How to Travel to Las Vegas on Points and Miles

Few cities in the world offer the 24-hour action that Las Vegas does. Even if you don’t gamble, the city is awash in shows, restaurants, pools and, frankly, almost anything else you can think of. And booking your Las Vegas trip with points and miles is as easy as losing quarters in the slot machines.

» Learn more: The best credit cards for Las Vegas

Getting to Las Vegas

Nearest airport

Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is just a few miles from the Las Vegas Strip, where the most famous casinos are located. The best way to get to your hotel is in a cab or rideshare. If you take a taxi, signs near the entrance to the taxi line indicate approximately how much your trip should cost.

Major airlines flying to Las Vegas

• Southwest Airlines.

• Spirit Airlines.

• Delta Air Lines.

• United Airlines.

• American Airlines.

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines accounts for about one-third of the passengers flying to/from the city, but Delta, American, Spirit and United also have significant operations at the airport. In the end, though, virtually every major carrier in the world has a flight or two to Sin City. There’s that much demand.

But because the two largest carriers are low-cost airlines (Southwest and Spirit), they keep the prices down for everyone. Getting to Las Vegas may be one of the least expensive aspects of your trip.

» Learn more: How to save on a Vegas trip

Flying to Las Vegas on points and miles

It’s important to remember that leisure travelers drive Las Vegas. Unlike most major cities, which get a lot of Sunday/Monday travel into the city and Friday out, Las Vegas is the opposite. Visitors tend to fly in on Thursday or Friday nights and out on Sundays. If you can avoid those busy periods, the fares will be a lot cheaper.

Southwest Airlines

Your best chance at using points and miles for free flights to Vegas is Southwest. The airline flies nonstop to Las Vegas from almost 50 cities and offers connecting service from an additional 50+. The price of a flight in miles is directly related to the cost in points, so the Wanna Get Away fares, which are the airline’s cheapest, should offer you some great deals.

» Learn more: The cheapest Southwest flights to Las Vegas on points

American Airlines

Since American works off a standard award chart (unlike most other major U.S. airlines), you can plan your trip to Las Vegas from elsewhere in the U.S. mainland for just 7,500 miles one-way if your flight is under 500 miles. From other U.S. destinations, you'll need 12,500 miles one-way to Las Vegas.

Other airlines

Major carriers also offer deals, although they may be limited to credit cardholders. For instance, United Airlines offers expanded award availability to holders of certain co-branded cards, while American offers reduced pricing to many of its cardholders as well. In other words: Don’t neglect the major airlines simply because they aren’t discounters.

Pricing varies depending on which airline serves a nonstop route between your city and LAS.

Las Vegas airport lounges

If you're a fan of airport lounges, the Las Vegas airport has no shortage of them. Las Vegas airport lounges include an outpost of the American Express Centurion Lounge and the United Club Lounge.

As far as Las Vegas Priority Pass lounges go, there are two. Both are operated by The Club, which is a mid-sized lounge network.

And the list of lounges is growing. Both Chase and Capital One are set to open their own lounges in the future. The former will be a version of the Chase Sapphire Lounge, which will sit at the C gates.

Hotels on points in Las Vegas

From affordable off-Strip hotels to major icons like The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Bellagio, there is no shortage of hotels to book with points in Sin City.

Here's a breakdown of popular places to earn or redeem hotel points, broken down by major hotel loyalty programs:

Marriott hotels in Las Vegas

Marriott has a massive Las Vegas presence, both on and around the Las Vegas Strip. Thanks to a partnership between Marriott and MGM Resorts, you can redeem Marriott points at a slew of iconic MGM properties, including The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Bellagio Hotel and Casino and New York-New York Hotel and Casino.

Bonvoy member should read our guide to redeeming Marriott points in Las Vegas. But for now, here's a breakdown of some standout Marriott hotels in Vegas, based on your budet:

Luxor (for the budget traveler)

The Luxor is the pyramid-shaped hotel on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where rooms stand out for their uniquely windows. If you don't have points to spend, cash rates are often low. We found some nights as low as $29. Though, that's before resort fees — which can sometimes be more than the room itself.

Bellagio (for the high roller)

The Bellagio Hotel and Casino is an icon in Vegas, synonymous with style and class. Its most recognizable features include the mesmerizing Fountains of Bellagio, the Dale Chihuly hand-blown glass flowers on the lobby ceiling and the Bellagio Conservatory.

New York-New York (for families and fun-seekers)

Ever stayed in a hotel with its own roller coaster? Try New York-New York, where you can step outside your room and ride the Big Apple Coaster. That's not the other kid-friendly attraction here. Other highlights include Hershey's Chocolate World, the chocolate maker's flagship store that features a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty made out of almost 800 pounds of milk chocolate. Across the way are more sweet treats at the Hello Kitty Cafe.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

Marriott has some solid credit card options available to rack up Bonvoy points, including :

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (annual fee: $0): Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (annual fee: $650): Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

There's card for every price range. Don’t be too scared off from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card’s annual fee. It comes with up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. Terms apply.

Plus you can also transfer points from Chase and American Express.

Hilton Hotels in Las Vegas

Hilton doesn’t have a traditional award chart, so costs can vary from night to night based on demand. Here are some standout Hiltons in Vegas:

Tropicana (budget-friendly, on the strip)

Cost to book in points: Typically, nights at the Tropicana start around 20,000 points; however, some dates may not allow award bookings. Check its calendar for your travel dates.

The Tropicana is right on the Las Vegas Strip, at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and, not surprisingly, Tropicana Avenue. While you’ll be on the south end of the Strip, you’ll have decent access to other major casinos nearby including MGM Grand and New York-New York.

Hampton Inn Tropicana (budget-friendly, off the strip)

Cost to book in points: Starts around 20,000 points for most nights.

It’s a standard Hampton Inn, located on Dean Martin Drive, right behind the Excalibur Hotel. Even though it's located off the Strip, you’ll have walkable access to In-N-Out Burger, the T-Mobile Arena, Excalibur and the New York-New York Hotel and Casino.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton (resort vibes, off the strip)

Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, this stylish property blends the signature Virgin creativity with some Las Vegas razzle-dazzle. Though it's off the Strip, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas still has a casino and sportsbook for gamblers. Plus, its pool complex is epic.

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas (for the high roller)

Cost to book in points: If you’re looking to really spoil somebody with luxury, but don’t want to break the Hilton point bank at the Elara (connected to Planet Hollywood) or Hilton Grand Vacations at the Flamingo (which can run upward of 60,000-100,000 points per night), check out the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. Expect weekdays at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas to start at around a minimum of 50,000 points per night.

It’s located near the center of the Strip by Aria, with easy access to plenty of the top Las Vegas restaurants, shows and sights. You’ll usually get a much better points rate here as opposed to other high-end Hiltons in the area, especially on weekends.

How to earn Hilton Honors Points

A Hilton-branded credit card can also help you pay for your trip. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers a sizable welcome offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024. Terms apply.

Other benefits include 10 complimentary visits to participating Priority Pass Select airport lounges every calendar year (enrollment required), a free night award after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year and automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold Status. The annual fee is $150. Terms apply.

Don’t want an annual fee? The standard Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great value option: Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024. Terms apply. Or you can transfer points from American Express.

» Learn more: The best Hilton hotels in Vegas to book with points

Hyatt Hotels in Las Vegas

Of the major hotel brands, World of Hyatt has the smallest footprint in Vegas. There are two Hyatt Place properties located close to the airport. You likely won't want to stay here if you're planning to spend most of your time on the Las Vegas Strip. But, either property in what marks the most affordable Hyatt brand (aside from arguably Hyatt House) can be a good place for other adventures in Las Vegas, including the start or end of a National Parks road trip.

And if you do want to stay on the Strip? There are no Hyatt properties on the Strip, though the Rio Hotel & Casino is not far away. The Rio is a Hyatt Category 3 property, meaning rooms start at 9,000 points on off-peak nights, according to the World of Hyatt award chart.

How to earn World of Hyatt points

The World of Hyatt Credit Card ($95 annual fee) is the only Hyatt-branded option but it is a particularly valuable one with a nice welcome bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

You’ll receive 4 bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels (in addition to the base 5 points) and 2 points per dollar at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting, and on fitness club and gym memberships.

Hyatt is also generous with elite status and free nights. The card grants you automatic Discoverist elite status, as well as five tier-qualifying nights toward status. You will also receive one free night (Category 1-4) every year on your card anniversary, as well as a second free night (Category 1-4) if you spend more than $15,000 on the card in a year.

Plus, Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase, so any of your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be used to boost your Hyatt balance and fund your Las Vegas vacation.

Maximizing points and miles to save money in Las Vegas

Getting to Las Vegas on points and miles is generally an inexpensive proposition. And that’s a good thing, because the gambling propositions may cost you a few dollars, and the tables don’t take points or miles.