Planning a visit with children - bad idea??

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I have just read a thread further down and someone mentioned how they would never take children to Vegas again and I just was having second thoughts on my plans.

I have been to Vegas three times, although not for 10 years and not since I have had children. We are not gamblers or late night party people but still loved Vegas for their extravagant hotels, pools and shows. Plus we enjoyed things like visiting the Forum shops and the light show at the Golden Nugget.

We were planning on spending a couple of nights at either The Venetian, Mandalay Bay or the Cosmopolitan en route to the Grand Canyon from Disneyland and then coming back for 5 nights at the Bellagio (our favourite hotel ever!!) to unwind and mainly chill by the pool, eat in some nice restaurants and shop until our flight home to the UK.

Our children would be 10 and 7 when we travel and I just wondered whether it would be a bad idea for us to take them to Vegas? - The only unsavoury thing I can recall was a couple of calling cards on a pay phone as we walked past one day which I think I could distract the children from if I am cautious, and whilst I realise it is a party town, we won't really be out later in the evenings other than possibly to see a show, so I am wondering whether based on the type of vacation we planned whether it is possible to have a clean, child friendly trip in Vegas??

What do you think?? Many thanks for any opinions

[Magix]

Yes, you can totally enjoy Vegas with kids. Heck, my parents used to take me to Vegas when I was young, in the 1970's, when it really wasn't for families at all! As long as you're just enjoying the hotel pool and having some good meals, maybe seeing some appropriate shows, there's nothing to worry about. If you're out on the Strip, the kids might see ads for female escorts on buses, cabs, etc, plus some of the people who hand out escort cards/fliers on the street. But, if you either distract them or are prepared to give some kind of glossed-over explanation, I don't think you'll have any problems at all.

My friend and I are taking his 9 year-old to Vegas in June and I just intend to explain to him that it's a place designed for adults to have fun, so he might see some weird things. But, it's nothing he needs to worry about. We're just going to spend our time at the hotel pool, at some restaurants and shops that I like and we're going to see Cirque du Soleil "Love" because he's a big Beatles fan.

Vegas and kids can be mixed with positive results, if you just pay a bit of attention to what's going on around you. I wouldn't worry about it. Just go and have fun!

[skiingfast]

I don't see why not. Is it the best place for kids, no. But not the worst.

The Freemont St. Experience. Adventure Dome at Circus Circus. The inside show at the RIO. Seeing the animals and aquariums in the hotels.

But I would stay somewhere with a great pool.

Manadaly Bay is a great choice. MGM is fun also.

[amystevekai&bump]

thank you both for your reassurance - we loved Las Vegas (mainly for the amazing pools!!!) and I think we will have a couple of nights at Mandalay Bay before driving across to the Grand Canyon for a couple of nights and then back to DH & I's favourite, the Bellagio for a final few days of relaxation by their beautiful pools.

The rest of our vacation - San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Anaheim & Grand Canyon will very much be about touring and showing the children the sites - so it will be lazy pool days and early nights to end our trip, so hopefully child friendly enough - thanks again for your commments

[lovebug33]

I'm a native Las Vegan. Yes, you can enjoy Vegas with kids, but to me, I would find a more kid friendly destination. I always marvel at people dragging kids through casinos (especially babies in strollers at 2 or 3 in the morning)and having them out until all hours of the night when there isn't anything for them to do. Your kids are older, so they can enjoy the other things Vegas is famous for. I don't know, I just can't imagine doing Vegas with kids!

[LCARDVERO]

I don't think it's a "bad idea" We just came back from Vegas with our 12 and 16 yr old for the same reasons..nice hotels, nice pool, day trip to Grand Canyon. Just walking through the hotels is fun for the kids. But if you walk the strip, there will be naked girls cards all over the sidewalk. We just walked over them..
Have fun!

[jdb in AZ]

Vega$ is more family-oriented than when I was a kid (a hundred years ago.) We drove through and the only restaurant in town that allowed kids, also had cigarette smoke so thick you could cut it with a knife. But we could still see the paintings of nekked women on the walls.

[malibuconlee]

I go twice a year and won't be taking my daughter until the day before her 21st birthday.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Bellagio to not be kid friendly. I did not see it enforced the last time I was there, however there has been a "no stroller" policy at the Bellagio in the past. I know your kids are older, but to me that just screams don't bring your kids here!

While there are things to do the kids might enjoy, I just believe it's a place to enjoy as adults and leave the kids at home.

[VAN]

When Bellagio first opened, they did not allow anyone under the age of 18 to even be on property!!!! And they did check ID's just to walk through.

I don't believe they do that anymore though ...

If Las Vegas is just a part of your vacation and you're not big gamblers, I think you will be fine. As long as you are planning activities WITH your children and don't plan to dump them in the room on their own while you are downstairs in the casino ... you will be fine. It doesn't sound like you are big gamblers, so I'm sure you will have fun.

It is, however, definitely more fun without children - but you'll be fine if you plan and do your homework before hand to find out what activities are available before you go.

Just a note, there are a few casinos/resorts that have movie theatres on-site. This might be helpful for the evenings ... some entertainment without having to go outside your resort.

Young children will definitely like the Tournement of Kings dinner show at the Excalibur. It's a bit cheesy but definitely fun!

[princessnoelly]

Originally Posted by malibuconlee

I go twice a year and won't be taking my daughter until the day before her 21st birthday.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Bellagio to not be kid friendly. I did not see it enforced the last time I was there, however there has been a "no stroller" policy at the Bellagio in the past. I know your kids are older, but to me that just screams don't bring your kids here!

While there are things to do the kids might enjoy, I just believe it's a place to enjoy as adults and leave the kids at home.

I agree. I don't want to have to explain to my kids why the man is passing out pictures of naked ladies to daddy. Or, why those girls are wearing tee shirts without underpants.

I have never agreed with taking my kids to Vegas. But, some people do and that is why there are kids in Vegas, just not my kids!

[Miffy2003]

Well, I will let you know when we get back

I have personally found it very hard to balance the need to see a lot vs the need to be packing and unpacking every day or so, and spending lots of time in the car. We are there for three weeks and still can't fit in the PCH

We have managed to allocate five days in Vegas and I can't say I have any concerns about what the children may see. We've had a conversation with them already and it has prompted a lot of giggling rather than anything worse!!

We've gone for the Signature to stay at, mostly because it's slightly off strip (though only a few minutes' walk) and therefore quieter, but also because we've been able to book a massive one bedroom (950 sq ft) suite for a fraction of what the Bellagio wanted in a standard room. Watch out for the extra person fees - on many of the hotels we were being charged an additional $350+ (for the five nights in total) to include DDs.

[amystevekai&bump]

Originally Posted by Miffy2003

Well, I will let you know when we get back

I have personally found it very hard to balance the need to see a lot vs the need to be packing and unpacking every day or so, and spending lots of time in the car. We are there for three weeks and still can't fit in the PCH

We have managed to allocate five days in Vegas and I can't say I have any concerns about what the children may see. We've had a conversation with them already and it has prompted a lot of giggling rather than anything worse!!

We've gone for the Signature to stay at, mostly because it's slightly off strip (though only a few minutes' walk) and therefore quieter, but also because we've been able to book a massive one bedroom (950 sq ft) suite for a fraction of what the Bellagio wanted in a standard room. Watch out for the extra person fees - on many of the hotels we were being charged an additional $350+ (for the five nights in total) to include DDs.

Hi Karen Ooh i would love to hear all about your planned itinerary!! We love the Bellagio, but having read these posts I am wondering whether it might not be such a good idea to stay there with the children. We just loved the pools there and as that is pretty much what we will be doing for most of our time in vegas (aside from a few shows, restaurants and a little shopping!!) then I wanted to go back there, but if the children aren't welcome then I think that could put a dampener on things - I might ring them before I book anything to get a feel for what they are like about children.

We are planning on the PCH but only because I like to take the scenic route between my two favourite places in California - San Francisco and Santa Barbara. The problem with the west coast is that there are so many places I want to visit, but because I like to return to my favourites, there are so many places we still have yet to see!!! Steve would love to go to Yosemite and I would too, but we just can't fit it all in and as its for my 40th birthday then I win and Santa Barbara it is!!!

We'll have to get together really soon as I'd love to hear all about your trip!!

[rainyday77]

We are thinking of a trip that includes Vegas this summer with our 2 daughters. The strip after dark is off the table due to all the escort cards (they are 2 and 5). We are going for the dry hot weather and the pools - along with a sidetrip to California. We are thinking about staying at Tahiti Village which is just off the strip. It has a nice pool area with a sand beach entry and a lazy river. I love the Vegas heat in the summer so days lounging by the pool, floating down the lazy river are heavenly!

[queendisney]

On our flight to Vegas in a jumbo jet there was one baby and that was it on the kid front and I certainly didn't see very many other children last week. Personally I think there are better places to go with kids not just because of the in your face prostitute/call girls cards that are not only pressed into your hands but are all over the sidewalks, then there is the smoke that you can't seem to get away from in the hotel casino's which many of the hotels seem to make you walk through to get to any other attractions they may offer. The side walks would also be very hard to negotiate with a stroller at times. I just think that its a bit too much of a 'anything goes' place that I just wouldn't want any child of mine to be subjected to.

[KKB]

DS went when he was 12 for NASCAR & I swore not until they are 21...
BUT we wanted an inexpensive getaway w/ the kids after Xmas...and w/ $200 flights, free rooms & meals, it fits the bill.
We are staying at the Rio (off strip, all suites) and this is a kid-centered trip. I agree the strip is daytime unless we are driving (tho the porn slappers are heavier on the east side of the strip). We are hitting the Grand Canyon, seeing all the typical touristy things, shopping.
I think you will have a lovely time & Bellagio is a nice choice.