Luxor Sportsbook Review

The Luxor Las Vegas is located between two other MGM properties — Mandalay Bay and Excalibur — at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard across from the airport. Visitors can enter the venue through a replica of the Great Sphinx at Giza that covers a moving walkway leading from the Strip into the Atrium. The Sphinx in Las Vegas stands 110 feet high, more than 40 feet taller than its antique counterpart in Egypt.

• Visitors arriving at McCarran International Airport will head west on Tropicana Avenue to the Strip, before making a left-hand turn on Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s just a short distance to the Luxor, which is located on the west side of the street.
• Guests of the Luxor never have to go outside to visit their neighbors as a pedestrian mall connects the three MGM properties.
• A tram that is free to ride also shuttles visitors to the other two properties. It takes about three minutes to travel from the Excalibur to Mandalay Bay.
• Taxi drivers may turn off Tropicana onto Koval Lane as an alternative route, but never let the driver take the highway route as the cost of the trip will soar.

The two biggest complaints from Las Vegas tourists these days are the dreaded resort fees and parking costs. It’s hardly a free ride in Las Vegas anymore. Corporations are squeezing entertainment budgets at every turn, and that means no more free parking

• The Luxor parking garage is located behind the main resort off Frank Sinatra Drive.
• There’s no charge for the first hour on your first day here. After that, it’s $8 from one to four hours, $10 over four to 24 hours, and $10 per day after that.
• Valet parking is even higher. It’s $16 for under two hours, $18 for two to four hours, and $24 for four to 24 hours. After that, it’s $24 per day.

Let’s cut right to the chase: The best option for getting around Las Vegas is the ride shares programs Uber and Lyft. The excellent transit system is a close second, but it has its limitations. McCarran International Airport has a platform for all of the public transportation systems, including taxis and shuttles. But the best bang for your buck is to get a “Lyft” on Uber.

• Download the ride share program apps Uber and Lyft. The cost for a ride is about two-thirds of the taxi service. Pick up your ride share on the second level of the parking garage at the airport.
• A queue forms just outside the main terminal for one of more than 100 taxis waiting in line. The cost for your ride to the Luxor will be around $20-$25, depending on traffic.
• Limousines prices are normally around $85 to $90 an hour.
• The Las Vegas public transit bus service runs 24 hours a day on the Strip, with routes to and from the airport as well. A two-hour bus pass on the Strip is $6, 24-hour pass is $8 and a three-day pass is $20.
• The pass is good for the Deuce and Express bus lines. The Deuce is the slower of the two services, stopping at almost every resort on the Strip, including the Luxor. The Express does not stop at the Luxor.
• Both services will take visitors all over the Las Vegas area, including the two outlet malls and Old Vegas, including the Golden Nugget.

There are many reasons why more than four million people visit Las Vegas every year. Gambling, of course, is certainly a top draw. But other items on that list of luxury include world-class shows, five-star hotels and some of the finest restaurants in the country. The Luxor may not be at the top of the TripAdvisor checklist for those items, but this resort is the perfect fit for those on a budget. Here are some of the restaurants and eateries at the Luxor:

• Rice & Company features fresh and tasty Asian cuisines.
• Tender Steakhouse won Open Table’s dining choice award in 2013.
• Backstage Deli isn’t in the best location, but the deli-style food is worth the trip.
• Here are some of the top bars and lounges at the Luxor:
• Get ready to party at Flight, which is open until 4 a.m.
• Mingle with friends at Centra, which is located right in the center of the casino floor.
• Aurora Bar, located across from the front desk, is known for its unique light show.

Unlike independent resorts like the Stratosphere, Hard Rock and Treasure Island, the Luxor is part of the MGM Resorts International stable of properties on the Las Vegas Strip.
The card that matters at these venues is the M life Rewards card. Mlife members gain exclusive access, benefits and rewards at all of the MGM venues by earning points for every dollar spent or gambled.
The starting tier, which is Sapphire (blue card), has limited benefits, but the rewards change at the next level called Pearl. These members are awarded discounts, dedicated line options at restaurants and buffets, and complimentary parking.
Members can continue the climb up the M life ladder into Gold, Platinum and the Noir level (black card), but that status would take some time to earn and a big bankroll. The higher the level, the more privileges on meals, room rates, and complimentary gifts.  

Even though the pyramid cuts out a perfect square on the main casino floor, the gaming area is anything but organized. Multiple restaurants and bars are the first options to greet visitors, not slot machines or table games.
There are more than 1,100 slots and video poker machines on the 120,000-square-foot floor, but they are spread throughout the dimly lit casino area. Wagering amounts vary from a penny to a dollar, which is standard for mid- and lower-end casinos on the Strip.
The Luxor has elevator banks posted at each corner of the pyramid, all with easy access to the casino and other resort amenities.
The elevated Centra bar is the focal point of the room, but it cuts off sight lines throughout the area, especially the sportsbook. Unless you know where the book is located, you will likely need directions to find it.
Most of the table games, which carry a $10 minimum, are arranged close to the middle of the room. Some of the games available to play include:

• Blackjack, with some paying 3-2 odds on a 21, but with $25 minimum bet.
• Roulette, with all wheels containing two sets of zeroes.
• Craps, start at $10 minimum with standard rules.
• Baccarat, very few tables available to play.

This vibrant Egyptian-themed resort, which opened in October 1993, has more than 4,000 hotel rooms in the 30-story pyramid and adjoining 22-story twin towers. The hotel, which was last renovated about a decade ago, offers better room rates than most of the big names on the Strip, but you’re not paying for luxury here:

• Rooms in the pyramid range from a regular 420-square-foot king to suites of all shapes and sizes.
• Prices for pyramid rooms start at about $39 a night.
• Rooms in the tower range from a 449-square-foot king to high-end suites.
• Prices for tower rooms start at about $49 a night.
• Like all MGM properties, guests will be charged a resort fee of about $44 per night at checkout.
•  The Luxor receives mediocre ratings on TripAdvisor from more than 40,000 reviews. The tower rooms are typically in better shape than those in the pyramid.