Excalibur is the castle-themed budget resort at Tropicana Avenue, with thousands of low-cost rooms, the Tournament of Kings dinner show, Thunder From Down Under and a free tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. It is one of the cheapest ways to stay on the Strip itself.
Excalibur opened in 1990 and its turreted white-and-colored castle is still one of the most recognizable buildings on the south Strip. It sits on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, with pedestrian bridges to New York-New York and MGM Grand across the intersection. It is owned by MGM Resorts and is the company's main value option on the Strip.
Rooms are simple and dated in places, but many have been refreshed, and rates are among the lowest you will find on the boulevard. Ask for a renovated room in one of the towers, and request a higher floor for views toward the Strip or the mountains. Check-in can be slow on Friday afternoons, so use mobile check-in if it is offered.
Excalibur leans into its theme for entertainment. Tournament of Kings is a long-running medieval dinner show in the Excalibur Arena, with jousting, horses and a meal you eat with your hands, and dates are on sale well ahead. Children usually love it. Thunder From Down Under, the Australian male revue plays the Thunderland Showroom, which makes Excalibur a popular, cheaper base for bachelorette groups. The lower level has an arcade and carnival-style midway games, which are useful on hot afternoons. The pool deck, with several pools and cabanas, runs on a seasonal schedule.
Getting around is easy. A free tram runs from Excalibur south to Luxor and Mandalay Bay, where Shark Reef Aquarium and Mandalay Bay Beach are, and the bridges put MGM Grand, the Monorail and New York-New York's roller coaster within a few minutes' walk. Allegiant Stadium is a short walk west across I-15 for game days. Dining is mostly casual chains, quick counters and a food court, so plan to eat elsewhere for a special dinner.
The trade-offs are crowds, a busy casino, older bathrooms in some rooms and the resort fee, which is a large share of a low room rate. As at most MGM Resorts hotels, parking is paid (higher MGM Rewards tiers get it free) and a nightly resort fee is added to the room rate, so compare total prices before you book.
Why stay here
- ✓One of the lowest-priced hotels on the Strip itself, at the busy Tropicana Avenue corner; ask for a renovated tower room
- ✓Tournament of Kings: a medieval dinner show with jousting and horses, popular with families
- ✓Thunder From Down Under, the Australian male revue
- ✓Free tram south to Luxor and Mandalay Bay, for Shark Reef Aquarium and Mandalay Bay Beach without paying for a ride
- ✓Arcade and carnival-style midway games on the lower level, plus a seasonal pool deck with several pools and rentable cabanas
- ✓Pedestrian bridges to New York-New York and MGM Grand, the Monorail a few minutes away, and a short walk to Allegiant Stadium
- ✓Casino with slots, table games and a sportsbook
- ✓A nightly resort fee and paid parking apply, so compare the full cost before you choose
Good questions
Is Excalibur good for families?+
Yes. The Tournament of Kings dinner show is popular with families, and the lower level has an arcade and carnival-style midway games.
Is Excalibur cheap?+
It is one of the lowest-priced hotels on the Strip itself. Ask for a renovated room.
How do I reach Mandalay Bay?+
A free tram runs south to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
