Best family place in Vegas?

[jamsmu]

So excited!!! My mom just told me that we're taking a family trip to Vegas in June. It will be my grandparents (ages 70-80--but you'd think they're in their early 60s by the way the look and act), mom and dad and Mom's 3 brothers and their 2 wives (ages 40s and 50s), me and DH, my 2 sisters (in their 20s), my cousins (4 teenagers; 3 kids between 4 and 10 years old) and DS. Any suggestions on a great place to stay where everyone will have things to do?

TIA

[mysweetboy]

Circus, Circus would probably be a good bet. Don't quote me on this but I think children 17 and younger stay for free. Can't beat that!

Hope this helps.

Lori
mommy to Charlie, 5 months old!

[Tondi G]

We've been to Las Vegas quite a few time with a child now.... living in LA it is pretty close!

My hotel recommendation would be the Luxor.... the big pyramid hotel! The rooms are really nice.... we prefer the tower rooms as opposed to the Pyramid rooms.... the huge bathtubs are NICE! The kids might dig staying in the pyramid rooms though! The tower rooms were built after the pyramid so they are newer! It is not center strip but is close to lots of child friendly attractions..... trust me it is difficult if you have a child who wants to get down and move a little.... they are not allowed to be in the casino area at all.... you don't want to spend all your time wandering in the lobby. The Luxor has a HUGE childrens arcade/attraction level with a food court. Their pool area is nice and big! They are right next to Mandalay Bay hotel on one side (check out the sharks) and the Excalibur is on the other.... the hotels are connected via moving walkways! The Excalibur has a HUGE midways games area for the kids as well..... Mason has a lot of fun in both hotels kids areas! From the Excalibur you can also walk easily to the New York New york hotel and then across the street to the MGM. NY, NY has a kids arcade level as well! MGM has a real Lion exhibit to see and a Rainforest Cafe restraunt which is always a hit with Mason... and the food is GOOD! If you are looking for a really cool pool area and don't mind spending extra on the hotel rooms the mandalay bay has a really nice pool area... with a wave pool and a sand beach I think. maybe a lazy river too.... i've never stayed there though as we always come back to the Luxor for good rates and kid friendly (they have always been VERY accomodating and have great CS)!

I would recommend taking a cab to center strip and going to the Forum Shops area at Cesars Palace.... watch the two fountain shows and maybe do some shopping! Then head over to the Mirage and show the kids the white tigers (free) and maybe the Dolphin show (this one you gotta pay for!)! The canals at the venetian are pretty cool too... you could take a gondola ride if you like (gotta pay for this too!)

If you have any other questions I'd be happy to help! I hope this helps you! Have a GREAT trip!

edited to add.... I almost forgot.... if you stay in the tower rooms at the Luxor they have adjoining rooms for those who want that feature! It really helped us out to adjoin with my mom so that when Mason was napping we could hang out/watch tv in one room while he slept in the other without disturbing him but having the door cracked so we could hear him when he woke!

~Tondi
mommy to Mason 7/8/01
EDD 5/5/05!

[Tondi G]

Circus Circus is kinda far down the strip.... not near too many hotels! I always found it kinda dirty/seedy... but thats me... it's an older hotel!

I believe most if not all the hotels in Vegas kids under 12 or 17 stay free with parents... I could be wrong... we've never payed more for Mason at least not at the Luxor!

~Tondi

[DDowning]

Circus Circus has turned into quite the dump. I, along with my sister and brother, was dragged one to many times to stay at that place when we were growing up. Its okay to visit - they have the Grand Canyon theme park next to them now, but I wouldn't stay there.

My vote would be for the MGM Grand. The pool area has been voted consistently in the top ten for quite some time. Mandalay Bay would be a close second.

[deborah_r]

Tondi,

Is there a trick to getting the good rates at the Luxor?

sidenote...Sadly since living in LA (over 3 years) we have only been to Vegas twice, and it was just a place to stop on the way back from visiting family in New Mexico. We stayed off the strip and it was depressing to be able to see all of the fun and excitement and not be able to partake (we were tired and didn't want to deal with trying to park down there and were unsure how to take the hotel shuttle to the strip with DS - carseat issues)

[Tondi G]

We don't have a way to get special rates at the Luxor but every time we've booked we watch the rates online for a while and when the rates seem to be low we book! In the past we booked for a decent rate and then my dad saw an advertized rate for less.... I called them and they honored the price for us! I was pleased..... the Luxor has always been good to us!

The shuttle issue with kids is difficult. at any other time I wouldn't have done it but we took a cap once with DS not in a car seat.... we were in a minivan cab and I put him in a seat between Dh and I and used a regular seatbelt. it was a quick trip thank goodness! Now they have that monorail that is supposed to run the length of the strip (you buy a 24 hr pass and can come and go as you please)! We also used the monorail/tram thing from the MGM Grand to Bally's which is pretty close to center strip. only bummer is that it runs behind the hotels so it's a bit of a walk through both hotels to get in from and out to the strip!

The other option is to rent a car... your car seat is installed and you know your child is safe and secure! Keep in mind.... the vegas valet parking is free! I was told by a concierge once when I went that you only have to tip them 1 dollar.... and it is safer than self parking! It makes it really easy and cheap and you don't have to worry about car seats and taxis or shuttles!

~Tondi

[Momof3Labs]

Depends on what kind of budget you are on. Bally's is great if you are on a budget - the location is prime, but the price is not. And the rooms are nice-sized, though not luxurious. Keep in mind that June is HOT HOT HOT in Vegas, so you want to be close to things so that you don't have to spend much time out of the a/c, and a nice pool might be good too!

[mysweetboy]

Yikes, had no idea that Circus, Circus was so run down. Just thought it sounded like an ideal place for adults and children. Lesson learned...don't suggest a place that I haven't been to or personally heard about. Besides my little blunder, looks like you got some great info. :)

Lori
mommy to Charlie, 5 months old!

[lmintzer]

Gosh, there are tons of nice hotels for families. One place that seemed particularly family-oriented to me (though off the strip) is the Monte Carlo. It is off the strip, but there is a shuttle that takes guests up and back to the strip many times/day. The rooms are large (and are all suites? it's been a while) and they have a fun musical show/parade "in the sky" that takes place a few times each day. They also have a good cafeteria-style restaurant with good food and good variety.

Oops: read next response, and I was wrong. It was the Rio!

[Momof3Labs]

That's not the Monte Carlo. Not sure which one it is, but the Monte Carlo is on the strip - a girl doesn't forget where she got her first royal flush on video poker!!

[Momof3Labs]

That's not the Monte Carlo. Not sure which one it is, but the Monte Carlo is on the strip - a girl doesn't forget where she got her first royal flush on video poker!!

[DDowning]

Lisa, the hotel/casino you're talking about is The Rio.

[jamsmu]

Oooh! Lori! A royal flush in Vegas!?!?

I'm SO excited because I've been learning to play poker!

[jamsmu]

Thank you to everyone! I've been sharing your info with my mom (who really appreciates what my "web buddies" are sharing.)
She said that at this point she's really looking at Mandalay Bay, Aladdin, Paris and Hyatt Las Vegas (which is way off the strip, but has a lot of family activities.) And "since your web buddies said such nice things about The Luxor, I will definitely pursue it as a possibility. Thank you!!!" (from Mom).

Keep the good ideas coming!!

[Sarah1]

We just stayed at Mandalay Bay a few weeks ago (without our DD). We loved it! But, it wouldn't be my choice of place to stay if we went with our DD. I didn't see too many kids, and I didn't really sense there was much for kids to do there, other than go to the Shark Reef and the wave pool area (which in November may be closed for the season--definitely call the hotel and find out what the pool situation will be while you're there).

[jamsmu]

good to know... MB is DH's recommendation (though he never thought of whether or not it was kid friendly -- last time to Vegas was his bach. party.) Anyway, we'll be there in June, so I'm thinking the pool will be open by then!

[lmintzer]

A friend of mine from L.A. who goes to Vegas pretty frequently stayed at MB with her school-aged kids and said it was great!

[Sarah1]

Oh, June! Why did I think you were going there in November? Duh. Yeah, the pool areas are pretty kid-friendly (not the topless pool area though, LOL).

[Tondi G]

Well my vote was for the Luxor.... we LOVE that hotel! But of the ones you put up there I would vote for the Mandalay Bay... it's right next door to the Luxor with a walkway so the kids could always head over there for the entertainment/attraction level! That end of the strip has a lot for the kids!

Good Luck with your decision!

~Tondi

[neosr]

I wouldn't pass up the Hyatt at Lake Las Vegas for a family vacation because it's "way off the strip." In fact, it'd be my first choice with kids in tow. It's an elegant resort with far less LV cheese situated at a 320-acre lake. Tons of activities (especially water rec) available, and a special kids program through Camp Hyatt.

If you want something even more upscale, go for the Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas. A true 5-star resort but no specialized programs for children.

My first choice on the Strip would be Mandalay Bay because of the fabulous wave pool and lazy river as well as the Shark Reef. The rooms are well appointed, but the bathrooms are HUGE and nice...even in a standard room. Stay here and visit Luxor which is next door.

A couple of posters brought up the Monte Carlo, which wouldn't be a bad choice either for a family. I think most families would appreciate that the elevators to hotel rooms are right next to the lobby so you don't have to wander through a casino or rows of slot machines to get to your room.

[Momof3Labs]

Twice! Once at Monte Carlo and once at Bally's. And I haven't been to Vegas THAT many times!! Too bad that I'm also the type of girl who only puts in one quarter each play...