Update: Las Vegas Vacation with Children

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!!

1 mom found this helpful

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

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!

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.

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! :-)

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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!