Somehow my wife was talked into booking a few days in Vegas by one of those ads that plays on the radio promising a free room if you check out a timeshare or something. Anyway, we're going in a few weeks with the family (9,6, and 4 yrs old) and staying at the Stratosphere (I think), and I'm wondering what we'll do with them while we're there. I don't think we'll do much gambling, which is fine because I don't find it enjoyable. Any suggestions about what a family can do for enjoyment in the Vegas area? We'll have a car, so a little drive isn't a problem.

Timeshare presentation? Say it ain't so, Buffalo!!

 

See the Bellagio fountains

 

Go to the Grand Canyon (Maybe a helicopter ride)

 

Hoover Dam

 

Red Rock Canyon

 

 

 

Check out this forum. (Just ignore the people that flame you for taking kids to Vegas)

Edited July 15, 200817 yr by mreye

Just got back from there actually. Honestly, there's very little around the main casinos that I'd say is geared for Children. Circus Circus is supposed to have a decent amount of stuff that might be enjoyable, but out of the hotels that's probably it. The Strat has a few rides at the top of the tower, not sure on the height requirements. Some of the shows might work out well, not exactly sure what your family would be considered "in to". Go catch the Star Trek Experience before it goes away at the end of August. Here's a good forum with a list of family-oriented suggestions.

Timeshare presentation? Say it ain't so, Buffalo!!

I know. I see this being a great disaster. I'll actually be looking forward to my 4 year old melting down and the timeshare people showing us to the door. It's gonna be classic.

I know. I see this being a great disaster. I'll actually be looking forward to my 4 year old melting down and the timeshare people showing us to the door. It's gonna be classic.

 

We got hoodwinked once. We were sitting at a table with our own seller and the main dude was going through his presentation and asked us, "How often do you go on vacation?" We answered, "Once every three years." He looked at the seller and said, "Good luck."

 

The free tickets we got were for "The best new magician on the strip." He was trash! All his tricks were the ones given away by that masked magician on Fox. And the free buffet we got was garbage!! The food and show wasn't worth the 3 hours we wasted or the $18 cab ride.

 

I'm sure it'll be real interesting with a 4 year old. It'll probably be the only time she? he? is an absolute angel in public. (Trust me, I know. I have 3 -6,3 and 19 months) Let us know how it goes.

 

 

When's your trip anyway?

 

Well I'm going to Vegas in a few weeks also (yes I'm going everywhere it seems), for a boys weekend with about 4-5 guys my age.

 

Hopefully staying somewhere close to the Strip. What are the best Casino's, clubs / bars etc. if anyone's been?

 

Oh and MiddleBuffalo, have you seen that South Park episode where they go to Aspen for a weekend for a 30 minute Time Share meeting? Hope your weekend certainly doesn't turn out like that.

Well I'm going to Vegas in a few weeks also (yes I'm going everywhere it seems), for a boys weekend with about 4-5 guys my age.

 

Hopefully staying somewhere close to the Strip. What are the best Casino's, clubs / bars etc. if anyone's been?

Just got back. Need a lot more details to answer this question.

 

What are you looking to do? What sort of clubs/bars are you looking for? How much are you looking to spend on the hotels, casinos, clubbing etc. Are you a gambler or are you looking for other entertainment? Will you have a car?

 

The good news on Vegas right now is there are an insane number of deals cropping up on hotels, since pretty much every company embarked on a major building and expansion project within the last year or because they had such success during the housing market boom, and now it's turned around and gas prices have gone the other way so they're all suddenly caught having more rooms than they can fill.

Just got back. Need a lot more details to answer this question.

 

What are you looking to do? What sort of clubs/bars are you looking for? How much are you looking to spend on the hotels, casinos, clubbing etc. Are you a gambler or are you looking for other entertainment? Will you have a car?

 

The good news on Vegas right now is there are an insane number of deals cropping up on hotels, since pretty much every company embarked on a major building and expansion project within the last year or because they had such success during the housing market boom, and now it's turned around and gas prices have gone the other way so they're all suddenly caught having more rooms than they can fill.

Ok I'll try my best here;

 

1 - Looking to gamble mostly, and then get drunk at bars. Both are the highest priority. Don't think we want to do much sightseeing (e.g Hoover Dam, too far away). Getting drunk cheaply is probably more ideal though, I don't want to be paying $8-10 a beer now. I'm into poker, but some of the other guys are more in to blackjack and roulette.

2 - Hotels we're looking at $50 a night for the most. There's probably 4-5 people going, maybe more, so if you know any really good hotel deals (otherwise we're probably staying in a hostel, and I'll be doing enough of that over the next year).

3 - No car. Will be walking, and maybe getting taxi's if we have to.

Ok I'll try my best here;

 

1 - Looking to gamble mostly, and then get drunk at bars. Both are the highest priority. Don't think we want to do much sightseeing (e.g Hoover Dam, too far away). Getting drunk cheaply is probably more ideal though, I don't want to be paying $8-10 a beer now. I'm into poker, but some of the other guys are more in to blackjack and roulette.

2 - Hotels we're looking at $50 a night for the most. There's probably 4-5 people going, maybe more, so if you know any really good hotel deals (otherwise we're probably staying in a hostel, and I'll be doing enough of that over the next year).

3 - No car. Will be walking, and maybe getting taxi's if we have to.

I like the MGM Grand, the casino is huge. Will probably be staying there in October.

 

They are offering a ton of deals right now, so you should be able to stay somewhere decent for a good price

If you're looking for both better gambling and drinking, honestly, I'd avoid the main ones on the strip you hear about. They're more set to be resorts. The odds aren't as good on most games, the drinks at all the bars are through the roof, they're geared to be more resorts that have casinos stuck in them rather than casinos.

 

If you're insisting on staying somewhere mid, the best place I found for compiling discounts was smartervegas.com. This thread at fatwallet.com is also updated fairly rapidly when a hotel comes out with a new deal. Lots of places on the strip will offer a room for about $70 or $80 and will include things like activity or dining credits to keep your money there.

 

If you're looking for more gambling, cheaper drinks, etc., places that are a bit older, like the Sahara, the Riviera, all of the places downtown near Fremont street fit your description. Usually those are the more for the gambling types, less for the blow a lot of money on shows and get a wonderful room types. There's an offer up now at the Sahara for like $37 a night.

Ok I'll try my best here;

 

1 - Looking to gamble mostly, and then get drunk at bars. Both are the highest priority. Don't think we want to do much sightseeing (e.g Hoover Dam, too far away). Getting drunk cheaply is probably more ideal though, I don't want to be paying $8-10 a beer now. I'm into poker, but some of the other guys are more in to blackjack and roulette.

2 - Hotels we're looking at $50 a night for the most. There's probably 4-5 people going, maybe more, so if you know any really good hotel deals (otherwise we're probably staying in a hostel, and I'll be doing enough of that over the next year).

3 - No car. Will be walking, and maybe getting taxi's if we have to.

 

I would suggest staying downtown (Binions, Fremont, 4 Queens, Fitzgeralds) - cheap hotels, beer, food! They have a shuttle (Called "The Deuce" because it's a double decker bus) that can take you to the strip all day and most of the night for $5 per day (unlimited rides).

I used that thread at Fat Wallet to get $59 at MGM last summer! Good stuff.

 

I would suggest staying downtown (Binions, Fremont, 4 Queens, Fitzgeralds) - cheap hotels, beer, food! They have a shuttle (Called "The Deuce" because it's a double decker bus) that can take you to the strip all day and most of the night for $5 per day (unlimited rides).

Ok I might suggest that then.

 

It's just the lure of that we've never been to Vegas before, and you'd love to stay on the Strip, but getting a bus for only $5 a day there is good value.

Ok I might suggest that then.

 

It's just the lure of that we've never been to Vegas before, and you'd love to stay on the Strip, but getting a bus for only $5 a day there is good value.

 

You'll like downtown. Don't worry. Get a beer football!

 

Timeshare presentation? Say it ain't so, Buffalo!!

 

See the Bellagio fountains

 

Go to the Grand Canyon (Maybe a helicopter ride)

 

Hoover Dam

 

Red Rock Canyon

 

 

 

Check out this forum. (Just ignore the people that flame you for taking kids to Vegas)

Circus Circus and MGM have amusement parks (Circus Circus also has a circus type show). Bellagio fountains are cool. Treasure Island Pirate show as well (although I don't know if the show is now "adult themed". Caesars Palace has the gladiator type of show that people like in the forum shops.

Just got back from there actually. Honestly, there's very little around the main casinos that I'd say is geared for Children. Circus Circus is supposed to have a decent amount of stuff that might be enjoyable, but out of the hotels that's probably it. The Strat has a few rides at the top of the tower, not sure on the height requirements. Some of the shows might work out well, not exactly sure what your family would be considered "in to". Go catch the Star Trek Experience before it goes away at the end of August. Here's a good forum with a list of family-oriented suggestions.

I saw that Star Trek thing when it first opened and I'm not going to lie, it was pretty damn cool (and I wasn't a star trek fan, although I have seen all the movies once).

Circus Circus and MGM have amusement parks (Circus Circus also has a circus type show). Bellagio fountains are cool. Treasure Island Pirate show as well (although I don't know if the show is now "adult themed". Caesars Palace has the gladiator type of show that people like in the forum shops.

The TI pirate show is fairly adult themed. It's about as risque as you could get while still having it out in front of the place on the street. The Caesars show in the forum shops is just some statues that move around and talk, it wasn't all that impressive. The fountains are a must. I stayed a night at MGM and didn't see anything resembling an "Amusement park" like you refer to. They have a lion enclosure which would be nice to visit with some kids, and a few attractions there like the TV show thing or some of the shops (Rainforest cafe) might be nice for children, but I think they're focusing on the 20-40 crowd and didn't have all that much.

Well I'm going to Vegas in a few weeks also (yes I'm going everywhere it seems), for a boys weekend with about 4-5 guys my age.

 

Hopefully staying somewhere close to the Strip. What are the best Casino's, clubs / bars etc. if anyone's been?

 

Oh and MiddleBuffalo, have you seen that South Park episode where they go to Aspen for a weekend for a 30 minute Time Share meeting? Hope your weekend certainly doesn't turn out like that.

Remind me to walk you through the musts of Vegas when we are at the game or tailgating. Hell, I'm going to be out there again in August, when are you going to be there?

I know. I see this being a great disaster. I'll actually be looking forward to my 4 year old melting down and the timeshare people showing us to the door. It's gonna be classic.

Actually, it sounds like a Steve Martin/John Candy/Chevy Chase movie plot.

I saw that Star Trek thing when it first opened and I'm not going to lie, it was pretty damn cool (and I wasn't a star trek fan, although I have seen all the movies once).

 

The Star Trek Experience has recently (Or will soon) close. The only time I went to see it I missed it, but I heard it was well worth the trip off strip to the Hilton.

 

MGM closed their theme park years ago.

 

 

I think in Excaliber there is a place on the lower level for kids. Unless that is another hotel. Like an arcade type thingy.

Don't go to Vegas. My parents took my sister and I to Vegas when we were 9-12 and we were bored out of our minds. It's not a family place, and you don't like gambling, so it'll be pissing your money away. Once we did the MGM Grand amusement park twice we wanted to go.

Edited July 16, 200817 yr by Steve9347

Even though youre bringing your kids Im going to give you my obligatory advice. The girls on the cards the illegals hand out on the strip are not the girls that come to your room...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Ive heard

Just walking down the strip after sundown would be entertaining enough for an hour or so with the family. The lights and outrageousness of it all is quite entertaining if you've never seen it before.

I think in Excaliber there is a place on the lower level for kids. Unless that is another hotel. Like an arcade type thingy.

They still have that in Excalibur; the Rio has the free show in the casino which isn't too bad; there probably isn't a ton to do with kids though