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.

Depending on their ages I'd get go city passes and work through all the attractions.
Plus Omega mart, pinball hall of fame and springs preserve.
Pool time, especially if you're at Mandalay bay or mgm as they have lazy rivers.

I think it depends on the ages of the kids and when you’re going. Young kids- no don’t bother. August time- sooooo hot.

we went to America a couple of years ago and stopped at a few places. The kids were 9 and 6 and vegas was my least favourite. We had 2 days there. The kids liked it but I was quite stressed- it was boiling, stank of weed everywhere, prostitutes, people on drugs, naked girls with just thongs and nipple tassels on. It was so busy I had to hold the kids hands tightly walking down the strip. They loved zip lining down Fremont street, roller coasters, seeing the football stadium etc but I wouldn’t go again with kids. Or by myself I don’t think. Although I would for free

Grim as in full of prostitutes, stinks of weed and loads of homeless people (including children) living on the streets.

@AgentProvocateur genuinely didn't see any prostitutes that I noticed (admittedly due to jet lag wasn't often out later than 11pm!), just "show girls" posing for photos, some dressed more than others, very few homeless people on my last visit which shocked me but apparently many were moved for the F1 (I can only hope ethically!) and this is a US wide problem, and yes it stinks of weed but sadly many US cities do now, New York especially.

New York had more homeless people and weed compared to LV on my last visits to both places in the last few months.

@aoirwhklzxca

It's hot, sweaty and crowded. Unappealing on so many levels . There is nothing to Las Vegas that's world beating. It's not really a global destination unless you count it as a gateway. The only people who think it's great presumably haven't travelled much! It's hardly London or Paris. It's fake tat in the desert. BA used to use their oldest planes to go there due to stag parties pukjng up.

I agree, I went and just couldn’t see the attraction of going back again, the main strip felt soulless, loads of over priced bars in shopping centres.

I don’t mind a little gamble but once you’ve seen one casino you’ve seen them all, they’re vast and over the top but still equally all the same.

I preferred Fremont St, it had more character and felt like a real place.

We saw lots of zombie people sitting at machines and gambling. We were interested in seeing the lights but it was hot (November) crowded and escalators everywhere with sticky handrails. Just yuk. I'd never ever take dc.

BA used to use their oldest planes to go there due to stag parties pukjng up.

Think we’ve had that one before and as I’m sure I pointed last time around that’s not how aircraft get selected for routes.

Anyhow the good news is today BA have got a barely 2 year old A350 heading outbound, so either the clientele have changed and BA have had a resultant change of heart or there was no truth in the rumour to start with…

I used to love Vegas, I've been about 15 times, starting from when I was about 15.
I even got married there in 2015, with our son who was 2.
He has also been when he was 3, 5, and 8.
Last time we went was in 2021 and it is not the place it used to be, and we won't be going back.

@TizerorFizz oh bore off you're being a snob and you know it. Most of my friends have been and enjoy vegas and we are all very well travelled, it is what it is. The desert is beautiful, but most people going to Vegas are going for a good time not cultural pursuits, if what it has isn't your thing, fine, but shock horror not everyone is you. But you know full well millions of people disagree (that said, I wouldn't take kids either, but not for the reasons you state).

And of course it's a global destination, people will tie it in with Grand Canyon and Cali etc but many people still out go out for their way from thousands of miles away to go, it's iconic. Whether you like it or not 🤷‍♀️

This

Aside from the fact that it's not hot in november (mild at best if it was the start of the month, so I'm calling bullshit on that) why were you shocked that people in Vegas were gambling and that other people were also there? Talk about pearl clutching lol

It was hot! Global warning? Ever heard of it? Might have been end October . I don't really care what you think. It's a grubby place with mindless people sitting at slots. You can keep it and you are more than welcome to it.

We've been going to Vegas once, sometimes twice a year for over 10 years and love it. I've never seen zombie people at slots, no idea what that means!

There's loads to do for kids. If pool season, I'd stay at Mandalay Bay (for the beach), or MGM Grand for the lazy river and numerous pools.
Flamingo habitat (love watching the hummingbirds)
Bellagio conservatory and dancing fountains
Shark reef aquarium
Mirage volcano (although that's closing this summer)
Gondolas in Venetian (with singing gondoliers!)
Free circus acts and adventuredome at Circus Circus (though I wouldn't stay there)
High roller wheel
Rollercoaster at NYNY
Rides on top of The Strat
Titanic exhibition at Luxor
Tournament of Kings show at Excalibur
Various cirque de soleil shows
Biggest chocolate fountain in the world at Bellagio
Monster crazy gold at Ballys (horseshoe)
Atlantis show in Caesar's forum shops
2 huge shopping outlets

I could go on, those are off the top of my head.

Children can walk through the casinos but must stick to the walkway, and they can't stop to watch. You def won't be searching for service corridors as a pp mentioned!

Also, depending on when you go, it can be really cold. We've been in December a couple of times and needed big coats and gloves. The positive about December is the christmassy things - ice rink on top of Cosmopolitan is a personal favourite!

Crazy golf*
Won't let me edit on app for some reason

It's just man made "fun" at a childish shallow level. It's fake.

Go to Venice. Go and see the buildings and the art. Go and see a volcano in Iceland plus the geysers and whales. Go and see flamingos on the soda lakes in Africa and humming birds in the rainforest in Ecuador. That's living life and very special experiences - not a zoo type experience.

Who on earth cares about a chocolate fountain! I am happy to say I prefer culture and the amazing things you can see around the world. I hope the travel posters who value travel experiences will understand me.

I actually just physically cringed reading that patronising, self congratulatory post.
How affected you sound.

Based on a few visits (work + holiday), yep, there’s definitely an adult Disneyworld feel to some of the place but as a PP mentioned upthread there are some absolutely utterly gobsmacking areas of natural beauty within driving distance of the city, I wouldn’t write the whole place off as not being worthy.

@Beefcurtains79

I would totally say I'm interested in travel, culture, nature, architecture, sport, theatre, food, art, in fact loads of things. I don't remotely care if people think that's wrong. It's not much different to anyone else we know. Plus lots of people want to travel to broaden the mind and accept this does not involve LV at any time. Apart from us, we don't know anyone who has been or would consider going. Yes, I prefer seeing the best the world has to offer first hand. I also accept I have the money to do it and maybe a greater range of interests to follow up.

I agree that great places to visit are in reach from LV. Indeed we've seen them. How anyone can think there's something wrong with that and we should all value fake LV is beyond me!