Where To Stay in Vegas with Kids – (Besides Circus Circus)

As someone who covers the Vegas travel scene for work, lugging my 2 impressionable daughters to the Strip has been pretty low on my priority list.

Yet, here I am, planning a family trip to Vegas because my wife scored Olivia Rodrigo tickets for the 3 of them this upcoming December at T-Mobile Arena (I’ll be at the craps table).

And look, I’m not “anti-kids in Vegas”. Not at all. There are a TON of kid-friendly activities in town. I’m just “anti-kids in Vegas when it’s really just a binge gambling trip” for the adults.

Few things are more depressing than seeing a toddler passed out in a stroller at 2:33 am while their parents march up and down the Strip, sipping one of those 3-foot-tall slushy cocktails as a street performer nearby begs passersby to kick him in the nuts for $20.

Anyway, I digress. Apologies for rambling this early in the post.

If you’re in the same boat as me, I’m sure every resource you consulted suggested Circus Circus or Excalibur.

Hard pass (all due respect)… Hardly the first impression of Las Vegas I want my kids to have.

I thought it’d be helpful to point out a few alternative “kid-friendlier” hotels that offer a better stay.

(Don’t worry, you can still visit The Adventuredome at Circus Circus).

Mandalay Bay

Situated on the far southern reaches of the Strip, Mandalay Bay is absent the “freak show” you’ll see along the sidewalks mid-Strip.

It’s gloriously quiet. An island of solitude in the middle of the madness.

Base rooms, which start at under $150 after fees, offer a substantial 550 SF of space, big for a standard accommodation on the Strip.

This was my recent Resort King room, which is polished, clean, and one of my favorite “bangs for your buck” in Vegas. You can also get this room with 2 queen beds.

It’s a great hotel.

Adding to Mandalay’s allure are the kid-friendly attractions at the resort, and nearby at Luxor & Excalibur.

Mandalay’s pool is one of the best in Vegas, boasting standard pools, a lazy river, and a wave pool with a real sand beach.

The Shark Reef Aquarium, while a short attraction, is fun, as it allows you to “walk the seafloor”, pet sea life, and view animals in a small indoor zoo.

Luxor is connected to Mandalay Bay via an indoor walkway and is home to some of my favorite attractions in Vegas.

The first, Bodies… The Exhibition educates folks about the inner workings of the human body using 13 whole-body specimens and 260+ partial specimens.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition displays 350+ artifacts recovered from the wreck site, and it does a spectacular job of highlighting the human element of the tragedy.

Excalibur is connected to Luxor via the indoor walkway and has a substantial arcade and “Tournament of Kings”, a medieval-themed dinner show.

MGM Grand

Another resort with a spectacular pool, MGM Grand has recently renovated every room resort-wide, and they did a great job.

Definitely book an MGM Tower room vs. one in the Studio Tower if you value space, as Studio rooms are tiny.

This was my recent MGM King Room, which has a solid 446 SF of space and a disco era theme, which is weird, but just go with it.

Love the under-bed lighting.

Best yet, it starts at under $100/nt after fees.

Like Mandalay, MGM Grand’s pool is top-tier. It’s sprawling and also has a lazy river.

Topgolf is located right behind MGM Grand, and the majority of the walk there is climate-controlled. Whether you golf or not, your family will have fun, as the social games require little to no skill.

They even have a free pool, but it’s 21+, so your kids won’t be able to hop in.

The FRIENDS Experience recently opened at MGM Grand, and is home to set recreations, props, costumes, facts about the show, and photo ops that play off of iconic moments.

MGM’s location is also solid, as you’re steps away from a handful of resorts, including NYNY, which is home to a rollercoaster, Hershey’s Chocolate World & an arcade.

The Las Vegas Monorail also has a stop behind the resort, making it easy to traverse the Strip.

Vdara

A sneaky “dark horse” candidate, Vdara is located mid-Strip, has no casino, and is connected to Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan, and Aria.

Nobody will suggest this one, as there’s nothing for kids to do at the resort proper. The room is what makes this a viable option, however.

I’ve logged a few stays in a Studio Parlor, which starts at under $150/nt after fees and has an impressive 582 SF.

That space is used to provide a kitchenette (rare in Vegas!), a living area, and a bedroom.

While the Studio Parlor has a pull-out couch as the 2nd bed, their base Studio suites can come equipped with 2 queen beds. It’s the same square footage and still has a kitchenette, but you sacrifice the separate living area and second TV.

This was my Studio Parlor. If you prefer this layout to the Studio, note that the couch (below) has a pull-out bed.

The Venetian & Palazzo

Both all-suite towers could be a solid fit for families, with suites starting at 650 SF, though some suite types are larger, and they start at under $200/nt after fees.

This was my recently renovated Luxury King Suite at The Venetian, though it also comes in a 2-queen version.

The couch also has a pull-out bed.

The suite is spectacular, and being connected to the Grand Canal Shoppes and the myriad dining options within them is a massive perk.

If you have more money than you know what to do with, take your kids to see “The Wizard of Oz” at The Sphere. I just priced it out for my family of 4, and $416 is probs a little more than I was hoping to spend. Just know, it’s an option.

Shoutout to my mom, who snapped this pic. She loved it.

The rooftop pools at both The Venetian & Palazzo are connected and are kid-friendly.

As for my family trip, I currently lean toward The Venetian… but that might change. While a night at Circus Circus or Excalibur would be fine for just myself, there’s a near-zero percent chance I’d subject my family to that.

We may swing in, but we sure as sh*t ain’t sleeping there.

There may not be a *completely* family-friendly resort in Las Vegas, but there are certainly some that are a better fit than others – I’m hopeful I was able to help you find an option.

There is SO much to do as a family in and around Las Vegas: Check out these 90+ Kid Friendly Activities.