Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Review [2023]

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a recently opened hotel and casino resort near the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. Previously known as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas opened in 2021 after a lengthy renovation and is now part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. I stayed at this hotel in September 2023.

Booking My Stay at Virgin Las Vegas

I booked my trip for Labor Day weekend, so prices on the strip were higher than I wanted to spend. Virgin Hotels was offering a discounted prepaid AAA rate for my dates, so I decided to book my stay. I paid with my Hilton Aspire American Express card, which includes a $250 annual resort credit. I wasn’t expecting the prepaid rate to trigger it (based on reports at FlyerTalk) but I was pleasantly surprised that it was credited within a few days after the rate posting.

I booked the cheapest room option for two queen beds. Two days before check-in, we received a slight upgrade to a strip view room in the Opal Tower. The rate changed in the Hilton App before check-in by about $100, which caused some concern. I mentioned it at check-in and they I’ll be charged the correct rate and to not worry about it. Interesting – I haven’t experienced that before (they were right – I was charged the correct amount).

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas Location & Parking

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is located off the Strip, near the University of Nevada (UNLV), on the corner of E Paradise Rd and E Harmon Ave. It is just over a mile to Planet Hollywood at the Strip, and about two miles to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).

The location of this hotel is either a pro or a con… I personally didn’t mind being away from the Strip — it was a short Lyft ride away, and it was also super easy to get to the airport from the hotel. This area of Las Vegas is definitely quieter as well. The location isn’t the best if you’re looking for walkability to attractions on the Strip from your hotel. For reference, my Lyft ride from the hotel to the strip was $11.23 before tip, and $12.27 to the airport. Not bad at all!

Parking here is complimentary! In fact, both valet and self-parking are free. There are two parking garages – Ruby Tower (near the front entrance) and Paradise Self Parking (near Opal Tower and the event center).

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas Lobby & Check-In

I was really impressed with the hotel upon entering the lobby! You can really feel the “desert oasis” vibe walking in, which really set the tone for my stay.

While Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is part of Hilton, they do not let you check in digitally via the Hilton App, which meant I had to stop by the front desk to check in upon arrival. Fortunately, the line wasn’t long when I arrived and they do have an expedited line for Hilton Gold and Diamond members.

They went over the resort and what’s included with the resort fee at check-in, and provided vouchers for 2 for 1 drinks & free appetizer with 2 dinner entrees at Commons Club.

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas 2 Queen Room (Opal Tower)

In various Google and Reddit reviews, multiple people recommended avoiding the Opal Tower, if possible. The main reason, according to the reviews, is due to the distance from the main lobby. I personally didn’t mind and wouldn’t have any issue staying in the Opal Tower again. There is a coffee shop (called Funny Library) near the Opal Tower elevators, that is much less busy than Dunkin Donuts near the main lobby in the morning, so I viewed the location as a plus personally!

My room (#31234) was on the 12th floor, and it had a nice view of the resort pools. You could see parts of The Strip as well.

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas Pool

The outdoor resort-style pools were one of the things that drew me to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The hotel has two sand-bottom pools, a rooftop pool, a shallow lounging pool, and a small hot tub, all surrounded by palm trees. They didn’t disappoint! Okay, I do wish the hot tub was larger, but it’s Vegas. I guess it isn’t that important.

It rained the first day of my stay, but the weather was perfect for the rest of my trip. The pools were lively in the sun, and I didn’t have an issue finding a spot to relax.

One of the sand-bottom pools is for families, and the other pool was 21+ while we were there, but wasn’t open the day it rained.

Dining at Virgin Las Vegas

There are several restaurants at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas including:

• Afters Ice Cream
• Casa Calavera (Mexican)
• Juice Bar
• Funny Library Coffee Shop
• Kassi Beach House (Italian)
• The Kitchen At Commons Club (American)
• ONE Steakhouse
• Nobu Las Vegas (Sushi)
• Night + Market (Thai)
• Pizza Forte

I ate at Casa Calavera, Pizza Forte, and ordered room service my last night there. Funny Library Coffee Shop was my go-to for coffee. The food wasn’t remarkable but it did the job nonetheless. I want to try ONE Steakhouse and Nobu next time I visit – they were out of budget for this trip.

Other Amenities at Virgin Las Vegas

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas isn’t short on amenities. In addition to their impressive outdoor pool area, the hotel has a full spa and and 24-hour fitness center. The hotel offers Yoga every Saturday and Sunday morning, which is also included with the resort fee.

Mohegan Casino is the name of the on-site casino. There are over 500 slot machines and 50+ table games, including blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette. The casino also has a sports betting lounge, with various games at any given time.

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas also hosts various events throughout the year. They have a 4,500-person theater and nightclub called 24 Oxford.

Summary

I was really impressed with my stay at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas! It is my new go-to hotel when I’m in the Las Vegas area. I personally liked the fact that it was a relatively quiet property, only a 10-minute Lyft ride away from the lively Las Vegas Strip. The hotel is new, and modern, and has solid food and beverage outlets and an impressive resort pool area. Considering the price point, amenities, and location, I find it to be of tremendous value. The only improvement I wish the hotel would make is better use of the Hilton mobile app. You have to check in at the front desk, and they do not offer the mobile key feature from your phone.

Have you stayed at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas? Add your experience to the comments!