May go to Las Vegas.......need advice on some things??

Question

2 boys, 12 and a 15yr old and of course me and my hubby.

Flying from NC.

1st. Do we need to rent a car?

2nd. Which hotel would be appropriate for the four of us?

3rd. Is it real expensive, as far as meals?

How much spending money would you bring for a week?

Some people tell me that it is real cheap there. Not interested in any shows, just yet.

I have priced out on Expedia and Hotels.com.

Should I just contact the hotel directly?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

:-)

Answer 1

I would also stay on the Las Vegas Blvd. so you are there where all the action is. You will get the best room rates if you book directly from the hotels in addition with a promotion code. Check http://www.vegas-hotels-online.com for the latest codes.

Answer 2

I fly there from NC all the time since I live in Raleigh.  But I always find the best deals using the hotel web sites rather than expedia and travelocity and other sites.  Use the hotel web sites I have listed below and look at their rate calendars.  Most of the sites will let you compare rates at different hotels for the same dates.

No, you do not need to rent a car unless you want to drive to Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon.  You can walk to see all that you will want to see on the strip.  Most of the hotels are close enough to each other that you will really just walk across a street and/or out one door and into another. The most important things to consider when you look for a hotel are location, price, and in the summer you want to consider the hotel’s pool area. So, stay on the strip in the center of all of the hotel locations so that you can walk to see all of the hotels and casinos, and all of the free attractions.  ( http://www.goingtovegas.com/kpv-lvst.htm )  The best place to stay to do that is in one of the hotels on or nearest to Flamingo Rd & the Strip. At that corner is Caesars Palace, Bellagio, the Flamingo, Ballys, and the Paris hotels.  I am not saying you need to stay in one of these but stay close to them. I do recommend the  Monte Carlo hotels if you are looking for a good price, location and pool.

You do not have to stay in a particular hotel for your kids to have a good time and have things to do.  There are things to do all up and down the Strip.  The Circus Circus Hotel/casino has arcades and an indoor amusement park. There is a place called Game Works near the MGM hotel below the Coke World experience that has all type video games. In addition, many hotels have an arcade area.  If your kids like roller coasters, there are roller coaster rides at the NY, NY hotel/casino, at the Sahara Hotel/Casino, and, for those with a strong heart, three rides at the top of the Stratosphere Tower

The next thing to consider in picking the BEST place is price. Rates go down in the summer (and again after Thanksgiving, until about mid-January (except new years eve when prices double)). So pick a place that has the best price for you. Caesars, Wynn, The Venetian, and Bellagio will cost top dollar all of the time (like $150 and up) per night during the summer. The Flamingo, Ballys Monte Carlo, and some others you can get into for around $100 (but most times for less) during the low seasons. Its also more expensive in all Vegas hotels on Friday and Saturday nights by $40 to $60 more. So to get a lower rate plan to go to Vegas on Sunday and stay through Thursday night.

In the summer you probably want to spend some time at the pool areas, which in Vegas are fabulous. All of the big hotels have great pool areas. But the Mandalay Bay, and Monte Carlo hotels have a wave pool and a lazy river for tubing or body floating. The MGM hotel has a huge lazy river and a water fall. The Flamingo has a water slide (not big but nice and refreshing) and also a water fall.

The hotel coffee shops and buffets are now much more expensive than they were years ago. So, if you want to eat for less go to the food courts located in many hotels and also try one of the several Denny's restaurants on the Strip (one in the Casino Royal hotel/casino). There are also a number of McDonald, Burger King, and other fast food places on the Strip. You can get breakfast and dinner buffets a few dollars less at the Imperial Palace hotel/casino and at the Gold Coast hotel/casino. Buffets also cost less at the Circus Circus hotel/casino and in Fremont St hotel/casinos.

Answer 3

1. You don't really *need* to rent a car in your case. (see #2). However, if you want to venture off Strip a lot and go to, say the Orleans for Bowling or movies, or the Stratosphere or Sahara for thrill rides, it will save you money in the long run.

2. I would suggest staying on the South side of the Strip at one of these 5 places (from least expensive to most expensive): Excalibur, Luxor, NY NY, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay.

These hotels have some good stuff for kids, from gigantic pools to midway games. They are close together (you can walk to all of them), and there's even a free monorail connecting Excalibur - Luxor - Mandalay Bay. Plus, you'll be withing walking distance to Showcase Mall, which has a climbing wall, more arcade games, Coca-Cola World, M&M's World, and more.

3. Las Vegas has more restaurants that you can shake a stick at, ranging from very expensive to dirt cheap. You can get by on the cheap pretty easily. Most people tell you buffets are cheap. Well, not as much as they used to be. If you like to eat a big breafast, the prices will range in this area from $12/person (Excalibur) to $16/person (Mandalay Bay). If that seems high for you, there are plenty of places you can grab a bagel, danish, etc. and some juice/coffee if you do not want to eat a huge breakfast.

There are also lots of great sandwhich places for lunch (like Withcraft at MGM or Backstage Deli at Luxor), and also inexpensive places for dinner (ESPN Zone at NY NY or Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay). For more great restaurants, visit http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/resta...

Spending money... wow, that really depends on what you want to do. Hard to even give you an estimate, but before you go, try to plan some things so you'll have an idea of what things will cost.

To book your trip, try package deals for your trip, especially:

http://www.sidestep.com

http://www.vegas.com

http://www.expedia.com

and, if you are flying out of an airport in NC that supports Southwest, they also have good package deals.

Hope this helps!

Good luck!!

Mike

Answer 4

My hubby and I went there back in 2002 ....we got married there.....it was great.....

Anyway, we stayed at Harrahs.it was a nice hotel for sure....I also am not sure about bringing the kids....I dont remember the price sry.....

I would say to just take taxis where you have to go....the traffic there was insane .....especially on the strip.....

I would call the hotels or research it on the internet as far as the most appropriate for the children...

The buffets are great all over , the best I have ever had and not pricey at all.....very affordable.....

Good Luck, Have Fun!

Answer 5

Yes check with the hotel directly and look at www.lasvegasnow.com Channel 8's web information links.  

With kids that age I would stay at Mandalay Bay because it has a great pool and a lazy river.  There are no water parks in Vegas.

I would rent a car or you are going to do a lot or walking in the heat and with a car can see other visitor opportunities in the area.  The bus is a long wait and adds up.  Cabs are very expensive.

Charge what you can to use cash for other things where you cannot charge (safer).  The best price meal is in the cafes or buffets (all you can eat).  

Great show for entire family - cirque show Mystere at Treasure Island (all seats regardless of price good)

Suggestion of things to do.

Sharf Reef  Mandalay Bay

Adventure Dome Amusement park (indoors) Circus Circus

Scream rollercoaster NYNY

Madame Tassauds Wax Museum Venetian

NASCAR ride Sahara

World's Biggest Souvenir Store kitty corner to Sahara (only place to buy stuff)

Sigfriend Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Haibitat

Mirage

Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has 2 free come alive statute shows

Canal Shops at Venetian has free entertainment and a cool gondola ride

Ask concierge/bellman for directions

Las Vegas Springs Preserve - Arville and West Charleston area

Discovery Museum - off Las Vegas Boulevard North

Test Site Museum

Liberace Museum

Bonnie Springs Ranch in Red Rock Canyon

Visitor Center and loop drive Red Rock Canyon

Bonnie Springs Old Nevada (cowboy town) Red Rock Canyon

Movie Theatre by MGM Grand

Fashion Show Mall (shopping)

Answer 6

no will may be a pain every thing is on the strip take a taxi 7 dollars to go from one side to the next but a car may not be that bad im just worried about it stressing you out

for the kids mm Circus Circus, Excalibur maybe Treasure Island

or something affordable LOL you dont need to stay in those places cause you can always go visit them your not going to just stay in one ..... Monte carlo is nice for you and the hubby they got a beach with real sand crazy no??

no Buffet is like any where from 20$ to 40$ buts its every food you can imagine there are some hidden cheap good places in Old Vegas (where the odds of winning increas by 25%) but i cant give you directions to confussing ask locals who work there most people who work there live in the city they should know or the taxi guy



a hole 7 days wow depends what you want to loose dont go thinking youll win cause then you end up with less

but you shouldn't have a problem wining :))

food can be cheap ask around the locals know

yes Directly

im worried about the kids they may get board after 2-3 days

scratch that they will why not send the to grandmas

whos cares if they like it or not make it about you and the hubby

youll have less worries

Answer 7

You can get cheap hotels in las vegas starting from $27. Check this link to compare prices and read about hotels, reviews and near by locations.

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Cit...

Answer 8

I will recoomend you stay on the Vegas strip close to everything. Book directly from the hotels using their discount promo codes. Here are a few codes. http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/special.p...

Excalibur, Circus Circus are kid-friendly hotels.

For food always eat at the buffets. The food is good and very affordable here is a buffet list with prices. http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/buffet.ph...

For entertainment, take advantage of the many free attractions in Vegas.

http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/things-to...

Answer 9

I never rent a car. Everything is one the strip in walking distance, and there are buses and taxis.

With children I wouold recommend the hotel that looks like a medieval castle.  'Excalibur' I think it is. Check their website. it is also very central and on the tram line as well. Lots to see in town.  

You can rent a car or take a bus day trip out to the grand canyon.

eating is cheap or expensive depending on where you go. Macdonalds is everywhere, plus chines and ethnic, or all-you- can eat buffets.

The casinos make their money on gamblers so there are lots of cheap meals adn drinks.

Answer 10

Vegas has a place for everone.   I visit Vegas a lot but twice I have been there with my kids for a week @ a time.  1 girl now 11 and 1 boy now 13.  They loved it.   The days were for them and the nights were for my wife and me.   We kept in touch be cell phone when they stayed in the room.  (My kids are very well behaved.)   Most buffets run in the $20.00 range and some go up to $30.00 such as the Wynn and Bellagio.   You can also go to several really good buffets for $4.95 per person.  All the fast food chains are there if you don't want to spend a  lot.   U don't need a car unless u want to go to old Vegas or visit areas away from the strip.   I really do recommend The Paris for the family.   If you want entertainment for the kids in the same place, consider NYNY.  Lot's to do.  Visit sites that offer things to do in vegas for families.