Marriott points collectors have one less option for booking award stays in Las Vegas. After less than 2 years in operation, the W Las Vegas has closed. The hotel was connected to the SLS Las Vegas, which also ended its partnership with the Marriott brand. So it’s no longer a Tribute Portfolio Resort.
The hotel project was recently acquired by a Los Angeles investor who plans to renovate and rename it to the Grand Sahara Resort. I’ve stayed at the hotel before and thought it had a nice pool area and great restaurants. But it was a ~10-minute drive to the more popular areas on the Las Vegas Strip, which made it a less convenient option for most Las Vegas visitors.
A quick look at Wikipedia explains the troubled history at the hotels. The original developers spent $2.5 billion to build the hotels, which was well in excess of the original budget. Hopefully, the new owners can turn the hotel around!
There are still plenty of ways to use points to save money on travel to Las Vegas. Check out our post with 10 Best Las Vegas Hotels That Are FREE With Points.
One of my favorite strategies when booking hotels in Las Vegas is to go through AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts. Room rates are typically the same (or less) as booking direct and you can enjoy extra perks like:
- 12:00 pm check-in, when available
- Guaranteed 4:00 pm late checkout
- Room upgrades when available
- Free daily breakfast for 2
- Free in-room Wi-Fi when available
- A benefit unique to your hotel, like a $100 dining credit, free meal, or spa service
- 3rd or 4th night free at certain hotels
Did you ever stay at the SLS Las Vegas or W Las Vegas? Let us know if you’re sorry to see them go in the comments below!