The giant, continuous LED screens that lead down to the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue might evoke the frenetic video boards of Times Square; they’re definitely just as bright! That amazing stretch of signage is one of the most dazzling on the Strip, and reminds us that this truly is still one of the most electrifying (if not electrified) places on earth.

Once inside, your senses get a break from the constant flash—the interior is modern and elegant, and even the usually frenetic casino floor feels glamorous. Renovations wrapped up in 2017, touching every room, and casting it in the same color palatte of stark white accented with greys and crimson. The Resort Rooms are standard, but for a few more dollars put yourself up in an Ultra Hip Room, where the beds are slightly more comfy and there’s a convenient mini-fridge and coffee maker. One of our favorite things about PH is the placement of their soaking tubs. The 570-square-foot Vista Rooms, as the name suggests, offer five Strip-view windows to gaze from, one of those perches being the tub. If you’re staying in one of the tony Panorama Suites, corner rooms with sweeping views of the Strip, your oversized tub is basically in the middle of the room so you can enjoy the view from your bubbles. 

Other recent upgrades to the Panorama Suites put you in that Hollywood-star frame of mind, including cool décor like suspended sofas, round beds and modern macro artwork. Celebrities! They like weird furniture!

In addition to the PH rooms proper, we’re also including in this review a few thousand more from the adjoining Elara, a timeshare/hotel by Hilton Grand Vacations that you have to book through Hilton directly, though you don’t need to own a timeshare to stay there. All these units have kitchens, whether they’re in studios or four-room suites, making this quite kid-friendly.

Check-in tip: For some reason valet parking is always full here, even if you’re a guest. Unfortunately this means you have to self-park in the garage at the Miracle Mile Shops, then schlep your gear through the mall, which is a giant circle—so whether you go right or left from the garage doesn’t really matter.

Planet Hollywood has numerous dining options including Gordon Ramsay BurGR and the vegetarian-friendly Spice Market Buffet and serious shopping opportunities. For entertainment, Gwen Stefani just signed on to headline the 4,000-seat Axis Theater a few times a month.