Hotel for Kids in Vegas?

[emma'smom]

It looks like my family may end up in Vegas for two days after our trip to L.A. (using air miles and the flights Vegas has the only non-blacked out flights for that time). My DH has never been to LV, so we thought it might be fun for him to see it and find a hotel where the kids can swim and see the lights.

Any suggestions on family friendly hotels in Vegas (thinking on the Strip)?

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's a Las Vegas board here on the DIS under the California and the West heading....

At the risk of incurring the moderator's wrath for answering Las Vegas questions elsewhere while some people will recommend Excalibur or Circus Circus because they're more kid-themed, as adults you'd probably be happier at New York New York or MGM. The latter has a Rainforest Cafe and is near the M&M store, a big arcade, and the Coke bottle/store.

 

[BKMETV]

I was in Vegas last May with my kids 10 & 8. Highly recommend Mandalay Bay. Pool area is well worth the extra money. Definite no to Excalibur & New York unless you don't mind second hand smoke...both hotels literally stank when you were walking through them.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I loved the Mandalay Bay too. When we went to Vegas I got the impression that the higher end places preferred to hide the sordid underside of Vegas while the cheaper/older resorts tended to embrace & flaunt it in the hopes of making $. I liked the upscale kind of Vegas but didn't care for the other side of it at all, the place definitely has 2 personalities so if I were to bring my kids I would totally keep that in mind.

have fun on your trip.

 

[Momvic5]

Just a friendly warning: Last summer during a long road trip, we also stopped in Las Vegas with our kids (14, 11, and 9). I totally regret it now. It is not really a place for kids. My sons walked around with their eyes wide open(if you know what I mean), and my dd11 thought it was dirty and cheesy. We saw way more than we planned! I hate that we wasted our time and money there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP, don't let the naysayers scare you away! Check out the Las Vegas forum here http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=175 for more information.

Maybe I just wasn't looking for "cheese" or "eye-opening" experiences in December - but I didn't see anything that I wouldn't expose kids to. No blatant ads on taxis (all shows, businesses, etc.) Now, I had a car and avoided driving on the strip, so I don't know about the buses/bus stops, but still.

 

[Gigi22]

Yes, you have to be careful when you walk around on the strip--especially if you split up for any length of time. I was asked to be part of a test audience for a new t.v. show, which was OK, but I didn't have the time--but just walking along the street, DH received multiple offers (some in the form of flyers) for various other types of entertainment.

 

[Pakey]

Mandalay Bay has the best pool. The rooms are plain, nothing special, but the pool is amazing. The shark reef is also there. It's a short tram ride down to the corner where MGM (lion habitat), NY NY (roller coaster), Excalibur (large arcade), M&M store, etc is.

 

[golfgal]

OP, don't let the naysayers scare you away! Check out the Las Vegas forum here http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=175 for more information.

Maybe I just wasn't looking for "cheese" or "eye-opening" experiences in December - but I didn't see anything that I wouldn't expose kids to. No blatant ads on taxis (all shows, businesses, etc.) Now, I had a car and avoided driving on the strip, so I don't know about the buses/bus stops, but still.

Well that is why you didn't see any of the not appropriate for kid stuff. Walk along the strip and there are fliers for "girls" all over the place, raunchy ads, hookers, etc. all over.

OP, if you stick to the hotel for the most part with the kids, you will be fine. It's been a while since I was there but many of the hotels have quite extensive waterparks. We stayed off the strip at the Orleans and had a lovely view of the strip from our room. They had a huge pool area as well. The rooms are very expensive, like under $40/night and are very nice.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, I would have recommended the Orleans except the OP did say they wanted to stay on the Strip.

Another not too expensive hotel with a great pool is the Flamingo. And Gigi22 - your husband got those 'offers' because he was a man alone although sometimes they hand them to couples, too.

 

[Anewman]

Circus Circus used to be the place, now it is a place that rowdy teens hang out while their parents do their thing.

The Orleans would be my choice for kids now.
Bowling(very large)
Movie theaters
Arcades
Pools
kid care for the smaller ones
but it is kinda smokey

 

[NeedaVacation03]

We are partial to the Ventian. We are planning a trip next summer with our 4 girls and that is the location of choice for us. We also may do a night or two at the Golden Nugget for the pool. I have taken one of my DD's before and have no problem taking them all next year. We enjoy Vegas but it will just be the start of our summer trip.

 

[1queen]

We loved the NY NY when we stayed there. I was surprised at the number of children there. That section of he strip is more family friendly. I would think any of the hotels near that section would be fine.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Excalibur, New York, New York... MGM does have the lions... What about Planet Hollywood hotel?

 

[Momvic5]

OP, don't let the naysayers scare you away! Check out the Las Vegas forum here http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=175 for more information.

Maybe I just wasn't looking for "cheese" or "eye-opening" experiences in December - but I didn't see anything that I wouldn't expose kids to. No blatant ads on taxis (all shows, businesses, etc.) Now, I had a car and avoided driving on the strip, so I don't know about the buses/bus stops, but still.

You are right - I am a naysayer when it comes to Las Vegas and kids. It is just my opinion though. I would have appreciated someone warning me before I took my children. We take vacations to experience and see new places - not to stay in our hotel and swim.

Yeah, I would have recommended the Orleans except the OP did say they wanted to stay on the Strip.

Another not too expensive hotel with a great pool is the Flamingo. And Gigi22 - your husband got those 'offers' because he was a man alone although sometimes they hand them to couples, too.

We walked the strip as a whole family, and they tried to hand my husband and ds14 those same raunchy flyers both during the day and evening hours.
Like I stated, I was just giving a friendly warning.

 

[BKMETV]

I walked the street with my two (8 & 10) and not one person approached us with the 'ads'...everyone around us got them but I have to say they were very respectful of me having kids.

 

[emma'smom]

I've been to Vegas before (without my DH and kids) for a conference....so I have some sense of what we're getting into "culture" wise.

I'm not too worried about "exposure to the dark side of Vegas" as my kids are pretty oblivious and, if something comes up, I don't have a problem telling them "just ignore that...that's just something that is for adults and is part of Las Vegas for some people".

By the time we drive from LA, we're not actually going to be there for more than 1 1/2 days.

The hotel suggestions are very helpful....thanks!

 

[Mkrop]

Yeah, I would have recommended the Orleans except the OP did say they wanted to stay on the Strip.

Another not too expensive hotel with a great pool is the Flamingo. And Gigi22 - your husband got those 'offers' because he was a man alone although sometimes they hand them to couples, too.

We went last summer and stayed at the Flamingo, it was very nice and the kids had a blast at the pool. We like that it was located right smack in the middle of the Strip.

Manadlay Bay was beautiful but is way at the end of the Strip. The kids and I went there for the aquarium and as we were walking through they saw the wave pool and lazy river and wished we had stayed there.

I walked the street with my two (8 & 10) and not one person approached us with the 'ads'...everyone around us got them but I have to say they were very respectful of me having kids.

I was with DS12 and DS7(ages then) by myself bc DH came down with food poisioning or a virus and was sick as a dog.

The card people were very respectful of me and my kids walking down the street. It was interesting to see them flicking their cards to attract attention and as soon as we got close enough, the first one would stop and then the rest of them, like a domino effect.

I will be honest that DS12 did ask why would you need a girl in 20 minutes bc it said it on one of the tshirts. He is old enough so I answered him honestly, it was a teaching moment.

I was harrassed more by the one guy asking for money over and over again and then got mad at me when I told him to move on already.


The kids and I had fun, it was sad that DH was so sick.

 

[VAfamily1998]

A couple years ago we were doing a cross country road trip and needed to stay the night in Las Vegas. It wasn't my first choice, but based on timing/other things in the area we wanted to do (Hoover Dam), Las Vegas was pretty much the best option for a city with lots of hotels.

At the time, my kids were 8, 6, 4, and 2.

We originally booked a room at Excalibur, because I thought my kids might like the theme, but then we changed our mind and booked OFF strip at
The Residence Inn Hughes Center
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lashh-residence-inn-las-vegas-hughes-center/

Pros:
1. Free Breakfast Buffet in the morning! Sure, it wasn't as big and grand as the ones in the strip hotels...but with a family of 6 it would have cost a bundle to eat at one of those!
2. Full kitchen in our room (since we were only there one night, we didn't use it--but could come in handy for an extended stay
3. NO CASINO! This was important to me...as all the strip hotels, you have to walk through the Casino to get anywhere else in the hotel. Of course, kids aren't allowed in the Casino floors, so you have to walk all around the border...and those flashy lights from the slot machine sure look like fun to little ones, who would be asking to stop and look...and of course you can't...just a huge hassle
4. NO SMOKING! All Marriot's are smoke free!
5. The pool was open till 11 pm! When I was looking at hotels on the strip, all of them stated that their pools closed at like 5 or 6 pm! This was in late June! I was shocked they all closed so early. We probably wouldn't even be in our hotel 'till about 6 pm, since we were seeing Hoover Dam during the day...and after a long day in the car my kids would really need a way to burn off energy...
6. Ton's of restuarants right on the same street--PF Changs, Ruth's Chris, Buca di Beppo...yeah, they are just chains you can go to anwhere, but sometimes something "known and familiar" is better when traveling with little kids.

Cons:
1. It was a bit older, probably could have used a refurbishing...nothing dirty or broken or anything...just a little dated looking.
2. Not on the strip...if that's really important to you...It was about a mile from the strip and it was super easy to just drive to one of the strip hotels and park

We didn't really do much on the strip that night. We did take the kids over to the Bellagio to see the water fountain show, and then we had our dinner in Paris at that little Crepe place they have there. We started walking back to our car about an hour after it got dark (can't remember the exact time--we were on vacation! ) and the guys that hand out the escort fliers were out in full force. And yes, they did attempt to pass them to my Dh even though he was obviously with his wife and 4 young kids...