Las Vegas- Kid Friendly????

[lurkernj]

Weird we didn't have any problems with any of that stuff.

Not sure where you stayed, but DH and I went last spring and stayed at the venetian and walked all the way down to MGM along the strip, both day and evening and they were out in full force lining both sides of the sidewalk. On the tripadvisor boards they call them "porn slappers", as they are smacking the cards on their hands and trying to hand them to you. The cards are all strewn about the sidewalks as patrons realize what they are and drop them.

I have teen boys as well, and was laughing as I read the post about them trading cards as that is exactly why they won't be going with us until they are 21.

 

[Tiffany]

I have gone 3 times (2 with my husband and once with my friend) and I would not take my children ... even my teenagers.

As you walk on the streets, there are cards (that look like baseball cards) that men are passing on to people that are promoting escort services. The cards have women (practically nude) on them ... My husband and I were laughing imagining our sons saying "I will trade you the blond C cup for the the brunette D cup ...."

We have seen a fight take place with a drunk patron and security in the entrance to one of the hotels (this was at 11:00 in the morning) ...

And the poor and homeless that are around is quite sad.

I think it is a great place perhaps to sight see for a day with the kids ... but I'm not sure it is real "kid friendly".

This is just my opinion ... I really hope the trip works out for you.

I agree. I was in Vegas last June and the alcohol and sex is everywhere. When you are walking on the strip people are drinking and not only do you have the handbills being passed out but there are rolling billboards advertising escort services with just the phone numbers covering the important parts.

It is a very confussing place for children in my opinion. As other posters have indicated there are rides and attractions that are very kids friendly. But, the atmosphare is very much about gambling, drinking and sex.

 

[plutolovr]

LEAVE THE KIDS AT HOME!!!

My DH and I go just about every year, sometimes twice a year. I did not take any of my kids until they turned 21.

We were just there last month and I think it has gotten progressively worse on the strip with the billboards, videos and such. Just the girls going to the clubs at night is an eye-opener. I always thought a skirt should cover your bum, apparently most of these girls did not, and I'm not a prude. I even have clothes that I only wear in Vegas, if you know what I mean.

I always laugh at people that get angry with those of us who sometimes "complain" about the kids in Disney World, they say stay home if you don't want to be around kids. Well, I go to Vegas and expect not to be bothered by kids and run over by strollers, but I always do. I think us adults should have somewhere to ourselves.

 

[Tiffany]

LEAVE THE KIDS AT HOME!!!

My DH and I go just about every year, sometimes twice a year. I did not take any of my kids until they turned 21.

We were just there last month and I think it has gotten progressively worse on the strip with the billboards, videos and such. Just the girls going to the clubs at night is an eye-opener. I always thought a skirt should cover your bum, apparently most of these girls did not, and I'm not a prude. I even have clothes that I only wear in Vegas, if you know what I mean.

I always laugh at people that get angry with those of us who sometimes "complain" about the kids in Disney World, they say stay home if you don't want to be around kids. Well, I go to Vegas and expect not to be bothered by kids and run over by strollers, but I always do. I think us adults should have somewhere to ourselves.

I agree. Just got home from a few days at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods and there were many children around due to the "Thin Ice" show they have there this weekend. Foxwoods is not even close to Vegas on the alcohol and sex but it is still not a place that I want to have to worry about a toddler running into me.

 

[rockundergirl]

I know for me it was very uncomfortable seeing children run around the casinos. I think you can get away with very young children , or adult children, anything in between will leave you responding to a lot of questions.. Between the aggressive hookers, half dressed women, and posters/billboards/ads for strip clubs,drunk people... You will have to be ready to talk about the birds and the bee's a lot.

 

[dauser]

I love Vegas. However, its a playground for adults that added a few family-friendly attractions around 15 years ago and tried to market itself as a family-friendly destination. They've left that marketing campaign behind. I don't have kids of my own, but can't imagine bringing my niece or nephews there.

There are many other true family-friendly destinations in the US. If you really want to go to Vegas, make arrangements to leave the kids at home.

 

[samshane]

My parents live there, so we visit frequently. If they did not live there, I would not go on a family vacation to Vegas. Fortunately for us, Dh and I get some alone time away for 2 or 3 days on the strip, while the kids get time with grandma and grandpa who take them to parks and such around their home in North las Vegas.

I agree with the PP poster about feeling uncomfortable about seeing kids in casinos... we will go to a buffet one time with the whole family while we are there and I rush the kids through as fast as I can.

 

[jpeppers]

The Excalibur seems to be mentioned a lot as being the most kiod friendly. My last trip I was approached by a prostitute inside the casino and 2 were on the sky bridge to NYNY. My opinion is definitely not kid friendly.

 

[dthogue]

Thanks everyone for the advice - I appreciate your honesty! Sounds like Las Vegas is not a vacation place for us!!!

I guess I'll go back to plan "b" a 4-night Disney cruise

Tammy

 

[r&kmommy]

Also non conservative here and we would never in a million years take our kids to Vegas. *maybe* high school aged, but that's a huge *maybe*

eta, I just went back and read all the responses and I'm floored by those of you who said you've been, walked around all the time and never got bothered by the "sex cards" out on the streets. I ask you, where exactly did you walk? My husband and I have been to vegas 11 times. We usually rent a car but also do lots of walking around. We have never (literally!!!) walked anywhere and NOT been bothered by even one person handing out a sex card. Maybe we're just more in tuned to it, from going so often and we actually take the cards sometimes and laugh at them (LOL!) so others just walk on by and people holding their hands out flicking cards at them go unnoticed?

Anyway, the sex cards are the least of the reasons I'd not take my kids to Vegas. There just isn't enough there (IMO) to keep them entertained for more than a day or two. And we aren't about to fly 7 hours from NH to end up with bored kids LOL!!

 

[happygirl]

I'm really shocked so many people had issues. We walked every where and never once had anyone bother us, beside the time share people. I wouuld take my kids again without a second thought.

 

[DbleTheFun]

Thanks everyone for the advice - I appreciate your honesty! Sounds like Las Vegas is not a vacation place for us!!!

I guess I'll go back to plan "b" a 4-night Disney cruise

Tammy

now THAT's a plan "B" that your kids will LOVE!!!! We did this and it is fantastic. There is no comparison when planning a family trip between a DCL cruise or a trip to Vegas. Bravo for choosing a holiday that will not only be fun for you, but will be a great holiday for your kids!!!! ENJOY!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Lived in Vegas for a year. Not on the strip but in Summerlin. Took the kids to the strip frequently though to visit Mandalay Bay aquarium, shop, and visit friends staying at one of the big hotels and swim in the pools. The exposure had no effect on my daughters and when they talk about vegas, all they remember is the fun places and things they did.

 

[momtosam]

Well, I go to Vegas and expect not to be bothered by kids and run over by strollers, but I always do. I think us adults should have somewhere to ourselves.

I totally agree!

 

[disneysteve]

My DH and I thought taking a trip to Las Vegas, but would be bringing along our 12yo DD. I read several articles saying that Vegas isn't a kid friendly town and that kids should stay home. My DD has looked at the websites and thinks it would be "cool" to go. Certainly seems that there is enough to to for a family (we aren't big gamblers and won't spend too much time in any casino).

I was thinking of 5 days, 4 nights - is that enough time? Where should we stay? What activities should not be "missed" with kids?

Thanks,
Tammy

I haven't read all of the responses but I can tell you that we took our DD in August 2005, so she was not quite 10. She had a great time and has occasionally asked when we can go back. Vegas is a terrific town with so much to see and do outside of the casinos. Our days were packed with activities that were all family friendly. I don't think my wife gambled at all during our trip and I only spent 30-60 minutes each night gambling after DD was in bed.

Every major hotel on the strip is an attraction in itself. Your daughter will love seeing Luxor, Excalibur, New York, New York, MGM, Bellagio, Caesar's, etc. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring each of those properties. Make sure to see the outdoor pirate show at TI, the canal at the Venetian, take her up in the Eiffel Tower at Paris, ride the rollercoaster at NY NY, catch an IMAX show at Luxor, get up to the old strip and see The Fremont Street Experience show one night, go to M&M World and Coke World stores, the Forum Shoppes at Caesar's.... I could go on and on. So much to see and do. I think 5 days, 4 nights is perfect. All of you will have a ball.

 

[plutolovr]

I haven't read all of the responses but I can tell you that we took our DD in August 2005, so she was not quite 10. She had a great time and has occasionally asked when we can go back. Vegas is a terrific town with so much to see and do outside of the casinos. Our days were packed with activities that were all family friendly. I don't think my wife gambled at all during our trip and I only spent 30-60 minutes each night gambling after DD was in bed.

Every major hotel on the strip is an attraction in itself. Your daughter will love seeing Luxor, Excalibur, New York, New York, MGM, Bellagio, Caesar's, etc. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring each of those properties. Make sure to see the outdoor pirate show at TI, the canal at the Venetian, take her up in the Eiffel Tower at Paris, ride the rollercoaster at NY NY, catch an IMAX show at Luxor, get up to the old strip and see The Fremont Street Experience show one night, go to M&M World and Coke World stores, the Forum Shoppes at Caesar's.... I could go on and on. So much to see and do. I think 5 days, 4 nights is perfect. All of you will have a ball.

You haven't been since 2005 so you haven't seen it lately. We go every year and it has changed since you were there last. The pirate show at TI is now mostly scantily clad females. Not kid-friendly at all.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, keep in mind, kids LIVE in Las Vegas - and turn out normal... so it can't be all that bad

As you walk on the streets, there are cards (that look like baseball cards) that men are passing on to people that are promoting escort services. The cards have women (practically nude) on them ... My husband and I were laughing imagining our sons saying "I will trade you the blond C cup for the the brunette D cup ...."

Flippers. If you're not walking, they won't bother you. Parking is free pretty much everywhere; valet parking is as well, although it's customary to tip a couple of bucks when your car is returned.

We have seen a fight take place with a drunk patron and security in the entrance to one of the hotels (this was at 11:00 in the morning) ...

Given the thousands and thousands of people in Las Vegas every day, a single fight - while disconcerting - especially one being handled by authorities, really shouldn't be a concern.

And the poor and homeless that are around is quite sad.

As they are in every city of reasonable size throughout the country. It's possible taxes raised in large part from tourism can be used to help Las Vegas' homeless population (although I don't recall seeing any homeless people, even visiting various parts of the city, that could be attributed in part to driving everywhere).

The best trip to Vegas for us was the one when our kids were with us. They were 15 and 11 at the time. Our 11 year old daughter was actually our "tour guide" on that trip. She loved watching Samantha Brown's travel shows, as well as other travel shows, and knew what we needed to see in Vegas.

We would never have seen all we did without our daughter's expertise. Good for her! She took us to all the cool things to see in every hotel, knew exactly where we needed to stand or sit to see the best view of things, and we had a blast. We're not big gamblers either. I think I lost a total of $10 on the slots playing for nickels.

Let's see, what did we do? (It's been almost 8 years.)

The M&M store
The glass flowers hanging from the ceiling in the Bellagio
The dancing fountains at the Bellagio
The Pirate show This, as indicated below, no longer exists; it's now Sirens of TI (Treasure Island 'rebranded' itself
The Star Trek experience This, too, I believe, is no longer
Several shows (magic, excalibur, and I don't remember what else)
Just explored all the hotels.

We went to Hoover Dam after we left Vegas, but you could do that as a day trip.

We were bored silly during the day. We did try to attend all the shows that we could, but those were uniquely evening/night events

There are actually a number of afternoon, family-friendly shows.

Most of the shows are too adult for children and you will be surrounded by adult images on billboards, flyers, etc

Adult, but not nude.

What kid wants to be in a smoke filled casino, or doused with perfumy scents in oxygen pumped hotels?

Respectfully, they're either 'doused with perfumy scents' OR have oxygen pumped in'. Since the latter isn't true, and there'd be no point to the casinos doing the former, the only way perfumy scents (assuming you don't mean scented cleaning products) would be in the casinos would be on the patrons - somethong over which the casinos have no control. And since children aren't allowed to linger in the casinos anyway, scents shouldn't be an issue. And what's wrong with pumping in oxygen? Wouldn't it dispell the cigarette smoke?

What kid wants to be dodging drunk idiots on the street day/night with open alcohol?

KNowing the potential for 'drunk[en] idiots' on the street with open containers - again, something I've seen rarely despite numerous visits - isn't it the responsibility of the parent wanting to visit Las Vegas with their children to protect the children from that possibility?

What kid wants to sit in a swanky restaurant having food they cant pronounce and have their parents pay WAY to much for?

If that's the restaurant the parent chooses, that's the restaurant the parent chooses. You do know Las Vegas has a WIDE variety of dining options AND PRICE RANGES, right?

I'm sure with planning it could have been done cheaper, but we seriously could have bought a car for what that vacation cost us.

Yeah, even a little planning. There's free stuff. There's kid-directed stuff. There's cheapovegas.com. A car???? I couldn't buy a car instead of ALL the trips I've taken to Las Vegas! Now, Walt Disney World? That's another story entirely. I could probably own a house by now...

I am on the Las Vegas strip for business or personal trips about every other month. I am a very liberal parent but I do not think the Strip is the best place to take children.

Parts no, parts yes - but there's a LOT more to Las Vegas than just The Strip. There's the Lied Childrens Museum. There's the Ethel M Factory Tour and Cactus Garden. There's the Mirage Volcano, the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, the white lions at MGM... LOTS more. There are arcades. There are roller coasters. There are the rides at the top of the Stratosphere tower. Movies. Bowling. UNLV sports, arts, entertainment (and I just found out, two trips ago, HOW close the school is to the Strip. And don't forget - Earl of Sandwich inthe Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood! There's Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon (admittedly, a day trip, and not the section Thelma and Louise tried to jump - but worthwhile). There's the Liberace Museum. There are Elvis Impersonaters; arguably, the best one is at Bill's Gambling Saloon - and yes, you need to pass through the casino to get to the 'show'room - but it's free and he does several sets during the afternoon/evening. There are entire guide books on "Las Vegas with Children". There may even be one from the Unofficial Guide people.

so others just walk on by and people holding their hands out flicking cards at them go unnoticed?

I know what they are, so I ignore them - but in fairness, as a solo female, I'm not their marketing target, so they tend to ignore me, as well

 

[kaytieeldr]

You haven't been since 2005 so you haven't seen it lately. We go every year and it has changed since you were there last. The pirate show at TI is now mostly scantily clad females. Not kid-friendly at all.

But how much has it changed since October (my last visit)?

I'm really shocked so many people had issues. We walked every where and never once had anyone bother us, beside the time share people. I wouuld take my kids again without a second thought

Tip for avoiding time share people: don't walk next to your spouse/SO. They target couples. If there are multiple couples, walk past them split by gender. If it's just you and your spouse, and you don't want to walk six feet apart, do what my brother did. When approached and asked, "Where are you folks from?", he pointed west and said, "Two miles that way". Local residents aren't their target audience, either!

 

[rella's fan]

Just got back from a 4 day trip with my almost 8 year old DD and we had an absolutely fabulous time, she told me it was tied with Disney! We did the pink jeep tour to Red Rock canyon, saw Love at the Mirage (one of the best shows I've been to and she was on the edge of her seat the whole time), eiffel tower at night was awesome, gondola ride and gelato @ Venetian, lions and Rain Forest cafe @ MGM, loved the fountains at Bellagio and totally enjoyed the Conservatory. We used the monorail many times (there's a new free one between Monte Carlo and the Bellagio as well as the one you pay for at MGM.) Must admit, my daughter's a great shopper so Forum shops and a trip to the premium outlets was also included. Weather was perfect for the pool as well - we travel a lot and this was definitely one of our best vacations. Saw the people with the cards but nobody bothered us at all.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

Las Vegas is SO much fun for adults... would never never take kids..

*Drunk people on streets at any time of day
*Flippers handing out cards with nearly naked women
*Most shows are not rated G... from magic to hypnotist to show girl shows... many have at least some adult conversation in them... some of them outright raunchy