Family-Friendly Las Vegas Hotel -- Where to stay?

My daughter has bad asthma too. My suggestion stay away from the really old casinos. Smoke has built up in them and it's bad for asthma. Also right before you come check the weather. If your Dd has allergy medicine that helps asthma take it before coming if there is even a hint of wind. October is the start of wind season. Usually October weather itself is gorgeous but when that wind starts it's horrible. Just google last Thursday's wind storm. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or need ideas.
Thanks!! We're in Phoenix and the allergens here haven't caused problems for her yet... but I'm still waiting for her to develop reactions to something. On the east coast, she had issues with grass more than anything, which we just don't have much of in our area (in a desert preserve, so no golf courses or the like). It wouldn't have occurred to me to check the weather, so I definitely appreciate the insight! I was more worried about the smoke, b/c it's so pervasive. We once stayed in a Chicago area hotel that was said to be completely non-smoking , and I walked into the room and said uh, what?? It reeked. "Well, it used to be a mix of smoking and non-smoking here, but it's been cleaned." Yeah, not enough. I had to smell-test rooms until we got to one that had always been non-smoking LOL! As far as I can tell, the Delano part of Mandalay has been non-smoking since it was built.
 
I happened upon this thread b/c we're planning an October trip to Vegas, our first. Originally it was to be an adults-only trip for our 40th b-days (both are in October) but we're not gamblers or into night clubs, just interested in the hotels and kitsch, and everything I want to do seems like stuff our kids would like too! Our kids will be 12 and 9 by then, so removed from the casinos = bonus. Have you already gone on your trip, or is it coming up shortly? Would you mind reporting back on the Delano? Mandalay Bay is on my short list b/c of the wave pool/lazy river, restaurants, shark aquarium.

Sure, I liked the Delano and would definitely recommend it. I thought there would be a kitchenette of some kind, but there was not. Also no real fridge (just a stocked "minibar" fridge). We had a 2 bedroom suite, which arranged like a lock-off 2 bedroom. It looks like a 1 bedroom and a regular hotel room with connecting doors essentially, with 2 exits out into the hallway. Rooms were nice, clean, basically what you would expect from a nice hotel in Las Vegas. It was easy to get to Mandalay Bay, it's essentially just another tower of Mandalay Bay. It's hard to tell it's even a "separate hotel". It was too cold to do pool stuff, so we didn't do that. We actually didn't do that much at Mandalay Bay itself. There was a free tram to Excalibur which was easy to get to, not too long a walk from the Delano. It also stops at Luxor, but we did not go there. From Excalibur, you can walk across Las Vegas Blvd to the M&M store and there's a small mall there (near MGM Grand) and there's a Hershey's store at New York, New York.


We didn't get much past there, our kids were content with just walking around and going to play games at Excalibur. We did drive to Circus Circus as well, which was fun also.
 
We're planning Vegas in December for the whole family. DH and I used to go all of the time before the kids came along, but haven't been since 2007. Between our past experiences, current reviews, and friends who go all of the time...I would avoid Excalibur and Circus Circus. I don't like going in either as an adult. I prefer on the strip and I like being in that stretch between Tropicana Ave and Sands Ave. Also be mindful of daily parking fees, resort fees, and occupancy rates (since most will factor kids in and boost the cost of your room) that pretty much all of the places charge. I haven't booked anything yet (minus a night of lodging at the south rim of the Grand Canyon- side trip) since I have to get through summer vacation budgeting first, but I'm leaning towards the Venetian. If it's only one night, I might even consider someplace that will give your kids a cool view from the room. A room overlooking the Mirage volcano might be neat, and we've had rooms at Bellagio, Paris and Planet Hollywood (was converting from Aladdin at the time) that all had a view of the Bellagio fountain. I know these are all more than pricing for Circus Circus, but cheaper places in Vegas can start to feel kind of sketchy. You're going to see a lot of adult elements all over Vegas, but if it's in the nicer resorts, it won't be as obvious so it probably won't register for the kids.

Beyond this, my friend just had an awful experience at Treasure Island, so I'm staying away from it and while part of me likes Caesar's, the other part of me remembers the hiking back and forth from the parking garage and would probably avoid it if you have a car.

Edit- just read the age of the post. Ooops. They've probably been and gone and been other places in all this time. LOL. Oh well.
 
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We took two teenage girls to Vegas last year. Stayed on Vegas Blvd. just south of the strip in a condo rental. Much cheaper and larger than one of the casino resorts. We then used Uber for the short drive to the strip and walked or Uber'd to other sites. Spent the entire day taking the girls on various rides. New York New York coaster, top of Paris Eiffel Tower, High Roller ferris wheel, Rio zip line, Stratosphere rides etc. In the evening we saw Cirque Mystere (same day discount tickets at booths along the strip). Had a great time. No gambling!!
 


As others have said, stay away from Circus Circus. It used to be a good place but went downhill *fast* in the early 2000s. That's where we would wlways stay when I was a kid.

And yes, over the recent years they have been putting a lot of kid-friendly stuff in Vegas. Back in the 80s and 90s, a water park and Circus Circus was about all there was. It's nice that they are having more family friendly activities.
 
I have teen boys (15 and 13). We are going in October 2018 and staying at New York New York.
We have been to the real New York City twice, so thought it would be fun and interesting. :)
 


I have teen boys (15 and 13). We are going in October 2018 and staying at New York New York.
We have been to the real New York City twice, so thought it would be fun and interesting. :)

Don't forget NYNY is one of the few hotels that still has a large arcade! Additionally, two other themed hotels are right across Tropicana-- Excalibur and Luxor that kids and teens still get a kick out of.

With non-adults I think the south end of the strip is the best. Themed hotels with fun and games, plus Coca-Cola, M&M, and Hershey worlds.
 
Don't forget NYNY is one of the few hotels that still has a large arcade! Additionally, two other themed hotels are right across Tropicana-- Excalibur and Luxor that kids and teens still get a kick out of.

With non-adults I think the south end of the strip is the best. Themed hotels with fun and games, plus Coca-Cola, M&M, and Hershey worlds.

My teen boys enjoyed NYNY Hotel. My boys LOVE Shake Shack!

I agree the South end of the strip is the best for Teens. Yes, we went to Coca-Cola, M&M and Hershey Worlds. Famous Footwear is there. My 13 year old got new Nike.

Miracle Miles Shops at Planet Hollywood is close by too!

Edited to add: My 15 year teen enjoyed and loved the European theme hotels: Bellagio, Paris Hotel, and The Venetian.
 
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Circus Circus is a dive. Stay away. Far away.

Agree also, one of the last of the older casinos that is far past the time needed to do a remodel. Honestly, Vegas is NOT a family vacation destination since children can only walk THROUGH the casino on the way to either a restaurant or your hotel room. They cannot loiter in the gaming areas. If only there for 1 night won't be so bad as planning to spend your entire vacation there.

Honestly, Vegas is mainly a place for adults who like to gamble. Is someone isn't into gambling, I wouldn't recommend it as a vacation destination.
 
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Honestly, Vegas is mainly a place for adults who like to gamble. Is someone isn't into gambling, I wouldn't recommend it as a vacation destination.

Vegas is still plenty awesome for those that don't like to gamble, with or without kids. People who have never been before are often in awe of the shear magnitude of the resorts. Never been to NY, Venice, Paris? Yes, they maybe cheesy remakes but for those who've never seen the real thing it's still a unique experience. Dining at a celebrity chef restaurant? Window shopping at high end stores? Seeing awesome shows?

Back to the original topic-- Vegas is still a family friendly destination for families, you just need to know where to look. Tournament show at Excalibur? Visiting the top of the Stratosphere? Seeing the Fremont St experience? Linq ferris wheel? Fountain show at Bellagio or Volcano at Mirage? All of these are things are great examples of things kids would enjoy.
 
We were just in Vegas last year and honestly, Fremont St. is one of the 'sketchier' places to go, even in the daytime when we went. Mostly offsite parking in not a particularly good part of town and you have to walk by all of the homeless/panhandling people to get to the casinos. Casinos are mostly tiny places with very few slot machines. We are all adults and will never go back there. It is NOT a place I would ever recommend taking children.
 

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