
As non-smokers, we love that Park MGM is an eco-friendly and smoke-free hotel! No matter the time of day, when you walk into the Park MGM, you get whiffs of a clean and sweet fragrance. The scent actually makes you feel good about coming back to your hotel.
You might be considering other nearby hotels like MGM Grand, New York-New York, Planet Hollywood — but none of them have a smoke-free policy!
If you’re sensitive to smoke or traveling with kids and wanna avoid that secondhand smoke effect, this might be the reason that tips you over to Team Park MGM.
I don’t know how Park MGM keeps their room rates so low, but despite being priced similar to its sister hotels Luxor, Excalibur, and New York New York, the rooms feel leagues nicer.
3. The rooms are pretty nice, despite the affordable room rates.
Personally, I love how unique Park MGM’s look is. It’s retro, modern, and effortless.
I can’t quite describe it in words, but each room is thoughtfully curated to evoke the feel of staying in a friend’s retro yet meticulously curated New York City apartment. The hotel features two main room themes: some rooms have a lively bright red color scheme, while other rooms embrace a more calming atmosphere with a dark forest green palette.
The hotel features over 2,700 guest rooms and suites, all of which are beautifully decorated with unique wall art and eclectic room decor.
Within the rooms, you can expect tasteful yet simple amenities like a sitting nook by the window, comfy bedding, Bluetooth capability, and cute bathrooms that come with colored tiling that match the room’s color scheme.
Sure, you can tell that the rooms were renovated at some point, but I think it adds to the charm of the rooms.
4. There are some really cool low-key dining options here.
Park MGM is great for people who don’t want or care to be seen at the hottest /trendiest restaurants.
While you won’t find high-end dining such as Carbone, Peter Luger Steakhouse, or Joël Robuchon here, you will find a ton of more affordable casual restaurants like Best Friend (by celeb chef Roy Choi), The Chef Truck (yes, like from the movie, Chef!)and all the Italian goodness that Eataly offers.
Even their popular breakfast/brunch restaurant is low-key. Primrose, a charming café inspired by the South of France, offers a relaxed atmosphere with garden-like seating — no need to come dressed up whatsoever.
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar is as fancy as it gets, and even still, you don’t need to show up dressed to the nines.
5. Being so centrally located means you can see more on foot.
Don’t you love it when you don’t have to rely on taxis or rideshare services to get around?
Park MGM is situated at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Park Avenue, just across the street from the T-Mobile Arena and The Park Plaza. If you happen to be catching a show or a game at this venue, this is the most ideal hotel to base yourself out of.
Park MGM is also within walking distance of other popular hotels/attractions like Showcase Mall, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Bellagio and its glorious Bellagio Fountains, Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops, and the High Roller Observation Wheel.
What also helps is the fact that the property really isn’t all that big. You can get from your hotel room out to the front door (or to the self-park area) in less than three minutes, which is tremendously better than at other hotels on the Strip.
Instead of spending your time trying to orient yourself in a massive maze-like resort property, everything at the Park is super straightforward and easy to find, which we love!
If you’re looking to be in the middle of all the action and save money while doing it, Park MGM is the perfect home base for exploring all that Las Vegas Center Strip has to offer.
Park MGM: What We Love About This Hotel
- The hotel’s location is right in the middle of the Strip
- Tasteful colors and use of marble throughout the hotel give off a sense of effortless sophistication
- The hotel appeals to younger crowds (it’s less about opulence and more about trendy and retro upscaleness)
- The hotel is compact, which makes getting to and from your hotel room super straightforward and not a whole ordeal
- The pool area is so darn cute and reminds us of Palm Springs. If mint green and white stripes are your vibe, then you’re really going to love the pools at Park MGM!
- Multiple highly rated dining spots that won’t leave you broke
- Access to Eataly doesn’t get better than this (Eataly is perfect for any meal of the day, including coffee runs)
- Easy access to Dolby Live, The Park, MGM Grand, Bellagio, NYNY
- Easy access to affordable convenient stores like ABC Store, CVS, City Target, Marshall’s, and other shops
Park MGM: What We Don’t Love About This Hotel
- Rooms are on the smaller side compared to other hotels in the area
- Hotel charges for parking, even for hotel guests (sadly, this applies to all MGM Resorts properties)
- There’s a daily resort fee (which is common for most hotels on the Strip)
- No coffee machine or refrigerator in-room (which is common for most hotels on the Strip)
- There are no recurring shows that take place here (but you can easily go to nearby hotels for them)
- There are no nightclubs or pool parties here — you’ll need to go to another hotel for those
Park MGM: Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the popular restaurants at Park MGM?
Primrose, the cute little onsite French brasserie is a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant features a bright and airy dining room with a charming outdoor patio, and the menu includes classic French dishes like escargot, steak frites, and coq au vin.
Then there’s Roy Choi’s Best Friend, featuring a family-style menu of Korean-inspired dishes, including kimchi fried rice, spicy pork belly, and Korean-style fried chicken. This restaurant’s so fun because it’s decorated as if you’re dining in a convenience store.
And of course, there’s the massive section of the hotel that makes up Eataly! Within Eataly, there are about 4-5 places to grab food including a restaurant that specializes in pasta and other classic dishes, a pizza stand, a sandwich counter, and a counter that specializes in seafood dishes. No matter the time of day, you can always stop by Eataly for a scoop of ice cream or a glass of wine. Or perhaps an aperol spritz!
Other great eateries include Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar, your classic steakhouse option, and La La Noodle, serving up all kinds of noodle dishes, dumplings, and other classic Asian dishes.
And lastly, for some of the best fried chicken that Southern California has to offer, head next door to The Crack Shack. Their fried chicken sandwiches are amazing because they’re made with chicken thigh instead of chicken breast, making the sandwiches super-duper tender and juicy til the last bite!
Is there a buffet at Park MGM?
No, there is no buffet at Park MGM. While there is no buffet on the Park MGM property, you can easily head over to the Buffet at the Bellagio, which is decently rated and does the job. This buffet is located directly across the street from Park MGM. For an even better buffet, you can check out this guide to the best buffets in Las Vegas.
Is there a difference between MGM and Park MGM?
Yes, there’s a major difference between MGM Grand and Park MGM. While both are part of the MGM Resorts family, they are two completely separate hotels located across from one another. MGM Grand is a mega-resort and an entertainment hotspot while Park MGM is smaller, more relaxed, and chic.
MGM Grand is known for its grand scale as an entertainment complex, featuring iconic shows like KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, Jabbawockeez, and its massive concert venue, the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It’s also home to loads of top-notch restaurants that have defined the Las Vegas dining scene for decades. You can discover everything you can do at MGM Grand here.
In contrast, Park MGM offers a more intimate, quiet, and boutique-like atmosphere. It is home to the unique NoMad Las Vegas, the stylish On The Record speakeasy and club, and hosts concerts at the Dolby Live Theater, known for residencies by major artists. Here’s everything you can do at Park MGM.
Are the rooms at Park MGM big?
The rooms at Park MGM are on the smaller side, at least for Las Vegas standards. For reference, the standard rooms at Park MGM are 406 ft², whereas at MGM Grand (across the street), they are 446 ft². At Bellagio (the next hotel over) the standard rooms are 510 ft² and at The Palazzo (my go-to hotel for bigger groups), the standard rooms are a whopping 720 ft².
If I know I’ll be traveling solo or as a couple, Park MGM is my go-to.
However, if I’m traveling with a larger group and we intend to share rooms to save on lodging costs, I go for other hotels on the Strip.
If you’re a family of 4+, Park MGM is a decent choice, but I could see other hotels being a better fit for you, such as MGM Grand (they have a great pool complex with lazy river and all) or The Palazzo (they have standard rooms that fit up to 6 people).
Does parking cost money at Park MGM?
Park MGM offers both valet and self-parking options for guests, but both options cost money.
For Hotel Guests: Public parking is available on-site and costs $18 per day. Your 24-hour parking fee provides you with in-out privileges within the same parking type (self or valet) across all MGM Resorts Las Vegas destinations within the same 24-hour period.
What that means: Your 24-hour paid parking fee will get you entry into ALL MGM Resorts properties, including Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, The Cosmo, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Delano Las Vegas, Park MGM, NoMad Las Vegas, New York-New York, Luxor, and Excalibur.
For Short Term Visitors: Parking will cost you $18-23/day regardless if you decide to park for 1 hour, 3 hours, or 24 hours. Similar to hotel guests, this all-day fee will give you in-out privileges at all the other MGM resorts too.
How To Get Free Parking: Nevada residents receive the first 3 hours of Self-Park at no charge. Self-parking is complimentary for MGM Rewards Members with current levels of Pearl, Gold, Platinum and NOIR. Self-parking is complimentary for current MGM Rewards Mastercard cardholders. MGM Resorts also offers free self-parking to active duty military, veterans, and their spouses through its Military & Veterans Program (MVP).
Other Posts You May Like Like
9 Places To Eat For Dinner And A Show In Las Vegas
25 Unique And Off The Beaten Path Activities In Las Vegas
28 Unique And Totally Free Things To Do In Vegas
25 Totally Fun And Immersive Things To Do In Las Vegas
40 Fun Activities In Las Vegas For Seniors
