NV and AZ

OK folks, all suggestions welcome!
Traveling with Mrs OS and the younger to LAS next year, plan is to spend 3-4 nights in Las Vegas and the bulk of our time in Phoenix (at a nice resort hotel we've booked) before returning to LV for rtn flight.
Question 1 - where is a good place to stay in LV? (My wife's first time in the city; we are not gamblers; my wee one will be 8 and will be more interested in swimming pools than anything else; we do want to "see the sights".)
Qustion 2 - driving down to Phoenix, and of course intend going via the Grand Canyon: where is the best place to go to visit the Canyon (the National Park is a big place!), and is it a situation where I should be looking for a hotel and staying overnight? Or is it better just to stop on the way? Maybe go to the visitor centre then head south via the likes of Sedona?
All comments, suggestions, recomendations welcome!
Thanks y'all...

[HighFlyer]

I'd probably say the MGM Grand would be a good bet. Its very central, right on the strip so easy to wonder to the other hotels, its large (largest hotel there!) and green so you wont miss it - plus it has a fantastic pool complex with a lazy river so your child will love it and probably be happy to spend half the day there. Mandalay Bay had a nice pool complex with a sandy beach and a wave pool too.

This thread has lots of 'what hotel' suggestions, but it all depends what you want whilst in Vegas. My preference is the Bellagio, i have stayed in several hotels in Vegas and that is my favourite.

As for the Grand Canyon, i have only done this as a day trip, as have a lot of people, so couldn't recommend a place to stay. The helicopter tours to the canyon are very popular and i'd certainly recommend that, perhaps with the Hoover Dam tour as well. I loved both!

Thanks,
Sarah

[mcmbenjamin]

You could fly from North Las Vegas Airport to the Grand Canyon Airport on Scenic Airlines or whatever there name it. (Great industry discount too BTW).

Scottsdale is where the partys at in PHX. The Fairmont is pretty fly (well it is nice but also near Scottsdale airport).

I have stayed the last 2 times at the Monte Carlo with my son (first time he was about 8 and again when he was 12). It has a lazy river and a wave pool (although some of the hotels close some of their pools during the winter months so check first) and is fairly mid-strip. Also you do not have to pass through the casino to get from reception to rooms or from rooms to the pool. It also has a small video arcade and is not too far from the New York New York (which has a very large arcade) or Excalibar which is fun for children. We do not go to gamble or drink but we love Vegas. We have also stayed at the MGM but found it too big.

Have also been to Phoenix and stayed at the Point Hilton Squaw Peak which also has a really nice pool complex with a lazy river.

Have a great holiday.

The Point Hilton Squaw Peak is exactly where we are staying in Phoenix, really looking forward to that! Any tips you can give me about the locale or the hotel would be appreciated.

Will start googling some of the mentioned hotels to see what they are all about; thanks for the tip about swimming pools and winter months - will bear that in mind....

[Scrooge]

The Monte Carlo or Mandalay Bay would be good bets IMHO for Vegas.

Ok to get to the grand Canyon, as you are driving down to PHX I would say leave early in the morning, go over the dam, through Kingman and hit the south rim.

Spend the night in Flagstaff then drive down to PHX.

No idea about the Point Hilton, I stay at the Boulders when im down that way, sorry.

[mcmbenjamin]

Flagstaff: Go to Bun Huggers. It is a great hamburger place.

Still havn't got the hang of this!! FWIW I'd give the Bellagio a miss -I'm there as we speak and have to say have been totally underwhelmed by it all. Not child friendly (which wasn't a priority for me as Dragonbaby is at home) at all.Several of the staff have been downright rude and the call from "management" to deal with this hasn't materialised.The spa is no longer for the sole use of Bellagio guests (as I found out earlier this week)as they now accept reservations from other MGM hotels -hence it was full of hens/wedding parties staying elsewhere.
Local feeling is that it's gone downhill since being taken over by MGM and next time we're here we'll spend our money elsewhere.
I'd say anywhere on the strip would be fine and there's loads to do without gambling shows,etc and the hotels are attractions in themselves.We've had a great time regardless.
Must go- Barry Manilow beckons (and the queue here for taxis is unbelieveable).
Must ask what you you do though-profile is intrigueing?(but legal I presume?)
Julie

[Note from Dave: I deleted a duplicate post]

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
OK folks, all suggestions welcome!
Question 1 - where is a good place to stay in LV? (My wife's first time in the city; we are not gamblers; my wee one will be 8 and will be more interested in swimming pools than anything else; we do want to "see the sights".)

Treasure Island, New York New York or Luxor would be my recommendations, but that's more from the aspect of having a "theme" that might interest a member of the youger generation rather than a pool complex.

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
Qustion 2 - driving down to Phoenix, and of course intend going via the Grand Canyon: where is the best place to go to visit the Canyon (the National Park is a big place!), and is it a situation where I should be looking for a hotel and staying overnight? Or is it better just to stop on the way? Maybe go to the visitor centre then head south via the likes of Sedona?
Thanks y'all...

It's a fair journey from LV - GC (5 hours), and GC is best seen at sunset or sunrise so I'd say aim to stay. We used the National Park Lodges via VH. If your budget stretches do a helicopter trip.

Paul

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
OK folks, all suggestions welcome!
Traveling with Mrs OS and the younger to LAS next year, plan is to spend 3-4 nights in Las Vegas and the bulk of our time in Phoenix (at a nice resort hotel we've booked) before returning to LV for rtn flight.
Question 1 - where is a good place to stay in LV? (My wife's first time in the city; we are not gamblers; my wee one will be 8 and will be more interested in swimming pools than anything else; we do want to "see the sights".)
Qustion 2 - driving down to Phoenix, and of course intend going via the Grand Canyon: where is the best place to go to visit the Canyon (the National Park is a big place!), and is it a situation where I should be looking for a hotel and staying overnight? Or is it better just to stop on the way? Maybe go to the visitor centre then head south via the likes of Sedona?
All comments, suggestions, recomendations welcome!
Thanks y'all...

If you can get a good deal, the Signature at the MGM Grand would give you easy access to their (MGM's) pool complex, lion habitat etc but would avoid you having to go through a casino every time you wanted to go somewhere. A 1-bed suite might suit you perfectly as there are 2 bathrooms, the 2nd one just having a shower, and a small kitchen.

We did the drive from LV to the GC in around 5 hours, going via the dam and Kingman. Having seen the canyon at sundown and sunrise, would recommend you do at least one so staying overnight is highly recommended. El Tovar is the best hotel in the park by the south rim. There is a little place called Tusayan near the park entrance that also has accommodation and dining options.

[Scrooge]

Good idea with the signature rooms at the MGM.

I would avoid the TI, they are now aiming for the "pretty people" rather than the families, most of the kid friendly stuff has now gone.

Originally posted by Ardbroilach

We did the drive from LV to the GC in around 5 hours, going via the dam and Kingman. Having seen the canyon at sundown and sunrise, would recommend you do at least one so staying overnight is highly recommended. El Tovar is the best hotel in the park by the south rim. There is a little place called Tusayan near the park entrance that also has accommodation and dining options.

5 hrs ... opps guess I dont keep to the speed limits, but yes it can be a long drive and also check to see if you car comes with a sat radio or bring some cd's as the radio choises out there are pretty dire.

As for hotel room's Flagstaff is not to far away so maybe a night there as they do have more choice then the GC area.


Disclaimer:If you happen to be one of the Pretty People feel free to go to the TI, over pay for drinks, get crap food and be seen.

Second Disclaimer:The Italian restaurant serves a great Spaghetti Bolognese which for what you pay for it it should be.

Originally posted by jetwet1
Good idea with the signature rooms at the MGM.

I would avoid the TI, they are now aiming for the "pretty people" rather than the families, most of the kid friendly stuff has now gone.

OK, strike that one from my list of recommendations. Thanks for the pointer.

Paul

The young'un has seen an ad for the CircusCircus - any comments on that one?

DragonLady - not as exciting as you (clearly) are thinking!

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
The young'un has seen an ad for the CircusCircus - any comments on that one?

Yes, but none suitable for a family forum

Seriously? CircusCircus is one hotel i would not stay in. Its cheap, a bit tacky and certainly dated in comparison to a lot of other Vegas hotels. Its low budget, popular with the families but not unknown to get the stag crowds stay there too.

Personally - i'd stay well away, just take your child to CircusCircus for a look around if its a theme that really does appeal to them. Given the plethora of fantastic hotels in all price ranges that are available in Vegas, i really see no reason to choose this one.

Thanks,
Sarah

Not sure when next year you intend to go, but a lot of the pools are seasonal or at least claim to be. I know the Mirage pool is open year round. Something to consider.

I returned on Sunday from Vegas and stayed at the Mirage and NYNY. Both were good, but I think the Mirage rooms edge it for me.

I'd agree with Sarah about avoiding CircusCircus.

I stayed there a couple of years ago (the conference I was attending was held there), and I didn't like it at all - really rundown compared to some of the other Vegas Hotels. Service wasn't that great either!

Francesca

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
The young'un has seen an ad for the CircusCircus - any comments on that one?

CC is great to take your kids to for an afternoon in the adventuredome.... As for staying there, well only if you want to keep the costs right down.

Luxor is a good themed hotel, pool is not the best.

Mandalay Bay pool is great as is the MGM pool, stayed at both previously. MGM has the rainforest cafe which is great for kids.
Both are at the south end of the strip, but you can use the deuce bus for $5 each per day and ride all you want

Bellagio is not child friendly as has been stated.

Try the Cheesecake factory restaurant at Ceasars forum - great food!

As for Flagstaff..... Stayed there twice and loved the place. Really nice town and room rates are very good.

Have a great trip

Jon B

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
The young'un has seen an ad for the CircusCircus - any comments on that one?

DragonLady - not as exciting as you (clearly) are thinking!

I don't get excited easily Oliver Sudden-trust me! I'm far too long in the tooth... - professional bagpipe player perhaps?? ( in Cardiff???).Put me out of my misery please.... (I have to know....)[}:)]

Gosh, this is just going to be such a disappointment DragonLady...
"suck squeeze bang blow" is industry slang for how a jet engine works - I work for one of the major OEM's.
Proffesional bagpipe player? Hmmmmm. My cousin (back in EDI) used to busk, real good at it too.
There is probably another thread here - what is slang for your job, and what would people who didn't know think it meant! [:p]

Originally posted by Oliver Sudden
Gosh, this is just going to be such a disappointment DragonLady...
"suck squeeze bang blow" is industry slang for how a jet engine works - I work for one of the major OEM's.
Proffesional bagpipe player? Hmmmmm. My cousin (back in EDI) used to busk, real good at it too.
There is probably another thread here - what is slang for your job, and what would people who didn't know think it meant! [:p]

Thank you Oliver- out of misery I am. There really isn't a slang term for my job apart from the vomit inducing 'angel' moniker.Boring eh? Some of the patients have come up with choice names to call me however- one of the less offensive being Dragonlady;).