MGM Grand Las Vegas Review: The Massive South Strip Resort
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BOTTOM LINE
MGM Grand is one of the largest hotels on earth, an enormous south-Strip complex with a 6.5-acre pool and more than 20 restaurants. It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants everything under one roof at a fair price, though the standard rooms and long walks are the catch. Since this is not a hotel-points property, the play is a low midweek cash rate paired with an MGM Rewards Gold fee waiver.
MGM Grand is not subtle. It is one of the biggest hotels in the world, an enormous emerald complex on the south end of the Strip that once held the title of largest hotel anywhere. Staying here feels less like checking into a hotel and more like moving into a small city for a few nights.
I stayed to see how the sheer scale plays out in practice: the room, the famous pool, the endless dining, and how MGM Rewards status changes the math. This is my honest take on whether bigger is better, and who this resort actually suits. Here is what I found.
Booking the MGM Grand
MGM Grand is an MGM Resorts property, so MGM Rewards is the loyalty program that matters. This is not a Marriott or Hilton points hotel, so think of it as a cash booking optimized with MGM status rather than an award stay. The most valuable perk is the resort fee waiver, which applies to Gold members and above at checkout, and the daily fee here is not small.
On my stay, Gold status delivered both the fee waiver and a small tower upgrade, which is a reasonable return for a mid-tier status. Cash rates can be very low midweek and in slower periods, sometimes under $100, which makes MGM Grand one of the better values on the Strip. Stack a low rate with a Gold fee waiver and the total gets very reasonable for a full-scale resort.
Best cards for booking
Since Vegas points do not apply here, the cards I would reach for are the The Platinum Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X.
Location
MGM Grand sits at the south end of the Strip, at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana, across from the Park MGM and T-Mobile Arena district. It is a short walk to the Park, the arena, and the shops and restaurants clustered around them. The south Strip has become a real entertainment hub, and MGM Grand anchors it.
From the airport, a rideshare is quick, often 10 minutes or less, since this is the closest stretch of the Strip to the terminals. Inside, be ready to walk, because the distance from the front desk to a far tower room can be a hike. Use the MGM Rewards app to check in early when your room is ready. As an MGM Rewards Gold member I also got to use the dedicated members’ check-in area, which neatly sidesteps the famously huge line, and the agent tossed in a small upgrade moving me from the West Wing to the main Grand Tower.
The Park, an outdoor dining and entertainment area, sits right next door, and T-Mobile Arena draws major concerts and Vegas Golden Knights hockey. If you are in town for a show or a game at the arena, MGM Grand is about as convenient as it gets. That proximity is one of the underrated reasons to book here.
Lobby and Check-In
The lobby matches the scale of the place, busy and grand, with a casino floor that seems to stretch on forever just beyond it. Check-in can move quickly if you use the app, which lets you skip the desk when your room is ready. On a busy weekend the front desk lines can build, so the mobile option is worth setting up before you arrive.
Once you are checked in, take a moment to orient yourself, because finding your tower and elevator bank the first time is half the battle. Staff at the desk were friendly and pointed me in the right direction. After that first walk you learn the shortcuts and the size stops feeling overwhelming. I arrived by Monorail — a fun route in: you land at the station, descend into “the Underground” with its food-court-style shops and trinket stands, then ride the escalators up into the main lobby. Drivers get valet and self-parking, and Strip walkers enter from the opposite side straight into the casino floor.
The Room
I booked a base room and, thanks to MGM Rewards Gold, was moved up to the preferred tower, a modest but welcome bump. The upgrade mostly meant a better tower location and a more convenient walk rather than a dramatically nicer room. MGM Grand rooms are functional and clean, with the Studio King as the entry-level option. My room told the honest story: the bathroom keeps a walk-in tub-shower combo with a curtain (though the stonework behind it is decent), the rooms haven’t been refreshed in a while but were in good shape, and the “pool view” my check-in agent promised was technically true — you can see the pool, way off in the distance. The closet covers the basics with an iron, ironing board, luggage storage, and hanging space.
The rooms are not the reason you stay here, and I want to be straight about that. They are perfectly comfortable, but they lean standard rather than special, and the resort's age shows in spots compared to newer towers on the Strip. If a plush room is your top priority, this is not the property to chase.
Where the size helps is options: there are multiple room categories and towers, so you can pick based on budget and how much walking you will do. Ask which tower you are being assigned, since the difference in convenience is real. MGM Grand also has more upscale rooms and suites if you want to spend up for a special occasion.
Pools and Amenities
The Grand Pool Complex is the headline amenity and one of the best on the Strip. It covers about 6.5 acres with four pools, three whirlpools, and a seasonal lazy river, plus the Palm Tree Beach Club for the party crowd. On a hot day you could spend the whole day out here and not run out of space. There’s a DJ-driven party pool with no separate entry fee and a lazy river that opens at 10 a.m. — not quite the sprawl of Mandalay Bay’s complex, but for sheer activity it’s one of the better pool scenes in Vegas. Fun history note: the land behind the pools once held the MGM Grand’s own theme park in the ‘90s, back when the property tried to go family-friendly.
The lazy river is the feature I liked most, a rare touch that makes the complex feel like a resort rather than just a hotel pool. Cabanas and daybeds are available if you want to book a spot, and the beach club brings the energy up on weekends. Keep in mind the lazy river and some features are seasonal, so check dates if you travel in the cooler months.
Because the complex is so large, it rarely feels as packed as smaller Strip pools even on a busy day. You can find a quieter corner if you want to relax, or head toward the beach club if you want the scene. There is also a spa and a large fitness center if you want to balance out the buffet.
Food and Drink
MGM Grand has more than 20 restaurants, which is where the scale really pays off. The fine-dining bench is deep, with Joel Robuchon and L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak, and Morimoto among the names. There are also casual and celebrity-driven spots like Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill and International Smoke.
Beyond food, the property is loaded with things to do: Hakkasan for nightlife, the arena and theater for shows and concerts, and easy access to T-Mobile Arena across the street. You could plan an entire trip around what is inside and next to this one resort. That density is a big part of the appeal for first-time visitors. David Copperfield still performs pretty much every night, KÀ from Cirque du Soleil and the Jabbawockeez both live here, the comedy club now sits up in The District, and Whiskey Down doubles as a 24-hour bar right on the casino floor — plus there’s a country-western restaurant with live music at night and a to-go bar for drinks on the move. Dining runs from Morimoto to fine Italian, high rollers get the Mansion complex (Skylofts guests can sneak in for breakfast), and Topgolf plus a massive convention center round out the campus, with the Signature timeshare towers connected by one very long hallway.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena inside the property has hosted championship boxing, residencies, and big-name tours for decades, so check the calendar when you book. Between the pool, the dining, the arena, and the casino, it is easy to fill several days without leaving. For some travelers that is exactly the appeal, and for others it is a reason to pick something smaller.
Service
Service at a property this size is more about efficiency than personal touch, and MGM Grand mostly delivers on that front. Staff at the desk, the pool, and the restaurants were friendly and helpful, and requests were handled without fuss. This is not a boutique property where the team learns your name, and it does not pretend to be.
What matters most at scale is that the systems work, and here they generally do. The app handles check-in and requests well, and the pool and dining operations keep moving even on a packed weekend. Set your expectations for a big-resort experience and the service holds up fine.
Who Should Stay Here
Great fit if
Look elsewhere if
You want everything under one roof at a fair price
You prefer a quiet, boutique, or intimate stay
A huge pool complex is high on your list
You do not want long walks across the property
You have MGM Rewards Gold for the fee waiver
You want a plush, ultra-modern room
You are in town for the arena or a concert
You want to collect hotel points on your stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big is MGM Grand?
It is one of the largest hotels in the world, with thousands of rooms across multiple towers. Expect long walks between the front desk, your room, the pool, and the restaurants. The scale is the defining feature of a stay here.
Does MGM Rewards waive the resort fee?
Yes. MGM Rewards Gold members and above have the daily resort fee waived at checkout. On my stay, Gold status also came with a small upgrade to the preferred tower.
What is the MGM Grand pool like?
The Grand Pool Complex spans about 6.5 acres with four pools, whirlpools, a seasonal lazy river, and the Palm Tree Beach Club. It is one of the largest and best pool setups on the Strip.
Are the rooms nice?
The rooms are comfortable and clean but lean standard rather than luxurious, and the resort's age shows in places. A preferred tower room improves the convenience, but the rooms are not the main reason to book here.
What are the best restaurants at MGM Grand?
The lineup is deep, with Joel Robuchon, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak, and Morimoto on the fine-dining side, plus casual and celebrity spots. There are more than 20 restaurants on property.
Is MGM Grand a good value?
It can be. Midweek cash rates are often low, and pairing that with an MGM Rewards Gold fee waiver makes the total cost very reasonable for a full-scale resort with a great pool.
Bottom Line
MGM Grand is a lot of hotel, and that is both its strength and its catch. The pool complex and dining are excellent, the location is central, and the value with an MGM Rewards fee waiver is real. Just be ready for the size and set your room expectations accordingly.
For a first-timer or anyone who wants everything in one place at a fair price, this is a solid book. When you are ready to plan a Vegas trip and want the right room, the right rate, and every perk you qualify for, that is where I can help.
