Vdara - Las Vegas?

Has anyone stayed at Vdara?

I got crazy price for flights to Vegas so said F it and me and twins (12 yo) are heading to Vegas for their Winter break in Feb…is this bad parenting?
Round trip tickets for $172 for all three of us (SFO-LAS).

Will prob go to GC and Hoover damn…then back to Vegas for couple nights - O show, dinner, shopping…

Anyway, have never stayed at Vdara and they are having a sale.

How is it?

Dan,

I haven’t actually stayed there but I have walked around inside. It’s quiet so that might actually work better for you with the twins. No hustle and bustle of the casino, not as many falling down drunks, etc…

You can basically think of it as an extension of the Aria. It’s part of the same complex and both managed by MGM.

If you’re wanting to gamble, eat, etc…you’ll likely be taking the short and fast walk across the circle between the too hotels. Once in the Aria you can walk outside to the strip, catch the tram to connecting hotels, etc…

Definitely quieter. Which is nice, IMHO.

Great location.

Kid stuff to do at NY NY, arcade and coaster
M&M World near the MGM Grand
High Roller Ferris wheel
Fountain at Bellagio
Eiffel Tower at Paris

GC is a great idea, particularly if they’ve never been there. Keep in mind 2 things: it’s cold (could easily be snow on the ground); and it’s a 4+ hour drive, so you’ll probably want to stay somewhere closer, like Flagstaff (or GC if you can). You can do a cool tour at Hoover Dam.

Joe,
Quiet and no casino is fine by me. I don’t generally gamble anyway (except when I’m trying to guess what my girlfriend is thinking …)

I would have gone back to Mandarin, but Vdara has great prices, so was wondering about room quality. Photos look great!

Brig,
Totally forgot about NY NY rollercoaster! Good call.
Yes was thinking about that new Ferris wheel.

What’s M&M world?

Alan,
Will prob stay near GC early part of week.
Was thinking Zion or Bryce but GC is so incredible and they’ve never seen it.

May also take them to LOS!

Hopefully those f*ckers flicking porn cards on the sidewalk will stay away…

Good luck with that one. Later it gets, the worse it gets.

We were just in Vegas this weekend with our 4-year old. The people with the porn cards did not hand them to us. It was actually Buddhist Monks handing out some cards that were the aggressive ones (no joke!). But we only walked the strip in the morning.

I’ll add in the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay for activities. It was surprisingly really great. There is also gondola rides at the Venetian, although it’s $29/person . And of course the Midway and Adventuredome at Circus Circus. Definitely hit up LOS, it’s still as good as ever!

What can a 4-5 year old do in Vegas? Serious question as I have a 2.5 and a 4 yr old.

A 2.5-year-old would be tough. We did a ton of walking and I wouldn’t want to push a stroller around Vegas.

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef
Gondola Ride at Venetian
Eat pizza at Otto at St. Mark’s Square, so you can see the street performers
Circus Circus Midway
Bellagio Fountains
Automatic Rotating Door at Bellagio (we seriously could have spent all night here!).
Bellagio Conservatory (currently decorated for Chinese New Year)
For the next month, there is a China Lights Lantern Festival in North Las Vegas (www.chinalightslv.com) - discounted tickets at Goldstar
There is a Children’s Discovery Museum that is supposed to be fantastic. We didn’t make it this time.
Mirage Volcano, Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat

Very cool… thanks! and no, wouldn’t take a 2.5 yr old… more thinking when they are 4-6 yr old range… potential 1:1 trips…
thanks!

Vdara is a great place to stay, I’ve stayed there a handful of times. Very quiet, no casino, no smoke.

Make sure you do the High Roller wheel and Sprinkles cupcakes!

We also did a magic show at the Planet Hollywood shops and the kids loved it. It was the dude who won Americas Got Talent (afternoon show)

Across the street from NYNY. 3 stories of all things M&M. They can mix their own bag from about 150 flavors. It’s crazy and kids love it.

M&M World
Las Vegas, NV 89109

https://goo.gl/maps/Kgaro1skAzL2

Going to the top of the Stratosphere is also very cool…the view is incredible. If you’re really into thrill rides, they have crazy ones at the top of the tower.

Avoid M&M World. You will pay 3 or 4x the usual price of M&Ms at a grocery or warehouse store. Unless it’s really worth it to you in having M&Ms in non-standard colors, or different flavor combos.

I stayed at Vdara several years ago. Room was nice, atmosphere in public areas is definitely more conducive to having your kids there.

Hater!

It’s Vegas… It’ll kill an hour or so and the kids will love it.

Costco if you want value per pound on M&M

Jeremy. If u don’t mind disclosing. How old are your kids who enjoyed the magic show?
My older one can almost sit through a movie. I wonder about shows too… thx!

Great list - you’re practically a native!