At the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Resorts World complex stands as a shining example of Sin City’s legendary excess. Built in 2021 for a staggering $4.3 billion, it is the most expensive resort in the history of Las Vegas. A palatial 88-acre complex, the property includes huge pools, innovative technology, and three hotels, which combined offer 3,500 rooms.
And yet, during my visit on a recent Thursday afternoon, many of the public spaces were practically a ghost town. I was exploring the resort while there to attend a conference. Having read so many news headlines about the Las Vegas tourism industry’s downturn in advance of my arrival, I was curious to see exactly what was going on in the city for myself.
In recent weeks and months, a steady stream of publications, including this one, have reported on the struggles of Las Vegas and many other popular U.S. destinations as international visitation to the country has slowed. In particular, a June 2025 report from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) revealed that visitor volume in Sin City has declined 11.3 percent year-over-year as of June.
The same report showed that convention attendance was down 10.7 percent for the month of June compared to the same time in 2024. Also down: room inventory (-2.3 percent), average daily rate (-6.6 percent), RevPAR (-13.8 percent), and room nights occupied (-9.7 percent).
The slump has been attributed to various factors, including souring opinions among international travelers regarding visiting the United States. This is particularly true among Canadian travelers. The LVCVA report also attributes sluggish tourism numbers to a “broader backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty and weaker consumer confidence.” Meanwhile, consumers say Las Vegas’ soaring prices are the real culprit.
With all of these competing narratives in mind, I recently spent three days exploring the city. At least when it came to prices and the lack of visitors, I found there to be plenty of truth.
Thinner Crowds and Closed Businesses
Let’s start with Resorts World.
During a break from the conference I was attending at the resort, I decided to explore all that this sprawling new complex had to offer. To my surprise, no matter where I went, the resort was mostly quiet and mostly empty.
I first made my way through the resort casino, where the vast majority of tables were not in use and slot machines sat silent. Just a cluster of tables had active players, while the rest remained untouched.
Next, I walked over to the Famous Food Street Eats food court, hungry for a bite. The food court is designed to resemble an Asian night market, but if you’ve ever been to one, the difference was obvious. Night markets are vibrant, bustling spots filled with people and a myriad of food stalls. However, at the Resorts World Street Eats food court, only about three or four businesses were actually open, while the majority stood shuttered with their lights off. The tables were largely vacant. After concluding my conference at 5:30 p.m., I returned to the food court, thinking more stands would be open for dinner, but the scene remained unchanged and eerily quiet.
Determined to see more, I wandered over to a section known as The District, a cavernous indoor mall lined with shops and restaurants. Again, nearly every business was closed and barely a soul was around. It felt like a ghost town.
To be fair, I reminded myself it was a Thursday afternoon in October, which is typically the off-season when kids are back in school and families are traveling less. But as a resident of nearby California, I’ve visited Las Vegas numerous times over the years, and this recent experience was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere I remembered.
The Las Vegas I used to visit was perpetually crowded, with a festive, party vibe. During my recent trip, however, the city aligned more closely with the downturn reports I had read. At the hotel where I was staying, The Venetian, I noticed sparse crowds, allowing me to easily walk into restaurants and find a seat—something that wasn’t the case in previous years. Strolling through The Venetian’s shopping area, I often found myself the only customer in a store.
Inflation and Las Vegas
As for inflation’s role in Las Vegas’ current woes, I also found alignment with the reports I had read beforehand. I experienced considerable sticker shock during my stay.
The first breakfast I had at The Grand Lux Cafe in The Venetian cost $44. This was for one person, not including tip, and comprised a cup of coffee, sparkling water, and a bagel with salmon.
Dinner was equally shocking. On my first night, I sat at the bar of an Asian restaurant in The Venetian, ordering three dim sum appetizers—essentially small plates, not full entrees. My total? More than $80, before tip. Just for one person. No entrée, no dessert.
Nationwide, inflation is up 2.9 percent, as indicated by the Consumer Price Index. A local news report noted that prices are indeed rising in the city, particularly for hotels. Specifically, hotel rates on the Las Vegas Strip increased notably during the first quarter of 2025, with the average price for visitors accommodated by MGM Resorts ticking upward by 3 percent and prices for properties owned by Caesars Entertainment increasing by 6 percent.
“January 2025 set a milestone with average nightly rates approaching $200, reflecting a 2% increase from January 2024 and a $30 rise since 2019,” the outlet added.
To validate my experience with food prices, I did some digging and found several YouTube influencers echoing my sentiments about high prices and thin crowds. One YouTube personality mentioned a new Las Vegas price index compiled by the Las Vegas Review Journal indicating the average cost of a tourist weekend on The Strip has skyrocketed by 25 percent (though I couldn’t independently confirm this).
Even a reporter from The New York Times who visited Las Vegas in recent months found a similar situation: card tables in casinos half-empty, thin crowds on Fremont Street, and nightclubs devoid of patron lines. The high prices also caught the reporter’s attention, highlighting soaring costs from parking to bottled water. Resort fees, typically around $50 per night in addition to room rates, and ticket prices for events at the Sphere and Allegiant Stadium have sparked an outcry that Las Vegas is too expensive.
Is There a Silver Lining?
Fewer visitors are far from ideal for Las Vegas. Both small and large businesses are feeling the impact, as detailed in The New York Times report. Higher prices aren’t favorable for cost-sensitive travelers either.
However, as one of the Las Vegas tourism officials pointed out during my conference, there continues to be a Las Vegas for every budget. When I reached out to a broader network of travel professionals, they confirmed this notion. The old Las Vegas prices and bargains still exist, if you know where to look.
This means venturing beyond the iconic Las Vegas Strip, exploring Downtown Las Vegas, where prices can often be a fraction of those on The Strip.
For those who expect to stay in the heart of the action on The Strip, however, hotel and food costs can be daunting. Yet the lack of crowds during certain days and times offers some benefits for visitors. I was able to walk into every restaurant of my choice and find immediate seating, and I enjoyed exploring attractions without the usual throngs of people. (Don’t miss the fascinating, immersive Arte Museum during your visit.)
Ultimately, if you’re looking to escape overtourism, Las Vegas in its current state could present a refreshing alternative. However, over the long term, the city will need to navigate its challenges, attracting visitors back and finding ways to reduce prices that travelers are increasingly unwilling to pay.
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