Las Vegas with kids

[just4today]

I've been thinking about going to Las Vegas with my two teenagers. I know there is plenty to do and see there to keep us busy for a couple of days. My question is about the casinos. I'm not a big gambler so I don't expect to spend any significant time in the casinos to start with. But if I should pause at a slot machine for a couple of minutes as we're walking through, would that be a huge problem? I know kids aren't allowed in the casinos, but sometimes you have to walk through them to get where you're going. Anybody have any experience with this?

 

[dbogen]

I just got informaiton in the mail about Las Vegas. I can't wait to see what people have to say.

 

[MinnieMe87]

As long as it's only a couple of minutes, then it probably won't be a problem. When I went to Vegas with my cousin and her family, we paused in the casinos a few times while her mom played the slots. It was never more then five minutes though. We usually walked away and went to look around at some of the other things in the hotels and casinos. I hope you have a good trip! I loved Vegas. I was 17 when we went and there was tons of stuff for us to do!

 

[just4today]

As long as it's only a couple of minutes, then it probably won't be a problem. When I went to Vegas with my cousin and her family, we paused in the casinos a few times while her mom played the slots. It was never more then five minutes though. We usually walked away and went to look around at some of the other things in the hotels and casinos. I hope you have a good trip! I loved Vegas. I was 17 when we went and there was tons of stuff for us to do!

Last time I was there it seemed like there were kids everywhere. It's definitely becoming much more "family friendly" than it used to be.

 

[MinnieMe87]

Last time I was there it seemed like there were kids everywhere. It's definitely becoming much more "family friendly" than it used to be.

Oh yeah! We stayed in the Excalibur and while it wasn't the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in, they had a phenomenal game area and a bunch of stuff for kids and teenagers to do! I remember doing a 3-D moving movie ride kind of thing that was pretty cool. We also enjoyed the M & M store and the shopping!

 

[got2travel]

I was there this summer with my 13yr old. I specifically asked the cop that was standing near the entrance to a casino. I remember when growing up casinos having a path through the casinos that was marked by a different color carpet. That path was the only place children could walk. They didn't have that in the LV casinos, so I asked if my DS was allowed to walk through with me. I was told that we could walk, but not stop. I could not play any games (slots or tables) when he was with me. I could not even stop at the players club desk to sign up and get my buffet coupon.

 

[dismom2]

I was there this summer with my 13yr old. I specifically asked the cop that was standing near the entrance to a casino. I remember when growing up casinos having a path through the casinos that was marked by a different color carpet. That path was the only place children could walk. They didn't have that in the LV casinos, so I asked if my DS was allowed to walk through with me. I was told that we could walk, but not stop. I could not play any games (slots or tables) when he was with me. I could not even stop at the players club desk to sign up and get my buffet coupon.

This is true--you can't even have a baby in a stoller near any slot machines or tables. If you have children with you, you must keep walking or security will say something to you.

OP, my kids enjoyed the M&M factory and some of the shows (do they still do the pirate show at Treasure Island?), but walking around we found there was a lot of porno advertisments thrown all over the ground, in those newspaper stands everywhere, and people passing out free tickets to x-rated shows, etc... I don't know how old your kids are, but I don't have plans to take my kids with me there next time. I really feel it's more for adults, but that's just my opinion. There are some good shows, but they are pricey. Good luck--I hope you all have a good time, whatever you decide to do.

 

[antmaril]

Yes, children and teenagers can walk through the casinos, but they cannot stop. They cannot stand near you when you are at a slot machine (or any gaming table).

There is fun stuff for kids to do in Vegas, but you will not be able to gamble (even for a couple of minutes) when they are with you.

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

This is true--you can't even have a baby in a stoller near any slot machines or tables. If you have children with you, you must keep walking or security will say something to you.

OP, my kids enjoyed the M&M factory and some of the shows (do they still do the pirate show at Treasure Island?), but walking around we found there was a lot of porno advertisments thrown all over the ground, in those newspaper stands everywhere, and people passing out free tickets to x-rated shows, etc... I don't know how old your kids are, but I don't have plans to take my kids with me there next time. I really feel it's more for adults, but that's just my opinion. There are some good shows, but they are pricey. Good luck--I hope you all have a good time, whatever you decide to do.

I was just there on my honeymoon a few weeks ago and we stayed at Treasure Island. They do have the pirate show but it is kind of adult oriented I think. The women wore very skimpy outfits and lots of suggestive dancing....and lots of people on the street trying to hand you cards for prostitutes.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I was just there on my honeymoon a few weeks ago and we stayed at Treasure Island. They do have the pirate show but it is kind of adult oriented I think. The women wore very skimpy outfits and lots of suggestive dancing....and lots of people on the street trying to hand you cards for prostitutes.

I have been to LV several times for work and have never understood why anyone would want to bring children there. I was astounded to see parents pushing SMALL children in strollers well after midnite up and down the strip.

With teens you can take in a show but the casinos are off limits as other posters have mentioned. If you really want to play the slots and are flying in then there are plenty of machines in the airport. My friend won more at those machines then at any in the casinos.

 

[dismom2]

I have been to LV several times for work and have never understood why anyone would want to bring children there. I was astounded to see parents pushing SMALL children in strollers well after midnite up and down the strip.

With teens you can take in a show but the casinos are off limits as other posters have mentioned. If you really want to play the slots and are flying in then there are plenty of machines in the airport. My friend won more at those machines then at any in the casinos.

I agree---we were only there with our kids when we had an overnight layover (and we were regretting it---mostly because of the porno everywhere----and there were drunks and drug addics lurking around---it was awful). Otherwise, we have only gone with adults. I think there is too much "grown up" stuff for the younger crowd, and there are much more enjoyable things to do with kids. They are trying to make Vegas more"family friendly", but you can't avoid all the adult things altogether. I have seen people with kids at casinos at very late hours,too, and the poor kids were crying and tired, etc.. Not talking about you OP, as you said you were taking teens.

 

[JLDSMD]

We've taken our DS to Vegas a few times. And to answer the question as to why some people do it, for us it is because my In-Laws retired there where there is no Income Tax and State Provided Health Care. Henderson use to be one of the fastest growing communities, mainly due to retirees.

We do, however, stay off-strip in a non-gaming casino, usually something like an Embassy Suites.

I do remember being in the Bellagio picking up a comp dinner ticket from the players club (DW picked it up). I had DS in a backpack carrier. I never stopped, but walked on the indicated carpet back and forth a couple of times. The security did stop me and said I needed to leave the gaming area, even though I was moving in the proper area.

I have seen, when we were pre-child, people having their kids just hanging by the edge of the casino while they played. That is so wrong.

As for things to do with children, we've taken DS to Lake Mead, Hover Dam, Red Rocks, Valley of Fire, a raft ride down the Colorado and other outdoor things. There is also a Pinball Hall of Fame with dozens of old games we took him to. Almost forgot, we take him to Ethel M's everytime we're there. We take a picture on the same bench everytime.

Also, flying into Vegas would be the closest airport to the National Parks in SW Utah. A trip we plan to make the next time we're in LV to visit the in-laws.

 

[Michelle67]

As others said, they can walk through but they can not stop. And make SURE that your child does not reach out and touch a machine on the way by, because security will have kittens right there on the spot (BTDT).

 

[Piecey]

I have been to LV several times for work and have never understood why anyone would want to bring children there. I was astounded to see parents pushing SMALL children in strollers well after midnite up and down the strip.

DH and I will probably be those people.

We got married there, want to celebrate our anniversaries there and DH's best friend lives there. He's a police officer. We'll stay on the strip, as we wouldn't be comfortable staying at his house, and won't think twice about it.

Then again we weren't "out" a lot.
We used the hotel pool, went to Hoover Dam, went downtown, spent several days at his house swimming, etc. We spent one whole day in the spa (except to pop next door to the Harley Davidson food place to eat a delicious lunch!)

The only times we walked the strip were to get from Planet Hollywood to the Venetian to see Phantom. We drove everywhere else.

We're not parents yet, but we don't see the problem with it.

There were a LOT of pictures of girls... those guys get SO annoying trying to hand you those cards and clicking them at you. Gr.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I agree---we were only there with our kids when we had an overnight layover (and we were regretting it---mostly because of the porno everywhere----and there were drunks and drug addics lurking around---it was awful). Otherwise, we have only gone with adults. I think there is too much "grown up" stuff for the younger crowd, and there are much more enjoyable things to do with kids. They are trying to make Vegas more"family friendly", but you can't avoid all the adult things altogether. I have seen people with kids at casinos at very late hours,too, and the poor kids were crying and tired, etc.. Not talking about you OP, as you said you were taking teens.

We took our 2 girls (then 10 and 8) last year over Thanksgiving week. We went to Grand Canyon for 2 nights and came back to LV for 4 nights. I have to say that we had a great time there. Neither one of us are really gamblers and we didn't do any while we were there. DH played some VP at the airport. We saw the people who pass out fliers on the strip but they never offered them to us because of the kids with us. We never saw anyone really drunk and don't know how you would determine who was a drug user We did the fun stuff on the strip, went swimming, saw the hotels, ate, enjoyed our suite at Mirage, saw Mystere, etc. But we were in the room by 9:30 except for the night we went to the show. Maybe that is why we missed most of the sin in sin city.

 

[dismom2]

We took our 2 girls (then 10 and 8) last year over Thanksgiving week. We went to Grand Canyon for 2 nights and came back to LV for 4 nights. I have to say that we had a great time there. Neither one of us are really gamblers and we didn't do any while we were there. DH played some VP at the airport. We saw the people who pass out fliers on the strip but they never offered them to us because of the kids with us. We never saw anyone really drunk and don't know how you would determine who was a drug user We did the fun stuff on the strip, went swimming, saw the hotels, ate, enjoyed our suite at Mirage, saw Mystere, etc. But we were in the room by 9:30 except for the night we went to the show. Maybe that is why we missed most of the sin in sin city.

Some people are so high on drugs there is no mistaking it. One lady was stumbling around in a daze with her pants unbuttoned and unzipped, mumbling things I won't repeat, and trying to touch my children. It's very easy to tell when "some" people are on drugs. Very easy. I saw several people like this, and a lot of drunks. I am not a prude, but I don't particularly want my kids around this environment. Just to clarify--I do not think these people are all over Las Vegas. What happened with us is, we had an unexpected layover in Vegas, so we had to find a reasonably priced hotel (under $500+) on a weekend, just for one night (leaving the next night). We still paid over $200, but it was not nice. We didn't want to pay over $500 a night for just a few hours in a hotel (we arrived very late), but now I wish we had. I didn't realize what I was getting for my money, and around here, a couple hundred dollars will get you into at least a halfway decent place for one night.

There are some good suggestions of things to do in Vegas, Colorado and Arizona on this thread. I was only referring to the strip. And some area's are better than others. It's definately not all bad. I was robbed on a bus bench years ago, across from the Stratosphere. A police officer pulled over and told me I should not be in that area, as it was not safe (it was in the evening---I dont remember the time). And I was handed many porno fliers, even though my kids were with me---they didn't care that I had kids with me, and my kids saw the fliars with naked people on them all over the ground, and in the news stands, as wel... I think it's possible to plan a trip to Vegas with teens, but I was just warning about some of the not-so-kid-friendly experiences I have had. There were some good expereinces, too. It's good to have a lot of input when you make plans for a trip.

 

[thinkerbell]

We took our kids when our daughter had just turned 21 and our son was 16. We love LV and just wanted to share with them how beautiful it is there.

They carded our daughter every time we stopped anywhere. Our son stopped with us once to watch our daughter play a slot machine. We watched her for a minute or two and a security guard was immediately there asking for her id. We looked around for our son and he had taken off into a store that was nearby because he was scared of getting fussed at. Our son said that he did not want to go back to Las Vegas until he was 21.

We did all of those things to "keep the kids busy in LV" but they just did not enjoy themselves there. We swore that we would never take them there again. You really have to search out the things that kids can do(regardless of what everyone says) and it really isn't like taking them on vacation. Our kids were very uncomfortable there.

 

[just4today]

Thanks for the replies. I've been to LV a couple of times so I'm familiar with the strip, and what's available that is kid-friendly. And like I said, gambling isn't high on my priority list, so I'll be fine without doing much of that.