Vegas.....The return !!

Hi Everyone !
We are visiting Vegas in April...My wife , me and our 10 year old son(from England). It`s only for a couple in nights, driving from our cousins in Redlands, CA. I havn`t been to Vegas since May, 2001 and up to then I had been 13 times. Is it still a good move to use Industrial Road and Koval Lane to get around, we will drive the strip once- just so they can say they did it ! I`ve banged on about Vegas so many times and decided they really needed to experience "Sin City". I know it`s not really for kids but I`m sure he can enjoy it as much as I used to. We plan on trips out during the day, I was thinking Lake Mead and Hoover Dam and I want them to see my other favourite place, Death Valley. As it`s probably changed quite a bit in the last 15 years, I was wondering if it was still best to arrive on a Monday or Tuesday for the best room rates and which Strip Hotel would be best for us stay at? I was thinking of Excalibur, I always remember a lot of families milling around but never having being with kids in tow I wouldn`t really know. Also, the gambling laws regarding kids, is it illegal to have a quick play on the slots with children in the party? If one of us was to pop $20 in a slot near enough to somewhere where one of us was sat with our son to watch, is that still a big no-no? Might seem like a daft question but it would be great for him to see us get a potential win ( I used to enjoy Wheel Of Fortune, if they are still around ). Also, is the Ethel M museum still open in Henderson?
Thanks in advance for any replies....See you in April!! Andi.

 

Welcome to the Board! Sounds like you're excited for your return to Vegas!
Traveling with a 10-year-old you'll probably move at a faster speed than my bride and I did with our 10, 9, and 7 year-olds a couple years ago!
Don't limit your search to the Excal, though. They're a lot of cool places to stay and play, not a whole lot for kids to enjoy independently, but there are some cool things you may enjoy as a family. Further exploration of this board will help you there...

Kids in the gaming areas itself is still frowned upon (illegal?). Not too tough to take a seat just outside the gaming areas while the spouse steps away for a quick minute, if that's your style!

Best wishes as the excitement builds for your trip!

RICHARD

 

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the words! I wouldn't even attempt Vegas with more than one ,he's enough already!
I do know the town quite well, I always made a point of exploring, I've done almost everything there was to do (between 1994 and 2001). Circumstances at home have prevented it for 15 years but we can't do L.A. and not have a cheeky trip to Vegas can we .
The U.S.A., especially the South-west was almost a second home back then......It's only 2 nights so we won't have a lot of time,one thing I did notice,wherever we stay, is the $20 trick, so I'll definitely try that one!! I was just thinking Excalibur as it's quite cheap for the strip with good views and an easy(ish) walk to Venetian,Treasure Island etc. We're planning on being out in the desert during the day and Vegas early evening/nighttime and maybe try Fremont Street one night,are there still the shuttle buses to downtown and how far does the monorail go now? Thanks again Rich.....I'll be emotional on my return that's for sure!!

 

Welcome! The monorail runs from MGM to Westgate (old Hilton). Remember that the Excal is at the south end & Venetian in on the north....not a quick walk. On that side of LVB....there is a free tram from Excal/Luxor/Mandalay Bay. Another free tram from Mirage / Treasure Island. Cosmo/Aria also has a tram. Lots of free transport on that side of strip. Also....every strip hotel now has resort fees to add to the cost of the room rate.

Bus passes are available for trips to Freemont but may want to try Uber or Lyft.....much cheaper than cabs.

Best of luck in finding a suitable room for your family.....Hope you will let us know how it all goes! Have a great time.

 

Thanks Sybgal!
I'll put a couple of photos on after we get home....
I would imagine it will be a bit quieter midweek in April so we won't have too much trouble getting on and off the trams, I remember they were always packed out so never used them before but I seem to remember there weren't that many back then either. Über have bad press in England and people try to avoid them if possible, never heard of Lyft, are they the normal Vegas cabs or something else? We're still searching for the best prices for hotels so we're easy where we stay,I've stayed in a lot of different hotels on the strip but the south end of LVB is where we're looking. Really can't wait now April's coming up fast!!....

 

Yes, I would try to utilize Koval and "Frank Sinatra" frequently.

And no, having your son that close to a gaming machine will get you yelled at very quickly and God forbid they accidentally spin. May cost you thousands of dollars then. I get asked for ID just as much now at 36 there versus when I was 21. They really have cracked down on underage gaming in the last 15 years.

 

Thanks for the "How to avoid the Strip traffic" tip ! Although I didn't know it was renamed "Frank Sinatra"?..... Any Casino we visit, I'll be sure to ask what we can get away with,I'll play the "naiive English" card (excuse the gambling pun!). Just out of interest, are there still Wheel of Fortune slots dotted around, I always enjoyed trying to lose 20 bucks here and there !! On a side-note, I once visited Rio and with my first twenty dollar bill, on about the fourth spin I got the feature on a machine called Empire State( or something) where King Kong would climb the side of the slot up the Empire State Building,the higher he got, the bigger the win. It was a quarter slot and I managed to win 6400 coins.....Nice little $1600 earned!!
I wonder if Vegas might be good to us 20 years later?? Thanks for the replies everyone!! Andi..