Anyone been to Vegas?

[my3princesses]

Thought I'd ask fellow Canadians their opinions on hotels to stay at in Vegas. We want to stay on the strip in the middle of the action. I have looked at Paris, Aladdin and Bellagio. Which would you recommend or any others to recommend? Gambling is not a priority but we would definitely want to catch one of the Cirque shows.

I would like to try to have hotels near the monorail as we are going in early August and it will be too hot to walk around alot in daylight.

Any other pointers would be great !

 

[explorer1977]

Well the Bellagio would be my vote with no question. The Cirque show there ("O") is simply amazing and the hotel is so beautiful. We stayed there last year and since then they have added a whole other wing and a much larger spa. I can not say much about Paris or Alladin cause I hav'nt stayed at either but we did visit them and they are both very nice and the Alladdin has a great mall. I just want to go back one day soon but Disney is still our choice hands down.

 

[my3princesses]

Yes we are leaning towards Bellagio, thanks.

We were in Disney at the end of February and then on the Wonder - and it really wasn't a holiday so I have a business trip in the US in the summer and thought it would be a good opportunity to have an adult holiday.
Thanks for your comments

 

[sharonh]

I love Vegas!!!!!! The first time we went we stayed at the MGM hotel. Rooms were average size and the hotel was so big it took forever to get anywhere. I liked it alright but would not stay there again. 2nd time we went we stayed at the Alladin. I loved it. They upgraded us from the basic room to, I think they called it a Resort room. Very big and had a very large bath. The hotel was not overwhelming in size and had a Starbucks on the main floor. I went down most mornings and got my husband and myself coffee, muffins and a fruit bowl. There is also a large mall right in the hotel.
Bellagio is where I might stay next if we can get a decent price, but I would not hesitate to stay at the Alladin again. Have a great time. If you like to shop they have some great places.

 

[OntFamily]

I stayed at Bellagio in Feb -- great hotel.

 

[Frameboy]

I've been to Vegas 8 times now... couple things I've picked up.

1) Take a Limo from the airport. Cab will cost $15, or a Limo will cost you $20. If you are going with friends, it's a nice way to travel.

2) Paris, Alladin or Belagio, you can't go wrong. The fact is that 4 star hotels like Treasure Island are nicer than 5 star hotels in most cities.

3) If you want a great meal... go to Alan Alberts on the Strip... it's fabulous, but not cheap.

4) If you golf, I recommend Badlands. Amazing course.

5) Vegas in August is HOT!!! I can't stress how hot. You CAN walk the strip because it's dry hot, not like Florida... but always keep some water with you, and stop at the various hotels for a drink.

6) A few of the bars I like (NOT clubs... bars) are Voodoo Lounge, which is on the roof of the Rio Suites. There is Red Square in Mandalay Bay as well... both really nice places. I've not been to Ghost Bar at the Palms, but I hear it's nice.

7) If you have a TELUS cell phone, they use Sprint on the strip, and they have a virtual conceierge. They'll book tickets for you, make restaurant reservations for you, all kinds of neat stuff.

8) Try the World Buffet at the Rio, and the buffet at Mandalay Bay.

9) Denny's is great for a hang-over breakfast.

10) Finally. Get to the Airport EARLY when you are going home. Last time I was there I got there 3 hours early and waited 5 hours to get through security, and I was going to Denver... not even international. I doubt I'd go 5 hours early, but at least call the airline and see.

Enjoy!!!!

 

[jersey shark]

The Venetian is also worth looking into....it has the largest rooms in Vegas (700 sq ft or so -they bill them as suites but I wouldn't go that far).

Location is great as well; being mid-Strip just like Bellagio

Avoid at all costs Circus Circus, LV Hilton, Flamingo Hilton, the Westin Las Vegas & the Stratosphere for overnight accomodation

Have a great trip!

 

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I absolutely love Vegas! I think it is now my favorite place to go.

I just got back March 27th from my first trip to Vegas. We stayed at the Aladdin and I really liked the place, however, Planet Hollywood is taking over slowly but surely and there have already been changes since I left.

Next time I would like to stay at the Monte Carlo or Mandalay Bay, but to be honest, I would be very happy to just go back!

Keep in mind there is a great deal of walking in every aspect of Vegas. I think you will walk more in Vegas than in WDW.

As far as shows, we went to 'We Will Rock You' at Paris. I really enjoyed it.

There are lots of really good places to eat and drink!

I hope you have a good trip! If you have any questions, please ask away.

 

[chasbos]

I need some more info from you Vegas experts! I would like to go as a family ( DH, myself and 4 DD's 13, 12, 10, 7) We would like to fly in stay the night (any nice family spots?) and then tour to the Hoover Dam and then Grand Canyon (anyone know the distances?) and then head back to Vegas to fly home. Just a quick little 4-5 day trip, does this sound reasonable or am I crazy?

 

[sharonh]

I love Vegas, but would not take my kids there-ever. There is pornography being handed out every few feet by peddlers. People drop it on the ground and it is blowing everywhere. It is also very fast paced and noisy. Maybe if you stayed way down the strip and did not go onto the main part it could be okay. At one time they were trying to build attractions for families, but it did not work out and things are very adult again. Maybe you could take the kids somewhere else and you and hubby could go alone some time.

 

[madge62]

I do love Vegas as well. I've been 4 times and would love to go back again. We did take our daughter, then almost 11 on a road trip that ultimately ended up in LV. We stayed at the Excalibur, visited the Hoover Dam, went to the theme park they used to have at MGM and visited all the big hotels and buffets of course.

We're actually considering a Christmas holiday this year! Depending on my father's health at the time (Parkinson's) and would take our daughter, who would be 18, and my sister and her family (my nieces are 3, 9 and 10). We're somewhat tired of the same old Christmas, turkey, etc. and wanted someplace that wouldn't involve a lot of effort on the part of my parents (like DL). We're looking for a hotel that has a pool open (and there actually are several) and hope to visit the Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the wax museum and the buffets (who better to cook Christmas dinner than the Bellagio!).

BTW, as well as the Excalibur we've stayed at the Imperial Palace, the Luxor and the Monte Carlo (2x). My favourite would be the Monte Carlo.

 

[Grumbo]

I need some more info from you Vegas experts! I would like to go as a family ( DH, myself and 4 DD's 13, 12, 10, 7) We would like to fly in stay the night (any nice family spots?) and then tour to the Hoover Dam and then Grand Canyon (anyone know the distances?) and then head back to Vegas to fly home. Just a quick little 4-5 day trip, does this sound reasonable or am I crazy?

We did a portion of that trip last year chasbos.
There was my wife and DD who was 11 at the time.
We drove to the Grand Canyon, but you're looking at a good portion of the day. We also stayed overnight at the Grand Canyon. Got some neat photos of the sunset and we did a big tour up to LA, along the coast, Yosemite, Death Valley and back to Vegas. I know the latter part isn't what you're interested in but what you have suggested is doable.
You could stay in Vegas, drive to the Grand Canyon, back to Vegas and still have a few days in Vegas. If you've got kids with you (which you obviously do) take a look at this day trip. We did it and it was phenomenal. We got our lunch included, and it was great. Our daughter loved it, saw the Hoover dam from a location most don't, and more mountain goats/sheep than you could shake a stick at.
http://www.blackcanyonriveradventures.com/
We stayed at the Paris, and are going back again this August, prior to our Disney cruise from L.A..
The pool is great at the Paris and our daughter loved it.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Amberle3]

I have to say also that Vegas is just not a family vacation destination. Last decade they were trying to be family-friendly, and then discovered that it just doesn't pay as much as catering to the adults-only crowd. The MGM amusement park is gone. Many of the hotel arcade areas are either gone or have been renovated so that they're smaller. When people say that there's porn and smut all over the place some might think "well that's easy to avoid". But no, it's not.

As you walk down the strip at least 3 people on every block will actively try to shover literature for escort services into your hand. The WILL hand these to kids also - they don't care who they give them to, they're paid to distribute them. This literature rather deceptively looks like trading cards BTW. There are billboards for strippers. Many of the cabs have ads on top for "Crazy Girls" on them - these feature a group of women wearing only thongs, standing side-by-side with their back to the camera with their legs spread. As the "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" theme grows stronger more and more hotels are opening lounges that play on this theme. I know you're not likely to be taking the kids to a lounge, but somehow it just seems strange to me to be walking past a place with nude or topless dancers in your own hotel.

Treasure Island used to have a cool pirate show that attracted families. Now it's not a pirate show, it's a "Sirens" show featuring scantily clad women sirens seducing the pirates in an "Eros" battle. TI also converted one of their nightclubs into a club with a "strip" view - they feature burlesque performances.

I go to Vegas once or twice a year. Each time I notice at how the sexuality is getting a little more brazen. I'm getting married there in a few months and even though kids are invited, most people aren't bringing their kids.

Can you do a family vacation in Vegas? Absolutely. But you have to realize that it's not the same as doing a family vacation pretty much anywhere else in North America. The emphasis on sex and body parts is constant. You can't just let the kids wander off ... well pretty much anywhere. Kids can't be on the casino floors, so if a parent wants to gamble at all (even 5 minutes at a slot machine) the kids will have to be somewhere else. Last time I was there I saw security escorting a family out of the casino, the mother was protesting that the kids weren't playing, they were just standing in the aisle watching her play. Well that's not allowed either. (This was at the Luxor).

I'm also routinely amazed at the really, really drunk people (mostly guys) walking up and down the strip with drinks in hand. Not that you don't see a lot of people walking along outside with drinks, but pretty much every day I'd see a group of really, really drunk people. And it didn't matter what time of day, because Vegas is open 24-hours, the drinks are free in the casino and the current theme is "excess".

 

[Grumbo]

Last time I was there I saw security escorting a family out of the casino, the mother was protesting that the kids weren't playing, they were just standing in the aisle watching her play. Well that's not allowed either. (This was at the Luxor).

Children aren't allowed to be in the gambling area, BUT they are permitted to walk through any/all gambling areas. Just not permitted to stop and stand. That is a Nevada law, and they ARE very stingent on this, and rightfully so. I guess we found that going to the malls, swimming, Grand Canyon, we went and saw Elton John as a family and the fountains at Bellagio, the shops at the Venetian and Caesars was fun and our daughter enjoyed it as well.
This year we're going to see KA at the MGM, and We Will Rock you at the Paris. The shows and excursions can be expensive, but we enjoy it

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Lewisc]

Vegas is getting away from promoting itself as a family destination. There are many adult shows in the resorts. Suggestive billboards. Flyers for adult entertainment are handed out.

MGM closed the theme park. You pay per ride on the NYNY rollercoaster. I'd save Vegas for an adult escape. You can take your kids to the Cirque shows but it'll cost you more for 90 minute show than you'd spend at Disney for a days admission and meals. With MYW tickets and dining A LOT MORE.

If you must bring your kids Monte Carlo is probably the nicest resort that's kid friendly. They have a decent pool and a good food court.

 

[Amberle3]

Children aren't allowed to be in the gambling area, BUT they are permitted to walk through any/all gambling areas. Just not permitted to stop and stand. That is a Nevada law, and they ARE very stingent on this, and rightfully so. I guess we found that going to the malls, swimming, Grand Canyon, we went and saw Elton John as a family and the fountains at Bellagio, the shops at the Venetian and Caesars was fun and our daughter enjoyed it as well.
This year we're going to see KA at the MGM, and We Will Rock you at the Paris. The shows and excursions can be expensive, but we enjoy it

The thing with kids in the casino is that yes, they're permitted to WALK THROUGH but they pretty much have to be moving along.

Vegas can certainly be done as a family destination, but I think it actually takes more work for a family than other destinations. It's kind of like swimming upstream. At other destinations you're not battling the people that have been drawn there by the lure of any number of possible things happening that can't/won't happen at home. You don't have to contend with posters, billboards and trading cards of mostly naked women all over the place. You don't find the same amount of drunkeness and debauchery. It can be dealt with, but I think it takes more work than a vacation to say WDW would.

Don't get me wrong, I love Vegas. I love how it's so over the top, almost surreal. I love that you can get pretty much anything you want 24 hours a day. It's like an adult Fantasy Island. They know what people want, they know how to treat people, and they know that as long as they keep doing what they're doing that people will keep coming back.

 

[Grumbo]

Just re read my post in your quote..
Sorry it was meant to read "Children ARE allowed in the gambling area".
I do agree its not my first choice for a holiday for kids, however it is still a great place for them to experience.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Amberle3]

Just re read my post in your quote..
Sorry it was meant to read "Children ARE allowed in the gambling area

There are specific pathways that children are allowed to be on. Basically the large, empty aisles leading to washrooms, leading through the casino etc. They are not allowed to wander at the tables or the machines. They can't just loiter around the casino. The state is very, very tight on underage gaming and anything that even hints that it might possibly be happening is enough to make the casino nervous. If security sees a child wandering off the pathways or just standing around, they will make the family move along.

I saw some of this when I was there at Christmas, I saw more of it the year I was there at the US Thanksgiving. I swear I saw more kids in Vegas than at Disney that week. It seemed like every casino I was in there were security guards telling parents that no, they couldn't have their kids hanging around with them while they played. If they were going to the restaurant or the show then get moving, don't stop and watch.

 

[Snowwark]

As the "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" theme grows stronger more and more hotels are opening lounges that play on this theme.

Darn! One of my brothers is in Vegas right now (on business...sure..lol), due home tomorrow. I'm thinking I might not hear too much about his trip!!

I'd love to go to Vegas, and will keep all your suggestions in mind!

 

[RC Fan]

I must say I was shocked at how many kids were there. I saw a lot of parents dragging along exhausted children of all ages. I really don't know why one would bring a small child to Vegas.

I also noticed a lot of people abusing the 'no kids in the casino' rule. I was under the impression that kids are to go from point A to point B with no lingering. I saw a lot of lingering going on.