Sahara
If you have limited mobility, difficulty in carrying things, or just hate walking avoidable distances, then staying at large Sin City resorts can be daunting. With their sprawling footprints and a secret desire to deposit you in the casino at every given opportunity, most Vegas hotels deliberately complicate the matter. Of course, you can use valet when offered (it can be expensive and availability has been sketchy since COVID-19) and take advantage of bell services, but hotel layouts can still add hundreds of steps to your back-and-forth.
If you’re concerned about ADA (Americans with Disabilitiies Act) compliance, we urge you to visit each resort’s website or call them directly with questions. Although there may be helpful tips for the disabled within this list, it’s geared primarily for those just who want to avoid lengthy treks.
Our first hotel is Sahara Las Vegas, the grand dame with a world-famous name. Sahara has been fully renovated and continues to evolve, with new restaurants and a relaunch of Magic Mike Live coming in the months ahead. Despite having over 1,600 rooms spread out over three towers, Sahara is one of the easiest in terms of accessibility. Elevators at their east parking garage deposit you directly across from the Paradise Road entrance. From there, the reservation desk is immediately to your right. Then you’re mere steps away from two of their three elevator shafts.
Sahara gets bonus points for being the northernmost stop on Las Vegas Monorail. From there, you’re a few short minutes away from MGM Grand, Paris, Bally’s, Flamingo, Harrah’s, The Linq, and the next winner on our list – Westgate Las Vegas.
Westgate
With over 52 years of operations under its belt, Westgate Las Vegas knows a thing or two about making guests feel comfortable and welcome. Often cited as the original Vegas mega-resort, the former Las Vegas Hilton boasts a footprint that will zip you from point A to point B in no time.
Along with a dedicated monorail station that deposits you right by the front reservation desk, Westgate has free valet and a drop-off lane for those who arrive by car. You can avoid a lengthy walk by choosing their rear Superbook parking lot instead of the northern garage. Slip in through the back, stroll through the world-famous betting facility and the reservation desk is directly ahead. Once you receive your keys, turn around, take a selfie in front of the Elvis statue, and the elevators are right there.
Westgate is home to the highest-rated restaurant in Las Vegas – EDGE Steakhouse, along with the awesome Fresco Italiano, and various Asian options including a massive Benihana. It’s also packed with live entertainment like NPerson, SEXXY topless revue, The Magic of Jen Kramer, legendary Barry Manilow, George Wallace, and the incoming Bronx Wanderers.
Tropicana
Tropicana is another Las Vegas classic (do you see a pattern here?). Situated on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, this sprawling resort has two towers and upwards of 1,400 guest rooms. Although it deserves to be on this list, there are a few caveats you should be aware of.
If you’re arriving by automobile, know that the northern lot and southern parking garage are roughly the same distance from the lobby. Although not a horrible trek, it’s significant, so take advantage of free valet service when available. That will deposit you directly into the lobby, and the reservation desk is to your left.
Know that there are two towers at Tropicana – the original Club Tower and a newer Paradise Tower. Absolutely do not accept an assignment to Paradise Tower…the distance between it and the rest of the resort is just mind-boggling. The only advantages to staying way out there are an enclosed pedestrian walkway that takes you over their gorgeous pool…and access to meeting rooms and a fitness center.
So demand to be put up in Club Tower, and don’t take “no” for an answer. The elevators are so close to the colorful reservation desk that you can hit them with a pair of dice. You’ll also be within a few steps of that glorious stained-glass ceiling, gaming, food, Tropicana’s legendary showroom, and the new Trago Lounge.
Four Queens
“This hotel is called Four Queens, but I’m not one of them”. So jokes Mike Hammer, longtime headliner at Fremont Street’s classic gem. With two towers and 690 recently renovated rooms, Four Queens packs a lot of fun into its small footprint. A dedicated parking garage on the building’s south side deposits you directly into the lobby, and those staying in the South Tower (recommended) are just a few steps from check-in to their room. 4Q’s valet leads you directly to the reservation desk as well.
The property’s original North Tower is accessed by an elevator bank within the casino. Even though it’s an easy walk from the reservation desk and to the excitement of Fremont Street, North Tower guests are bombarded with loud music and crowd sounds until the wee hours. So stick with the South Tower…and check out Mike Hammer Comedy Magic while you’re there. Hotel guests and players can receive significant discounts on ticket prices…and there are no resort fees! For dining, be sure to visit Magnolia’s Veranda, a 24/7 traditional-style coffee shop with great food and terrific prices.
Fremont Hotel
Directly across the Fremont Street Experience from Four Queens, Fremont Hotel is another winner for easy access. Their valet-only parking garage (free to hotel guests) leads you directly to check-in, and once again, the elevators are just a few steps away. As with 4Q, request a room away from FSE if you are a light sleeper.
Fremont Hotel is operated by Boyd Gaming, whose portfolio includes off-Strip and downtown properties like Gold Coast, The Orleans, high-end Aliante, Cannery, Main Street Station (rumored to be up for sale), and the delightful Sam’s Town on Boulder Highway. Guests of this particular mini-resort should enjoy the small-ish but modern rooms, great views, and reasonable prices. Another perk is the rooftop pool at sister hotel California, but if you’ve seen our recent piece on the worst swimming holes in Vegas, you’ll probably want to pass on that amenity.
Harrah’s
Our final entry takes you back to the Strip for Harrah’s Las Vegas. Truly in the heart of the excitement, Harrah’s is next to The Linq and across Las Vegas Boulevard from The Mirage and Forum Shops of Caesars Palace. It also has a dedicated monorail stop that can whisk you from Sahara to MGM Grand with no need for a car, taxi, or Uber/Lyft.
If you’re driving, Harrah’s parking garage can be accessed directly from Las Vegas Boulevard via an underground tunnel. Follow the signs, park as close as you can to the elevator banks, then ride down to ground level. The reservation desk is right through the doors. You can save yourself some time by using their self-check-in kiosks, but you’ll run the risk of being assigned a tower on the west side of the resort. That requires schlepping your bags through the casino, which isn’t what you want to do if you’ve made it this far into the article.
Instead, ask for an eastside tower. You’ll have easy access to the pool (pretty decent) and Fulton Street Food Hall, a glamorized take on traditional food courts that actually works like an a la carte buffet. Harrah’s has a lot of in-house entertainment as well, like MENOPAUSE: The Musical, AGT winner “Tape Face”, the controversial “Whitney Houston Hologram Concert“, and upcoming headliner Donny Osmond.
For our list of the worst offenders in long-haul resort trekking, click here.
Do you have helpful information for Vegas guests facing mobility issues? Perhaps a nightmare experience that you’d want others to avoid? If so, leave a comment below or post a message on our official Vegas 411 Facebook page.
