Most Romantic Hotels in Las Vegas

Having opened in 2009, this luxury hotel instantly became our favorite pick for romance and pampering in Las Vegas. While many of the city's "luxury" hotels are swarming with guests and clanging slots, this relatively small hotel is genuinely calm, quiet, and mature. Staff bends over backwards to treat guests like royalty, and the understated Asian-inspired decor is elegant and soothing. This hotel is an oasis within hectic Las Vegas, but with the Strip just a few steps away for when you want it.

There are no casinos or over-the-top shows here -- and that's exactly why couples will love it. This dark, atmospheric hotel is the luxurious, urban-chic alternative to the huge Mandalay Bay complex next door. Guests here have huge suites, attentive staff, world-class art, and a gorgeous spa. When they need anything else, like dinner reservations or a pool scene, they'll find all they could want -- and probably more -- at the neighboring megaresort.

The Cosmopolitan has established itself as one of the trendiest spots on the Strip. The typical Vegas kitsch has been swapped out for aggressively modern design and futuristic touches (guests sign in on an iPad). Fanfare aside, rooms are large and feature comfortable, designer furnishings and modern, open bathrooms. Couples looking for a phenomenal spa and nearby and on-site action (like the seasonal "dayclub" pool party) won't be disappointed.

Skylofts is the luxury section of MGM Grand, offering some of the most exclusive accommodations not just within the hotel but in Vegas. All of the rooms have big living areas and sophisticated but understated urban decor; prices are usually upwards of $1,000 a night. Bathrooms are impressive with jetted tubs and fancy "immersion" showers with rainfall showerheads. High-end extras include airport transfers in a Rolls-Royce Ghost limousine; a calm, private reception area for Skylofts guests with a separate entrance; in-loft check-ins (no waiting in line!); and access to Skylounge on the 29th floor for cocktails and appetizers.

Yes, it's a huge megaresort. But while couples probably can't expect doting, personal service, they can expect luxurious rooms with huge marble bathrooms, beautiful pools, and plenty of romantic fine dining options. It's a great option for couples who want luxury but are excited to be in the center of the action, with a bustling casino, bars and nightclubs, and classy cabanas for rent. For a more private experience, couples can stay in the Tower Suites section of the hotel, which has a separate check-in and is removed from the casino floor.

The MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is one of Vegas' biggest, most boisterous hotels, but behind it stands the elegant condominium towers that are The Signature. Couples can escape the fray and retreat into one of the luxurious, all-suite rooms here. There's no casino, the pools are relaxing and beautifully landscaped, and the service is attentive. When it's time for dinner and a show or some gambling, MGM Grand and the rest of the Strip are just a five-minute walk away.

Nobu is a hotel within a hotel, located within one of the towers at Caesars Palace. The 181-room property -- from the creators of the Nobu Japanese restaurant chain -- offers more upscale accommodations than the main Caesars hotel, with an Asian twist: Japanese-themed David Rockwell design, feng shui floor plans, hot tea waiting upon arrival, and minibars stocked with Japanese beer and sake. Guests get 24-hour room service from the Nobu restaurant downstairs (not to mention priority reservations), and the Nobu breakfast menu is available exclusively through room service. Guests get access to all of Caesars Palace features, such as the fitness center, spa, and PURE nightclub, as well as a private check-in desk and concierge services (though no separate lobby).

This sister hotel to the Venetian Resort is huge and grand, and has some of the absolute biggest, best guest rooms in Vegas. Although, like the Encore, it puts you in the center of the action and tends to be crawling with people, the hotel has 15 restaurants (including names like Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse), an outpost of the world-renowned Canyon Ranch Spa, and beautiful, classy pools. And the rooms are really to die for: a huge bathrooms with soaking tub, giant shower, and double sinks; a sunken living room with velour couches, flatscreen TV, and dining table; and a bedroom area with a pillow-top king-sized bed and Egyptian cotton sheets. Plus, you can take a private gondola ride under a fake, painted ceiling and pretend you're in Italy, if you're into that sort of thing.

Even though this isn't one of our highest picks for luxury hotels in Las Vegas, it is a great option for romance. It may not live up to the expectations of Four Seasons hotels in other cities, but the service is excellent (only the Mandarin Oriental can compare), the rooms are comfortable if a bit staid, the pool is serene, and there are two good restaurants. All in all, a great place to escape the Vegas cacophony and have a quiet, relaxed stay. And if you want gambling, partying, and a huge pool complex, you can simply head to the adjoining Mandalay Bay hotel.

If it's a luxurious suite you and your sweetie are after, Vdara will hit the spot. The hotel opened in December 2009 as part of the huge, $11 billion City Center complex, so even though there's only one restaurant and one bar to choose from, everything is clean and new. Rooms, all of which are suites, have pillow-top mattresses, a sitting area or separate living room, and a kitchenette with minibar, empty mini-fridge, two burners, and a microwave. There's a small pool and a very beautiful spa, and anything else one could want is just a five- to 10-minute walk away on the Strip.

This 3,933-room Italian "villa" is the embodiment of Vegas luxury. The elaborate Italian-themed courtyard is one of many highlights, with five swimming pools, elaborate sculptures, and fountains. Rooms are sophisticated and contemporary, and all have marble bathrooms with separate glass showers and soaking tubs. Guests (mostly couples, and a healthy dose of families and business travelers) will find formal room service, a superb fitness center and spa, and the best buffet on the Strip; attractions such as the indoor botanical gardens and the dancing fountains are world-famous.

Since 1966, the 2,419-room Caesars Palace has defined excess on the Strip -- a 50,000-square-foot spa with Roman baths, Laconium steam baths, and Vichy showers; pools (one of which is adults-only) that collectively span 4.5 acres; one of the biggest casinos in Vegas. Yes, it's mega-themed, but the Roman Empire certainly has its own unique (and, well, romantic) appeal -- classical architecture; imperial statues; a giant rotunda and marble (looking) columns that flank the pool. But base-level "Classic Rooms" are smaller, more drab, and older than the Vegas norm. You can upgrade to a more recently renovated room, but check the Venetian's rates first.

The 64-room, mid-range Artisan Hotel is tiny by Vegas standards, appealing to a niche market as a real party hotel with an erotic edge -- strictly for those 21 and over. There's a topless outdoor pool scene, with live entertainment often. Rooms here are dark and a little shabby, combining classical art reproductions with erotic touches, but few guests complain as most are here purely to party. The major downside here is the lack of dining options; food is served around the pool or in the lounge bar, but only five days per week, and there isn’t anywhere to eat within walking distance. The Strip is less than a mile away though, and easily accessed by taxi. The hotel’s nightclub really gets going in the early hours and is still hopping after the sun has risen, so those wanting a peaceful, desert retreat should try somewhere like the Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas -- Strip South.

One might expect the smoke-free Palms Place to draw mostly families -- due to its off the Strip location, lack of casino, and kitchenette-equipped suites -- but most of the guests are couples (particularly younger ones) who are looking to enjoy modern luxury at a lower cost. The 47-story, 599-room hotel has lower rates thanks to its location off the Strip, making it one of the best values for a luxury hotel in Vegas. The action-packed Palms Casino Resort is right next door, so guests still have easy access to the gambling, parties, and celeb sightings Vegas is known for.