Explore the World at These Themed Las Vegas Hotels (No Passport Required!)
My husband travels to Las Vegas for conferences multiple times a year, racking up weeks worth of Sin City time, and finally I'm bringing my daughter out to join him on one of those work trips. Having been to Las Vegas multiple times myself, I have to say that there is a certain allure to the kitsch of it all - the over-the-top, larger than life depictions of real life places, and the fantasy behind it.
Roller coasters roar in and out of hotel buildings, the same hotels who play host to countless Internationally renowned acts from musicians, magicians and more, creating a playground for all ages.
Many people may not ever even consider taking their children to Las Vegas, but when you are a world traveler like me, I see this trip with my daughter as an awesome opportunity to show her "Italy without going to Italy" or "Paris without going to Paris". Of course she's spoiled to no end and already has been to both Italy and Paris, so the fun is in getting to relive the feeling and essence of those places.
Or, maybe you've never been to Venice and are dying to cruise down a canal in a gondola. That's great too, because you can DO that in Las Vegas! It may be a city of debauchery and gambling, but honestly, see past that for the Disney-esque magic that it offers, too. I love how even though you are inside, there is a blue sky above you in most of these hotels, how they effectively capture the vibe of a culture, and even the sights, smells and sounds feel like you've been transported somewhere else. Even the shopping malls are like this!
Here, I share with you the internationally themed hotels in Las Vegas to visit as part of your romp around the strip. You don't have to step foot out of the country, and yet you still get to say, "ciao" and "oui oui", as you explore the eats, attractions, and atmosphere of the world in a bottle.
With amazing interior design and on-theme restaurants, these locations offer up fantastic shows, attractions, rides and affordable overnight stays.
If you're not a lucky gambler, read on to discover the places around the globe that you can visit in Las Vegas, including tours and ticket offers, links to hotel stays, and more!
Note: While many of these places are kid-friendly, note that there are some suggested shows on this list that are not age appropriate!
Also, Always Pack Tissues represents many tried and tested travel sites as what is called an 'affiliate' partner. That means if you click on my ads I may get a commission from a resulting sale.
European Themed Las Vegas Hotels
Head to the top of the Eiffel Tower for views of the desert and the strip (get tickets here), or wander the Parisian shops and streets from air conditioned comfort. With restaurants like Nobu, La Creperie and Mon Ami Gabi French restaurant, you'll feel transported to France in no time.
For tickets to the Eiffel Tower Experience, follow the image link above.
To check prices and stay at the Paris hotel, follow the link here.
Go to Paris for real: 48 Hours in Paris Gare du Nord/10th Arrondissement Neighborhoods
Venice: The Venetian
If a slow gondola paddle is what you're after, the Venetian is sure to charm you and your family. The barber pole peppermint sticks (the red and white canal poles) line the lanes along the Venetian canal, which runs in and out of the building. The canal floats past open air piazza dining and shops magnify the atmosphere tenfold. It's a beautiful place to explore.
Also at the Venetian, find Madame Toussad's classic wax museum, the much talked about Sphere, and numerous shows.
Pro tip: save money and do both the gondola and the wax museum with this combo ticket
The Sphere, if you are unfamiliar, is one giant projection ball and event venue offering up immersive shows, concerts and more. Think of it like the IMAX cinedome at your local observatory or science center, but amped up. Feel the movements of the 167K speakers in your seats, and groove to tunes as if you were there live in concert.
Meanwhile, dining at the Venetian is full of opportunity for hearty Italian fare, or light appetizing bites paired with an apertivo. A negroni or aperol spritz perhaps? Let your worries wash away in absolutely tantalizing plazas, and choose from the below options when you are ready to eat:
Wakuda
Cote
Brera Osteria
Bouchon
Buddy V's Ristorante
Mercato della Pescheria
Canonita
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
Trattoria Reggiano
To check prices and stay at the Venetian hotel, follow the link here.
Rome: Caesar's Palace
Another Italian gem, Caesar's is known for its hot shows at the Colosseum and the infamous Forum Shops. With a second Nobu location, the Forum food hall and Pronto by Giada, this makes for a great home base with Italian flair.
To check prices and stay at Caesar's Palace, follow the link here.
Go to Rome for real: 5 Unusual Things to Do in Rome to Avoid Crowds
Lake Como: The Bellagio
The Bellagio's claim to fame here is the regular fountain show in front of the building, along with its famous Chihuly glass ceiling, which is quite the spot for photos.
The Bellagio is also one of several partners offering packages for the annual Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix event, which comes up the weekend before Thanksgiving each year. If you frequently read my blog, you may have recently seen my Northern Italy road trip itinerary, which highlights what to do for foodies and formula 1 lovers in the Northern Italian areas surrounding Emilia-Romagna.
Because Bellagio, the actual city, is located not far from the places I mention called Monza and Modena (home to Enzo Ferrari), visiting the hotel is a great nod to the real thing if you are into celebrating Formula 1.
In addition to the fountain show, people often flock to the Bellagio for their indoor conservatory botanical gardens, which I hear are pretty spectacular around the holidays, too. Don't leave without getting tickets to see Cirque du Soleil's "O".
Opt in for fountain view dining options while you are there, or if you are a guest, enjoy the essence of Lake como at Como poolside cafe and bar.
To check prices and stay at the Bellagio, follow the link here.
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(Little sneak peek below)
Exotic Themed Las Vegas Hotels
Egypt: Luxor
This classic Las Vegas hotel is a sight to behold, inside and out. The hotel is literally built like a pyramid, complete with all the trappings you may want to see in Cairo, maybe sans a few camels. While you are there, check out the Blue Man Group, Carrot Top show, Titanic Exhibit, Bodies Exhibit and more. For a good Mexican meal, check out Diablo's Cantina.
To check prices and stay at the Luxor hotel, follow the link here.
Myanmar: Mandalay Bay
The pool is definitely a draw here at this tropical hotel, where you can also walk through a shark reef aquarium tunnel or see Cirque Du Soleil's Michael Jackson One (get your tickets here).
Grab some stellar east asian cuisine at Kumi, or opt for less pricey eats at Noodle Shop, which serves up delicious pan-asian food.
To check prices and stay at Mandalay Bay, follow the link here.
Marrakesh: Sahara Hotel
There's a lot of hip action going on in the evenings at the Sahara hotel, and it's not belly dancers. The Magic Mike show (get tickets here) has taken up residence here, as well as the MJ Live Michael Jackson show (get tickets here). That should prove a good time for sure!
Get some intriguing eats at Jose Andres' popular spot called Bazaar Meat, or get some elevated cocktails at the Casbar or Tangier lounges.
Pro tip: take the monorail down the strip from here to Paris, Caesar's Palace and more!
To check prices and stay at the Sahara hotel, follow the link here.
Go to Marrakesh for real: 3 Days in Marrakech: Colorful Souks, Palaces and More
Tahiti : Tahiti Village Resort
With a little less grandeur and lot more relaxation, the Tahiti Village Resort is not on the same par as some of the above hotels, and that's ok. Stay in comfortable lodging with an outrageous sand entry pool and lazy river, and enjoy classic arcade games, poolside shaved ice, tiki bars and more.
A little south of the strip, this calmer hotel won't see many people passing through, just guests. It's super close to the airport and the south premium outlets, which I loved shopping at on my last visit. Like this hotel, the south outlets are a little more '90s and little less glam-futuristic.
Best yet - kids love playing in the sand by the pool, and in the summer months you may luck into a luau show!
To check prices and stay at Tahiti Village Resort, follow the link here.
South America: Rio Hotel
The Rio has a quirky and colorful pool, and fun Mexican cuisine by Guy Fieri at El Burro Borracho. Although I'm honestly intrigued how the real Rio comes into play with these dining options, I'm happy to see them nonetheless. Check out their amazing Asian eats at:
Nama Nama (street food style sushi)
Shogun Ramen
KJ Dim Sum (legit dumplings, cart service!)
Kang's Kitchen (Korean BBQ with tabletop grills)
Royal India Buffet
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention their upper crust wine tasting cellar, which feels like something out of a vineyard in Napa, and after all that food, go ahead and check out the Penn & Teller and Chippendales shows for evening entertainment.
To check prices and stay at the Rio hotel, follow the link here.
Don't Forget These Other Fun Themed Las Vegas Hotels
New York: New York, New York
Walk around Times Square, get some Irish pub food, hop on the Big Apple Roller Coaster (get tickets here) or savor some New York Italian food at Il Fornaio. The NYNY food hall will give you all the vibes and cheap, fast eats if you are wanting to keep on the move.
To check prices and stay at the New York, New York hotel, follow the link here.
An admittedly aged but ever so classic hotel in Las Vegas, it seems like a must to at least peek into Circus, Circus. Expect carnival style games, rides and attractions and on theme restaurants like Big Top Eats and Circus Buffet.
To check prices and stay at the Circus, Circus hotel, follow the link here.
I may be very alone in this, but I still remember the Treasure Island movie from the 1990's. It's called Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins, and it was a made for TV movie (about 47 min runtime) that highlighted the Las Vegas Treasure Island Hotel.
The kid was on vacation with his parents and he followed a strange somebody into a ballroom from the Cirque Du Soleil Mystere show (still running by the way, get tickets here).
Somehow he happens upon adventure, with pirates and danger afoot. It was a perfect backdrop and advertisement for the no longer running pirate ship show, even though the pirate theming is still a major draw to this hotel.
I loved this movie, and I think it's a great representation of 1990's Las Vegas. Luckily, the hotel really hasn't changed much, and you can still enjoy pirate vibes and a cool arcade.
I personally recommend a fun night of karaoke at Gilley's saloon style bar, where I may or may not have rocked the house down with my amazing vocal prowess.
To check prices and stay at Treasure Island, follow the link here.
Finally, we have the fairytale castle Excalibur, where you can feast with your hands and see horses and jousting at the Tournament of Kings, or hang out with your kids in the Fun Dungeon arcade.
Onsite you can also find a Johnny Rockets and a Buca di Beppo, both affordable and great for the family.
To check prices and stay at Excalibur, follow the link here.
Themed Las Vegas Hotels are Part of the Fun
Get in the vibe of a fun stay in Vegas by exploring these often over the top and deliciously kitschy hotels on and off the strip in Las Vegas. You'll be saying "Viva Las Vegas" in no time!
Just remember , not all of these hotels are stellar to stay at, despite the price point, and you'll need to read up on reviews. Some may simply be better for dining or shows, or just for a walk-through to experience the essence of traveling without leaving the country.
A lot of the properties in Las Vegas have also teamed up recently with Marriott, so be sure to check on your Marriott points status to see if you can leverage them for your stay.
Lastly, if you are interested in making this a fun, globetrotting adventure, I encourage you to print out my "Passport Around Las Vegas", by simply signing up for my mailing list at the subscribe form below (or at this link here), and requesting your “Passport Around Las Vegas”.
Happy travels!
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