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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Las Vegas in December

27 replies

acurtis1234 · 16/10/2016 19:04

Has anyone been? Not bothered about the temperatures just whether everything is still open? Have found some info, but it's a few years old, and seems to be saying many of the light displays and attractions shut down, and there is a lot of maintenance work going on, lots of the shows close etc...
To be honest we're not after seeing anything in particular, and a bit quieter than normal wouldn't bother us as high season isn't really our thing, but it would be a waste of money if the big attractions weren't there!

Also any family friendly hotel recommendations would be most welcome! TIA x

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/10/2016 20:14

I realise that you are not bothered about the temperature but its pretty cold there in December even in daylight hours and it can rain there too.

A better time to go there instead is Easter.

If there is a particular show you want to see I would go onto the hotel's website and see if there are any performances that evening. I would think that many of the shows will be still performing during December.

You mention family friendly; I would look at places like Aria or the Signature at MGM Grand.

RusholmeRuffian · 16/10/2016 20:27

I've been there in early December and also over Christmas and New Year. One Christmas it was 20 degrees, the other time it was around 15 degrees.

Everything was open as normal. Even on Christmas day all shops and restaurants in the casinos were open, only the malls and museums etc were closed and only for the day.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 16/10/2016 20:38

Thank you. Really not bothered if its cold, we're not hot weather people (UK current autumn weather would be great though!) We're using up holiday before year end so it has to be December, we're looking at skiing and Asia destinations as well, but flights to LV seem quite reasonable too and it appeals. Not bothered about shows, just taking in the sights in general so if they are shut that would be a shame.

Thanks also for the hotel advice.

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Redrocketship · 18/10/2016 04:45

Everything is open as usual. Vegas truly is the city that never sleeps. We've stayed in the Bellagio, Caesars palace and the palazzo with DD and they are all good. there's plenty if stuff to do with kids there

Also, you can ski in December in Vegas - Mt Charleston is a short drive away and there is a ski resort there.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 07:36

Redrocketship thanks! We were thinking about driving to the Grand Canyon or Death Valley, is that doable? What is there in Vegas itself fir kids?

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Saffronesque · 18/10/2016 07:48

How old are your kids? Both death valley & grand canyon doable but g c is a long drive 5 hours iirc & we split death valley into 2 days, as even longer.
Driving long distances easier in US than UK. Many friends drive from LV to LA but too far for us!

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 08:17

They are 11 and 12

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Saffronesque · 18/10/2016 08:53

My kids, similar ages, loved the cirque du soleil show about the Beatles & the view of the dancing fountains from the top of the eiffel tower; the funfair in another hotel (can't remember name) & the gondolas at the Venetian. The link eye wasn't great, & they weren't interested in the sky scape or animation at Caesar's Palace. Volcano at the mirage was underwhelming too.

Unexpectedly for me, the Grand Canyon was a real hit with both.

RusholmeRuffian · 18/10/2016 12:18

Death Valley is definitely do-able. It's just over 2 hours drive from Vegas. We did a day trip from Vegas, no problem. Grand Canyon is a much longer drive.

Saffronesque · 18/10/2016 14:55

Ah probably i misunderstood! we drove through, to Santa ?Bartbara, i think

bruffin · 18/10/2016 14:59

We drove to death valley and grand canyon in august,but stayed in Flagstaff and North Rim before returning to Vegas.
Have a look at Williams Arizona for Grand Canyon as well. It looks reallt good fun and if we go back we would go there as well.

bruffin · 18/10/2016 16:42

Actually got it wrong
day 1 arrived in Vegas
day 2 sight seeing Vegas (Blue Man Group in the evening which would be brilliant for the kids)
day 3 drove to Flagstaff via Hoover Dam and route 66
day 4 from Flagstaff to grand canyon airport, spent the day plane tour and rafting in Grand Canyon
day 5 drove from Flagstaff to North Rim lodge watched (lovely wooden lodges set on the edge of the Canyon. Amazing views of sun rise and sunset
day 5 back to Vegas for the night via Fire Valley
day 6 Bishop via Death Valley
day 7 bishop to yosemite going through death valley
then the next two weeks in yosemite, san francisco, monteray , santa barbara , LA and San Diego.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 16:59

bruffin thanks for taking the time with that itinerary. We only have a week, I think we had envisaged booking one hotel in Las Vegas and doing a couple of day trips with a hire car as booking flights and hotel together is a lot cheaper - price is a bit of a consideration. But I'll look into those options.

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Redrocketship · 18/10/2016 16:59

There's lots to do with kids. They'll definitely enjoy the cirque shows. My daughter is only 4 and she loved the Beatles one. Other things are:

Tournament of kings at the Excalibur
Adventuredome theme park at circus circus (but do not stay at that hotel!)
Penn and teller? I haven't been so I'm not sure if it's suitable for kids but magic shows are always a winner!
Shark reef aquarium at Mandalay bay
Even just walking around the hotels and seeing the various themes and displays is interesting

The red rock canyon scenic drive is nice too and only about 30 mins from the strip. A bit further on from there is a place called bonnie springs with a ranch with a petting zoo and horse rides. I don't know if that's open in December though.

The Grand Canyon isn't really doable in a day. The western rim is about a 2-3 hour drive but is expensive and the views aren't as good. Better to drive the extra way to the proper national park so would need a couple of days for that.

Redrocketship · 18/10/2016 17:02

Oh and definitely the Hoover dam is worth a visit. We went last time we had visitors and everyone enjoyed it.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 17:18

Redrocketship thanks - would this day trip tour not be worth it then?

www.viator.com/tours/Las-Vegas/Grand-Canyon-South-Rim-Bus-Tour-with-Optional-Upgrades/d684-3951SRB

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bruffin · 18/10/2016 17:22

You do need to take into acciunt resort fees. They can be $20 to $40 a night per room on top of the room. They are charged seperately at checkout.
Also found it is not cheap to eat out eithBreakfast was $60 to $80 for 4 of us alone.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 17:26

Yes, already ready about the room fees, this it's $30 at the MGM Grand which is where we are considering - any views on this hotel?

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Redrocketship · 18/10/2016 17:31

If you have a car you can drive a bit off strip to find some cheaper places to eat. It's not a big city really. Breakfast for the 3 of us in our local place is around $20

acurtis I think the tour looks fine. Personally, I just wouldn't want to spend 10 hours in a day driving to only see the canyon for a few hours. but at least you'd be getting to see it and not have to do the driving yourself!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 18/10/2016 17:46

MGM Grand is massive and can have long queues on check in and check out. You will need to take your luggage through the casino area to get to the elevators. As it is so large it can take quite some time to get from your room down to the casino proper. Restaurants there cater for all budgets from the food court to the upscale Chinese and French haute cuisine restaurants

Its also very busy on the weekends or if there is a boxing match or other such event on at the Grand Garden arena.

Would recommend seeing Penn and Teller at the Rio if they are performing.
The tour you've looked at looks fine (would also suggest you check out what Pink Jeep also do tours wise as they are LV based)

AttilaTheMeerkat · 18/10/2016 17:47

As you have children with you I would seriously consider staying at the Signature attached to the MGM Grand instead of the MGM Grand itself. The Signature is both a non smoking and non gaming facility.

Original poster
acurtis1234 · 18/10/2016 17:54

Yes, 10hrs in a coach isn't my idea of fun, and we don't normally do organised coach tours generally, but thought it would be a no fuss option of getting there and back.

AttilaTheMeerkat Is the Signature the one with the apartments rather than hotel rooms?

Really appreciate all the tips, this is an extra and unexpected trip using up holiday we have to take at a certain time and a little bit of inheritance we didn't expect to have, so we are trying to get the best destination we can and pack in as much as possible for the ££ and time!

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Mozfan1 · 18/10/2016 17:54

I went in October for 4 nights and stayed at the Luxor- was amazing.

Redrocketship · 18/10/2016 18:03

The hotel that I found the handiest was the palazzo. Yes, you still have to walk through the casino floor to get to the rooms but it's a lot smaller than others. You can get the lift straight to the 'shoppes' and there is a Walgreens right underneath to get water and snacks. All the rooms are 'suites' (not really but that's what they call them) so they are spacious with separate seating areas.

Another thing to take into consideration if you are hiring a car is that all MGM properties, which is quite a few of the hotels on the strip, have brought in paid parking which is stupidly expensive.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 18/10/2016 20:41

Is the Signature the one with the apartments rather than hotel rooms?

Yes.