kid friendly hotel in las vegas

[tripletrouble]

As part of our trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, we have decided to fly home from las vegas, so that we can possibly see stop at Hoover Dam. Does anyone have any experience with kid freindly hotels in Las Vegas. We'll be there for 2 nights. Our kids are 10. We're also thinking about renewing our wedding vows. We'll be there for our 15th anniversary. Any ideas????
Thanks!

 

[Starbrite]

We stayed at Excalibur with our kids a few years ago. It was kid-friendly & up in the heart of the strip. They had a nice game room & both of my kids liked the medievil castle theme. Also the show was very good for kids too.


I didn't want to stay down at Circus Circus. It was too far from the "fun" and it really didn't look that nice. We stopped to visit & I'm glad I didn't stay there,.

Again, this was a few years ago.

Forgot to mention it was a steal!!! I think it was $69/per night.


ETA: I missed the part about the wedding vows. I don't know about renewals, but across the street at the Tropicana...I got married there. They had a beautifal garden/waterfall package for a reasonable price. $99 maybe? It was very pretty & they were excellent to work with.

 

[wenrob]

What exactly do you mean by 'kid friendly?' Vegas tried to get family friendly several years ago but it basically bombed, lol. If you live here of course there's things for kids to do but if you plan on spending time on The Strip, well, not so much. Circus Circus has the Adventure Dome a kind of mini amusement park and the Excalibur has carnival like games. Both will cost you a small fortune. Several places have roller coasters again, $$$ to ride them and there are arcades, movie theaters and bowling alleys in a lot of hotels. Honestly there's not much to keep them busy all day aside from the Adventure Dome. You could take them to the M&M Factory and there's cool stuff to see in the Caesar's Forum Shops. I can't think of a single hotel that caters specifically to children though.

eta: When I say small fortune, I'm not referring to room rates but what in would cost to hang out in those places. 15yrs ago when DH and I took his younger brother to Excalibur for an afternoon we blew through $100+ in a couple of hours.

 

[soccerchick]

Vegas and kid friendly = not!

Ny Ny has a roller coaste;, MGM might be a better choice as I've heard the pool is good, as is the one from Mandalay Bay. Those also aren't in the heart of the strip. You can do some of the shows, the Bellagio fountain, the shopping areas, etc. But holy cow, walking down the street will require some explaining. How "worldly" are your kids? We were there 1 1/2 years ago and there's no way I'd bring my kids there.

 

[pearlieq]

Excalibur should work. It's got a food court, kids games, magic/juggling shows and the location is near many other kid friendly things like the lions at MGM, the roller coaster at NYNY, the shark reef at Mandalay Bay, and the M&M store.

It's not the fanciest hotel in the world, but it's reasonably clean and the rates are usually quite inexpensive.

 

[mrsklamc]

You should be aware that there are little cards and papers featuring unclothed women littering the street.

Also, I would not describe the hotel a PP mentioned as being 'across the street' from Excalibur. Remember when walking that everything in Vegas is much farther than it looks.

 

[Pakey]

While I agree that Las Vegas is not child friendly, I would pick MGM. I dislike Excalibur and would hate to stay there; it's an easy walk from MGM to get there if you want to utilize their arcade area. Excalibur also has a Medievel Times type of dinner show if you want to go that route. It's also an easy walk to New York New York which has the roller coaster and a small arcade. From Excalibur, you can also take the tram to Mandalay Bay and do the Shark Reef there.

MGM has nicer rooms, a much nicer pool, has Rain Forest Cafe, has the lion habitat. It's huge so it also has a much larger selection of quick service foods.

I don't feel that the other end of the strip has as much to offer in the way of children's entertainment. I would not stay at Circus Circus again even if the rooms were free.

Every hotel offers wedding packages if you want to pay for them. There are numerous non-resort chapels there that would be cheaper. You can google Las Vegas weddings and get pages of sites to look through. You can even renew your vows in a helicopter if you want.

 

[4Seasons]

MGM has nicer rooms, a much nicer pool, has Rain Forest Cafe, has the lion habitat. It's huge so it also has a much larger selection of quick service foods.

I don't feel that the other end of the strip has as much to offer in the way of children's entertainment. I would not stay at Circus Circus again even if the rooms were free.

Amen to that! That place scared me just walking thru the parking lot to get to it.

We've been to Vegas several times with our kids, first time they were 11 and 14. I agree it has to do with how mature your children are and what you want them to possibly be exposed to.
We've always had a good time as a family in Vegas and have talked with our kids in advance about not taking ANY literature people on the streets are handing out, etc. Last year we stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations club next to the Las Vegas Hilton. It was really nice and one of the best parts is the pool was heated and open, one of what seemed to be very few pool open in December. I was there on business attending a conference and during the day my husband and kids kept themselves busy.
Some of the kid-friendly things to do (some cost, some dont):
Shark reef at mandalay bay
Secret Garden at Mirage
lion habitat at MGM
Tut's tomb at Luxor (although I think that exhibit is going away)
The huge indoor mall at Caesar's Palace
Fashion show mall
Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood
Fountains at Bellagio
Eiffel tower at Paris
Red Rock Canyon
Bonnie Springs Ranch
Hoover Dam
car museum at the Imperial Palace
the Sirens show outside of Treasure Island
shops at the Venetian (and taking a gondola ride)

those are just off the top of my head. Oh and there's the mall at the south end of the strip with the Disney warehouse, LOL.

We've also taken the kids to see Mystere, Stomp Out Loud and V the Ultimate Variety show.

 

[tripletrouble]

Thanks for your input! After reading the replies, I think that we'll stay somewhere closer to Lake Mead.

 

[endy]

I'll be on the opposite boat and say to go.
I've been in Vegas a few times with DS13. He loves it. The lights, the hustle & bustle.
There's lots for kids to do without being exposed to the raunchy stuff. If you've never been and you're that close it's certainly worth going even it's only a day. There are tons of motels off the strip.
We've been to see the sharks a few times, the dolphins, tigers. Even just to walk along the strip is amazing. Keep the kids moving while going thru the casinos. They can be there just can't stop.

 

[Maddie2]

I think staying at a hotel closer to Lake Mead sounds like your best option.

My niece lives out there and I've been out to see her twice - once without kids and once with kids (15 & 12). Since we have her to stay with we haven't looked at hotels, but just being down on the strip, I don't think I'd be comfortable staying down there (without kids, yes; with kids, no).

The strip is an event, to be sure, and I do think you can take your children there and enjoy it with them. Here's what we did:

* Parked at New York/New York
* Stopped at arcade in NY for 1/2 hour or so and let the kids have a little fun with a pre-set amount of money. Explained to them just as they blew through $XX in 30 minutes, adults often spend/waste (IMO)far greater sums of $$ in LV gambling. I really think that since they had just blown their money, they had more of a grasp of the reality of what gambling is/does. When they compared the money they spent/lost to what they could have purchased, it all made sense.
* Walked thru NY/NY part where it is kind of like Streets of America at DHS with (indoor) sidewalk cafes, etc that are made to look like the streets of NYC. There is also an ESPN store here. Small, but fun nonetheless.
* Walked outside near the Statue of Liberty and across the walkway to MGM.
* MGM - Lion Habitat and cute gift shop - took pictures with lion hats (plush lion heads that sit on your head - kookie, but cute).
* As mentioned by another poster, there is a Rain Forest Cafe in MGM too.
* Walked outside just down the street to the M&M and Coca-Cola stores. Cute 3-d (free) movie at the M&M store (on floor 3, I think?). Son bought pins at each store (gee, you'd think he was at Disney!)
* Walked back the way we came and left this area.
* Had lunch at In-N-Out Burger - not far from strip. Evidently this place is an institution. They serve only burgers and fries. Nothing else. Good food, decent prices.
* Went to the Forum Shops at Caesar's. There are 2 shows to watch (free), one near a big aquarium (near Bath & Body Works, I recall) where some animatronic statues come up out of a huge structure and then another show down the mall hall where statues come to life. Kind of fun, somewhat dramatic/Disney-ish. There is also a 2 story FAO Scharwz store. Didn't buy anything, but fun to look around.
* We then drove a short way down the freeway to Las Vegas Premium Outlets. Lots of fun stores, highlighted by a Disney Store. It's hit or miss, I understand. Food Court had good pizza. FYI, buy a whole pizza, much less expensive than buying it by the slice and with 2 growing boys, it was devoured.
* Back to the strip, parking at the Bellagio. Walked through the hotel, stopping in the lobby to see the colorful glass flowers on the ceiling and proceeded into an atrium to walk thru the botanical garden, which is periodically changed. Both times I've been there it has been beautiful.
* Walked outside and watched the Bellagio Fountains show. We walked entirely around the fountains to see/hear the show from all angles. The fountain shows run all day/evening, but to really appreciate the lights, you have to go after dark.

Hints to enjoying the day
* Buy M&M's before you go down to the strip. You will WANT M&M's after you go to the store and they are much cheaper buying them at a Walmart or Target.
* Bring Water!!!
* Wear walking shoes!
* Slot machines/gambling tables. We walked past some in various hotels/casinos, but as mentioned by another posted, children can 'walk past' them, but they cannot stop. It is difficult to completely avoid them at times. In fact, slot machines are even in the airport, so best to just tell your kids about them ahead of time.

Instead of visiting the shops, perhaps you could find a little chapel and renew your vows? I think that sounds fun!

We had a very full day, but one day was really enough time to do the things we wanted to do. Other things you could do include going up in the Stratosphere (there's even a few amusment park rides waay up there/no thanks!) and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (but having been to SeaWorld, etc, this had no appeal to us). I've also heard that they've changed the show at Treasure Island. It used to be kid-friendly, but they've changed it back to something a bit more raunchy.

Have a great vacation, whatever you decide to do!

 

[Priorityonecb]

Maddie2 gave a great review of Vegas with kids!! We've taken our kids a few times and they enjoy it. We always stay at the Monte Carlo. The girls and I hang out at the pool all day, while dh gambles! We meet up around 4ish then hit the strip. Al the places Maddie2 spoke of, and we love to see the Bellagio fountain light show at night.

 

[ChickieToo]

We went for a conference a when my DD was 7. We traveled with co-workers who had a child the same age, and there were other children there. I have been to Vegas many times as I worked in the gaming industry. I think all the things Maddie2 and 4Seasons mentioned are good attractions. I have to say, my daughter loved it there! She wanted to go back the following year instead of our annual WDW vacation-heresy!

We stayed at Cesar's because that is where the convention was. At first it was a little off-putting to walk through the casino several times a day. But we explained to our daughter that the gambling was a grown-up hobby and although we don't do it, some people do, but that it just wasn't for kids. That was it. There is that stuff littering the streets, but if you move fast, or use the trolley or a taxi you can avoid all of that.

All-in-all, she and the other kids had a blast. I think if we were to take her now at 11, we would also go see Mystere which DH and I saw about 12 or 13 years ago in Vegas--it is a great Cirque de Soleil show.

The year before this trip we took DD, then 6 to New Orleans for a conference. I have to tell you, the slogan really should be "what happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans." It was far more inappropriate in a much less controlled setting than Vegas.

 

[lindsey]

I agree with others that there is still alot to see and do with children. We did a Grand Canyon trip several years ago and ended the trip with two days in Las Vegas. DS was 10yr. Excalibur is kid friendly and inexpensive. I agree I would rather stay at MGM, depending on the cost. We went to Lance Burton's show at Monte Carlo, it was great.

 

[bunny]

Where else are you going on your trip? We are thinking about taking the same trip- flying into Phoenix and then going to Sedona and the Grand Canyon and ending up in Las Vegas. I don't even know where to start with planning this. Do you have yours planned yet?

 

[dznyacct]

Just back from a trip to Vegas with my 5 sisters . We had a FABULOUS time . Just make sure that you don't accept the "trading cards" being handed out everywhere . Many of them ended up thrown on the ground and we saw several families with children doing some explaining to their kids why there were pictures of naked women all over the ground .

 

[lemondog]

While Excalibur is kid friendly in that it has the game area, we had to walk past some kind of pussycat doll gaming table with a woman dancing on the table to get there. Can't imagine having to explain that to my kids.

Our favorite place to stay in Vegas is the MGM Grand. Reasonable rates, great pool, most fun casino (well, for adults obviously, lol),nice rooms, etc. We saw lots of kids there and I would imagine you could plan your entire vacay just on that corner: you're right next door to M&M World and Coca Cola store, you have the Lion Habitat, the Cirque show KA which would be enjoyable for older children, Rainforest Cafe. Take the crosswalk to NY, NY and you have the roller coasters and they also have a kids gaming area, although it is smaller than Excalibur.

 

[Ennazus8810]

You should be aware that there are little cards and papers featuring unclothed women littering the street.

Also, I would not describe the hotel a PP mentioned as being 'across the street' from Excalibur. Remember when walking that everything in Vegas is much farther than it looks.

Tropiciana is directly across the street, connected by a foot bridge that goes over the street. We were married in Vegas, and I would not hesitate to go back with 10 year olds. Have a great time!

 

[mrsklamc]

Tropiciana is directly across the street, connected by a foot bridge that goes over the street. We were married in Vegas, and I would not hesitate to go back with 10 year olds. Have a great time!

I stand corrected; I was confusing Tropicana with the Flamingo.

 

[gasperdam]

DH and I just went to Vegas in November to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We went on our trip alone.

We stayed in the Venetian, and it was GORGEOUS!!! I would LOVE to spend another anniversary there and I think it would make a great romantic backdrop to re-new your vows in!

Have a great trip!!!!