Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

secretmachines

I've updated the front page, with hotel booking info. This is following a successful price match query with Expedia... Originally booked at £531, their own website offered the same room at £517, completed the online price match form and received an email within 24 hours accepting it and issuing a refund

stevie11

StuieUK34 wrote: »

snip ... As for kids, they are allowed to walk through the casino, but not stop ???? and parents cant quickly jump onto a table and leave the kid standing in the walkway while they do a quick gamble ?

Stuie, sounds like you have a good plan, are you flying ex EU again?

As for kids, I took my 18 year old Son last Summer and on a few occasions he was challenged about his age, innocently I sat by a machine just watching a show and he stood beside me, another occasion I was at the cashier desk and he was with me. Rules are rules I suppose but he was doing no harm. On another note we went for a meal which included a flight of beer and nothing was mentioned, on the second occasion at the same place the waiter asked his age but after giving the legal speech turned a blind eye.;)

StuieUK34

Not to worried about the gambling, as I could hit the casino in the early hours when the kid (14 1/2) is in bed.....
I guess from a holiday perspective, big swimming pools, sunshine, driving out sightseeing, stuff to do, nice food, shopping, etc etc... Can do all that, and I can gamble when she goes to bed, etc etc...

And Yes, ex-EU ... Gonna try and convince the wife tonight this is a good plan, not sure she gonna like it!
I have 2 methods, and cheapest is always a win, and I do like driving in the US....

Method 1:
Single flight from Gatwick to Dublin, with Bag = £40
Return from flight from Dublin 3hrs later, to LAX, via Heathrow, flying with BA... = £330
The Return leg from LAX to Dublin is via Heathrow, so same as last year, collect bags, and then make way to Gatwick to get Car....


Technically, a £370 each flight....
Hire car 1 way from LA to LV for 1 day (£43 for SUV + $ bribe to get 7 seater ) , estimate about £15 in fuel for drive... (unlike 2 years ago, option with netflights doesn't include full tank for £5 like it did back then! )


Its some big hoops, but I just see it as an extra adventure as such ! (not sure she will ! )


Method 2:
Same as above kinda, except fly to Dublin early evening from Gatwick, catch plane back to Gatwick 2hrs later, so its around 11pm, then catch the Virgin flight at 10am in the morning and fly Direct to Vegas...... The DUB-LAS ticket works out to be £100 more, and we would either stay at friends in London or book a cheapo hotel.....

If the wife is game for either, i'll do my maths to see which works to be best cost (BA to LA = looks cheaper, but involves different airports for parking, etc)....
And for ref: Direct flight to LAX from Heathrow is £540
Dates has to be over the school holiday (end of May into June)....

Brats64

We took our daughter to Vegas on quite a few trips before she turned 21 last year.
At that time it was fine for us,as we didn't care about gambling and visiting bars.We liked to do the sightseeing things,go to shows,shopping and just generally visiting all the hotels.

But the last few trips we have started to enjoy the machines,and love to visit a bar to two at night.Love places like Piano Bar at NYNY,and groupon deals for cheap booze.:D

If we had been this way when we first went, ie wished to gamble and have a drink,while visiting with our daughter,it wouldn't have worked.
Occasionally on the early trips even just walking though a casino and stopping for a while,we were asked to move on as our daughter was obviously well under age....the Riviera springs to mind,where we were asked to leave the casino floor,not in a particularly nice way.
Never went back to that casino,wonder what happened to it.:think:

Stuie...if a child goes with you,you will have to accept that it will be a different kind of Vegas experience for you and your wife.
Not necessarily worse..just different...if you are wanting some gambling time,your wife and daughter will probably have to go and do some "girly" things together...shopping,pampering or sightseeing together.
Bars in an evening will also be out.

We fully enjoyed our trips with our daughter when she was younger,and feel we all got something out of the visits...wouldn't have kept returning if we didn't...but I have to admit,it was nice to take her with us last October when we all enjoyed the slots and the nightlife together.It felt like a different kind of Vegas holiday.

I'm sure you will all enjoy it if you decide to go.But like I say,it will be different Vegas experience with a minor in tow.

Misty_Blue

StuieUK34 wrote: »

As for kids, they are allowed to walk through the casino, but not stop ????

They're allowed on the walkways if it's clear they're just walking through, but they're not allowed to "loiter" and they're not allowed near the machines or gaming tables. Security is very strict about it. She won't even be allowed to go to the restroom on the casino floor unless accompanied, say if you're eating at one of the hotel buffets.

bubble113

Stuie-

I have 2 boys and have taken them to Vegas several times. The eldest at 19 has not been since he was 15 and will not go again until 21. The youngest is 15 and will be going again with us this year.

I completely agree with Brats in the fact that you can do Vegas with kids but its very different to doing it on your own. We were very lucky to have had Vegas with the Kids and then the 2nd trip of the year without. Also with kids there has been other family members so babysitters available!

We have done villas with our own pool/slide, basketball court, tennis court and pool tables and had fantastic family holidays.


We are staying off strip this time and have a 2 bed apt, which is actually 2 separate 1 bed apts so our son has his own lounge,kitchen,bathroom and of course bedroom.

Southpoint casino is next door so we go over there with or without him. There is bowling, cinema, arcade for his entertainment.

You just have to do different research and spend days doing 'family' things of which there are loads and can still hit casinos at night and in my experience a 14 yr old doesn't get up early mornings either


Friends that are coming with us this time bagged direct flights with Virgin from Manchester for £381pp!!

photome

We have also done Vegas with kids many times.

Mostly though just with our son, who first went when he was 4 and went most years till he was about 16 but was getting bored by the last couple of years, so he stopped coming till he was 21 ( last year)

14/15 to 21 is the worst age to be in Vegas as there is so much off limits.

You can still enjoy Vegas but you won't be able to do casinos or bars together, other than that it's fine

Just remeberd you can't do the Ellis island BBQ as you have to be 21 plus

stevie11

photome wrote: »

We have also done Vegas with kids many times.

Mostly though just with our son, who first went when he was 4 and went most years till he was about 16 but was getting bored by the last couple of years, so he stopped coming till he was 21 ( last year)

14/15 to 21 is the worst age to be in Vegas as there is so much off limits.

You can still enjoy Vegas but you won't be able to do casinos or bars together, other than that it's fine

Just remeberd you can't do the Ellis island BBQ as you have to be 21 plus

Have to agree there, both my Sons went at 19 and 17 and returned with youngster last year when 18. He vowed not to return until he was 21 and go back with his mates, doesn't want to be seen with Mum and Dad;).

Tbh there is still a lot to do with children even older children, on their first visit a 10 day trip we spent 2 days over at Flagstaff and the Canyon and also went to Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, which they enjoyed and appreciated.

stevie11

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Not to worried about the gambling, snip......

You seem to have the right plan in returning to the casino once child is in bed.

I have done ex Dublin numerous times not back to back but usually last flight from Man or Liv and then catch the main flights in the morning usually via LHR. I don't mind it but have to tread carefully when explaining the details to Mrs Stevie I always return to Man though avoiding the Dub return trip, may cost a little more but will benefit from the full baggage allowance and the airline have to look after us if there are any delays.

photome

After much deliberation just booked the last 3 nights of our May trip at the Encore.
first 10 nights are comped at California, Harrahs and Harrahs Laughlin so was looking for something special.

Had been planning to use Myvegas for a couple of free nights at Aria and still might do

Wyncore sent me an offer for $129 a night with a free upgrade to the Encore resort king room which is 750sqft plus 2 free buffets each day with dinner being $40 plus each I thought it good value