Vegas Trip 2026: Day 1 – The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
We were in Vegas to watch The Backstreet Boys at The Sphere, the fourth to last show of their extended run. And while we were here for 4 days and 3 nights we added additional activities to the itinerary, including a stay at The Strat and taking in a few of the property’s offerings. This was my first time this far North out of The Strip.
The STRAT is a Hotel, Casino, and Tower. The former has 24 floors, we were situated on the 19th. After check-in you enter your suite’s elevator based on view. Ours was towards the tower with a profile view of it and the iconic Las Vegas Gateway Arch. An arch you drive through that has a glittering Vegas sign dangling under its criss crossing pillars.
We had a two queen bed suite with television, mini fridge, and ironing board. I was not expecting, but did enjoy the complimentary robes and the coffee maker with cups and pods for use.
There were bottles of soda and water in the mini fridge, but we weren’t sure if that was complimentary or something left by the past guests. So decided it was best to not fuss with it.
The washroom was one sink, one toilet, and a walk-in shower. Pretty standard and pretty neat considering that the property is better known as one of the most budget-friendly hotel options on the strip. It is located at the far end, with the Arts District just beyond.
Aside from the affordable price, another lure to the property is the view point. Every major city has one and this one is Vegas’. The Strat Skypod Tower is listed as “towering” over the Seattle Space Needle, Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower, and Macau’s tower at 1149ft.
There are two levels to explore with indoor and outdoor lookouts. Plus options for food, drink, and shopping. There is even a temporary tattoo booth, which I thought out of place.
Outside of taking in the view day or night from the observation deck that includes binoculars, there are a few adrenaline chasing activities that visitors can engage in as well. For those daring, you can even jump off the tower at SkyJump, a controlled descent that spirals you down The STRAT tower. Or you can go up instead of down, by shooting straight up 160feet in the air at 45mph on Big Shot. There is also a roller coaster ride like no other that teeter totters you over the edge of the Tower from 866 feet high. We did not engage in any of the rides, but appreciated those with the courage to do so.
We were happy to visit the observation deck by night then at a later date and time for the day time view. For the former, I found the landscape flat outside the stand out hotel properties with their unique exterior and bright lights.
I enjoyed the view more by day, to be able to capture more detail in the horizon. This scene is best unobstructed on the 109th floor, but indoors at 108th you can capture better photos, without the gates and fencing on the outside deck.
As for in hotel eats, our original plan was to visit their in-house restaurant Chi for dinner, to be able to try their limited release Chinese New Year menu. Unfortunately, we were a couple of days early and missed out on the opportunity. Instead we ordered a couple of classic asian-inspired dishes from their regular menu. Not authentic by any means, but reinterpretations with a focus on bold flavours. Full review of that meal in its own post.
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
2000 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89104, United States
+1 (800) 998-6937
thestrat.com
