Anyone been to Vegas Lately?

[KyraS]

My in-laws have planned a Vegas trip for most of our family in April. The problem is they have us booked at Circus Circus. Now I haven't been to Vegas in about four years but even then Circus Circus was NOT in a, good part of the strip to be. We did go there because our son wanted to do the Adventure Dome thingy and play the games, BUT I just do NOT think this is a good place to stay.

I am sure they got rooms at a steal simply because of the area but I'm really tempted to make our own reservations somewhere else. I don't want to hurt their feelings but I also don't want my family and kids in an unsafe part of the strip.

What do you think??????

 

[Papa Deuce]

While I don't like Circus Circus, I don't see anything wrong with the area. I was at the Riviera in February which is right accross the street. If it has been 4 years since you have been in Vegas, you might be EXTREMELY surprised at everything that is new in that area. The whole place seemed to be under construction.

I'm going again in February and staying at the brand new Palazzo.

BTW... if you like late night drinks, go to the Peppermill Lounge, right next to the Riviera...

 

[phinsphan]

We go to Vegas several times a year. While the "area" of Circus Circus isn't exactly "bad" the hotel itself IS!! I would NEVER stay there no matter if it was free or they were giving me $$$ to stay. If it were me I'd find a hotel on the strip "near" Circus Circus and stay there. The hotel has seen it's better days that's for sure. There is a reason the rooms are are so cheap....................no one in their right mind wants to pay to stay there.

The closest hotel that won't cost you a small fortune *think Wynn* is Treasure Island. It may be more than Circus Circus but it's a much nicer hotel. It's far from Circus Circus and you'd need to probably take the monorail from the LV Hilton to the Mirage/Treasure Island stop but I'd never even consider staying in Circus Circus. It's a real dump!!

JMO though...YMMV!

 

[KyraS]

Treasure Island is actually where we stayed 4 years ago and it was very very nice.

There will be about 6 children aged 1 - 17 going so what would you all think as kid friendly hotels?

My son thinks the Luxor looks cool but of course looking cool and being nice are two different things.

 

[phinsphan]

I think there are some great hotels on the strip for kids though Vegas isn't really FOR kids. Mandalay Bay has a GREAT pool area for kids. Monte Carlo is nice because it's not as large or overwhelming as most and it has a great wave pool. Luxor I can't endorse because everytime we've been there we've had a horrible experience so we stopped staying there. Excalibur is "ok" for the $$ but I don't like it due to personal taste issues. Paris is nice but their pool stinks though the area on the strip is nice. But honestly Monte Carlo, Mandalay Bay, MGM or even Flamingo Hilton are good for kids with their pools etc.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Vegas just isn't kid friendly anymore. We took our boys a couple of times but it's been at least 5 years since they went with us. Check out the casino websites - some still have arcade's for the kids but that and a pool are probably the only entertainment they are going to have.

Oh and I'd pass on the Luxor. I paid the money the last time we were there with the boys to stay in the pyramid. Yeah it was cool but the room was dirty and really run down. I hear it hasn't been renovated yet so I'm sure it's probably even worse now.

I did stay at Circus Circus with the kids too, maybe I'm just paranoid but that place just screams pedophile heaven to me... Not to mention the rooms while clean stunk like cigarette smoke

 

[Tamarap]

We just returned from Las Vegas yesterday. We go about 3-4 times a year and have taken the kids a few times. I am not a fan of Circus Circus. Nothing wrong with the area just not that appealing. With kids we have stayed at Monte Carlo, MGM, Mirage, Wynn, and New York New York. My top choices with kids would be MGM or Monte Carlo.

 

[suzimar57]

we were in vegas first week of august - stayed at Paris - love it there!!

had a great view of the Bellagio fountains/strip

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So are you paying for the room? How odd that they decided for you without your input.

I have never been to Vegas but if "all the family" is staying there, I would probably buck it up and stay together.

If I do go to Vegas (someday), I am NOT bringing the kids.

 

[Tikitoi]

I read a lot about Circus Circus on a Vegas board, and I would never stay there. We were there earlier this year and NYNY looks nice to stay at.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I love that end of the strip, but I don't know how much I would love it with kids. If I were taking kids with me, I'd try to stay at the MGM Grand or Flamingo...maybe even TI. I would think that being more "mid-strip" would be good with kids, just because there's not as much walking between things and there would be more to do. I won money at Circus Circus, but I wouldn't stay there. I just have a problem with clowns.

BTW, second the recommendation on the Peppermill. It's my favorite place in Vegas.

 

[shirleyb]

I just came back from Vegas last week and stayed at the Venetian. Beautiful, lovely hotel, although probably not much for kids to do there. I only paid $119 a night for the Venetian. I wouldn't stay at Circus Circus, and would try to find a better deal in a nicer hotel.

 

[heatherleigh]

I go pretty often. I have never stayed at Circus Circus, but I stayed at the Stardust once which was right next to it (it's since been torn down.) That area isn't unsafe, but the hotel of CC isn't that great. I would be more leery about the hotel itself, rather than the area.

 

[Evil Genius]

Like pp have said, the part of the strip isn't bad, but Circus, Circus is not somewhere you want to stay. Check a few of the casino websites. Some of them have great room deals if you reserve online.

 

[redshoes]

My family went to Vegas in March and stayed at Mandalay Bay. The pool was wonderful but I will say even at a resort that seems more kid friendly than some I felt out of place. On the days I took the boys down to the pool they kind of stuck out like a sore thumb. Vegas goes through these little reinvent yourself stages and right now they arent marketing themselves as a family fun vacation spot. They are appealing to an adult crowd. I told my DH that walking down the strip last year with just him was a totally different experience than walking down the strip as a family- nothing alarming just seen through a different set of eyes. I'm not saying any of this to discourage you, but I guess just as a disclaimer. Our family Disney trips have made my DH and I a little naive I guess when it comes to vacations with our kids.
All of this is not to say that there arent kid friendly things to do in Vegas, it just can be a chore wading through the adult related stuff to get there. One of the things that my boys still talk about is our hike around Red Rock Canyon. It was beautiful and something a little out of the norm when you think about a trip to Vegas.

 

[Pakey]

I go to Las Vegas every few months. I would not stay at Circus Circus, with or without children. My brother booked us all there once and the rooms were hideous. One night was all we could manage. Words cannot describe. And I agree with PP's, Las Vegas is not kid friendly at all anymore.

If I were taking children, I would pick Mandalay Bay. It has an amazing pool plus there is the tram down to Excalibur which has a large arcade.

 

[moet7]

Hi
We stayed a few nights this summer with the kids at MGM and it's very kid friendly, the pool is the best one on the strip for kids. It has a great lazy river