Planet Hollywood is the most southern of the Las Vegas Hotels operated by Caesars and it is probably one of the most underrated ones.
There has been a hotel casino on the site for 60 years, with the original Aladdin imploded in 1997 to make way for the New Aladdin.
That property struggled financially, though, and it became Planet Hollywood shortly afterwards, and it has become one of the Strip’s powerhouses for headliner residencies.
Planet Hollywood overview
Location: Strip (South-Centre)
Opened: December 2007
Number of rooms: 2,494
Gaming space: 64,470 sq. ft
Operator: Caesars Entertainment
Permanent shows: John Legend, Shania Twain, Miranda Lambert, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Amystika
Signature attractions: Zappos Theater, Miracle Mile Shops
Known for: Entertainment
Price guide: $$$
Location
You are unlikely to find anyone who will have any genuine complaints about the location of Planet Hollywood.
It sits in a great spot directly opposite the Cosmopolitan and close to Paris and Bellagio. It’s a busy, bustling, exciting part of the Las Vegas Strip to be part of.
The only downside is the lack of neighbouring resorts to the south. The closest on the east side of the Strip is MGM Grand, and that is a decent walk away.
Getting around
Due to the great location of Planet Hollywood, getting around from there is exceptionally easy.
A pedestrian bridge connects it to Cosmopolitan directly, and from there you can easily access Aria, Park MGM, and the south end of the Strip too. If that amount of walking isn’t for you, or it’s the height of summer, then you can pick up the Las Vegas Monorail from Paris next door to take you directly to MGM Grand.
That Monorail will also give you access to the north of the Strip although, in truth, unless you’re headed to the likes of Circus Circus, Sahara or The Strat, you probably won’t need it.
A pedestrian crossing outside the northern entrance to the Miracle Mile shops gets you straight across the road to The Bellagio fountains.
Planet Hollywood Rooms and Amenities
The rooms at Planet Hollywood are some of the trendiest of all the Las Vegas Hotels, and even the most basic will give you 450 sq. ft to spread out into.
They are well finished, and once you start upgrading you can find yourself looking out of the distinctive Arabian-style pointed arch windows that are a remnant of the old Aladdin theme.
Planet Hollywood can offer some spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip too, although they tend to come at an extra cost.
The amenities are largely standard but very welcome. There are two pools, a fitness centre, a spa and a salon, and Planet Hollywood is one of the friendliest Las Vegas Hotels if you want to bring your dog along too.
Planet Hollywood’s casino is a little smaller than most, although some might find that to be a positive.
RELATED READING: Planet Hollywood casino guide
Food and Drink
Gordon Ramsey Burger is the headline eatery in Planet Hollywood, although if you want to eat there you are probably better off booking in advance.
Café Hollywood is a goldmine of movie memorabilia and the food is great too, especially the cake milkshakes.
Fans of Asian cuisine will enjoy Japanese restaurant KIO and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, and there is the customary steakhouse for meat-lovers too. Sports Bar Ringer and the YOLOS Mexican Grill complete a fine line-up.
There are, of course smaller quick-eats outlets such as Earl of Sandwich, Starbucks and Pin-Up Pizza. In addition, guests also have the Miracle Mile restaurants on their doorstep.
Planet Hollywood targets a trendy younger crowd, and that is reflected in its nightlife options as well.
The Heart Bar is their top nightclub, but there is also a cocktail bar (Blue Moon Bar) and the fantastic Purple Zebra, which is a mix-and-match daiquiri bar.
Shows and Attractions
There is no doubt about it: Planet Hollywood is an absolute powerhouse in terms of Las Vegas shows.
The current blockbuster musical residencies are John Legend, Shania Twain and Miranda Lambert. They have also had the likes of Britney Spears, Gwen Steffani and Christian Aguilera in recent years.
Criss Angel provides two shows too in Mindfreak and Amystika. Angel has been Las Vegas royalty since performing a levitation trick over the Luxor Hotel in 2005. His star has waned slightly since then, but it’s still a show worth seeing for yourself.
In terms of attractions, the miracle Mile Shops are a brilliant part of the Las Vegas Strip. There are plenty of great places to eat and drink in there, and they have an indoor rain feature too which is quite fun, although the start times seem quite irregular in my experience.
Planet Hollywood Pool
The Planet Hollywood pool is relatively small compared to some comparable properties. That said, it maintains a hip and trendy vibe with regular pool parties and DJ acts.
Cabanas and daybeds are available for hire, and you shouldn’t have any problem getting your hand on a drink either.
One unique thing the Planet Hollywood pool offers is the Flowrider. It’s a thrill ride of sorts that simulate the kinds of waves that surfers ride in the ocean.
Conclusion
Planet Hollywood is one of those Las Vegas Hotels that is probably easy to overlook. However, it really is a great property in an excellent Strip location.
Pros: Brilliantly served for food and drink options and a top venue for Las Vegas shows.
Cons: The casino floor has limited space so it can be frustrating, especially when it is busy.
Considerations: Planet Hollywood unapologetically targets a younger and trendy crowd, so if that is not for you it may be best to look at other options.