Las Vegas Resorts Score Big on US News & World Report’s 2018 Best Hotels List

Posted on: February 6, 2018, 06:00h. 

Last updated on: February 6, 2018, 04:39h.

Casino.org Staff Writer Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Eleven Las Vegas resorts received “Gold Badges” in US News & World Report’s 2018 Best Hotels list, making it one of the best cities in the country for hospitality destinations.

Las Vegas casino resort rankings
Though you won’t find a casino floor, no Las Vegas resort is finer than the Mandarin Oriental, so says US News & World Report. (Image: Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas)

The distinction means these properties placed in the top 10 percent of the 2,194 hotels that scored high enough to be included in the rankings.

US News & World Report analyzed more than 24,000 luxury hotels (4-star and higher) in more than 200 destinations, compiling its rankings based on expert and guest opinions.

New York City had the most Gold Badge destinations, with 24. But Las Vegas and Los Angeles were the next two best hotel cities, with 11 Gold Badges each. Washington, DC, followed behind them with 10.

Of the eleven ranked Las Vegas hotels, the casino-less but ultra-chic Mandarin Oriental once again took top billing, coming in at No. 9 in the US, up three spots from its 2017 ranking. The other top finishers are listed below:

Best Hotels in America
Las Vegas

9. Mandarin Oriental
42. Aria Sky Suites
55. Cosmpolitan
56. Encore
58. Wynn
75. Skylofts at MGM Grand
92. Four Seasons
94. Bellagio
95. Aria
166. Palazzo
167. Venetian

As for the top hotels in the United States, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii dethroned Chicago’s Langham, which fell to No. 3. The Peninsula Chicago came in second, Twin Farms in Vermont fourth, and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii, rounding out the top five.

Strip Resorts Lauded

In addition to Las Vegas putting 11 Gold Badge hotels on the coveted list, Trump International, Delano Las Vegas, and Red Rock Resort all earned Silver Badge recognitions.

With five Gold Badge-affiliated properties, MGM Resorts is the most decorated Las Vegas casino operator. Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands both have two. Caesars garnered no gold or silver badges, and Caesars Palace, the company’s marquee resort, is ranked the 40th-best casino in the United States.

No casino hotel outside of Las Vegas received the Gold Badge honor. However, plenty of gambling destinations across the US ranked on the 2018 Best Hotels list.

Casino Rankings Elsewhere

Las Vegas isn’t for everyone, and luckily for gamblers who want to avoid the Mojave Desert, highly desirable casino resorts can be found from the Atlantic to the Pacific.    

The highest-ranked casino not in Nevada is the French Lick Casino Resort’s West Baden Springs Hotel in southern Indiana. It ranks ninth as the best hotel with a casino in the country.

Next is Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun (#10 in the nationwide casino hotel category), followed by MGM Grand Detroit (#13) and Nemacolin Woodlands in Pennsylvania (#14).

As for Atlantic City, it’s top-ranked casino hotel is the Borgata, which US News ranks as the 17th-best gambling property in America. No other Atlantic City venue ranked inside the top 50 casinos.

Missouri’s Ameristar St. Charles ranks #18 in terms of casino hotels, Harrah’s New Orleans is next at #19, and the Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson rounds out the top 20.