Las Vegas- Work trip with opportunity to take the children

[lotsofthingstolearn]

An opportunity has presented itself for a trip for work to Las Vegas

There is also the chance that I may be able to take the children (room will be paid for by work so just flights to pay for)

BUT, if I'm really honest it feels like I am only going it because people rave about Vegas.

If you were to take children to vegas how long would you need and what would you do- in my mind I am thinking 4 days is more than enough.

Really depends on the age of your children tbh

I'd be going without the children......

Who will look after the kids while you’re working? Unless when you say children they’re old enough to look after themselves?

I wasn’t keen on Vegas tbh, I wouldn’t go at all 🤣

I wouldn't bother taking young children to Vegas. It's basically filled with pissed up adults binge drinking and gambling.

Vegas itself is just a big city and not particularly child friendly, but you could do a flight over the Grand Canyon, a drive out to Death Valley, trip down the Hoover Dam.

How old are the children?

I would want a hotel which had a family friendly pool - many of the Vegas hotel pools are party pools and definitely not family friendly. Off the top of my head - Mandalay Bay, Circus Circus, MGM Grand, The Mirage, Golden Nugget have good options.

Other options of things to do:
Shark Reef Aquarium - also at Mandalay Bay
Spring Preserve
Hershey’s Chocolate World and M&Ms world (like The M&M Store in Leicester Square in hideousness but kids do love it)
Discovery Centre Children’s Museum
Observation Wheel / Sky Jump / Big Shot
Adventuredome

You could also do trips out to Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam - and a trip to the Grand Canyon (by helicopter) is pretty amazing

@lotsofthingstolearn
Who raves about Las Vegas? It's horrible. There are so many better places and essentially it's an adult destination. Gambling is everywhere. It's grubby and has a "cheap" fake feel to it. 4 hours is too much. It's a gateway to far better places. When are you going?

Definitely NOT a place to take kids. Loads of dodgy types on the pavements outside hotels, they are not allowed in casinos not even to walk through so you will be trying to find service corridors to get out, very few child friendly activities. Enjoy it on your own!

Have the rules changed about walking through the casinos with children? Last time we went you could walk through but not stop. We did stay well off the strip in a massive apartment in a family friendly complex with several pools (the downside was the constant trying to flog timeshares).

I wouldn’t even waste money in paying for an airfare, much less so bringing children to it. I have only been there for conferences and it was shit —probably because it is not at the top of my list gambling or spend the day shopping or looking at hotels—

You can be in a family friendly hotel but what’s the point of going that far when there is not much for children to get from such a long trip?

It's not a kids place.

I don't understand, how can you work but have the kids there?

Unless you're about to drip feed that your kids are in their thirties, I'd say no way.

Vegas is not a kid friendly destination and you'll be working.

The whole place smells of weed, it's expensive, sleazy and its shabby.

I wouldn't recommend it. However it's as good as place as any to fly to if you want to do a road trip in the region - Death Valley, Zion, Brice, Grand Canyon etc. There are also amazing places closer to the city such as Red Rock Canyon.

If you go to Las Vegas I'd highly recommend The Sphere. We saw U2 and it was truly amazing. I wasn't even their biggest fan but the venue and the show were beyond amazing. It's expensive but worth every penny.

Kids are allowed in Casinos but must stay within carpeted walk ways and not stop. There are a few things to do with kids in the city but I’d definitely go it alone. How old are they? How will it work if you’re working?

There's loads of things to do with kids. Off the top of my head, depending on their age - the aquarium, adventuredome (indoor theme park), cirque du Soleil shows, pools, there are waterparks off the strip, drive out to red rock Canyon which is only 20/30 mins from the strip, drive to death valley, trip to the grand canyon, shopping, discovery childrens museum (which is for younger kids), madame Tussauds, the high roller.

Do people think that there are no kids living in Vegas? Yes, as locals we tend to avoid the strip and do "normal" non touristy things but there is still stuff to do.

It does smell like weed down there though

Las Vegas doesn't appeal to me at all and I don't think it's a place that's great for kids. Who would look after them when you're working?

The Venetian is great for kids, they love the boats and the sky ceiling.

I wouldn't recommend taking children to the Strip unless you're prepared to answer some very awkward questions.

Prostitutes hang around just outside some of the major hotels, the place is full of stripper ads, it smells like weed, and ladies in erotic outfits physically harass people of both sexes on the street.

It will also be boiling hot at this time of year. I went in November and even then it was unpleasant if you were particularly active. Children used to British weather (assuming you're UK based) will probably have a rough time.

Blahdeblah12345 has some good suggestions, but what will you do for childcare?

I wouldn't take the kids. It's a city of course you'll find plenty for kids to do, but the true Vegas experience of casino hopping (you don't have to gamble, I didn't, but still loved walking around the casinos) can't be done with kids. Plenty of other places in the world to take them.

Who raves about Las Vegas? It's horrible.

You're being deliberately obtuse. It's a global tourist destination, frequently topping US citizen polls for favourite city. You know full well it's raved about, but like every other popular city in the world, it's not for everyone.

People think of the old LasVegas too. It’s rebranded now, less about the gambling as the whales stopped coming to town after 9/11.

I’d use the money you would have spent on flights to take the children elsewhere. Vegas is pretty grim.

I can understand people thinking it's tacky, but "grim" I never understand, it's really clean (heck of a lot cleaner than most of our cities) the buildings and streets are well maintained in the most touristy areas at least, even Fremont is more polished these days (though the characters you'll find there a little less so admittedly...) some really good food and bars. Casinos want you to stick around and spend money so they spend a lot of the maintenance, restrooms, amenities. It's a fun place 🤷‍♀️

What will they do while you’re working?
It’s a long flight for 4 days. Jet lag?
We’re taking our kids there for 4 days in the summer but we’ll be on holiday and it’s part of a three week road trip.
I think there’s enough to do to entertain them but I’m not sure I’d bother in your circumstances.