Yes I'm About To Be One Of "Those" People

Hello. My name is Carla and Yes I'm About To Be One Of "Those" People.
People who bring infants to Vegas.

Once upon a time I swore that I would never be one of "Those" crazy people but here I sit in the middle of a 10 month since my last Vegas trip withdraw and I no longer care what I said in the past. Screw it. I'm taking my grandson to Vegas. He deserves a trip, his mother deserves a trip and God knows I deserve a trip.

Any sage advice, suggestions, horror stories or tips on taking an infant to Vegas would be greatly appreciated. We're planning on going next March and Silas will be 11 months old. Since my grandbaby is so young I'm looking for a place to stay that wouldn't treat me like I'm crazy (even though we all know I am crazy), a place that has good accommodations for traveling families that still want to get their Vegas groove on. I know the usual spot everyone thinks of is Excalibur but we've stayed there a dozen times and we're looking for someplace a little out of the box.

I'm also looking for anyone who has experience with any bonded babysitting services in Vegas.

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions and for not judging me and my insanity on this undertaking.

 

The awful theme scheme at the Trashy Castle does not make it any more (or less) appropriate for kids than any other casino-dominated hotel in town.

Book the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Summerlin.

 

I would avoid Excalibur. It is VERY smoky!

 

I agree with this.

 

I would say try MGM, - nothing scientific mind you - just because I must have seen a million kids there including a lot of infants in strollers, the last time I was in town (2010 )..

 

I took my daughter at 12 months to Vegas for a big family birthday party. We stayed at Aria, and no one looked at us funny for having a small child with us. I was very lucky because I had family members to babysit the night we went out, but I never once felt uncomfortable. The funniest part was all of the drunk people telling me how cute my daughter was and wanting to play with her.

 

took my 5 month old to Vegas in 2011.. we stayed at the MGM.. was fine..
now he has been back several times since.. were going again in March too and staying at MGM,, have been at LVH recently..

 

Thanks everyone for all of your replies. I really do appreciate the input. It's been 28 years since I've traveled with a baby and I'm pretty rusty.

We normally stay off Strip at Eastside Cannery and we love it there but sadly they do not have cribs available. We had considered buying a pack n play when we got to Vegas and then taking it to a re-sale shop to sell on our last day but that seems like it will be a giant pain in the butt. But then again with a 7 night stay if the crib charge ends up being more than the pack n play I probably would just buy a pack n play and donate it to Goodwill or Opportunity Village on our way to the airport.

Our target dates are March 8-15, 2014. I'm going to check into JW Marriott and MGM to see what their rates are like. Thanks again everybody for your suggestions.

 

I don't have kids, so probably not qualified to speak on the subject, but my parents traveled all over Europe with me as an infant and many hotels did not have cribs (or what Americans would consider baby-safe cribs). They packed a small inflatable child's pool, put it on the second bed in the room and put a blanket in the bottom. I survived.

 

We once had our daughter in law, make the 12 hour drive from El Paso, where our son was stationed, to visit us for 3 days (out of our 8 day trip) in Vegas with my 3 yo grandson. We went to the secret garden, did plenty of pool time, up the Stratosphere , and plenty of good restaurants. That 3 days was the longest stretch I ever went in Vegas without losing money!

 

That's funny, Dave.

To my way of thinking it's less a bedding thing than it is the appropriateness of the hotel. I mean, I took my first camping trip at 6 mos. of age, back in the days of no car A/C and cloth diapers, and off we went across the Mojave and up the 395 to Mammoth.

Yes, EVERY hotel in Vegas has kids staying in it. Some have more. None are by definition verboten for kids, but for whatever theme or however many kids might be in attention, none of them are explicitly designed for kids.

That's why many of us suggest off Strip properties, and particularly those that are more or at least as much (or exclusively) a resort as a casino-hotel. In and out is easier, the size is more manageable, the pace is more resort than Vegas and the pools and other amenities won't be remotely Strip-like. And by off Strip I'm talking the previously mentioned JW, or out at Lake Las Vegas. A Red Rock Resort or a Sam's Town is off Strip, but it's still a CASINO-hotel.

Just my $0.02 for a second time.

 

I think a lot depends on what you are planning on doing. I don't think the strip is a bad place, but it certainly has some downsides. A big one to me is just traveling around. If your not going to be spending a lot of time on the strip, then all time you spend in the car just dealing with strip traffic is a waste.

I don't have an issue with strollers, I have more of an issue with people not understanding they are in the way. 2 random people talking right in the middle of a walkway is far more annoying to me than 2 people with a baby just walking down the sidewalk.


I don't have kids, but the little time I'm able to spend with my niece indicates that I think she would love all the lights and such of Vegas. Now if you are there for 7 days, I'd question how much you can walk up and down the strip with the baby.

I have no idea what your plans on with doing things without the baby. Like one babysits and one goes off and does something else. I would make those options as easy to deal with as possible.




I don't see an issue staying on the strip for at least part of the time. I would only suggest a place with room service if that becomes necessary. I only say it because I'm not sure if some of the cheaper properties even have room service.

 

Just a little ways off the strip is the Orleans. Up on the second floor they have somethng called kids tyme, a place you can leave your child for an hour or more so you can have some adult time. You pay an hourly fee I believe. I am in no way vouching for them as I have never used them, but I know it exists....and I don't know if they take infants. It may be worth checking out though.

 

MGM is party central. It wouldn't be my first choice.

I would stay at a hotel w/o a casino.

 

If you don't mind Northwest Las Vegas, Santa Fe Station has a Kid's Quest with child care (6 weeks to 12 years).

https://santafestation.sclv.com/

Here's a USA Today article with some helpful hints on places to consider:

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/child-care-facilities-las-vegas-casinos-hotels-3152.html

(Also mentions Orleans and Red Rock)


Wherever you choose, good luck on your trip.

 

Orleans

Have a friend who would take her grand kids and stay at Orleans. It is nicer than Excalibur. Food and rooms are a lot cheaper than the strip. They also have babysitting service that her grand kids enjoyed. They have a free shuttle service to the strip if you don't rent a car. Think you would enjoy it!

 

If you want to stay on the Strip you might want to look at the Vdara. I haven't stayed there but have my eyes on it for a future visit. The Vdara Suite has a separate bedroom, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer in the suite. That would give you a spot for the babe to take a nap and you would still have space to hang out, not to mention the ability to fix him meals/snacks and do laundry. Random dates in March come up at $179 without looking for a discount, so you could probably do better.

Anyway, that's just a thought. I know I always looked for those features when we traveled with our kids when they were small. Gosh, I miss those days!

 

the LVH is a bit off strip and they have cribs. Most harrahs properties charge 25 bucks a day for them, MGM properties do not. I was going to say there are baby sleepers that are like 30 bucks at Walmart and I would have used those, if i had known about them when my son was little. he either sleeps in a crib, or most of the time climbs into bed with me.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-Deluxe-Infant-Travel-Bed/16405756

http://www.amazon.com/Regalo-Cot-Portable-Royal-Blue/dp/B000H1MRJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376782794&sr=8-1&keywords=Walmart+Baby+Travel+Bed

http://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Fold-Go-Travel-Bassinet/dp/B004L2JJ6E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376782794&sr=8-3&keywords=Walmart+Baby+Travel+Bed