Which Las Vegas Hotel?

[aussietravellers]

I've posted this on the Aussie board as many have travelled to Las Vegas and have just found there is a Las Vegas board So will ask here too.

I'm thinking of adding three nights in Las Vegas, in early December, to our trip to the USA. Having never been before and always wanted to go, I saw a fabulous review of the Luxbus and it looks great. So thought we could add a quick visit to Vegas whilst in Anaheim as it seems quite easy to get there and we are in Anaheim for 16 nights (using it as a base for DL, daytours to LA & SD), so have time to add a couple of nights in Vegas.

It will just be DS (just 13 then) and myself (his mum). So want somewhere very central, safe for us to walk around outside day and night (not that we are going to be out late at night, just early evening for dinners and maybe some shopping etc.
I'm not sure if this is possible, having never been to Las Vegas, but I have heard it can be really smokey at some hotels , so somewhere that is non smoking (or at least not too smokey).

I'm looking at Excalibur, Paris, The Mirage, MGM Grand and maybe New York New York and maybe even Bellagio? My son loves animals so I thought the Mirage might be good, but Excalibur looks good (from the outside) and it is certainly up there on all of the best hotels for kids in Las Vegas list's I've looked at. I love the look of Bellagio too.

There are just SO many options and it's all very overwhelming. They all get good and bad comments on TA, so I'd love to hear from anyone who has been to Vegas with kids, where did you stay? Was it good? Any info would be great. All I know about Vegas is from CSI, movies, oh and when the Kardashians visit on their shows So I'm in the early stages of investigating the city as I only decided yesterday to add it and have plenty of planning time until December.


Thanks

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have stayed at the Bellagio. It is very nice. Any of the hotels you mention are quite good. The bus system also goes up and down the strip for 7 dollars a piece for 24 hours. Bring good walking shoes. Everything looks close but it really isnt. I will be back in may. Now we stay just a tad off the strip, actually it is across the street from MGM, behind Hooter and Tropicana. They are also in walking distance to NYNY, Excalibur and all those.

It is called the desert rose and it is very nice and quiet. It has a pool and spa , laundry room and it has a hot continental breakfast incl. And it is gated. You can look at that as well. It has a full kitchen. We enjoy it very much. They come in one and 2 bedrooms, the sofa makes into a bed. Hope this helps you a little.

 

[aussietravellers]

I have stayed at the Bellagio. It is very nice. Any of the hotels you mention are quite good. The bus system also goes up and down the strip for 7 dollars a piece for 24 hours. Bring good walking shoes. Everything looks close but it really isnt. I will be back in may. Now we stay just a tad off the strip, actually it is across the street from MGM, behind Hooter and Tropicana. They are also in walking distance to NYNY, Excalibur and all those.

It is called the desert rose and it is very nice and quiet. It has a pool and spa , laundry room and it has a hot continental breakfast incl. And it is gated. You can look at that as well. It has a full kitchen. We enjoy it very much. They come in one and 2 bedrooms, the sofa makes into a bed. Hope this helps you a little.

Thanks I will have a look at the desert rose Will bring those walking shoes. I love walking and exploring cities. NY and London, I can leave the hotel in the morning and walk all day, but with DS, that probably won't happen. The bus is a great idea when our walking feet are tired

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would take Excaliber off of the list, we enjoy the medieval dinner there, but I think the resort is not a great quality. If you can afford Bellagio that would be great. I think it, Ceasars, and the Venetian have the best immersive environments. Paris is also nice and very central.
Tomorrow I head out to a week at the golden Nugget, so look for a review !

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would take Excaliber off of the list, we enjoy the medieval dinner there, but I think the resort is not a great quality. If you can afford Bellagio that would be great. I think it, Ceasars, and the Venetian have the best immersive environments. Paris is also nice and very central.
Tomorrow I head out to a week at the golden Nugget, so look for a review !

 

[Kjm21]

Where do you stay? I need to close to MGM for a wedding the weekend of April 21st but I'm looking for somewhere cheaper.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Try the desert rose

 

[limace]

I love the Mandalay Bay and TheHotel at Mandalay-their pool is fantastic, but that probably won't be useable in December . You can often get really fabulous discounts at a lot of the really nice Vegas hotels-sign up for all the mailing lists for the hotels you're interested in and you might get some great email deals. We'll be staying at MGM and Treasure Island next week-I've never been to either, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[aussietravellers]

I would take Excaliber off of the list, we enjoy the medieval dinner there, but I think the resort is not a great quality. If you can afford Bellagio that would be great. I think it, Ceasars, and the Venetian have the best immersive environments. Paris is also nice and very central.
Tomorrow I head out to a week at the golden Nugget, so look for a review !

Thanks Judy I have been gathering from replies that Excaliber is not the best. I will take my DS to the dinner show there though as he will enjoy that. But have taken it off my long list of hotels.

Thanks for your reply and have a great trip .

I love the Mandalay Bay and TheHotel at Mandalay-their pool is fantastic, but that probably won't be useable in December . You can often get really fabulous discounts at a lot of the really nice Vegas hotels-sign up for all the mailing lists for the hotels you're interested in and you might get some great email deals. We'll be staying at MGM and Treasure Island next week-I've never been to either, so we'll see how that goes.

We won't be using the pools so that doesn't factor into our decision. We live in a hot, humid climate in Australia and will be leaving a hot summer so it will be FREEZING for us over there .Thanks for the tip about the mailing lists I just went to sign up to the mailing lists and none of them will accept people outside of the USA to send email to which is very very strange

Would love to hear about MGM and Treasure Island, they both look good. Thanks for your reply and Enjoy your upcoming trip

 

[Pakey]

I have stayed at Mandalay, the hotel at Mandalay, Luxor, MGM. New York New York, Monte Carlo, Paris, Caesars, Bellagio, Treasure Island, Mirage, Wynn, Venetian, Palazzo. Most I have stayed at multiple times.

I would not stay at Excalibur even if it is free.

The rooms at New York New York are pretty small.

And our stay at the Paris was not enjoyable because it was so noisy in the room but since I've only stayed there once, it could have been a fluke. Our stay was bad enough that I've no interest in a repeat stay here.

Bellagio is definitely the nicest from your list, especially if you get a fountain view room.

I like Mirage a lot better than Treasure Island. Treasure Island is pretty far down on that end of the strip (not central IMO) and there just isn't as much fun theming there. It's an okay place for a cheap room but I think everyone who stays there goes and hangs out at the different resorts.

MGM is interesting and ranks in my top 5. The rooms are kinda fun with that contemporary flair and the resort itself has a lot going on.

My personal favorites are the Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn and Caesars but since they aren't on your list, I won't comment.

 

[aussietravellers]

I have stayed at Mandalay, the hotel at Mandalay, Luxor, MGM. New York New York, Monte Carlo, Paris, Caesars, Bellagio, Treasure Island, Mirage, Wynn, Venetian, Palazzo. Most I have stayed at multiple times.

I would not stay at Excalibur even if it is free.

The rooms at New York New York are pretty small.

And our stay at the Paris was not enjoyable because it was so noisy in the room but since I've only stayed there once, it could have been a fluke. Our stay was bad enough that I've no interest in a repeat stay here.

Bellagio is definitely the nicest from your list, especially if you get a fountain view room.

I like Mirage a lot better than Treasure Island. Treasure Island is pretty far down on that end of the strip (not central IMO) and there just isn't as much fun theming there. It's an okay place for a cheap room but I think everyone who stays there goes and hangs out at the different resorts.

MGM is interesting and ranks in my top 5. The rooms are kinda fun with that contemporary flair and the resort itself has a lot going on.

My personal favorites are the Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn and Caesars but since they aren't on your list, I won't comment.

Thanks so much for your comments! I really appreciate it. Gives me a lot to consider. So hard making a decision with so much choice.

 

[carnival kid]

Fellow aussie here!!!

We have stayed at Treasure Island. It was pre kids but i like it cause it is a lot smaller than some of the other HUGE resorts. Just a short walk to the lifts and straight to your floor... not walking for ages through the whole place just to get to the right lift. As said by PP it is not the type of place where you stay only in that hotel but i found it central and convienient.

We have also stayed at Mandalay Bay. Much more expensive. We had a 2 bedroom suite as we had a toddler and grandma. Great hotel but a little far away to be perfect.

Definately take your walking shoes. you can start at one end of the strip and just go from hotel to hotel to hotel.... you barely have to see daylight.

No matter where you stay you will have a FANTASTIC time!!!

 

[woody73]

. . . It will just be DS (just 13 then) and myself (his mum). So want somewhere very central, safe for us to walk around outside day and night (not that we are going to be out late at night, just early evening for dinners and maybe some shopping etc.

. . . I'm looking at Excalibur, Paris, The Mirage, MGM Grand and maybe New York New York and maybe even Bellagio?

Hello from Las Vegas, where we are staying one week. Since you are arriving by bus and will not have a car, you are smart to stay at a centrally located hotel.

Of the places you mention, the Bellagio and Paris would be the most centrally located. You would not go wrong with either one.

IMHO, other centrally located hotels worth considering are Bally's and the Flamingo. They are much older hotels with less expensive rooms. But what they lack in newness or charm, they make up in location -- a convenient walk to the attractions and shopping.

We've stayed at Bally's, and even had a room with a view of the Bellagio fountains, which was spectacular. We recently visited one of the Flamingo's renovated rooms, and it was nice. A couple of days ago we went to the Flamingo and visited the free Flamingo Wildlife Habitat (you said your son loves animals).

Woody

 

[VAN]

Las Vegas, at one point was trying to market to kids. Excalibur and Circus Circus did have some good kid stuff ... back in the day ... but NO MORE.

No way would I recommend CC. Excalibur is worth walking through, but don't think I'd stay there.

Luxor/towers ... nice but a bit south on the strip + resort fee
NY NY ... not impressed - also resort fee
MGM ... love this place, but remember the resort fee is added to room
Monte Carlo ... also "like" this place, but again a resort fee
Bellagio ... I'd love to stay there but out of my budget + resort fee
Bally's ... no resort fee and good mid-priced, mid-strip hotel

Get the "Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" to get tips on how to get around the strip (e.g. free tram connecting Mandalay Bay-Luxor-Excalibur, but there is also a back interior walkway .... also free tram connecting Monte Carlo/City Center/Bellagio ... some casinos have free shuttles to their other properties, etc.). This book should also address some things that are good to do with the family.

Best of luck!

 

[Judy from Boise]

to be really mean let me add one more option ! You could spend 2 nights at Ballys, Bellagio or Paris (all central strip) Then jump in a taxi and switch to the Golden Nugget downtown for your last day and night. Downtown is more family and pedestrian friendly.....lots of fun posing with impersonators, watching the Freemont street show, and ziplinning !

 

[halfmonkey]

Considering that it appears that you'll be coming from a long ways away, it might be better to stay somewhere that's a little nicer. Of course having said that, it also depends on your budget and some other things to consider. Once you get the budget squared away, that can help with some more narrowed down suggestions to keep your bedget in mind. If money was no object and you're looking for a hotel fairly in the middle of the strip, I'd stay choose the Aria, Bellagio, Caesar's, or Venetian/Palazzo (they're the same hotel). You could even argue Mandalay Bay fits into this group of hotels.

A couple of other things to consider. How much time do you lounge at the pool? Mandalay Bay has the best pool area but a place like the Palms, which is off the strip, has the best pool scene as it's geared more towards the hot looking crowds.

As I recommended to another person on a different thread, the best thing you can do is visit each of the hotels' websites and sign up for information as they'll send you offers via email and sometimes, they're really good. Now considering, you're coming from the Land Down Under, you won't get too much use out of it but it still may be worth your while to sign up for a players card because again, they'll send you offers via email and sometimes, they're really good offers. And if you're really big gamblers, you could even get your stay comped(compensated as in free) and it doesn't cost you anything to sign up for their players card.

My $.02. We love Bellagio and the Palazzo. I don't care for Paris as it really looks run down. I've never stayed there but walking through the casino looks really old even though it's moderately new. Excalibur is rather old and on the low end in terms of accomodations and look of hotel. Again, view the websites to get a better understanding of the rooms. One last note, the Venetian/Palazzo rooms all start at suites so keep that in mind, whereas most other rooms are your basic two or one bed and bathroom and tv.