Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip vs Elara: Which Is Better?

Hilton Grand Vacations has become a quiet favorite in Las Vegas for travelers who want the Strip experience without living inside a casino. Two of its most popular properties are Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip, recently rebranded as The Boulevard, and Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Center Strip, tucked just behind Planet Hollywood. Both offer condo-style suites with kitchens and space to spread out, but they deliver very different versions of Las Vegas. Here is a detailed, real-world comparison to help you decide which resort is better for your next trip.

Location on the Strip: North End vs Center Strip

Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip, now marketed as The Boulevard, sits on the northern stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard, a short walk south of Sahara Avenue and near the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. It is technically on the Strip but well away from the Bellagio fountains and the busiest casino cluster. In practice, this means quieter sidewalks at night and less foot traffic at the resort entrance, but also longer walks or rideshares to the big-name resorts like Caesars Palace, Bellagio and MGM Grand.

Elara, by contrast, is firmly in the heart of the action. The 50-plus-story glass tower rises just behind Planet Hollywood and is connected directly to the Miracle Mile Shops. Guests can walk indoors through the mall to reach the Planet Hollywood casino floor and then cross to Center Strip icons like The Cosmopolitan, Paris and Bellagio in under 10 to 15 minutes at an easy pace. For example, walking from Elara’s lobby through Miracle Mile and out to the Strip, then across to the Bellagio fountains, commonly takes around 12 minutes for most visitors.

For travelers who envision stepping out of the elevator and almost immediately hitting casino floors, big-name restaurants and nightlife, Elara clearly wins on location. It is especially convenient if you plan to see shows at Planet Hollywood or The Cosmopolitan, or if shopping at Miracle Mile is part of your stay. On the other hand, if you are in Las Vegas to attend events at the Festival Grounds, the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center, or simply prefer to be slightly removed from the late-night crowds, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip has the edge.

Realistically, both properties will require some rideshare or driving for many visitors. A typical mid-afternoon Uber from Elara to Allegiant Stadium for a Raiders game might run in the 15 to 25 dollar range before tip depending on demand, while a ride from The Boulevard to the same stadium often adds a few dollars and several minutes due to distance and traffic. The difference is noticeable, but not trip-defining unless you will be making those runs daily.

Suites, Space and Views

Both resorts are purpose-built timeshare-style properties, so even their smallest units tend to be more spacious than a standard hotel room on the Strip. Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip features studios plus one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, many with full kitchens and separate living and dining areas. A typical one-bedroom suite here might be around 700 to 800 square feet, with a proper dining table, pull-out sofa and in-room washer and dryer in many configurations. This setup works particularly well for families who want to prepare breakfast in the room or store groceries from a nearby supermarket.

Elara’s inventory also spans studios to multi-bedroom suites, but the design leans more overtly “Vegas modern.” Many suites feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls with sweeping Strip views and a signature projection screen that drops in front of the windows, turning the blackout shade into a movie screen. In a one-bedroom suite, for instance, you might have a kitchenette or full kitchen, a whirlpool tub in the bedroom, and that large projection screen in the living area connected to cable and streaming. It is a dramatic flourish that appeals to couples or groups who want to host friends for a game or movie night before heading out.

In practical terms, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip offers a bit more of a residential, timeshare-condo feel, while Elara feels like a sleek urban apartment tower. At The Boulevard, décor tends toward desert-inspired tones and more traditional furniture styles, whereas Elara uses glossy surfaces, darker woods and contemporary lines. Guests who stayed in a two-bedroom at The Boulevard in mid-2026 reported it felt like a compact apartment, with enough room to host another couple for dinner cooked in the full kitchen, while a similar two-bedroom at Elara felt like a modern penthouse, especially on higher floors.

Views differ significantly. On the Strip’s north end, The Boulevard offers city and desert vistas, and higher floors may capture distant Strip skyline views. Elara’s height and Center Strip position, however, deliver some of the most striking room views in the Hilton Grand Vacations portfolio, including sightlines to the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris, the Cosmopolitan towers and, on the right side of the building, the Bellagio fountains in the distance. If waking up to a wall of glittering neon and marquee lights is part of your Vegas dream, Elara has a clear advantage.

Pool, Amenities and Atmosphere

Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip is designed as a family-friendly escape with a calmer vibe compared with major casino pools. The resort typically offers multiple outdoor pools with desert landscaping, a splash area for kids, hot tubs and plenty of loungers. There is an on-site spa, fitness center and small marketplace for snacks and basic groceries. Daily resort charges there currently include amenities such as internet access, streaming and casting capabilities on in-room TVs, daily bottled water, self-parking, discounts on spa treatments and sports equipment like basketball and pickleball gear.

Guests often describe The Boulevard’s pool deck as relaxed and relatively quiet, even in high season. You are unlikely to find the DJ-driven, shoulder-to-shoulder party scene of a resort like Encore Beach Club here. Instead, you might see families with floaties, couples reading under umbrellas and a more subdued bar scene. If your goal is to take a mid-afternoon nap in a lounger without thumping bass, this environment can be a real selling point.

Elara’s main pool area, framed by the property’s glass tower and adjacent low-rise structures, aims for a chic yet casual atmosphere. Palm trees, cabanas and a bar serving frozen drinks create a resort feel, but again without a full-on dayclub crowd. Many guests comment that the pool stays comparatively calm for a Center Strip property, especially outside peak weekends. You are only steps from the spectacle of the Strip, yet the pool itself feels sheltered and less chaotic than some neighboring hotel pools.

Other amenities differ subtly. Neither property has its own casino, which many travelers see as a positive. At Elara, however, you are a quick indoor walk from the Planet Hollywood casino floor, several mid-tier celebrity restaurants and a huge range of casual dining inside Miracle Mile, from burger chains to midpriced Mexican and sushi spots. The Boulevard, on the other hand, has limited food outlets on property, so you will likely rely more on delivery apps, off-Strip restaurants reached by car, or a walk to nearby properties like Circus Circus or Resorts World for more options.

Resort Fees, Parking and Real-World Costs

In Las Vegas, the nightly room rate is only part of the story. At Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip, a daily resort charge is typically added to your bill. As of mid-2026, that fee covers items such as internet access, TV casting, two bottles of water per day, self-parking, access to games and select discounts. The exact amount can change, but travelers in 2026 often report that it is broadly comparable to resort fees at other non-casino Strip properties. Because self-parking is bundled into that charge, guests driving in from California or renting a car from the airport usually do not see a separate parking line item on their folios.

Elara also applies a nightly resort fee payable by non-timeshare guests. Online booking engines in 2026 commonly show this fee in the mid-40-dollar range per night with tax included, although some owners and promotional package guests note that Hilton occasionally waives or discounts those fees. The inclusions can shift, but typically cover internet access and certain on-property amenities. Parking at Elara can be more complicated. The resort shares a large garage with Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops, and public self-parking there often carries its own daily fee for regular visitors. Timeshare owners sometimes report having their parking charges waived, while hotel guests should plan on typical Strip garage pricing unless told otherwise at check-in.

To put costs in perspective, a random midweek search for a one-bedroom suite in July 2026 yields sample base rates around 140 to 220 dollars per night at Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip, and often 170 to 260 dollars at Elara for similar dates, depending on demand and view category. Those figures do not include resort fees or taxes, and weekend or major event pricing can be considerably higher at both. Because Elara sits in the Center Strip sweet spot, it sometimes commands a premium compared with The Boulevard, especially for high-floor “premier” units with better views.

Rideshare and transportation costs also vary slightly by location. From The Boulevard, you may take more frequent Ubers or Lyfts to reach mid-Strip dining and nightlife, at roughly 10 to 20 dollars per ride for two to three miles during busy evening hours. From Elara, many of those same venues are walkable, so you might reserve rideshare trips for the airport, Allegiant Stadium, the Sphere or off-Strip attractions. Over a four-night stay, that difference can add up to the cost of at least one extra dinner for two.

Noise, Vibe and Who Each Resort Fits Best

The choice between these two Hilton Grand Vacations properties often comes down to the kind of Vegas experience you are seeking. Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip appeals strongly to families, longer-stay guests and travelers who want the option of the Strip without living in the middle of it. The atmosphere is closer to a resort condominium: fewer bachelor parties, more multi-generational groups, quieter hallways and a pool deck geared toward relaxation. Parents traveling with young children often appreciate passing through a lobby rather than a smoky casino to reach their room, and the ability to cook simple meals can reduce both costs and the logistics of feeding kids three times a day.

Elara attracts a mix of couples, friend groups and Hilton timeshare owners who want proximity to nightlife. You still skip the casino gauntlet when going to your room, but the energy level just outside the resort is much higher. On a Friday night, guests can walk through Miracle Mile, grab a quick dinner at a casual spot, then slip onto the Strip to see a headliner at Planet Hollywood or The Cosmopolitan without ever calling a car. For groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries or bachelorette weekends, the combination of apartment-style suites and a Center Strip base is extremely convenient.

Noise levels reflect these personalities. At The Boulevard, room noise generally comes from the pool, occasional hallway chatter and distant traffic, but the resort’s distance from the noisier casino clusters helps keep things moderate. Elara, while well-insulated, is surrounded by busy streets and attached to a large shopping complex, so you may hear more ambient city noise, particularly on lower floors or units facing busy arteries. Travelers sensitive to noise often request higher floors at either property, but the difference is especially noticeable at Elara, where a high-floor suite can feel like a peaceful perch above the chaos.

Another consideration is how you envision using your room. If you plan to treat your suite like a home base for working remotely in the mornings and exploring in the afternoons, The Boulevard’s quieter environment and on-site spa may be more conducive to routine. If you expect to be out late and treat the room as both pregame spot and recovery zone, the dramatic windows, soaking tubs and projection screens at Elara tend to feel more “Vegas special.”

Food, Groceries and Everyday Convenience

Because neither resort has a large roster of full-service restaurants, it is important to think about how you will handle meals and everyday errands. At Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip, many guests stop at a supermarket or big-box store off-Strip on their way in from Harry Reid International Airport. A common pattern is to swing by a grocery store near the I-15, stock up on breakfast items, snacks and drinks, then rely on a mix of room cooking, delivery apps and occasional restaurant meals at nearby casinos. The in-room kitchens make cooking a simple pasta dinner or reheating takeout from a local Thai spot straightforward.

Elara, while also offering in-room kitchens and kitchenettes, leans more on its integration with Miracle Mile Shops. Within a short indoor walk, you can find coffee chains, quick-service pizza, tacos, casual American diners and sit-down restaurants. For example, you might grab morning coffee and a simple breakfast sandwich downstairs, return to your suite for a midday break, then head back into the mall for happy hour tacos before catching a show. If you prefer not to cook much on vacation but still want a fridge and microwave for leftovers and drinks, Elara’s immediate access to dozens of eateries is a major convenience.

Grocery access is somewhat easier by car from The Boulevard, where you can head north or west into local neighborhoods with large supermarkets and discount stores. At Elara, driving out of the dense Center Strip zone can be more time-consuming due to traffic and one-way routes, though savvy drivers use back roads east of the Strip to avoid the worst jams. Delivery services operate at both properties, but guests at Elara should budget extra time for drivers to navigate the shared garage and mall layout.

In both cases, travelers who treat Las Vegas as a base for hiking at Red Rock Canyon, visiting Boulder City or day-tripping to the Hoover Dam often appreciate the timeshare-style amenities. Returning from a morning at Red Rock, for instance, you can toss dusty clothes into the in-room washer and dryer at The Boulevard or Elara, shower, make a quick lunch in the kitchen and still have time for a late-afternoon swim or an early show.

The Takeaway

Both Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip and Elara Center Strip deliver a valuable alternative to traditional Las Vegas hotels, particularly for travelers who want more space, practical amenities and a break from the constant casino atmosphere. The Boulevard offers a calmer, more residential feel on the quieter north end of the Strip, with family-friendly pools, included self-parking through its resort charge and suites that function like compact apartments. It is an excellent choice for families, longer stays, drivers and anyone who prefers to dip into the Strip rather than live in its most frenetic zone.

Elara, on the other hand, is hard to beat for location and wow factor. Its direct connection to Miracle Mile and Planet Hollywood puts you steps from Center Strip casinos, dining and shows, while high-rise suites with floor-to-ceiling glass and projection screens deliver the kind of dramatic Vegas setting many visitors imagine. You will likely pay a bit more in nightly rates and resort fees, and parking can be less straightforward, but for couples, groups of friends and celebration trips that revolve around Center Strip venues, Elara often justifies the premium.

If your priority is space, quiet pools, easier driving and family convenience, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip is probably the better resort for you. If your priority is walking out the door into the heart of Las Vegas nightlife and waking up to panoramic Strip views, Elara is the stronger choice. In either case, booking a timeshare-style suite rather than a standard casino room can significantly improve comfort and value, especially on trips longer than a weekend.

FAQ

Q1. Which resort is better for families: Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip or Elara?
Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip generally suits families better thanks to its quieter north Strip location, relaxed pool atmosphere, and condo-style suites with full kitchens and in-room laundry in many units. Elara can still work for families, but its Center Strip location and busier surroundings are more geared toward adults and older teens.

Q2. Is Elara within walking distance of major casinos and attractions?
Yes. Elara is connected directly to the Miracle Mile Shops and Planet Hollywood, putting you within about a 10 to 15 minute walk of The Cosmopolitan, Paris, Bellagio and other Center Strip casinos, as well as numerous shows and restaurants.

Q3. Do both properties charge resort fees?
Yes. Both Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip and Elara apply nightly resort fees to most non-owner reservations, covering amenities such as internet access and use of certain facilities. The exact amount and inclusions can change, so it is important to review the fee details during booking rather than assuming they are identical.

Q4. How does parking compare between the two resorts?
Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip typically includes self-parking as part of its daily resort charge, making it straightforward for drivers. Elara shares a garage with Planet Hollywood and Miracle Mile, and parking there is usually subject to typical Strip self-parking rates unless you have specific owner benefits or a package that waives those fees.

Q5. Which resort has better Strip views?
Elara generally offers more dramatic Strip views, especially from high-floor suites facing west toward Paris, The Cosmopolitan and Bellagio. Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip provides pleasant city and desert vistas, but its position on the north Strip and lower relative height mean the views are less immersive than Elara’s marquee panoramas.

Q6. Are the pools at these resorts party-oriented?
No. Both resorts feature relatively calm pool environments compared with major casino dayclubs. Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip leans more toward a family-friendly, laid-back pool scene, while Elara’s pool is stylish but still far quieter than the big-ticket party pools you will find at properties like Encore or MGM Grand.

Q7. Which resort is better if I will be renting a car?
If you plan to rent a car and use it frequently for off-Strip excursions, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip is usually more convenient, thanks to included self-parking and easier access to local roads and highways. Elara can work with a car, but navigating Center Strip traffic and the shared garage can be slower and more frustrating during peak times.

Q8. Do either of these resorts have their own casinos?
No. Neither Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip nor Elara has an on-site casino. Guests at Elara can reach the Planet Hollywood casino via an interior walkway, while guests at The Boulevard can walk or drive to nearby casino resorts such as Circus Circus or Resorts World.

Q9. Which property offers the best value for longer stays?
For longer stays of a week or more, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip often delivers better overall value due to slightly lower average nightly rates, included self-parking through the resort charge and a quieter environment that feels more residential. Elara can still be a great long-stay option, but its Center Strip location and higher demand can push total trip costs higher.

Q10. If it is my first time in Las Vegas, which resort should I choose?
If it is your first visit and you want to be in the middle of the classic Strip experience, Elara is usually the more exciting choice, placing you steps from many of the city’s most famous casinos, restaurants and shows. If you prefer a softer introduction to Las Vegas with easier retreats from the crowds, Hilton Grand Vacations on the Strip may be the better fit.