Whether you’re corralling the college crew for a reunion, planning a joint-birthday trip, or just want a break from work messages and life admin, Las Vegas still delivers the kind of trip your entourage can actually agree on. With every experience dialed up to 11—meals, shows, hotel rooms, pool scenes—it’s built for groups and priced across the spectrum. The luxury is always there (hello, skyline-view penthouses), but so are the deals, the low-key gems, and even the unexpectedly wholesome moments. And with nonstop flights from all over the country plus room configurations made for sharing, Vegas is as practical as it is extravagant.
Here’s your blueprint to making your Las Vegas jaunt count—the places to stay, play, eat, and drink with your crew, no matter your budget or bandwidth.
STAY
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas gets the group formula right: oversize suites, a stacked lineup of restaurants and bars, and enough square footage that you’re not stepping all over one another. For a suite with all the extras, consider Caesars Palace, and opt for a private pool table. Over at Fontainebleau Las Vegas—the tallest hotel in the city, and arguably its most hyped opening in years—you’ll find high-gloss Miami glam turned up to Vegas volume. The 67-story tower houses more than 3,600 rooms with floor-to-ceiling views, a spa with compression-therapy pods, and a whopping 36 restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas draws a nightlife-forward crowd with actual terraces (rare in Vegas), the Ski Lodge—a hidden cocktail bar styled like an après-ski hangout—and penthouses seemingly designed with after-parties in mind.
Off-Strip, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas offers a quieter experience with a bit more breathing room. Here the vibe skews contemporary and low-key, with multiple towers, walkable interiors, and a relaxed pool scene. Red Rock Casino Resort Spa is another smart call for pool-and-spa downtime and quick access to hiking trails. For an over-21 stay with fewer bachelorette sashes, Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown runs clean, modern, and crowd-free—plus Stadium Swim onsite offers wall-to-wall sports-watching on a 143-foot screen, all from a rooftop pool.
PLAY
Allegiant Stadium
Adrenaline junkies will appreciate SkyJump at The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Tower, a controlled 829-foot leap off a tower that’ll test everyone’s resolve; Speed Vegas, a track just south of the Strip where you can drive actual Lambos and Ferraris; and SlotZilla, where you can zipline headfirst over the Fremont Street crowds.
Prefer to keep your blood pressure a bit lower? Over in Chinatown, the post-dinner foot-massage ritual hits different after a spicy bowl of boat noodles and some late-night karaoke. Alternatively, schedule a behind-the-scenes Allegiant Stadium tour, or catch a hockey game at T-Mobile Arena; the fan energy is off the charts at both. Art-minded crews should explore Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, located in AREA15, an interactive world hidden inside a fake grocery store that makes the “immersive” tag feel fresh again. More low-lift must-do’s? The water show at the iconic Fountains of Bellagio (free, every 30 minutes); and Sphere—a 366-foot-tall LED orb-slash-concert-arena—dominates the skyline with visuals that are just as compelling from the outside as they are during a superstar’s hotly anticipated residency.
EAT
Vegas doesn’t hold back when it comes to group dining, with options for every taste and budget. Off-Strip, Lotus of Siam is the go-to for northern Thai classics and spice levels that’ll put your tolerance to the test. For a classic steakhouse experience, Golden Steer delivers a throwback to 1950s Vegas with themed booths, tuxedoed service, and cuts that live up to the rep. For a French bite, Bar Bohème brings classic steak frites and mussels in a classic brasserie setting, just a stone’s throw from Italian sister restaurant Esther’s Kitchen.
For a little more volume, Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace is where quantity meets quality—there’s sushi, tacos, prime rib, oysters, and more, all under one massive roof. It’s a no-argument situation for when everyone just wants to eat a bit of everything. Want to lean more Venice Beach? Gjelina, inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, blends California-Mediterranean with shareable apps like hamachi crudo and wood-fired pizza. There’s also Nomikai, which offers a quick sushi stop, but the real gem here—especially for a nightcap—is the speakeasy-style bar hiding in back. Finally, for a vegetable-forward experience, Stubborn Seed at Resorts World Las Vegas has a tasting menu that proves plant-based dining isn’t just growing, it’s in full bloom in the desert.
DRINK
OMNIA
Your options for partying in Vegas are everything but slim. BrewDog Las Vegas keeps things casual on a rooftop facing the Strip with 30 taps, solid pub food, and no dress code in sight. In the Arts District, Velveteen Rabbit doubles as a cocktail lab and local haunt, where the drinks come in vintage glassware and the soundtrack skips the Vegas clichés.
For off-menu cool, text your reservation request for The Laundry Room, a 22-seat speakeasy inside two-story bar Commonwealth. When a bowl of popcorn arrives at your table, your bespoke cocktail journey is about to begin. Or go tropical at Frankie’s Tiki Room, a dark, rum-fueled hideaway where drinks come rated for strength on a one-to-five-skull scale. Prefer playful? Stray Pirate serves serious drinks in a setting that looks like a cursed ship, complete with nautical nonsense and dog portraits.
If you’re looking for that skyline moment, head to the 23rd floor of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas to Hard Shake, where the martinis carry an icy punch and the vistas sweep the Strip. And when your crew wants the full-scale nightclub experience, OMNIA at Caesars Palace still leads the pack with world-class DJs, a rooftop terrace, and a signature chandelier that moves with the music, it’ll be the kind of night Vegas was built for.
Learn more at visitlasvegas.com.
