My husband and I and my 21 year old son are going to vegas for the first time in january 2003. We would like a medium priced hotel near the action without too many kids. Any suggestions. Also which is the best way to get from the airport to the hotels, and where are the best places to eat? We are from the UK.

Excalibur should work for you. Just take a cab, it isn't far from the airport. Consider a trip to Hoover Dam, if you have time. Welcome & Enjoy!

if you want a fantastic steak dinner, go to smith & wolinskys up from MGM Grand (same side of street). i thought excalibur was gross, but i loved Paris. check internet deals there are tons of specials available.

True, Excalibur may be "medium priced," but is commonly recommended to people who are taking children. I don't think it's a good recommendation for people who want few kids around. I've only stayed there once and at Caesar's Palace once, so I don't know about any other places. I don't know if Caesar's has "medium" priced rooms (what's your definition of "medium priced?") Our rooms were $160/nt. last October and considerably discounted from usual because of 9/11.

NO don't go to Excalibur! There are kids everywhere buffet is disgusting has lingering smell that makes one want to vomit. Check out www.cheapovegas.com that in my opinion gives a very true review of this hotel.

Do a search on this board - lots of Las Vegas info with pros and cons about hotels.

Have fun!

from the airport take a shutle too the strip..

a place like the emperial Palice, is fairly cheep and is in the midle of the strip..

you can get a room for $50. but check on that.. the flamingo is alright too..

We stayed at the Excalibur years ago and hated it. To be honest with you,I can't remember why. Since then, I have talked to other people that have stayed there and felt the same way. I just remember we said we would never stay there again.I also, stayed at the Riveria and felt it was a dump. The rooms weren't clean and the maid threw away my airline ticket. I think the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay are one of the nicer places I have stayed in Las Vegas,with no kids around.

Many thanks to everyone who replied.
My definition of medium priced is not the very cheap end of the market but not 5 star. possibly 4 star.Not sure what the exchange rate is at present so cant say the dollar value.

Is Mel your husband? There seem to be two identical threads running here, or else it's an odd coincidence that two groups of three UK adults are coming in January and want exactly the same information.

Yes author youre right .Great minds think alike.

We got a really good price at Paris several months ago. I can't remember what it was, but we liked the hotel and didn't see many children at all.

From airport stuttle vans to all strip hotels are available for @ $4-5. Mid-strip hotels, best (4-star if you will) rated first: Paris, Mirage, Aladdin, Bally's. Bally's and Paris are owned by the same property, and often have good room rate promotions. (Room rates in Las Vegas regularly vary by wide margins depending upon many factors such as conferences, trade shows, time of year) (generally, though, a "good" rate for Bally's: $69/$119 (weekday/weekend). Room rate postings will be available for your Jan '03 schedule, I believe, next month. Great restaurants exist in almost all these hotels. The Sterling buffet brunch at Bally's is considered the areas best, but pricey - (@ $65/pp). Aladdin has an excellent buffet; Paris has excellent restaruants; and Bellagio and Venetian hotels offer great dining choices, are also at mid-strip, and a short walking distance from all the above hotels. (thru "Cheapovegas.com", you can access all LV hotel websites) Generally you'll find some kids at all the hotels, and depending on the time of year (vacations, school schedules, etc) they can indeed sometimes be in large numbers. MGM and Excalibur have a larger proportion of kids overall and the hotels referenced here (with perhaps the exception of Paris) are generally less involved with children. Keep an open mind and with tolerance, your Las Vegas trip will be great. Hope this helps and enjoy our country!

Paris, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, The Venetian and Four Seasons are hotels I'd recommend. Few children, great places. Imperial Palace, Flamingo and Excalibur (yuk) are tired places past their prime. I would think you want somewhere special if you're coming all the way from the UK--the hotels I recommended all have special rates from time to time--especially Paris. We get $79.00 special rate emails from them all the time. That's another thing--sign up for emails on the hotel websites and you'll hear about any upcoming specials. Another poster was right--the Cheapo Vegas website is informative and fun. Have a great trip!

No one ever mentions the Startdust. Is that awful also? They have very good rates. Is it worse than the other "worse" ones all ready mentioned?

Your son might enjoy The Hard Rock (young hip crowd), The Rio (it doesn't get any better than The VooDoo Lounge), or The Palms (young and hip).

Paris, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, The Venetian and Four Seasons are hotels I'd recommend. Few children, great places. Imperial Palace, Flamingo and Excalibur (yuk) are tired places past their prime. I would think you want somewhere special if you're coming all the way from the UK--the hotels I recommended all have special rates from time to time--especially Paris. We get $79.00 special rate emails from them all the time. That's another thing--sign up for emails on the hotel websites and you'll hear about any upcoming specials. Another poster was right--the Cheapo Vegas website is informative and fun. Have a great trip!

Not sure what you consider to be medium priced, but if central location and lack of kids is your preference, try Imperial Palace, Harrah's, Bally's, Paris, Aladdin, Mirage or Monte Carlo. Of those, I like Paris the best. It seems to have the right mix of price, location, amenities and decent nearby restaurants. Plus it's still new and right across the street from the Bellagio fountains. Mid week rates are always considerably cheaper than weekend nights, no matter where you book. The Venetian is also very nice, but their location isn't quite as great and of course they are more expensive. Do not stay at Excaliber, NY NY, MGM, Circus Circus, Luxor or Treasure Island if you're trying to avoid families.

I disagree slightly with the previous poster - we recently stayed at the Luxor specifically because we wanted to avoid "family" lodging/paperthin walls. We greatly enjoyed it! (I would agree NOT to stay at Excalibur, Circus,etc) Mandalay Bay, connected to Luxor by tram, would also be a good choice; (home of House Of Blues)has many good restaurants. "Blue Man Group" at the Luxor would be a great show your son would probably love (fun, unusual,humorous). Best way to travel from airport,I agree, is shuttle or taxi. Luxor area is only 5-10 minutes from airport, while Venetian at the other end of strip (2 miles apart) could take longer, especially in traffic-still best way to travel. Most people walk the strip,take trolleys (there's a stop at MGM), connecting monorails (have to walk thru casinos to get to them). As for restaurants, there are so many good ones! Check Fodors homepage where it says "restaurants" for reviews.