Las Vegas with a 4 & 2 year old - Are We Bonkers??

[BogoPogo]

Hello!

DH has the opportunity to go to a two day conference in Las Vegas during the Easter Holidays. If he cashes in his business class flight and uses his air-miles he would be able to get the rest of us out there for just tax so he's suggested we have a week's holiday out there.

Is this bonkers?? Everything I've ever read/seen about Vegas doesn't seem very child-friendly? Do they run creches near the Blackjack tables?

All I really want from a holiday is sun (but not toddler-frying sun) and a kid's pool with some slides (I like to splash) . And to not die of boredom. The flight doesn't bother me, it's whether the destination is worth it... We wouldn't be able to afford a summer holiday if we did this, sooooo - I'm confused!

Anyone been to Vegas with young kids?

Thanks!

The kids cannot even go on to the gaming floors, no under 18s.

Vegas is at 36 degrees north so will be fairly frying, and is bloody hot. They went through a phase of selling it as a family destination and then decided that was a silly idea.

I found it worth seeing for one night. That's it. Long way and a lot of jet lag just to sit by a hotel pool. It is also in the middle of nowhere so massive trips to see anything else.

I would go spend one or two nights (depending on how long dp needs to do work there) and then either drive or go on a internal flight to a more child friendly place.

Totally bonkers! I love Vegas but am always amazed by the people who take children there. Mine would hate it, crowds everywhere, loud often drunk people, smoking everywhere. Not to mention the jet lag, it's 10.5 hours on a plane and 8 hours behind so you are likely to be awake by 4 in the morning. Get a babysitter at home and you go and join your husband. Shop while he is working.

I love Vegas, there are things for kids but check how hot will be and whether you might not be better meeting your husband somewhere more family friendly after

Nb check the cost of the tax it can be expensive

I think we are bonkers. Why go through jet-lag, long flight etc if its not somewhere we really REALLY want to take the kids.

I quite like the leave them at home option with a baby-sitter option...(bad mother!)

Las Vegas is less child friendly than it used to be.

Children are allowed to walk through the gaming areas in the casinos (which are vast, you could easily walk a heck of a way to get to your room from the check in desk and lines can be long when you check in) BUT they are not allowed to linger in these gaming areas in any way, shape or form. You will have to keep moving in the gaming areas, if you stop with the children you will be moved on. Outside the gaming areas e.g around the restaurants and other facilities like the stores within the casino its no problem.

Also you need to look at the hotel accommodation with a degree of care. Most rooms either have one king bed or two queen beds.

I would have a look at somewhere like the MGM Signature as this is both a non smoking and non gaming facility (so is ideal for families). That's what you'd need if you do go to Las Vegas. You may find it difficult to obtain such accommodation at Easter, such places often get booked up a year in advance.

The temp at Easter can easily climb into the 90s by early afternoon.

Tax on the flights would be about 1k and I would have thought you would need at least another 1k for meals and activities and then not sure if you would need to pay for activities so the expenses would add up. I'd go for it if the dc were a bit older then you could do stuff like Grand Cannon while you are over there.

We took our kids to Vegas and they loved it. The youngest was 6 at the time though, so a bit older than yours. There is plenty for them to see in and out the city. The pools are full of families in the mornings (because all the party goers are still in bed) and the children are tucked up in bed by the time it gets really crazy in the evening.

You can also hire a babysitter to come to your hotel room so you can go out. We used Artsy nannies and my children wanted us to take the babysitter home with us!

We stayed at the Desert Rose Resort when we went. It's just off the strip, non gambling and family friendly with a pool. We had an apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and kitchen. I'd reccommend it to anyone going with kids. www.shellhospitality.com/Desert-Rose-Resort

I took my two year old last July to Las Vegas and she was fine. We stayed at the Vdara and a lot of families with babies and toddlers were staying there. Our next US trip is booked and we will stay in Las Vegas for five days again, this time at another hotel though.