Vegas is a game of extremes. You've got the $1,000-a-night suites at the Wynn on one end, and then you've got the places where the "resort fee" costs more than the actual room. Honestly, everyone wants to know: what is actually the worst hotel in Las Vegas?
It’s a moving target.
One year, a place is a nostalgic gem; the next, it’s a "wrecking ball" candidate. If you’re scouring TripAdvisor or Reddit in 2026, you’ll see the same names popping up like bad pennies. We're talking about the spots where the carpets feel a little too damp and the elevators have a mind of their own.
The Battle for the Bottom: OYO vs. Circus Circus
For a long time, the crown for the worst hotel in Las Vegas was a toss-up. But lately, OYO Hotel & Casino (the old Hooters) has been taking a lot of heat. It sits just off the Strip, promising budget prices that lure you in. Then you get there.
Travelers recently have vented about everything from broken elevators to a "thick smoke" smell that seemingly never leaves the upholstery. Some reviewers even joked that the only thing OYO offers is a front-row seat to the demolition of the old Tropicana. When your best selling point is being near a construction site, you've got problems.
Then there’s Circus Circus.
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Look, I love nostalgia as much as the next person. The Adventuredome is still a vibe for kids. But as a hotel? It’s struggling. In early 2026, guests were still reporting "white goopy substances" on door handles and bathrooms that haven't seen a renovation since the Reagan administration. It’s cheap, sure. But at what cost to your soul?
Why "Cheap" Often Costs More
People think they’re winning by booking a $29 room. They aren't.
- The Hidden Math: You pay $29 for the room. Then comes the $45–$50 resort fee. Toss in a $20 parking fee. Suddenly, your "deal" is $100 a night for a room where the Wi-Fi doesn't work and the towels feel like sandpaper.
- The Safety Factor: Some of the lowest-rated spots, especially those further north like The STRAT, get dinged for their location. While The STRAT has some newly renovated rooms that are actually decent, the walk back at 2:00 AM isn't exactly a luxury experience.
- The "Vibe" Shift: You go to Vegas for the energy. If your hotel lobby smells like stale cigarettes and desperation, it kills the mood.
The Rio: A Fallen Giant?
The Rio Las Vegas is a heartbreaking case. It used to be the spot. The Masquerade Village was legendary. Now? It’s frequently cited as one of the most neglected properties on the 2026 landscape.
While the new owners (Dreamscape) have started some paint-and-spackle jobs, critics say it’s not enough. It’s like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. Massive sections of the resort remain closed or "decayed," according to recent foot traffic reports. If you’re looking for the worst hotel in Las Vegas in terms of "wasted potential," the Rio takes the gold medal.
The Problem With Automated Fees
A weird trend hitting the lower-tier hotels lately is the "automated smoking fee."
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The STRAT, for instance, has been hit with a wave of Better Business Bureau complaints regarding their air-quality sensors. Guests—some who claim they’ve never touched a cigarette in their life—are getting slapped with $500+ cleaning fees because a sensor tripped. Sometimes it’s just hairspray or a humidifier, but the hotel treats the sensor data as gospel.
It’s a nightmare to fight.
Is the "Worst" Always Avoidable?
Honestly, sometimes you just need a bed.
If you're only in the room to sleep for four hours and you have a stomach of steel, staying at a place like Excalibur might be fine. It’s dated. The "crusty" bathrooms are a meme at this point. But it’s generally considered safe and centrally located. It’s the "Super 8" of the Strip. It knows what it is.
The real danger zones are the motels that masquerade as resorts. Siegel Select and some of the smaller Travelodges often get "Very Poor" ratings for cockroaches and lack of maid service. If the property response to a review is "We're sorry about the roaches, we'll try harder," maybe just keep driving.
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Real Expert Advice for Survival
If you find yourself booked into a low-rated Vegas hotel, do these three things immediately:
- The Bed Bug Check: Strip the sheets before you put your luggage down. Check the seams of the mattress. This isn't being "extra"—it’s survival.
- Document Everything: Take a video of the room when you walk in. If there's a stain or a broken window, get it on camera. This is your only defense against those rogue "damage fees" later.
- The "Front Desk" Flip: If your room is truly a disaster, go back down immediately. Don't unpack. Be polite but firm. Often, they have "better" rooms they hold back for people who actually speak up.
Staying in the worst hotel in Las Vegas makes for a great story later, but it’s a miserable 48 hours while you're in it. You've been warned.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To avoid a Vegas nightmare, your next move should be checking the "Recent" filter on review sites rather than the "Top" filter. Hotels in this city change ownership and management frequently; a 5-star review from 2022 means nothing if the plumbing failed in 2025. Verify the current resort fee and parking costs on the official hotel website before clicking "book" on a third-party discount site.