Vegas... with kids(!)
Discussion
Its more a 2 night stop off as we need somewhere nearby-ish to the Grand Canyon.
Fremont street seemed to have a bit more of a 'family' vibe when I was there last but nothing is jumping out at me hotel-wise. Is it better to stay on the strip? Kids are 11 and 12.
I've only really ever been with a group of lads!
Fremont street seemed to have a bit more of a 'family' vibe when I was there last but nothing is jumping out at me hotel-wise. Is it better to stay on the strip? Kids are 11 and 12.
I've only really ever been with a group of lads!
Copy/paste from ChatGPT - apologies for the formatting.
Las Vegas actually works surprisingly well with kids your age (11 & 12) you just need to **pick the right hotel and focus on daytime + early evening activities**.
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[Web](https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/en.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: +17026327000
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[Web](http://circuscircus.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 2880 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +17027340410
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[Web](https://excalibur.mgmresorts.com/en.html?ecid=GMB_EX_HO&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +18777505464
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[Web](https://www.venetianlasvegas.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S (at Sands Ave), Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +17024141000
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Las Vegas actually works surprisingly well with kids your age (11 & 12) you just need to **pick the right hotel and focus on daytime + early evening activities**.
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- ? Where to stay (family-friendly picks)
- ? Best overall: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
[Web](https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/en.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: +17026327000
- Huge **wave pool + lazy river + sandy beach **
- On-site **Shark Reef Aquarium**
- Feels like a resort holiday, not just a hotel
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- ? Best for non-stop kid entertainment: Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
[Web](http://circuscircus.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 2880 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +17027340410
- Indoor theme park (**Adventuredome**) with rides + arcade
- Mini golf, laser maze, games everywhere
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- ? Best value + fun theme: Excalibur Hotel & Casino
[Web](https://excalibur.mgmresorts.com/en.html?ecid=GMB_EX_HO&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +18777505464
- Castle theme (kids love it)
- Huge arcade + pools
- Dinner show with knights (**Tournament of Kings**)
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- ? Best for space + wow factor: The Venetian Resort
[Web](https://www.venetianlasvegas.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S (at Sands Ave), Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +17024141000
- Big suites (great for families)
- Indoor canals + gondola rides
- Easy walking area with shops and entertainment
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- ? Alternative (quieter):
- Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip ? no casino feel, more family-focused ([oyster.com][3])
- ? What to do with 11 & 12 year olds
- ? Must-do attractions
- ? High Roller Observation Wheel
- ? AREA15
- ? Meow Wolf's Omega Mart
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- ? Animals & aquariums
- ? Shark Reef Aquarium
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- ? Shows (great for that age)
- Cirque du Soleil shows (e.g. KA at MGM Grand Las Vegas)
- Magic shows (David Copperfield etc.)
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- ? Fun, easy wins
- ? Huge arcades (Excalibur, Circus Circus)
- ? M&M's World Las Vegas
- ? Downtown Container Park (play area + shops) ([Condé Nast Traveler][4])
- ? Chill / free stuff
- Bellagio fountains (iconic, free)
- Hotel exploring (Venetian canals, themed resorts)
- Pool days (honestly one of the best parts for kids)
- ?? Things to know (important with kids)
- Kids **can t stop on casino floors** just walk through
- Best vibe = **daytime + early evening**
- Some areas (late night Strip) get more adult
- Plan your hotel location so you re not walking miles
Billy_Rosewood said:
Yeah I chatgptd it too.. Mandalay and NY NY could be good options.. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with those or others.
I actually stayed at NYNY many years ago, they did have an amusement area and they have a coaster, lots of restaurants and bars/cafes and a huge casino floor.Don't stay at Circus Circus - its awful.
We did - hated every minute of it - partly our fault but the amusements all stopped at 6pm, then they had a halloween thing on.
Awful hotel, took us 45 minutes to get down to reception on last day to check out.
Spend extra money on a decent hotel.
Be wary of resort fees.
We did it with a 11 and 6 year old - they enjoyed seeing the different hotels etc, and we drove down the strip both ways.
Went to the Carroll Shelby museum - its small - will take about 30 minutes if that to go round it - I spent longer in the shop than looking at the cars.
We did - hated every minute of it - partly our fault but the amusements all stopped at 6pm, then they had a halloween thing on.
Awful hotel, took us 45 minutes to get down to reception on last day to check out.
Spend extra money on a decent hotel.
Be wary of resort fees.
We did it with a 11 and 6 year old - they enjoyed seeing the different hotels etc, and we drove down the strip both ways.
Went to the Carroll Shelby museum - its small - will take about 30 minutes if that to go round it - I spent longer in the shop than looking at the cars.
I wouldn't stay at a casino hotel with kids - Excalibur, Circus circus etc are pretty horrible at the best of times.
(To be honest, I think I'd avoid Vegas with kids if I could. - And I like Vegas)
But if it is going to be done, I'd be thinking one of the hotel hotels off the main strip is the least-worst-option - Something like the Westin perhaps.
(To be honest, I think I'd avoid Vegas with kids if I could. - And I like Vegas)
But if it is going to be done, I'd be thinking one of the hotel hotels off the main strip is the least-worst-option - Something like the Westin perhaps.
What type of stuff do you prefer to do for the two days?
Fremont is a different vibe these days. It would be educational to kids that age, that's for sure!
NYNY not a bad choice. On strip, almost everything kid friendly is within walking distance. Excalibur has a kids zone in basement and is next door. Mgm grand has kid stuff and directly across street.
Affordable eats in the food courts of all three.
Plenty of tours pick up on strip. Lots of options there
Pinball hall of fame (massive, exactly what it says on the tin), and Shelby factory are south end of the strip
M.
Fremont is a different vibe these days. It would be educational to kids that age, that's for sure!
NYNY not a bad choice. On strip, almost everything kid friendly is within walking distance. Excalibur has a kids zone in basement and is next door. Mgm grand has kid stuff and directly across street.
Affordable eats in the food courts of all three.
Plenty of tours pick up on strip. Lots of options there
Pinball hall of fame (massive, exactly what it says on the tin), and Shelby factory are south end of the strip
M.
For hotels I'd start by looking at ParkMGM - it is pretty central and is the only non-smoking resort.
If you need somewhere cheaper, then Luxor still has a theme and is nicer than Circus-Circus or Excalibur.
Depending on time of year the pools are closed over winter so that takes out some of the kid friendly activities.
If you need somewhere cheaper, then Luxor still has a theme and is nicer than Circus-Circus or Excalibur.
Depending on time of year the pools are closed over winter so that takes out some of the kid friendly activities.
Fremont Street is probably the last place I would go with kids now! Unless you all want to have your photos taken with a nun with her tits out? 
What do you want to do while you are there? Will you have a car?
I would probably go for something like the MGM Grand as the pool is good with the lazy river etc, you can walk out onto The Strip and see the sights, but also park the car and drive out of town easily enough without sitting in the strip traffic. It's also walkable to the aquarium at Mandalay Bay, the Coaster at NYNY and M&Ms World, the High Roller etc etc..
If you want to be away from The Strip the Red Rock is supposed to be good, but I have no personal experience.
What do you want to do while you are there? Will you have a car?
I would probably go for something like the MGM Grand as the pool is good with the lazy river etc, you can walk out onto The Strip and see the sights, but also park the car and drive out of town easily enough without sitting in the strip traffic. It's also walkable to the aquarium at Mandalay Bay, the Coaster at NYNY and M&Ms World, the High Roller etc etc..
If you want to be away from The Strip the Red Rock is supposed to be good, but I have no personal experience.
Edited by CSR Performance on Sunday 19th April 21:57
stay on the strip... any hotel on the strip that's giving a good deal, you don't need to do anything in the hotel except sleep!
walk out the hotel and the strip's full of free entertainment e.g. comedians, clowns, comics etc. there's also loads of magician shows and countless other activities going on during the day. if your'e only going for 2 nights it's a great choice.
walk out the hotel and the strip's full of free entertainment e.g. comedians, clowns, comics etc. there's also loads of magician shows and countless other activities going on during the day. if your'e only going for 2 nights it's a great choice.
CSR Performance said:
Fremont Street is probably the last place I would go with kids now! Unless you all want to have your photos taken with a nun with her tits out?
.
My first experience of Fremont St was turning the corner on to it to be greeted by a 70+ year old man, naked apart from a lime green mankini!.
Certainly set the tone!
M.
Edited by Mortarboard on Friday 17th April 17:04
Mortarboard said:
CSR Performance said:
Fremont Street is probably the last place I would go with kids now! Unless you all want to have your photos taken with a nun with her tits out?
.
My first experience of Fremont St was turning the corner on to it to be greeted by a 70+ year old man, naked apart from a lime green mankini!.
Certainly set the tone!
M.
Edited by Mortarboard on Friday 17th April 17:04
Planet Hollywood was very disappointing, Venetian great.
Also if the kids are 10 or over you can take them to a gun range, I was a very proud dad watching my son send a full mag of 5.56 into a paper target of a zombie Bin Laden
r159 said:
Also if the kids are 10 or over you can take them to a gun range, I was a very proud dad watching my son send a full mag of 5.56 into a paper target of a zombie Bin Laden
If money's not an object, I'll just leave this here for the kiddos.https://youtu.be/wDT7_kTBXNo
M.
We stayed at excalibur with kids 9+4 at the time. They liked it. It was august and about 40 degrees unfortunately the room A C wasnt working so we had to be moved to a dfferent room, they upgraded us which was great.
We hadnt really planned going to vegas in the height of summer, it was a spur of the moment trip. I wouldnt go there at that time of year again ( actually i dont think I’d bother with it again, but was ok for the one trip)
We hadnt really planned going to vegas in the height of summer, it was a spur of the moment trip. I wouldnt go there at that time of year again ( actually i dont think I’d bother with it again, but was ok for the one trip)
When I go to vegas with my daughter (now 11 but she’s been going since she was under 1) I tend to stay at the Vdara
It’s a non-smoking property between Aria and Bellagio, connected to both (as well as the Cosmo) - it’s non-smoking and non-casino so is a nice oasis of calm but still bang on the centre strip.
Grand Canyon is a solid 5hrs to the south rim which is the closest real Grand Canyon - do not be fooled into believing the whole “West Rim” is the GC as it’s actually a contributor canyon and a very underwhelming tourist trap.
If you have time I would also recommend heading over to Primm (30-50min drive towards LA) to see the Bonnie and Clyde car etc.
It’s a non-smoking property between Aria and Bellagio, connected to both (as well as the Cosmo) - it’s non-smoking and non-casino so is a nice oasis of calm but still bang on the centre strip.
Grand Canyon is a solid 5hrs to the south rim which is the closest real Grand Canyon - do not be fooled into believing the whole “West Rim” is the GC as it’s actually a contributor canyon and a very underwhelming tourist trap.
If you have time I would also recommend heading over to Primm (30-50min drive towards LA) to see the Bonnie and Clyde car etc.
Thanks all - appreciate the suggestions and recommendations!
Sounds like the strip is where we want to be - didn't realise you could walk through the Ventian to the sphere, so it might be handy to stay there or nearby.
Re: "Grand Canyon" - I didn't even realise last time I went we actually went to the West Rim
That said, we won't have time to do the South Rim and I was pretty blown away by the 'fake' version tbf. We will have to do another dedicated trip to the South rim at some point in the future 
Sounds like the strip is where we want to be - didn't realise you could walk through the Ventian to the sphere, so it might be handy to stay there or nearby.
Re: "Grand Canyon" - I didn't even realise last time I went we actually went to the West Rim
That said, we won't have time to do the South Rim and I was pretty blown away by the 'fake' version tbf. We will have to do another dedicated trip to the South rim at some point in the future Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff