Las Vegas with 8 yo
 

I am thinking about visiting my brother-in-law and his family in LV next July. We can't stay with tme b/c they only have a BR apt.

I have read a lot of threads about the fact LV is not a family friendly place for young kids, but all we want is a very good hotel with a very nice pool, some good resturaunts to eat in and some shows to see. We not gamblers at all so the casinos will not make a lot of money off of us. LOL.

Any recommendations from this list of suitable hotels:

Mandalay Bay
Treasure Island
Mirage
Flamingo

Thanks.

Take a look at Circus Circus. Haven't been there in some time but it used to be a great place for families...lots of activiites for kids.

Circus Circus and Excalibur have the most kid-friendly attractions, but I wouldn't classify the hotels as "very good".

We stayed with our kids (8&10 at the time)at the Mandalay Bay last year. They loved the pool and the Shark Reef exhibit. The Pros were: nice rooms, nice pool with lazy river (not too impressed with the wave pool), close to the older monorail connecting MB, Luxor, Excalibur. Cons: have to get to the pool super early to get a seat, the floating tubes for the lazy river were $20 each to rent for a day, not much shade at the pool, hotel not centrally located.

We took the kids to the "Tournament of Kings" dinner show (knights and jousting) at Excalibur. They enjoyed that and the midway games(very easy to win stuffed animals and other trinkets).

As for your other listed hotels, please note that TI is trying to reinvent it self as a "sexy" place to stay. The pirate show now consists of scantily-clad wenches hopping around on the ship.

We stayed at the Mirage this year without kids. We really enjoy the service and atmosphere there (not too big). They have a nice pool, also the white tigers and a dolphin exhibit.

Please be aware that July will be very hot (106 when we were there) and the pools at most hotels will be very crowded with very little shade. ((#)) ((#)) ((#))

fkwok,

I think there a lot of considerations here. If you are going to be spending lots of time with the BIL...in and out is an issue. Mid strip will be problematic for this especially if you have a car. Location in the valley of the family may also be a thought.

If you are not into gambling, why not consider something off the strip? Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, Station properties?

If you have your heart set on the srtip then Mandalay Bay would be my suggestion of the properties you listed. Last I was there, there were good numbers of kids around. Your child will be amongst the youngest at the pool I would guess.

Might also consider Monte Carlo, has a lazy river and a decent pool, not as crowded. Can navigate to your room without going through the casino...rare on the strip. Lance Burton show there is ideal for an 8 year old (although some of his assistants are scantily dressed, but more dressed than the MB pool).

I would not suggest Circus Circus or Excalibur; Both run down and not very nice. Circus Circus is also on the north end (not a very safe area) Stay at The Orleans. It's about 4 years old. Extremely nice.(Best Beds I ever slept in & marble in the bathroom!) Very inexpensive. A little off the strip, and does cater to families.

Hi there. Mandalay Bay will be the most expensive. Mirage is a great choice, as is Monte Carlo. There are some amazing restaurants - what is your price range, food preference and - you will have an 8 year old with you?

What about Aladdin? They sometimes have some great deals.

On strip the kids will love the Mirage pool and it has a good location. If you consider off strip check out the JW Marriott. It is about 15-20 minute drive to strip, has large rooms and bathrooms, and a great pool. A nice oasis from the strip for families.

Our kids loved the Marriott. There is a shuttle to the mall on the strip, huge rooms, and a great pool with a waterfall. Lots of nice restaurants nearby. Make sure to take your child to M&M world. An 8 yo's idea of heaven.

Wouldn't stay anywhere but the Flamingo with an 8 yr old. Kids love that pool and the slides and the wildlife around the pool area. What 8 yr old wouldn't fall in love with a 15 inch penguin???

I would recommend joining the email programs of the various hotels. They will send you info and specials that may be cheaper than other sources. We got the Flamingo for $99 on a Fri & Sat night with 2 for 1 drinks, buffet and show.

hi everyone and THANK YOU for all your great responses. I read all of them and want to let you all know that my BIL only has 2 BR's so we ca not stay there. We don't think we are going to spend every single minute with them since both parents work and the kids will be in their own teenager worlds. We are just going to visit and see them after 2 years. They just moved there a year or so.

My price range is about $1600-2000 for air and hotel for all three of us. Is that too cheap? I've narrowed it down to MB, Mirage and maybe The Flamingo, but I need to research that one more.

I haven't thought about being off strip since I really don't want to rent a car. The Marriott sounds intriguing if they do have a shuttle.

I sent for my AAA tour book for Southern CA and NV and will read that thoroughly.

I think my 8 yo will want to spend most of time in the pool since she just learned how to swim. My wife wants to see some shows and shop. I am going b/c I'm paying. LOL. I can't do anything until June b/c school doesn't let out until June 26 in NYC next year.

Please let me know if the I'm too cheap. If that's the case, the Marriott sounds better all the time. Thanks again!

Summertime rates at the Flamingo run about $65-75 weeknights and $150 weekends. July 4th weekend might be higher. You should be able to find coast to coast airfares at about $300-$350 per person with sales that will pop up around April. Room rate specials also get posted about 3-4 months in advance. Vegas is quite easy to book in summertime, I'd say a month ahead of time you'd still have no trouble. Don't book any package now that is non-changeable or non-refundable, that would not be wise.

I would not hesitate on the Flamingo, they have completed renovations on all the rooms and it is a great location for first-timers, also easier to get around then many of the mega-resorts that are built like airport runways.
Vegas is NOT family friendly for adults who want to gamble and expect their kids to be strung along. I've found it VERY family friendly as long as your focus is on the kids. Lion Cubs, Tigers, Dolphins, a great Natural History museum, a volcano, aquariums, a kid's museum, arcades, pools, amusement parks, rollercoasters, magic shows...I hope you find a great deal on airfare and hotel so you have plenty left over for all the F U N !

Unless I missed it, you do not mention how long you are going to be there. At any rate, I do not think your budget is too small. I would not book a package but put it together yourself. MB and Mirage will be amongst the more expensive choices and IMHO Mirage is not very kid friendly. Of the 3, I would lean toward Flamingo but I still think you should consider Monte Carlo.

It may be of value to get a car one or 2 days to visit Hoover Dam / Lake Mead and or Valley of Fire.

You also do not mention where you are coming from but be aware that the summer sun in Vegas will be INTENSE. I don't believe that anyone of any age can spend most of the day at the pool unless there is significant shade and even then it would be the rare person.

Thanks for the latest advice. I'll check out the Flamingo. We are just planning to stay a week at most. We wil probably start seriously booking sometime after the new year. And we live in NYC. We are used to heat and humidity. We've also stayed in Cancun and that was intense sun. I think was was burned in less than an hour.

You are right b/c we are not gamblers so kids activities are vastly important to us vs the number of slot machines at each hotel.

Thanks everyone!

We stayed at the Flamingo last week. It's family friendly. The kid will love the pool - But, to get a chair, you really have to get there before 9 AM. Maybe even by 8 AM.

The rooms are nice, buffet pretty good, in the middle of the strip. Its one of the stops on the Monorail. Across from Ceasars and the Bellagio. Can't go wrong and the prices are great.

By the way, I'm in Austin, TX. The heat and no humidity were still a bit much for us! I think it's because of all of the walking. Going from one hotel to another is a pretty long walk!

A week in Las Vegas is WAY too long. Really. It's a long-weekend destination. After 4 days you hear slot machines where there aren't any. There is NO escape (except in the fine-dining restaurants of the Bellagio--which aren't family friendly). Especially if you won't be spending time off the strip with relatives, you may want to consider a shorter trip.

YMMV,
Racy

You could always look into a side trip in case you decide a week is too much (it would be for me.) The north rim of the grand canyon might not be too far and it's really awesome.

Sounds like pools will be the big hit for your daughter. Flamingo is great and you don't have to walk through the casino to get to your room or the pool. But other posters are right -- you need to get out there early if you are going to enjoy yourself. And be aware pools won't be open in the evenings, either.

Avoid the Circus Circus. Rundown and sooo crowded that even my 11yo hated the place. We endured for a night and hightailed out of there. From what I saw the Mirage looked pretty nice and my daughter loved the dolphins and tigers.

Another vote for Mirage with kids. Sign up their website for specials--you can often book rooms in the summer for quite a deal.

Pool at Mirage is not only tropical but comes with a water slide or two. And the "Secret Garden" with tigers and dolphins are a great way to spend part of the day.

Your 8 yr old may enjoy the gondola rides at Venetian, right across the street, and the elaborate decor of Aladin, also across the street.

If you are there for a length of time, it might be worth your while to travel up to Mandalay for the aquarium.

Another vote for either the Mirage - more pricey - or the Flamingo - great pools. Avoid CircusCircus! Yucky place.

I can throw out another idea you might enjoy while you're here - especially after the heat starts getting to you - which it will. Rent a car and take the freeway (95 north) to the Mt. Charleston turn off. Follow the road all the way to the Cathedral Rock picnic area. Admission is $6 per carload and it is an amazing retreat from the HOT of Las Vegas. Trees, birds, breezes and about 30 degrees cooler. You can pick up stuff to eat & drink on your way out of town and enjoy the better part of the day on the mountain. I take my grandson up there almost every Saturday during the summer just to get a break from the heat. There are trails all around up there, too, if you're adventuresome and enjoy that sort of thing.