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Staying downtown for one night with kids?

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by snowball, Aug 19, 2013.

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  1. snowball

    snowball Low-Roller

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    Before I ask my question, I need to give a bit of backround.

    My hubby and I are flying into Vegas September 26th. I was chatting with my mom (who will be watching the kids) and we decided that she will drive the kids to Vegas so that hubby and I can take them to Disneyland after our Vegas time is done.

    So we have decided that on the way back from Disney we will stop in Vegas and get some shopping done for the kids back to school stuff. I know we will be tired after that so we are going to stay in Vegas one night.

    I was thinking of the Golden Nugget. The pool seems like fun for them. We have also been thinking about switching to downtown after this trip (I like how close everything is) so it would be a good way to see what the hotel is like.

    But after thinking about it, I don't recall seeing any kids downtown last time we were there. As a rule we don't take our kids to Vegas, but like I said after shopping (and Disney) I know we will be tired. Is is a really bad call to bring them there or should we just stay at Circus Circus (ewww) so that we aren't too out of place?
     
  2. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    No, there are kids Downtown.

    By the law they aren't allowed to linger in the casinos and since most of the properties Downtown are little more than casinos thats probably why you haven't noticed that many of them around - they'll usually be in the hotel room, at the pool, at a food court or under the FSE canopy since there isn't much else for kids to see and do Downtown.

    If it was an extended stay I would probably recommend The Strip for more things to see and do with the kids, but since you are just looking for a place to spend the night, has a pool and are mainly going to be using the room as a rest stop between a Disney trip and shopping then Downtown should be perfectly fine.
     
  3. Someone

    Someone High-Roller

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    do you really think Vegas will be cheaper to shop than Anaheim/LA?

    I would be just about positive that any store in Vegas that would be suitable for back to school cloths would also be in the LA area and probably without the "Vegas experience" cost tacked onto it....Vegas MIGHT have a high end shop or two that LA does not, but I have rarely if ever heard anyone say they found real shopping bargains in Vegas especially at common national retailers or even most of the mid and higher end retailers and I have never found outlet malls anywhere to be any type of a bargain in fact they are usually quite the opposite

    I would say stay at South Point or Sun Coast or The Orleans where there are bowling alleys, theaters and arcades right on the property

    downtown is probably the least attractive from an "offerings for kids" perspective
     
  4. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    I also question Vegas for back to school shopping. Sounds like a strange thing to do in a tourist town.

    If you want them to see a little bit of Vegas that seems fine to me, I'm just not sure why you would do back to school shopping there over your home town.


    Having very little knowledge what you plan on doing with your kids during the half day you are in Vegas, it is hard to offer a suggestion. Even with just a few hours, I think walking on the strip during the day or many of the bigger pools on the strip would be a better choice. I just don't view downtown as a great place for kids, it is 90% casinos and bars.

    If you are getting there at 9pm, need a place to sleep, do some swimming in the morning for a few hours and then head out, then it really doesn't matter. Golden Nugget would be fine. If you want to walk around Vegas a little with the kids, to me the strip is a better idea.

    Circus Circus is fine, but again it depends on your length of stay. Both Excal and NYNY have game rooms where you can easily spend a few hours. You don't need the full adventuredome.
     
  5. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    What i would do is book a place like Travelodge next to Harley. They can swim on the premises and shop and dine at Planet Hollywood etc. if it's just one night. You can also take the kids to Fashion Show Mall......they have everything you would need. Seeing that you will have a car, book a nice motel for the night and take the kids shopping on the Strip. Downtown is the worst place you could go......not a kid friendly atmosphere. But the kids will love the Malls at FSM and PH. You didn't mention how old the kids are, but after shopping, show them around Vegas, there are lots of free things for them to look at........Bellagio foutains, the Gardens inside Bellagio, the Mirage volcano, the Sirens at TI, etc.
     
  6. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Perfect answer... I agree!!!
     
  7. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    Vegas also has higher sales tax
     
  8. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Then where? Not California... EDIT: hmmmm damn, I checked... Anaheim is 8% and Vegas is 8.1%... I guess we have caught up with the world!!!
     
  9. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    Lol...crap...this whole time I thought vegas was 10%...lol

    Edit: actually, we are higher in cali. While tax rates vary greatly in cali, orange county ends up being 8.75%, after adding district tax to the state tax.

    Edit again: what is wrong with my brain today...lol? OC is 8% tax...not that the subject of tax really matters, but just wanted to own up to my mistake. I am glad I am not gambling today!
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2013
  10. snowball

    snowball Low-Roller

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    I'm just quoting to to answer everyone's question. Vegas is on the way home and we are picking up my mom (who is staying in Vegas while we go to Disney).

    We won't shop at home because we are from Canada and our clothing prices are much higher.

    We will probably do our shopping in Primm or at the Vegas outlets because that way we can pick up my mom and keep going after for the 19 hour drive. After leaving Disney Vegas is only 5 hours so it will give us a little break after that part of our vacation.

    We don't really want to "do" anything with the kids as they will be tired from
    Disney. They are 10 and 11.


     
  11. sandman748

    sandman748 Low-Roller

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    As a fellow canadian I can say without a doubt that the north outlet malls in vegas are way cheaper than anything you will find here. It's kinda sickening actually.

    Tshirts in vegas - 3 for 20. Same shirts in Canada - 60.
    Pants in vegas - 20-30 each , in Canada - 60-80 each
    And best of all are the shoes. Last time I was there I bought a pair of DC's for 30 bucks. Same shoes here were 120.

    The savings alone in back to school clothes shopping more than pays for our flights and hotel for a week.
     
  12. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    I think that Golden Nugget is a good choice. Your kids should love the pool and GN sounds like a fit for you downtown.

    Since you're going past Primm, it's worth a shot, but we liked the outlet shops on South LVB better. If you're really on a budget, there's a Ross just north of Wynn somewhere that had some really cheap prices and good selection if you were willing to dig around a bit.

    Personally I need 3 days at a spa retreat after a day at Disneyland, but Vegas would be a good second choice. :wink2: Enjoy!
     
  13. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    Honestly no place is really going to be bad. I'd just pick what(if anything) you want to do beyond the shopping.


    See freemont street?
    Walk the strip a bit?
    Sit out by the pool?
    Play in some arcade?
    See a movie?
    Try out a hotel to stay at next trip?


    Nothing prevents you from staying one place and doing any of those. I just assume after the drive you aren't going to want to do more travel than necessary. :) I really wouldn't put too much thought into it though. It sounds like you will be there for less than a day. Anywhere you go will work out fine.
     
  14. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    I like what was suggested up-thread... Gold Coast or one of the other off-strip properties that have bowling. movie theaters and arcades.
    Buuuut...if one of the objectives is for the kids to see the FSE light-show, then I get why you'd want DT.
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
  15. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

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    Snow, I have two daughters one is now 20 and the youngest is 16. Through the years we too have done a couple of summer trips that (because I have two daughters) included outlet shopping as well as Fashion Show Mall as well as some of the other Strip shopping. My thoughts:
    • Yes, you have the right property with the Nugget.
    • For one or two nights, downtown is perfectly fine. Especially if you do it mid-week. Weekends are a bit insane.
    • The outlet store nearest downtown is higher-end and I was just there last week, along with the South Strip Outlet Mall. Advantage South side due to it being less crowded and easier to navigate. I also found some of the prices to be cheaper. Primm is worth a stop but check to make sure you have a specific store in mind. For example, Primm has a Tommy store that is huge.
    • As you may already know, Fashion Show is really only a viable option if you have something the kids "MUST HAVE" IE, two summers ago we "JUST HAD TO GO" to the Puma store for my then 14 year old.
    • One additional thought. I am a big fan of the UNLV bookstore, it may be of interest if the kids care for a UNLV sweatshirt or other items.

    Also, this is perfect timing because most of the stores are now deeply discounting summer stuff and bringing out the fall items (yes, even the outlets). I picked up a couple of good deals at Banana Republic and J Crew.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2013
  16. snowball

    snowball Low-Roller

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    It is crazy how much we can save by shopping there eh?


    Anyway thanks everyone! I do think we are going to stick with the Golden Nugget. I really want to check this place out and since we won't be doing much after shopping I think it should be good.
     
  17. snowball

    snowball Low-Roller

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    Thanks for all the shopping advice! I'm sure we will use it. If we have time we will check out the UNLV bookstore. That's a really good tip. Thanks!
     
  18. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    Try the Orleans or Sams Town. Both have great pools, movies, bowling and arcades for the little ones. Their parent company also owns Main Street Station and the California in downtown which are great options. All of these properties are great, friendly staff and affordable! Good luck.
     
  19. ValerieJo

    ValerieJo High-Roller

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    Love this idea. Thanks, I've added it to my list. :nworthy:
     
  20. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

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    ValerieJo I always run to the back of the bookstore while my wife and daughters hit the regularly priced items. I have found some pretty good deals. Plus, the quality is very good and selection is far better than anyplace else.
     
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