Vegas with a toddler?

[missk1989]

We want to go somewhere amazing for our honeymoon but am not prepared to leave lo behind. Isaac will be almost 2 1/2 by the time we go but the only problem is flights. The direct flights are £500 more than non direct flights. It takes 15hrs including the stop. Part of me thinks the break may be good for him to be able to run around a bit but im just not sure 15hours of travel is possible. Would we be better just paying the extra?
Also any other advice for going to vegas greatly appreciated!

 

[tina3747]

Definatly pay the extra if you can. The first time we went we went virgin flights , Gatwick- Houston-Vegas . It was 10 hours then 3 hours I think . I was ready to hang myself by the second flight and there was only the 2 of us, I don't think it would be fair to do it with an active toddler.
The second time we went (to get married!) it was non stop and only 10 hours which was bearable! In all honesty, if its just the 2 of you and little one I'd would really consider somewhere else. Vegas is amaaaazing, so great that I took 40 friends and family there to get married in the bellagio! We were lucky then to have people to have our eldest (only child at the time) while we did bits we wanted to do. Most of the shows you have to be over a certain age, any gambling you want to do you won't be able to do together as children are allowed in the casino but you can't stop... As in , if your pushing a pushchair if you stop to look at a table you get shoood on straight away like cattle, you also need to stay on a pathway that designated, you cant step off it or theyll be on your back with a cattle prod!!There is stuff to do with children but I don't think you'll get the whole vegas experience with a toddler. We really enjoyed going around the hotels ect but outside of them is quite seedy, men giving out vouchers for strip clubs ect.
If your still keen on going after my negativity( ha!,) ill recommend some hotels ect as some are a little mank but I wouldn't consider taking my toddler knowing what I know.

 

[lilyd]

I have been to Vegas several times but I wouldn't take my children unless my setup was the same as the pp's.

There isn't that much there for children & they are very strict with gambling regulations - children aren't even allowed to walk through the casino areas in the hotels.

I am itching to go back but won't be going until the kids are old enough to leave behind!

 

[TryinFor1]

Agreed about the kids. I would either find somewhere else to go or a babysitter. Vegas isn't really kid friendly, unless you don't mind spending most of your time in the hotel, which would be a shame given all the money spent.

If you decide to, I wouldn't try to have a layover. Just make sure they give you food on the flight but you can stretch your legs on the plane. My ears also hurt while ascending and descending so I would want to avoid that as much as possible.

 

[missk1989]

We wouldnt be gambling at all. Its really not my thing. Just wanted to experience the shows and stuff. My OH seems to think it is quite child friendly from his research online so may have to have a proper look myself. I have seen some child friendly hotels that look great but need to do more searching.

 

[lilyd]

Even if you're not gambling, it is difficult to navigate your way around avoiding casinos and that is what you would have to do.

Are other people going with you as children won't be allowed at a lot of the shows?

I love Vegas and am always telling people to go there, but it really isn't child friendly. You will find things to do, but will be very restricted. It really is an adults playground!

I have flown direct and indirect. Unless you are doing a proper stopover I would definitely pay the extra and fly direct.

 

[tina3747]

The casinos aren't seperate, they are the hotel. The shows will be very limited, our 9 yr old at the time wadnt permitted to see anything decent, we saw circ and mamma Mia but had baby sitters. There's stuff to do but not anything you can't do anywhere else, don't want to piss on your fire but honestly you'll be so limited to what you can do. It's an expensive holiday when your not experiencing it all, it'd be like going to Florida but not allowed to go in any parks!
Anyway..Do not stay in circus circus hotel.. It's ok for visiting but pretty manky otherwise, bellagio is amazing and very reasonable, hard rock definite 'no no' with kids... It's full of beautiful adults with very little on! MGM I'd say is more for the youngsters as is planet Hollywood.

 

[lilyd]

I agree, Bellagio and also the Venetian are amazing and well located. Agree with everything else Tina3747 has said as well!

 

[cookette]

I dont consider Vegas child-friendly at all...but thats me. I dont go in for the gambling bit or any of that but the number of people/character of people you just encounter on the street corner was enough to make my hug my purse closer :/

 

[missk1989]

Cheers ladies. Its hard to guage things from reading online as there are loads of things listed for toddlers but obviously the view is onesided when they are promoting a buisness!

 

[Banshee]

I've been a couple of times (pre children) but wouldn't consider taking my boys now. As others have said it really is for adults (I'm not into gambling either). I just don't think you'd get the most from it with a toddler with you. I haven't been for a few years but am struggling to think what you could do with a toddler other than the pools. Sorry.

 

[FAB mama]

I've never been, but I'm in the US and wouldn't consider taking my toddler there. We went to Disney World for our honeymoon (pre-kid) and I thought it was great! I think there is child care available there if you wanted to go out alone. Just a suggestion.

 

[tammym1974]

I agree with others. Vegas really isn't kid friendly. It's where we go to get away from kids. Even the shows are geared toward an adult crowd. You're going to have a miserable toddler on your hands and probably won't enjoy yourself.

 

[tina3747]

Cheers ladies. Its hard to guage things from reading online as there are loads of things listed for toddlers but obviously the view is onesided when they are promoting a buisness!

Honestly, I can't think of one thing I could say to do with a toddler there and we've been a few times! I've never once gambled either, doesn't interest me as I've no clue what to do but you can't get away from the casinos as they're the hotel itself.. Very hard to explain!!

Are you interested in Florida? Depending on your budget, obviously it's soooo toddler friendly there. You don't have to be into Disney itself it experience it all, Universal is a little more on the adult side but you can still take kids there at night. Also you can do a 2 centre thing, we do a week in Orlando and then drive the the gulf coast for a bit more of a relax!

Or maybe a cruise? We'd never thought to do one as it wasn't our thing but got talked into a Royal Caribbean a few years ago around the med. Absolutely fantastic holiday, food was amazing, so much to do on board for all ages and they have a baby sitting service so you can have an hour out if you choose to. I'd love to go on another but we now have child no.2 who is nothing like no.1.... !! We've done 5 long haul flights with our eldest, 2 hours is enough on a plane with the second!!!

Just trying to think of something different for you....

 

[missk1989]

Cheers ladies. Its hard to guage things from reading online as there are loads of things listed for toddlers but obviously the view is onesided when they are promoting a buisness!

Honestly, I can't think of one thing I could say to do with a toddler there and we've been a few times! I've never once gambled either, doesn't interest me as I've no clue what to do but you can't get away from the casinos as they're the hotel itself.. Very hard to explain!!

Are you interested in Florida? Depending on your budget, obviously it's soooo toddler friendly there. You don't have to be into Disney itself it experience it all, Universal is a little more on the adult side but you can still take kids there at night. Also you can do a 2 centre thing, we do a week in Orlando and then drive the the gulf coast for a bit more of a relax!

Or maybe a cruise? We'd never thought to do one as it wasn't our thing but got talked into a Royal Caribbean a few years ago around the med. Absolutely fantastic holiday, food was amazing, so much to do on board for all ages and they have a baby sitting service so you can have an hour out if you choose to. I'd love to go on another but we now have child no.2 who is nothing like no.1.... !! We've done 5 long haul flights with our eldest, 2 hours is enough on a plane with the second!!!

Just trying to think of something different for you....[/QUOTE

Thanks, we have been to florida before but are finding that it will cost us about £1k more to go and we cannot afford it. We are now thinking of paris instead. Visiting disney for one day to see if lo likes it (I LOVE disney, it sums up my whole childhood) and then we can judge whether we could afford florida in a couple of years. There are loads of things to do in paris and its a very short flight.