When I visit the Las Vegas area for hiking, I typically stay in Hampton Inn style hotels off strip in Las Vegas. If I want to go to the strip, I will ride share.

So, I can't tell you the 4-5 star to stay in.

But, if you are there for that long, and want to get out, you can also take day trips (or overnight trips) to Zion NP and/or Death Valley NP.

You can even stay at the Inn in Death Valley and have amazing sunrises and sunsets in the valley right out your door.

I have stayed in Las Vegas during the holiday period and found out a couple things:

You can pretty much find good restaurants open on Christmas Day all over Las Vegas. I found some wonderful Thai food. The shops on the strip were all open too.

The Hoover Dam visitor's center is closed on Christmas Day.

It can get really cold in Las Vegas in December, so resort pools might not be useful. It snowed when I was there.

New Year's Eve rates are astronomical at most properties. I had to leave town.

Valley of Fire was really neat too.