I would love to take my 16 yr old son to Las Vegas! I'd need two rooms, so want to keep the cost down. BUT, I also want to stay in a great hotel... near the action and glitz with lots of happening amenities. This is possible? Also..are there activities and/or entertainment in Vegas that someone can recommend OTHER than gambling? Is he even ALLOWED to enter the casinos? Any suggestions for a single mother with a teen aged son would be GREATLY appreciated. Best time of year? EEEKS ... I can see already this is going to be PRICEY! Geez... what else is new. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!!

OK - this is your lucky day. My wife and I just returned from LV with our 16 year old son. To answer your questions. 1. Stay @ the MGM Grand. It is not the cheapest, but most reasonable and the rooms are very large. So large that I would not reccomend that you get two rooms, one should provide enough privacy with two king beds. 2. The MGM has a built in theme park and right across the street is the NY-NY hotel with one of the best roller coaster rides in the world. It only costs $5. We all went on it a lot. Also, next to the MGM - walking distance is Steven Spielburg's GAMEWORKS. This is the coolest video parlor in the US. I mean even I was in there one night until 2:00AM. They have these unlimitted game times for $10 - well I am the Dad of a 16 year old and I had a ball. 3. The casinos are not supposed to let minors loiter in them. The security people will hassle him to keep moving. We got pretty good at eluding them. The best casino off the strip to take a teen is the Hard Rock Cafe/Casino. DO NOT MISS IT!!! Also, we managed to win quite a bit of money there. My son wamts me to tell you that the Hard Rock had the best looking women too. A younger - much younger crowd. After a full 8 days we did not see or do everything. 4. Rent a car - this will allow you to be able to escape from the glitz and get a little sanity by driving out to Lake Mead or what ever.
Have GRAND time and drop us note when you get back.---Lee---

Hi Lee... THANKS FOR THE INFO. Of course when I got to the part about your son saying the bit about the MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN in the world being around I couldn't help chuckle, let alone be JEALOUS. LOL Indeed this was my lucky day...however would have been MUCH luckier were my son in Vegas when YOU and YOUR FAMILY WERE THERE!! Sonnyboy sounds like the Guide d'Resistance. LOL However, I thank you kindly for all the info you posted to me, and will follow the suggestions. I don't know yet when exactly we will be traveling, however when I do, I promise to let you know. Now, lets see.... I heard your take on Vegas, and I even heard your son's view. What did your wife have to say regarding the trip?? She loved it too? And, this is a safe city for a single woman to travel? Have a happy day... thanks, again! Linda

There are a million things to do in Las Vegas without having to go into the casinos! The Mirage has a white tiger and a dolphin exhibit, they also has a volcano that erupts every hour or so in the evenings. Treasure Island has a pirate show that goes on out front in a big lagoon that is kind of neat to watch. The Hard Rock Hotel/restaurant has lots of memorabilia that are fun to look at. Most of the larger hotels have fantastic pools to swim in. Ceasars Palace has a huge shopping area and some "shows" that are fun to watch. Circus Circus has a big area for kids to play games for prizes, and ongoing circus acts. The MGM has a theme park attached to their hotel, it has some pretty fun rides. I tried to go on the roller coaster at the New York New York hotel but it was closed the days I was there....it looked pretty wild. Also, don't forget the eating you can do there!! You can find all kinds of 99 cent shrimp coctails, 99 cent half pund hot dogs, 99 cent strawberry shortcake, and other great deals! I would recommend going around May or September....it is very very hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. Have a great time!

Hi Holly...thanks so much for the reply. I have printed out the info you and Lee supplied and I think I am ready for the planning! I am beginning to wonder, however, if maybe my son shouldn't bring along a friend so that he has someone to take with him on the roller coaster...God knows I'M NOT GOING ON IT!! I am sure we will all have a wonderful time, tho it very well may be next spring before we get out there. Regardless, have a good day, and again... thanks for the help!

Circus Circus will probably be too young for a mid-teen, I would go with Lee... MGM is pretty impressive. Truth is, it doesn't matter much where you stay, all the hotels on the strip have their own character & you will spend a great deal of time exploring them. A friend for your son is an excellent idea, & not just for the coasters (check out the one at the Stratosphere... don't remember the height, but it runs around the outside of the highest tower in town.)
As for safety, relax. A single woman can feel perfectly secure alone at 2:00 AM >ON THE STRIP

We took our two sons 14 and 16 and they loved it!!
Be sure and take him to the Lance Burton magic show at the Monte Carlo. It is only $35 which is very cheap for a Vegas show. He also signs autographs personally and talks to everyone after his shows. The Monte Carlo is across the street from the MGM. Your son will love all the excitement. My boys just loved exploring Vegas.

I go to Las Vegas frequently, but don't travel with children, so I don't have any ideas about that - but the other postings have wonderful suggestions. I do have one idea, however. Save some more money by finding 2 for 1 buffet coupons. Scan the LV newspaper, and pick up the freebie publications - like "Around Town" and the other one (which I can't remember the name of). They are available at the airport -especially around the rental car areas. Sometimes they are in your hotel room. Often the 2for1 coupons are in those pubs. Also, they have coupons for "funbooks" which may also have buffet coupons. The "funbooks" also usually give out free baseball caps or mugs or some other novelty.

Alladin's casino has a great dinner special. It is in the front cafe area. A steak and lobster dinner for $6.00!!!

My wife and I took 4 teenage boys to Las Vegas several years ago. Stayed at Excalibur, really nice
We all enjoyed King Arthurs Tournament dinner show.
Wet and Wild water park a definite must in August. Antique car museum at Imperial Palace(free tickets all over) Rented car for one day to Hoover Dam, MGM Grand wasn't finished yet so no opinion on that. Fremont Street Experience downtown is a great, free
sound and light show. Our kids love buffets and there are certainly lots of those Vegas. Treasure Island Pirate show, Mirage volcano both great. Long and short a great vacation as long as not uptight about gambling

I am a single Mom too and I took my teenagers (13 and 15) to Las Vegas last summer. A couple of suggestions - get the LA Times a couple of weeks before you go and check the ads in the Travel Section. We got some amazing specials - we spent three nights at MGM for $43 a night (midweek) and a couple of weekdays at Flamingo for $50 a night. We rented a car and hotel hopped from one end of the strip to the other. The prices go way up on the weekend, so we stayed at Circus Circus and the Stratosphere.

The prices are rock bottom in summer because it is so hot, but since Las Vegas is geared for indoors (the casinos don't want you spending time basking in the sun - all the pools seem to be 3 feet deep!) it is OK.

My boys loved MGM because of Gameworks. From 10 am until noon it is $10 for unlimited play. It is also right across the street from NewYork NewYork with great roller coaster and MadHatten show (break dancing, etc.)

Don't worry about it being safe - there is super security everywhere - the casinos don't want their patrons to be mugged!

We never got around to even going to the waterpark - my kids love shopping and there are masses of discount malls right outside of town.

I'd be happy to give you more info if you email me.

If you're taking a teen to Las Vegas you probably want to stay somewhere where it is kid friendly, but also has a great pool. I'm not sure, but I think the Monte Carlo has a pool with a stream in it that you can float in an innertube. They also have an arcade there.