Update: Las Vegas Vacation with Children

Flamingo Las Vegas is a great hotel to stay in! It is rated almost a 4 STAR hotel.There is a wonderful view and the people were great there! We did not go w/ kids, but we saw many kids there in that hotel so it must be good right? (smile) Go to EXPEDIA.com for low rates to meet so you won't pay as much. This way you can stay in a great hotel w/ great accomodations and you don't have to pay much. I hope this helps a great deal and whatever you decide, have a great time!

Hi A.,
I have gone to Vegas twice with my kids and they still say its their favorite vacation! We stayed at the Monte Carlo on the strip. What I like about staying there is it is very reasonable and they have a great food court with McDonalds, Haggen Das Ice Cream, Pizza and they have 3 great restaurants. They also have a lazy river, 2 large pools and a Wave Pool which the kids loved! They have a couple of tennis courts which both my husband and I play. They also have a great arcade center and at night they have a Brewery sometimes with a band. The location is great too. We went across the way to the Belagio to watch the water show each evening and also across is the Coca Cola bottle with rock climbing and the M&M Factory! ESPN Zone is across the street at the New York Hotel and they have the roller coaster which goes thru the hotel. THere is also a movie theatre across the street. And that is just stuff around the hotel. They have water parks and so much more to do. Also at the Monte Carlo is a great magician show with Lance Burton! The kids will love him! Good luck! Have fun, its one of my favorite places to visit.

We went last summer and took our 16 & 12 yr old girls. I think you have to go with them to expose them to the way others live so they will not be naive. It will be a great memory for the older ones but 3 yr old will probably just be tired!!
We stayed 3 nights at the Golden Nugget to get a discount and the nightly light show there was great. The shark tank in the pool was not as expected. This was an older place, had odors, etc. We had a rental car so had to drive quite a ways to the Strip. We got a convertible rental so the girls could see all the sites out their back windows but could only use it at night due to the heat!! But it was good for taking photos while driving/stopped at red lights!!
I did not use a travel agent but researched everything on my own. You can get some good specials. I deleted the websites I went to put try the chamber-I also had the casinos send me free brochures so you can show the kids. We then moved to LaQuinta-much nicer-free breakfast and 2 blks off the strip. I got a VISA card from them before going and now have enough points for a free night anywhere!!
The place we enjoyed the most was the Stratosphere!! We actually let our kids roam in the shopping level for 1 1/2 hrs while we gambled. We registered and both got free tshirts w/in 1/2 hour of play. They seemed to have the best returns and we could have stayed there longer.
We are overly cautious with our children but made them stay together and they each had a cellphone. How else are they going to learn to be on their own?? Then we paid to go to the observation tower-we stayed up there 2 hours looking at the city and all the sites during the day. We thought about going back at night but ran out of time.
We did 2 shows that I would recommend:Viva las Vegas show 800-619-9496 & Dirk Arthur-Tropicana 800 829-9034. We went to the matinee and both were less than $15 each. We even splurged at Dirk Arthur and got the traditional round booth and bought the photo(they all try to sell a photo). We were going to do one more show and our kids said they would rather buy photos and not go to another show.
We did not go to the wax museum-way too expensive. Whoopi was outside so we took a photo with her!! lol
The last 2-3 days, we just walked up and down the Strip and went inside every casino and looked at the elaborate artwork/scenes/etc. Having girls, they loved one mall that had a fashion show every hour-even my husband loved watching the electronic stage come up from the floor!!
I'm pretty sure it was called Fashion Mall.
If you do the m&m thing make sure you check the times for the free 3D movie on the 3rd floor - we missed it. They also have a giant coke glass for fun photos.
Bellagio Fountains is a must see at night.
Ceasar’s has lots to see- Fountain/Fall of Rome on the hour and live statues!!
The Luxor- has King Tut/sphinx/ inclinators inside elevators/ MINDFREAK offices & store
MGM-Lion largest bronze in the country
The Venetian has living statues at mall/gondolier march 9:45 am & 4:15 pm There are also performances held throughout the day by singers and dancers dressed in Renaissance costumes and live models posing as mannequins.
Wynn- 140 ft. mountain inside the casino with a waterfall
As we walked, if we got tired or hungry, we just sat and rested-make sure you have enough energy to get back to where you parked your car!! The kids loved all the crosswalks and escalators outdoors.
If you go with the fact that this is not the typical place for kids and be willing to make adjustments, it can be done. YOu won't have much time to gamble. This can also be an expensive trip since even a water bottle is $2 or more. THey even have street vendors with ice chests selling water-we always took a small backpack with each person carrying their own water!! And you can also adapt by becoming night owls but make sure the kids don't see things at night that you don't want them to see!! or go very early in the morning. We arrived on Sunday afternoon and left Saturday morning to avoid some of the crazier things -if you go with some advance knowledge of what you want to do/see, everyone might be happy with picking one thing they want to do.
Hope this was not too long but helpful!!

We are in Las Vegas right now with our 13 year old daughter. We just got here today. We used our Marriott points and are staying a few minutes from the strip. I kind of wish we were on the strip. The taxi ride is around $8.50 not including a tip. We went to Treasure Island tonight to get our tickets to the Mystere show. I had ordered the tickets from the Cirque de Soleil website and then read in a magazine that it was cheaper to get them at the hotel. I canceled our order and saved $50 because (even after a $15 non refundable charge from the previous ticket order). The reason it was less was because the hotel sold us our daughters ticket at half price. I can keep you updated as to what worked and what didn't. Being a female I think there is plenty of shopping alone to keep my daughter entertained.

I highly recommend you not take the children to Las Vegas. They are working very hard to change it back the way it was and it is getting not kid friendly by the day. We just got back from Las Vegas about a month ago and the city is suffering badly from the economy.They have also mentioned it on CNN. Many of the free attractions are closed. A lot of the casino's were just dead and workers standing around waiting for customers. You saw no one winning any jackpots except we did see two people at Rio win about $1980 each. Even the Rio carnival show was shut down. We go to Las Vegas all the time and were so greatly disappointed. Now if you insist on going I would not stay at Circus Circus even though it is the more kid friendly place. Just don't like it and don't like staying towards downtown. New York New York has an arcade upstairs that the kids would like but it can get expenisve. The roller coaster was shut down while we were there as well. If you want to take tours of Hoover Dam or go up into Red Rock Mountain and see the wild donkey's or something like that then go, but I will guarantee you, you will not have a good time with the kids in Las Vegas nor will the kids have a good time and especially if you and your husband want to do some gambling. Can't take the kids onto the casino floor as no one under 21 is allowed and they will run you off if you have the kids there and are not just cutting through. If you still insist on going, Good Luck and make sure you do an update with Mamasource to let us know how it goes but I would spend my money taking the kids to DisneyWorld or something like that. They have some very good rates going right now.

We've always vacationed in Vegas during the summertime with our kids. Don't go the roach motel route, so many larger hotels are giving things away these days. Do your reserch, check out vacation packages where you can almost get at least your flights free or your hotel stays free. Definitely get a hotel with an awesome pool, not a small one either. Definitely stay on the strips. And whichever hotel you end up stayig at sign up for their players card. Every hotel has one, and it really pays off. And also, play on one card. They will insist that you and your hb have 2 diff ones. I say get the two, then go back and get a duplicate of one and just use that one. Try to keep your playing to that casino or their affiliates, like Ceasar's card can be played at 7 other casinos while racking up points to one card. You should never play at the tables or the machines without havign your time/play counted. It will help you get some free meals. During the day we would spend time with the kids, the M&M store on the strip is fun. The pool is fund. Bring a floatie that you can buy at the $1 store and blow it up for your 3 year olds. You can spend so long at the pool. I would suggest you split up your time, say your hb taking the 15 year olds around for a couple of hours. Theirs a movie theater on the strip. So its a lot cheaper (taxi wise) to get a room on the strip. It gets very very hot in the summer so if you spend too much time out walking it will get them and you tired quickly so maybe their want to come back to the hotel and go to the pool and order poos side service. Also, look into going from Sunday through Thursday, lots of rooms are less expensive and show prices are cheaper. If you book through a travel agent or as a package, you might also score some discount on shows. The tram rides and monal rails are fun for the kids. At night, I my hb and I would take turn being in the room with the kids. After having dinner together he would go play first, then come up around midnight and I would go down and play til morning. Continental flies direct to Vegas at only around $220 per person. Once you sign up for a card, then the casinos start sending you offer for free hotel stays in the future. Hope this helps

I wouldn't take my kids to Vegas. I've been there many times and haven't found it to be a kid friendly place.

Well circus, circus is all i have to tell you. Is verykids oriented. But i am 55 & could stay there watching their shows & never never miss gambling. My dad & i spent many, many hours in there just watching all of their circus stunts. Marvelous!!!!! Rooms are or were very reasonable, & nice. They have 1 of largest buffets in vegas & reasonable & also delicious, but you have to get lobster & prime rib while you are there. Was going for 9.99 last time i was out there.

I have been twice with my husband and both times I thought it would be fun to bring my two girls. During the day is a great time to walk around.(bring walking shoes! a lot of walking!) M&M world and a rollercoaster on top of New York,zigfried and roy animal garden or something like that.( Like a little zoo) And a lot of tourist don't realize but in the old downtown of las vegas (near the Golden nugget hotel), every night at closing there is a huge video show in the sky. (I think it happens around 11:00pm.) My husband and I did not know that it was about to happen and it was so cool. There is a place for Lions in MGM and a star wars restarant in Hilton in which the waiters are all dressed in character. There is a monorail that stops in various places and of course all of the hotels are amazing to see. Inside of caesar palace mall at the end, all of the decor and fountain changes and comes alive with some battle.

*** I must warn you though, that at night, these men stand along the strip, on the sidewalk, with so-called business cards that has naked women on them. They are annoying and they make this clicking, flicking sounds with the cards and try to hand them out to every man they see. They do not seem to bother families, but still I am disgusted by this.
and during the day there are left over cards with naked girls left on the ground everywhere. that is my concern - not to mention - alcohol consumption is huge at night.
I think that if you know what to be aware of and to watch out for then I think your family will have a great time. I hope this helps.

A friend of mine took her kids to the M&M factory and they loved it.

There is also Treasure Island which is very close to the New York, New York that has a roller coaster inside (as well as NY,NY which is a good one!). Circus Cirus is far down at the end of the strip and personally I thought it was kind of sad in there...old and washed up, but that is from an adult's perspective, not a child's. Just be prepared for your 15 yr olds to get an eye full! There are guys in the streets handing out "business cards" for strip clubs with basically naked women on them, they are all over the ground... this was in the Flamigo area. Lots of flaunting going on. Even at Treasure Island where they have the pirate show. The women go all out. Renting a car there is great b/c all you do is drive up to any hotel and they'll valet park it for as long as you want for just the tip when you come back. They also have the buses and a monorail system up on the other side of the strip from Circus Circus that goes to all the newer hotels. Paris is so fun to see etc... Smoke was not too terrible, especially in the places you'd go. The Belagio is a beautiful hotel to see with a beautiful Chinese garden in the back that is amazing for kids (and adults). Staying off the strip is also a good idea with kids you might have a more easy time and not be in the center of it all. Without kids, I'd say to stay right in the middle of it all! ;) The places that sell half price tickets on the strip are legit and you get to go to shows at a great cost! Have fun!

We lived in Green Valley, NV which backs up to Las Vegas when our children were kindergarten to Jr High and oldest in High School. Wet and Wild was built while we were there and was about the only waterpark in the US at the time... There are beautiful places to visit just a little ways from Las Vegas....Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Mt Charleston...... Circus Circus was one of the Casinos that is very kid friendly.... you don't actually have to stay there to enjoy it....

J.

I haven't gone with my kids, but Circus Circus might be a fun and reasonably priced hotel that would be great for the kids. I wanted to check out everyone else's ideas too! :-)

Circus Circus was great and I Recommend renting a car.Keeps you off the streets where things could get a little crazy.Also visit Bonnie Springs it is an old western town outside of town. The drive is so beautiful.

The Excalibur (the hotel that looks like a Castle) is also pretty kid friendly. We're taking our kids there in a couple weeks as well, but we're staying at a time-share condo off the strip. Have fun!

My first and only trip to Vegas was with my boyfriend at the time and his 12 year old son(who was a seasoned vet there)We stayed at Circus Circus where they have an indoor roller coaster, went and saw all the sites: fire water at the Mirage,Pirate show at Treasure Island etc. we went to the believe it or not museum, the version of water world they have there and saw Cirque Du Soliel, Mystere which was the highlight of many years!!!We only gambled a few hours the last night we were there and it was a great trip, so yes it can be done although as a mom of little ones I have to question your sanity at wanting to "vacation" anywhere with 3 year old twins, but maybe it's different for you having the teenagers to help :) Cause for me it seems like a vacation anywhere is more work than it's worth when there are little ones involved! Good luck and have fun!

I have heard from friends that it is more for adults.

Hi A., My name is J.. My husband and I took a vacation to Las Vegas with our 9 month old son. It was alot of fun, but alittle too much for him. We did go to a lot of the museums. Since you do have older kids. I believe they will have a blast. There are places like the going to see the sting rays, other aquiriams. (sorry my spelling is horrible) There's also a play place downtown for the kids. And they have a coke cola place and an M&M store. All the museums are fun, and even some of the casinos are really cool to at least walk through. Circus Circus is really awesome, especially since they have a live Circus going on, and arcade games too. Also MGM Grand has an amusement park inside of it. And there are rollercosters on two of the hotels there, the NY NY, and Strastophere (sp?). As for hotels, basically any of the hotels on the strip are kid friendly, but way over priced. We stayed at a hotel that was a mile off the strip, and had a shuttle service to and from the strip, but you are able to find parking at any of the hotel parking. You might wanna google cheap hotels in vegas, that's how we found our place, and the hampton inn and suites are pretty reasonably priced. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions feel free to message me.
Jenn

Well if you stay at a casino hotel, you and the kids will have to walk thru the "smoke filled" casino to get to your room each day. The waitresses are dressed very "sexy" and the overall theme of the whole town is pornagraphic. When you walk down the strip, there are people trying to hand out pornographic advertisments, and many get dropped on the ground where they are visible to everyone. The street signs advertising shows are very lude. Even though they try to cater to families by having arcade rooms and roller coasters and such, it is not a place for kids. Take them to Disney World, that is way more fun for the whole family.

I'm not a fan of taking kids to Vegas. They are trying to go back to being an "adult destination". If I were spending my money, I would go to Disneyland or Disneyworld. I bet you could get very reasonable tickets and hotel accomodations there. However, if you really want to go the Vegas route, we stayed at the Excaliber. Lots of fun. Looks like a midevil castle. Stay off the streets at night, that is when alot of the guys come out to handout cards and brochures for the strip clubs. Good luck and have fun.

Sorry for the late response... Circus Circus is kid friendly and has better rates during the week than on the weekend. They have a daily circus act and an indoor carnival with rides, games, face painting etc... Good luck!