Posted on: April 2, 2026, 08:02h.
Last updated on: April 2, 2026, 08:11h.
Las Vegas spent decades resisting all-inclusive packages. Cheap rooms, cheap buffets, and free drinks on the casino floor did all the necessary work. But since that model has sailed like a Caribbean luxury cruise, the Strip’s two dominant operators, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, have now both taken a cue from the cruise industry to generate interest in their lowest-tier properties during the slowest season of the year: summer.
Both operators are responding to the same pressures: the softening of tourism in 2025 and a push to restore the perception of value. Rising airfare and gas prices are pushing travelers toward predictable, upfront pricing. And both companies chose their least luxurious properties because these hotels already compete on price, not prestige. Bundling them in all-inclusive offers makes them more competitive without cannibalizing Bellagio, Caesars Palace, or Cosmopolitan.
MGM’s Approach: The Structured Bundle
MGM’s rollout, announced last month, is limited to Luxor and Excalibur, their most budget-friendly Strip hotels.
- Pricing: Starts at $330 total for two nights for two guests
- Dates: April 6-Sept. 8, 2026
- Dining: Three meals per day per guest at Luxor or Excalibur but also limited outlets at the higher-end MGM Grand (MGM Grand Buffet and TAP Sports Bar) and Mandalay Bay (Noodle Shop)
- Alcohol: One beer or wine per meal
- Entertainment: Two show tickets (for “Blue Man Group,” Carrot Top, “Fantasy,” Mac King, Australian Bee Gees or “Thunder from Down Under”); two Big Apple Coaster rides
- Parking: Free
This offer provides fixed menus, fixed restaurants, and one alcoholic drink per meal. But the value math is real: MGM claims $400+ in savings if you use everything.
Caesars’ Beverage-Forward Flex
Caesars’ all‑inclusive experiment, announced April 2, is also anchored at its low‑tier properties: Harrah’s, The Linq, and Flamingo.
- Pricing: Starts at $200 per night for one guest, each additional guest is $100
- Dates: April 1-August 31, 2026
- Dining: Includes two meals per day, at quick‑service and full‑service venues including restaurants by Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri
- Alcohol: Bottomless well drinks, house wine, beer and Red Bull at select bars
- Entertainment: Two High Roller tickets and 20% off cabanas at Influence, The Pool at the Linq
- Parking: Free
Caesars’ version leans more toward unlimited bar access (within well‑drink limits) and fewer structured entertainment perks.
Which Deal Is Better?
- Maximum food value: MGM wins. Three meals per day, across multiple properties, is a bigger guaranteed savings.
- Maximum alcohol value: Caesars wins. Bottomless well drinks at multiple bars is far more generous than MGM’s one drink per meal.
- Entertainment variety: MGM wins. Show tickets + coaster rides beat a single High Roller ride.
- For solo travelers: MGM wins. Caesars’ pricing is optimized for groups; MGM’s flat two‑guest package is cheaper for one or two people.
- For groups of 3–4: Caesars wins. Adding guests is straightforward and cheaper than stacking MGM packages.
Bottom Line
MGM and Caesars are both using their value tier properties to test all-inclusive models, but they’re targeting different guest behaviors. MGM is selling a structured, activity heavy bundle that rewards people who will actually use the perks. Caesars is selling a drink heavy, flexible package that rewards social groups and bar hoppers.
Neither is a true Caribbean style all inclusive, but both are meaningful shifts in how Vegas is trying to restore the sense of upfront value that the Strip lost over the last decade.
