We had a fun friend's weekend in Las Vegas, and we all stayed at The Bellagio. The Bellagio is the best location on the Las Vegas strip if you want to be in the middle of all of the fun. The room was fairly large, comfortable, and had a great view. I will say the resort and casino is always VERY busy and full of people. However, it is an easy walk to many of the main attractions of Las Vegas. Staying at the hotel you have the convenience of watching the Bellagio Fountains and visiting the Bellagio Conservatory at your leisure. The ARIA express tram makes it easier to get to the Vdara, Aria, and the Park MGM. There is an outdoor covered walkway from the Bellagio to the Cosmopolitan where we were able to snap a beautiful picture at night.
May 2026Living in Reno, NV, we love to stay in the Lake Tahoe area whenever we get a chance. The Village at Palisades is one of the places we love to stay. The Village has everything you need from shopping to restaurants. We love that the rooms have full kitchens and refrigerators. The lodge offers multiple different room sizes and is perfect for couples or for families. The room includes free underground parking and access to 8 different hot tubs. It is fun to walk around and explore the historic Olympic Valley. This lodge is walking distance to the beautiful waterfalls of Shirley Canyon Trail.
May 2026For families, Staybridge Suites Long Beach Airport by IHG is actually a pretty smart choice in the Long Beach area — especially if you want more space and kitchen access without paying full resort prices. Why it works well for families: The suite layout is the biggest advantage. Many rooms include kitchenettes or full kitchens, separate sitting areas, and sofa beds, which helps a lot when traveling with kids. Free breakfast is included, and family travelers repeatedly mention it positively. That saves both money and morning stress. The hotel has an outdoor pool, free airport shuttle, BBQ area, and game/lounge spaces that are useful for downtime between activities. It’s newer than many Long Beach hotels, so rooms generally feel cleaner and more modern. Location-wise, it’s convenient for: Long Beach Airport (very close) Aquarium of the Pacific Queen Mary Carnival cruise terminal Disneyland day trips (still a drive, but manageable) A couple of honest tradeoffs: It’s not a beach resort. You’re near the airport/business area rather than directly on the waterfront. Parking usually costs extra. Some review scores are inconsistent depending on platform, mostly around service variability and pricing expectations. For different family types: Excellent for families doing cruises before/after Long Beach sailings Great for longer stays because of kitchens and larger rooms Good for road trips through Southern California Less ideal if your priority is “walkable beach vacation atmosphere” If you book it, I’d strongly recommend: A one-bedroom suite minimum for families of 4+ Higher floors for quieter stays Using the free breakfast strategically before theme-park or sightseeing days Compared with standard hotel rooms in LA/Orange County, the extra space here is probably the biggest value advantage.
May 2026
