bobrad

This Christmas Season all of our children also married with children wish to stay home and not travel to Fl. to spend the holiday with us.

Having children all over the country we have to plan ahead.

Is December a good time to visit Vegas.

caribtraveler

A good time in terms of what? Weather? Crowds? My husband and I went last December (2nd week) for a long weekend on the strip. Weather was GREAT. Not sure if we were just lucky. The strip was crowded as expected.

Lori

Depends on what you call a good time to visit. We go several times a year since we live fairly close (AZ) and usually go up either before or after Christmas. Hotels on the Strip have very decent rates (think $79 for the Mirage for example the week before Christmas). Rates go way up over New Year's however. We stay at the Mirage or Treasure Island alot and they have their Dec. rates posted now. We like staying there because the location cannot be beat and also you can charge to your room at any of the MGM-Mirage hotels on the Strip (T.I. Mirage, Bellagio, MGM-Grand, etc. .. it's very convenient).

Many shows (not all) will be "dark" part of Dec. as that is when the "stars" take a break too. If there is something you want to see check to see if the show is closed in Dec. Also, pools may be undergoing maintenance. If these are not issues then take advantage of the low hotel room rates !! Since we do go several times a year it makes no difference to us.

Crowd wise -- well, Vegas is never empty Actually it is usually pretty darn crowded in Dec. Lots and lots of people with kids will be there (school is out). Do not be surprised to see infants in strollers out at midnight (I am not a fan of that practice). Many foreign tourists will be in Vegas in Dec. as well.

Weather wise it can be anything - normally about 60-ish in the daytime and low 40's at night. It can be cooler (or warmer) tho so it is hard to predict.

Christmas decorations at the Bellagio are marvelous to see - they are an attraction all by themselves. Most of the major hotels will also have Christmas decorations however with all the glitter and glitz it sometimes is lost so to speak.

Casinos function as usual.

Traffic on the Strip will be heavy, as usual. If you rent a car all the hotels have free self-parking as well as valet parking. You really do not need a car on the strip, if you stay mid-strip it is easy to walk either way. Dollar has rental desks at most of the major hotels if you want a car for a day or two. You usually do have to reserve in advance tho.

I'd check every hotel website and see what rates are for Dec. Sign up for e-mail promotions as well.

bobrad

Lori

Thank You , very much.

bobrad

ttt

pianogirl

Lori has pretty much said it all. I go to Vegas every year around Christmas and I usually leave a day or two before New Year's. It is VERY crowded then. It is so crowded that I usually get irritated trying to get around, but its when my husband can get time off so we keep going back.

While some shows are dark, you may still catch something good. While we were there this past Christmas we saw Jerry Seinfeld.

Having said that, I just got back from Vegas today. Even though it is a holiday, the crowds were still much less than at Christmas. It also seemed like a younger crowd. Christmas time seems to bring lots of families, lots of strollers, etc.

Good luck whatever you decide.

TahitiTams

I have stayed in Vegas in December but 2-3 weeks into the month and the rate at the Wynn was under $150 a night for a resort room that usually goes for $300-400 a night but spending the actual Christmas time and into the New Year is a zoo and expensive and alot of things are dark. Why don't you have all your kids join you the 2nd week of December for a long weekend and then everyone can enjoy their Christmas and all of you can spend time together and celebrate it then..
Weather is great and I went on Expedia but I am sure other websites or go direct at wynnlasvegas.com.
The Wynn is a gorgeous 5 star resort..
Have fun!

MelissaHI

i've gone to vegas a couple of times for christmas and enjoyed it very much! Be sure to stay through at least the 27th, though, so you can catch the after - christmas sales (if you're into that).