My Honest Excalibur Las Vegas Review: Is it Worth Staying At?

Looking for an honest review of Excalibur Las Vegas?

We’ve stayed at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino pretty much every single year at this point. It’s one of our go-to hotels when we want to stay in Vegas for weeks at a time without blowing the budget, since the rates are consistently some of the best on the Strip.

But this year was different, because Excalibur has been going through a major renovation, and a lot of the rooms, especially in the Resort Tower where we stayed, got a total upgrade. And spoiler alert: it was totally worth it. 

In this honest Excalibur Las Vegas review, I’ll break down the rooms (renovated vs. not), the medieval theme, the food, the casino, and everything else you need to know before booking right now during the renovation.

Short on Time?

You can find the best rates for Excalibur Hotel & Casino Las Vegas on Expedia. They price match, so you’re not left wondering if you could’ve gotten a better deal, and their flexible cancellation policy is great if your Vegas plans end up shifting last minute.

Best Things to Do in Las Vegas

If you’re staying at Excalibur, Las Vegas, it’s worth building a few of these activities into your trip:

• High Roller Observation Wheel: The tallest observation wheel in the world, with unbeatable views of the Strip at sunset
• The Bellagio Fountains: Free and still super iconic. Worth seeing on the Strip at least once, and shows run every 15 minutes starting at sunset! 
• A Day Trip to the Grand Canyon: Totally doable from Vegas and one of the coolest US natural landmarks you’ll ever see
• Fremont Street Experience: A completely different, more local side of Vegas that’s worth at least one night

Arrival & Check-In

The Excalibur Hotel Las Vegas sits right on the Strip, and the medieval castle exterior with its turrets and colorful spires is still a fun sight, even after all these years. Pulling up, you know exactly the kind of hotel vibe you’re going to be experiencing (definitely not the same luxurious vibes as Wynn or Venetian, but still super fun).

Check-in was smooth and the staff was friendly, though the lobby can get a little busy on weekends since Excalibur draws a big budget-conscious crowd. I recommend checking in online in advance, otherwise you can be stuck waiting in line for a few minutes!

The check in area flows straight into the casino floor, so you’re immediately in the middle of the action the second you walk in.

The Rooms: Resort Tower vs. Royal Tower

Excalibur has two towers, and right now, which one you book makes a huge difference in your experience. The renovation has been rolling out room by room, so depending on where you book your stay, you could be getting a totally modern room or one that still feels stuck in an older era of Vegas.

The Resort Tower (Renovated)

We stayed in the Resort Tower, and I really think it was slightly better than our stay at New York-New York. The decor was clean and modern, everything felt fresh instead of run down, and the AC unit was actually updated.

If you’ve stayed at the old Excalibur, you know exactly what I mean when I say we didn’t have to jam a pen into the AC panel just to get the buttons to work. 

The real win for us, though, was the in-room fridge. Having a fridge made it so easy to grab juices from Press Juicery or snacks from Target and just keep everything cold in the room. It sounds small, but it saves you real money on food over a longer trip. 

The Royal Tower (Still Dated)

The Royal Tower, on the other hand, hasn’t gotten the same treatment yet. If you book here right now, you’re more likely to get the older, more dated Excalibur experience, the one with worn-down furniture and that classic older AC unit that takes some convincing.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you have the choice, I’d steer toward the newly renovated rooms while they’re being rolled out.

My honest tip: when you book, check reviews or call ahead to confirm you’re getting a renovated room, especially since Excalibur is still mid-renovation and not every room has been touched yet.

➡️ Click here to book a stay at Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas!

The Medieval Castle Theme

Excalibur still fully commits to its medieval castle theme, and it’s part of what makes it such a fun, family-friendly stay. The theming isn’t as immersive or elaborate as something like New York-New York’s Manhattan skyline, but it’s got its own charm, and it’s clearly geared toward families and kids having a good time.

The Fun Dungeon Arcade

Down near the casino level, there’s an arcade that leans into the theme, and it’s a solid spot to kill some time if you’re traveling with kids. It’s not going to be the highlight of your trip, but it’s a cool area that adds to the experience and fun budget-friendly vibe of the hotel.

Tournament of Kings Dinner Show

One of Excalibur’s biggest draws is the Tournament of Kings, a dinner show located downstairs in the arena below the casino. It’s a jousting-and-knights show where you eat with your hands (no utensils, very on theme), and it’s genuinely a hit with families.

We saw a ton of kids and parents filing in for it during our stay, and it’s easy to see why it’s stuck around as long as it has. If you’re traveling with kids, this is one of the best reasons to book Excalibur specifically.

The Excalibur Casino

The casino at Excalibur has a lively, casual energy, similar to what you’d find at other budget-to-mid-range MGM properties on the Strip. There’s a solid mix of slots and table games, and it stays pretty busy most of the time we’ve visited.

It’s not an upscale, quiet casino floor like you’d find at somewhere like Wynn, but that’s not really what Excalibur is going for anyway.

They’ve also renovated some of the bar areas, including a tiki bar that, admittedly, has nothing to do with the medieval theme. It doesn’t really fit the castle aesthetic, but it’s a fun spot for a drink regardless, and it adds a bit of variety to the casino floor.

Dining at Excalibur

Dining at Excalibur leans casual and affordable, which fits the overall budget-friendly identity of the hotel. You’re not going to find a fine-dining destination restaurant here, but there’s enough variety to keep you fed without needing to leave the property.

The Buffet

The buffet at Excalibur is a good option if you want a filling meal without a lot of decision fatigue. It’s not going to compete with the higher-end Strip buffets, but for the price, it gets the job done, especially for breakfast. 

Other Excalibur Restaurants & Bars

Beyond the buffet, there’s a decent lineup to choose from.

Dick’s Last Resort is really popular because the waiters are rude, they give you semi-insulting paper chef hats to wear during dinner, and it has a rowdy vibe that fits right in with the overall energy at Excalibur.

I’ve heard really good things about their family-style Italian restaurant on site, Buca di Beppo, which apparently has some of the best clam linguine on the Strip.

TAP Sports Bar is a good spot to catch a game with a beer in hand, and they have some really good Happy Hour deals. There’s also a food court for something quick and casual between the casino and the pool.

The Excalibur Las Vegas Pool

Excalibur has a fun pool area that’s a good way to spend a few hours in the sun. It’s not the sprawling, multi-level pool complex you’d get at Mandalay Bay, but there’s also a good fitness center on-site if you want to squeeze in a workout during your stay. For the price point, the pool is a solid perk rather than a letdown.

Location & The Mandalay Bay Tram

Excalibur sits toward the south end of the Strip, which technically puts you a bit off the main action. But in practice, it doesn’t feel that far removed, because you can walk the enclosed walkway over to New York-New York, then continue on to Park MGM without ever stepping outside in the heat. That’s a huge bonus in the summer.

Excalibur is also connected to the Mandalay Bay tram system, which links you to Luxor and Mandalay Bay, so getting around that end of the Strip is easy and mostly indoors. Getting up to the mid-Strip (Bellagio, Caesars, and beyond) takes a little more effort, but, overall, the location is more convenient than it might look on a map.

What to Watch Out For

A few things worth knowing before you book:

Room quality varies a lot right now because of the ongoing renovation. If you book without checking what kind of a room you’re staying at, you could end up in the still-dated Royal Tower instead of the freshly renovated rooms in the Resort Tower, so it’s worth doing a little homework or reading recent reviews before you commit.

It’s a very budget, family-leaning hotel, not a high-end one. If you’re looking for a “wow, this is luxury” experience, Excalibur isn’t trying to be that, and it never really has been. It’s reliable, fun, and affordable, but it’s not going to compete with the higher-end resorts up the Strip.

Who Is This Hotel For?

Excalibur is a great fit for:

• Budget-conscious travelers who want to stretch a longer Vegas trip without overspending
• Families with kids, thanks to the Tournament of Kings, the arcade, and the overall kid-friendly theming
• Repeat visitors who just want a reliable, affordable hotel stay on the Las Vegas Strip
• Anyone who wants an in-room fridge to cut down on food costs during the trip

It’s probably not the right call if you want a boutique, design-forward, or ultra-luxury stay, or if you’re set on staying in the thick of the mid-Strip action. But for a fun, affordable stay that’s currently getting noticeably better with each renovated room, the Excalibur Hotel and Casino still delivers.

Final Thoughts: Is Excalibur a Good Hotel?

Yes, especially if you can snag one of the newly renovated Resort Tower rooms. The renovation has genuinely paid off, the rooms are cleaner and more comfortable than they’ve been in years, and having an in-room fridge made a real difference for us.

It’s still not a high-end, jaw-dropping experience, but it’s far from the worst, and for the price and location, the Excalibur Hotel & Casino Las Vegas remains one of our go-to picks year after year.

If you’re weighing a review of Excalibur Las Vegas against other budget-friendly Strip options, this is where it lands for us: reliable, improving fast, and still one of the better value stays on the Strip.