Need holiday help! Las Vegas with kids yes or no??

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zeggy

The strip is not seedy at all, it's only the back roads. When I went last October there were quite a lot of people with their children there.
There is plenty for him to do. Each of the hotels has a theme and he may enjoy looking at them - one hotel has an aquarium and there is stuff to do in the others.
You can take a trip to the Hoover Dam and also go to the Grand Canyon - he may really enjoy a helicopter ride.
A lot of the rides there are not really suitable for a 7 year old to be honest - the only 3 I can think of are New York New York rollercoaster which i don't think he'd be big enough to get on and the 2 up the Stratosphere - height again and even I wouldn't go on them!!

http://www.vegas.com/traveltips/guide/familyvacation.html
There is a site here which suggests things to do with kids and there seems to be a lot more to do than I have mentioned!

I see someone has recommended Circus Circus as a place to stay. No offence to her but I went there to see it and it is a complete dump. It's off the Main Strip and is a good 20 minute, easily half hour walk with a little one, to the main strip. It's filthy dirty, my feet stuck to the carpet and there was rubbish everywhere, and was completely full of screaming unruly kids. There is no way on God's earth I would ever take my children there. Yes it had a million Grab machines and a circus ring (the acts were rubbish) but I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Only my opinion though, I'm sure a lot of people like it!!!

purplepants

the strip isn't seedy and when i went there were lots of kids about. if you take kids i would stay in a kiddie themed hotel. like treasure island. some hotels might offer a babysitting service too.
if it were me though, i would leave the kids at home and go and enjoy vegas with your man.

beeze

Ok...I'm going to be really honest with you and I'm not saying this to be mean. In the 90's Vegas tried to become a family destination. It didn't work and now it's swinging back the other way. Very nice hotels, expensive clubs etc. I visit every 2-3 months to party, gamble and have fun. It's an adult playground. Nothing gets me more mad then having to listen to crying, bored children standing just off the gaming floor while I'm drinking and playing cards. Or getting my heels clipped by strollers or having to walk around huge families that are clogging up the strip. Would your kid like it if my friends went to his playground and ruined his fun? Go somewhere where he will have fun and not get tired of walking from hotel to hotel. Disneyland!

juniejuly

Las Vegas is "not " for children. Leave the child at home. Yes, there are things around that you may not want your child to see. P.S. I live here.

zippythejessi

Leave the kids home. Seriously. Let me tell you why:

1. Casinos are noisy and smoky. Do you want your 7 year old's lungs exposed to that?
2. There are some "working girls" on the strip. There's also guys who hand out fliers for the strip clubs and escort services. They can be persistant and annoying.
3. Do you want a drunken fool tripping your child, bumping into him, or God forbid, throwing up on him? (It's happened to me, and I'm not a kid.)
4. Most kids don't have an interest in going to the decent restaurants...

Honestly, make it just a getaway for you and hubby. Las Vegas is Disneyland for grownups - bring him back a t-shirt.

Jay P

I go to Vegas fairly often and there are a lot of kids on the strip. yes there are things for them to do including rides, museums, and other attractions. However, I don't think you would enjoy it very much with him there. Vegas is an adult playground. There will be things you two will want to do including gambling and going out at night, that you simply won't be able to do with your son there. I'd take him somewhere else this time and leave Vegas for when the two of you can get away for a weekend.

Lollypopfizz

i havent been but i wouldnt recommend it, it seems like a city for adults with all the gambling and all but maybe im wrong. look online in different web sites, they might give you ideas

SuZe

Leave the kids at home!
They call it "sin city" for a reason.

I would not bring childeren to Vegas, as there is a lot of sex, nudity, gambling (obviously) and alcohol.
Even though there are many things there that are family orientated, I think your son would be exposed too WAY too much for his age!
also, you can smoke indoors in many places, so he'd be inhaling all the 2nd-hand smoke!

Princess B2B 29/11/08

i wouldnt go to las vegas..my dad lived there and its no place for a kid..why not go to florida..your son would love disney land and the other theme parks like universal studio.

Smiley

Leave the kid at home!...My wife and I use Vegas as a get away every couple of years. Spend the time together. LV is not for kids!

Pam

Las Vegas is an adult playground. It is called Sin City for a reason. It's about gambling, drinking, sex, pools, buffets, live music, etc. It is not geared for children. Children have Disney World. Adults have Las Vegas.

BTW - most working girls blend in so well, you won't even notice them. Prostitutes in Vegas are call girls, not streetwalkers so don't worry about seediness (although porn does litter the streets). But your kid will be around drinking, gambling, and carousing. Leave him with the grandparents and take your husband on a second honeymoon in Sin City. Everyone will be happier especially your kid.

suckaslug

I've been to Vegas a few times and wouldn't recommend it for kids. There is absolutely nothing for kids to do at all, everything is for over 21's. There aren't working girls on the strip but there are loads of people handing out cards advertising working girls. I would suggest going somewhere else with a child.

Lolalola

Las Vegas is incredible; I have been there once but I went with my sister.

I haven't had experience going with children yet, but I did see a lot of families there, the strip is nothing to worry about, there are not girls in the street or anything (at least not in las vegas blvd)... I didn't see any prostitution.

I do know you get tired to walk thorough all those hotels, so for a child it may get very exhausted...

i will recommend you going just with your husband, but if the child needs to go, then go ahead there are plenty of things to do with the children. (see hotels, play games, go to the rides, see the animals in the mirage, shopping, there is a couple of stores he will love like the coca cola store and m&m's store)

Have a nice trip

DemonicaB

Hi

I stayed for three nights with a child and that was more than enough.

The walking between hotels is too much for little legs and there's hardly anything for kids to do. It's also very hot for them.

My daughter enjoyed Circus Circus so if you must go then stay there or very nearby. She also loved the helicopter over the Canyon.

We did it as part of a drive around the area. We started and finished in San Francisco and stayed in Monterey (great aquarium), visited Santa Cruz boardwalk, went for nature walks near Yosemite (place called Mammoth - beautiful).

Danny B

Las Vegas is not the best place for kids but if you must go try the Flamingo Hotel.
It has a great kid friendly pool with waterfalls and slides.
Also some animal shows and a great buffet.
There is a casino in the lobby for your hubby, also he will like Bills Gambling hall next door. You can shop to your hearts content at the Forum shops at Caesar's Palace across the street. The Adventure dome at Circus Circus is a mad house. If you go in mid summer the pool area (at the Flamingo) is more like spring break so call ahead.

VegasBaby

Sure I live in Las Vegas and I love it. Their is alot for kids. Their is M&M world, coke-a-cola world, rollar coasters,lions at the MGM. While your Husband is in the casinos stay with your son doing one of those things. Have Fun!

stacey

I would never take a kid with me. There is not much for them to do and all the secondhand smoke can't possibly be good for them either.

laplandfan

Take a look at Hotel Circus Circus! It would be ideal for your kids!

vern01

i live here and i think it's fine for you to bring your son here. just be aware that he will be seeing some wild things out here. women dress very provacatively... almost half naked with their boobs hanging out. if you're driving down the strip or even walking you'll see cabs with half naked women posted on the back of them. there's a big moving billboard that is driven around with an ad for call girls OH and walking the strip there will be porn littered all over the sidewalks. we have great parks here (some with waterslides) and they have cool playgrounds (with canopies over them so your little one won't get burnt). circus circus is a fun place and so is nyny. both of those casinos have really fun midways. you and your son could attend the "medieval" show at the excalibur or see the shark reef exhibit at the mandalay bay.

theres A LOT to do here for kids. the only downside is the soft porn that's everywhere (only on the strip though, and sometimes if you're in back of a cab you'll see an ad for jubilee (women's butts in thongs).

jack

You will have a great time.

Some general ideas
http://www.lasvegaskids.net/index.aspx
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/activities.cfm
http://www.vegas.com/attractions

Great stuff for a 7YO boy
Adventuredome - Circus Circus
Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dophin Habitat - Mirage
Lion Habitat - MGM - Have photo taken with lion cub($)
Fountains of Bellagio
Fremont Street Experience
Atlantis & Festival Fountains - Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Volcano/White Tigers - Mirage
Aquarium - Silverton - Thursday through Sunday 2pm-7pm there is a mermaid show every 30 minutes(except for the 3 manta ray feedings)
Masquerade show in the Sky - Rio
Sunset Stampede - Sam's Town
Fantasy Faire Midway - Excalibur

This would be perfect
The Lied Discovery Childrens Museum
They have 100 or so hands on exhibits

There are many shows that are great for kids
Tournament of Kings - Excalibur
Would be my first choice

The Orleans would be a nice place, if not for your whole trip, at least for a nice day/evening. They have a bowling alley, 18 screen movie theater, and an arcade.

The Orleans has one of my favorite buffets(French Market) and restaurants(Prime Rib Loft)

The Orleans has a Kids Tyme - The kids can watch movies, play in the tunnels, ball, draw, etc - It's only $4-$5 per hour

You could go on a picnic to Mt. Charleston - Toiyabe National Forest. Mt Charleston is 12K ft & it's 30 degrees cooler up there, and It's only a 36 mile drive N of LV on highway 95 -

The Grand Canyon - Would be something he would never forget

IMO the best two hotels for a family are the Orleans & Excalibur.

We go to LV 2-3 times a year for 2 weeks or more at a time and have for over 20 years. If you have a Q feel free to e-mail me through YA

LV Stuff I know a little about
Hotels
Transportation
Shows
Sightseeing
Buffets/Restaurants
Gambling/slot clubs/comps

~Jack~

eric l

If there are working girls on the strip, they are not obvious. This is because prostitution is illegal.
There are places you can take the kid and have fun. Bowling movies and video games at the Orleans.
There are exhibits at Mandalay Bay for tropical animals and fish.
There is the Guinness Mu seam.

Go to the web site below and you will have more than enough for an average las vegas vacation.

Spike

God no, dont go!!! Its the worst, tackiest place on earth. Money buys big hotels but not class. I was there with my wife and daughter because i fell for the hype it was family friendly. Every 5 yards a pimp leant across my wife and daughter to try and slap a card into my hand with a number of a hooker on it. They just don't care and neither do the police or the local authorities. They had noticed that once families started to come less was being spent in the casino's so they let the hookers back in which had the desired effect. Take your kid to Disney or Hawaii for the same money and have a great family holiday instead of a nightmare.

ian h

No kids. Don't go there yourself, the place is a dump

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