Key Points:
- MGM Grand completed a renovation of their Main Tower in 2025, and it’s a massive upgrade.
- Rooms boast a modern aesthetic, unique lighting features, and a disco-era theme.
- Starting at under $100/nt, these are among the best budget rooms on the Strip.
MGM Grand is the biggest hotel in Las Vegas, weighing in at over 5,000 guestrooms. It’s a monster.
The property has a starkly different vibe than it did in the 1990s, as the “Oz” theme has been shed, live lions are gone, and the theme park is a distant memory.
That slow evolution has continued in recent years, as MGM Resorts renovated the Studio Tower in 2022 and the Main Tower in 2025.
We recently snagged one of those freshly renovated Main Tower rooms, and the TLDR is: This is one of the best budget-friendly rooms in Vegas.
Room, Cost & Check-In
We paid $101.13 for our MGM King, which is about as cheap as you can snag them. They start at $99, after fees, during non-peak times.
MGM Grand’s hotel lobby is massive and features the iconic gold lion as its centerpiece.
Fun to walk through, but thanks to mobile check-in & room keys in the MGM App, we were able to skip the lines and head straight to the room.
The ease of checking in at MGM properties is an enormous perk. Not hyperbole when I say it (heavily) influences my booking decisions in Vegas. Just seamless.
MGM Grand King Room Review
Getting off the elevator on our floor, we were struck by the lobby, which had some “wow-factor”. Kind of reminded me of Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “Beetlejuice”.
The room matched the lobby’s aesthetic with its own unique lighting features, which I’m a sucker for, giving it a modern feel.
At 446 square feet, the MGM King is sizable for a base room at this price point. Just a solid room for the price.
While this isn’t the type of room I expected many techy “bells & whistles”, the room had a modern 55″ TV, ample bedside charging (outlet, USB-A, USB-C, & wireless charge pad), and bedside light controls.
I was disappointed to open the cupboard and find a stocked minibar occupying the fridge… but thrilled to open another door and find an empty mini-fridge for personal use next door.
This room would be beautiful without it, but the under-bed illumination adds an elegance that sets it apart from peer rooms. I love it when affordable rooms get a little dressed up.
The bathroom was also solid. It worked, and the illuminated mirror was a classy touch. I appreciated that they didn’t jump on the half-glass partition trend in the shower.
A full glass wall = No water on the floor. A good thing.
What’s Not To Like?
When I review hotels, I don’t just share the good; I aim to give you the whole story so that you can make a more informed decision.
While this was a solid room in totality, there were some flaws scattered about that included:
The bottom corner of the door leading into the bathroom was beat up.
While most of the room was new, MGM decided to leave old, yellowed outlets in place. I’ll never understand why resorts don’t swap these out.
Now, I knew these rooms would have a disco theme (why? like, why that?) when the renovations were announced.
Quoting the press release, ” The remodel evokes the charm of the disco era with bold artwork and patterns, creating a space that is both playful and refined”.
While this room was really classy from a distance… I just didn’t “get” the wall art, which depicted an astronaut floating in space in front of a disco ball.
I’m nitpicking – This room was great, immaculate, and to reiterate, one of the best affordable options on the Strip.
Resort Experience
Location
While MGM Grand is in a great location to enjoy resorts on the south Strip, the Monorail stop makes getting north easy & inexpensive.
Stops to the north include Horseshoe/Paris, Flamingo, Harrah’s/LINQ, Westgate, and Sahara. Rides cost just $5.50, and longer duration passes are available at a discount.
The Pool
A destination pool scene, MGM Grand’s complex ranks among the top options in Las Vegas. There, you’ll find a 1,000 ft. long lazy river, 3 hot tubs, and 4 pools spread across 6.5 acres.
They keep a portion of the pool open during the winter, and non-hotel guests can even get in for a $20 cover.
Dining Options
There are over 20 dining options at MGM Grand, ranging from food court fare to Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak. I’m not going to bore you by listing them all… but there’s something there you’ll like.
On this occasion, my brother snagged a slice from Bonanno’s Pizzeria in the food court… for $12.95 pre-tax.
He liked it. It was girthy. It filled the gullet. But it’s also an atrocious value.
A much better option is Pieology, which is hidden in a hallway just off the hotel lobby. It’s like the “Subway of pizza joints”.
You select as many toppings as you want for your personal pan pizza, and it costs just $14.95, no matter how many you pile on.
They were even running a 2-for-$22 deal when I stopped in. Much better option.
MGM Grand is also one of the few resorts that still offer a buffet, which is 0% fancy… It has high school cafeteria vibes, but is also pretty solid.
It’s open for brunch 5 days per week (dark Tues & Thur), and pricing starts in the $30s.
It’s a good deal for big eaters, and I especially loved their loaded breakfast potatoes (on the right in the image below).
Entertianment
There’s no shortage of activities at MGM Grand – A few I’ve enjoyed in the past include:
Ka by Cirque du Soleil, which is an acrobatic masterpiece, and I don’t say that lightly. I don’t want to give it away, but the theater and stage are unlike anything in Vegas, and it’s easily worth the $80(ish) it starts at.
My wife and I attended a show at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club about 10 years ago, and we had a blast. Tickets start at about $50, and shows feature a handful of comics that had us in pain.
It’s on my list to tackle, but fans of the show “FRIENDS” need to hit the FRIENDS Experience. Entry starts at $30 on Vegas.com and is a collection of set recreations and photo opportunities.
Live music at Losers Bar fires up daily at 3pm and runs until early the next morning.
The Casino
The casino at MGM Grand is massive, and I was able to hunt down $15 6:5 BJ, Craps, and Roulette during the early morning hours. Those mins jumped to $25 in the evening.
But hey, we need to do something about this sportsbook… not sure this bad boy’s been touched since 1993.
Verdict: How Does the MGM King Room Stack Up?
While MGM Grand’s casino, pool, entertainment, and dining options have always been on my radar, the hotel product has never excited me.
That’s changed.
Despite the weird disco art, they nailed the renovation of their Main Tower. The room is sizable, fashionable, modern, and spacious compared to other base room options on the Strip.
As mentioned, this is one of my favorite base room offerings in Vegas, and it commonly starts at under $100/nt after fees. A great deal.
MGM Grand’s Strip location and Monorail stop make it even more enticing.
After my stay, I booked a room in their Studio Tower, which was renovated in 2022, and I can’t wait to report back.
Check out our MGM King short on YouTube.
Related Hotel Room Reviews:
Gallery Tower Deluxe King Room
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.
Mark
Friday 27th of February 2026
Love the review. My only comment is the breakfast potatoes are on the right of the image on the MGM Buffet, not left as mentioned.
Jake Hoffman
Monday 2nd of March 2026
Hey, thanks! Still working on our Left vs. Right over here I guess...