Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Las Vegas

The Mirage has endless ways to keep kids entertained, including the nightly eruptions of the hotel's signature man-made volcano and the lions and dolphins at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. The entertainment options, like Cirque du Soleil shows and performances by puppeteer Terry Fator, are relatively wholesome compared to some of Vegas' other offerings. And there's a kids' menu at California Pizza Kitchen and kid-friendly fare at Carnegie Delicatessen and Paradise Cafe.

At Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Kids are sure to love the 1.6-million-gallon Shark Reef Aquarium, which in addition to sharks features endangered green sea turtles, piranha, rare golden crocodiles, moon jellies, sawfish, and giant rays. The giant pool complex includes a large wave pool and a lazy river. Abundant kid-friendly food options at the hotel's 20 restaurants and great all-ages performances (which in the past have included The Lion King and Cirque du Soleil shows) make Mandalay Bay a great option for families.

MGM Grand's 6.6-acre, five-pool complex features a long, winding river pool with waterfalls and fun, cave-like grottos. At the Rainforest Cafe, kids will enjoy the rainforest decor, periodic mist showers (don't worry, not as wet as it sounds), and animatronic gorillas. Children can also enjoy the magic of David Copperfield or Cirque du Soleil performances, the latter of which allows kids five or older.

The Tournament of Kings jousting dinner show, the Fun Dungeon arcade, and accomodations in a medieval-style castle make Excalibur Hotel & Casino one of the best family-friendly hotels in the city.

The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas is a non-gaming, non-smoking property is a mellow, family-friendly luxury option just off of the Strip. An astounding array of free baby products are available: Parents can request cribs, bottle warmers and sterilizers, blankets, bibs, diapers, and baby toiletries from housekeeping. Simply fill out a request form on the hotel website in advance or speak up at check-in for a pair of Trump Kids terry cloth slippers, a selection of board games, books and toys, and a map of Las Vegas marked with kid-friendly spots. All suites come with queen-size sleeper sofas and stocked kitchenettes.

The New York – New York Hotel and Casino's signature feature is it's 67-mph roller coaster that takes off from the lobby and wraps around the hotel. The hotel also houses one of the biggest arcades in Las Vegas, and walking through the faux New York City neighborhoods and eateries is a little like walking through a Disneyland village.

At Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, kids will love the Tank pool; it's pretty hard to beat a three-story water slide that runs through a shark tank. They'll also probably like the the arcade, the light show right outside the front door, and the pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers available at the Grille.

This 2,163-room suburban hotel has big modern rooms and amenities aplenty -- great pools, a movie theater, a 64-lane bowling alley, a huge casino, even the occasional rodeo. This is a much mellower version of Vegas, most popular among locals and families. The large, 500-square-foot standard rooms feature one king or two queen-size beds. They can easily accommodate a rollaway bed, which costs an additional $20 a night. The pool area is extremely family friendly. The large free-form pool is open to kids, and the shallow wading pool is good for little ones. The hotel's numerous restaurants serve plenty of kid-friendly food.

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club is targeted toward families, and lacks the smokey casino and adult entertainment found at other hotels on the Strip. The three-and-a-half-foot-deep pool with spray fountains is popular with children, and there's an activity lounge with table tennis, billiards, chess, foosball, and several board games. Sleeping arrangements are perfect for families of four or five -- the rooms are all large suites with fully equipped kitchens and queen-size sofa beds, with playpens and high chairs also available.

Located half an hour from the Strip, vacationing families dominate the scene at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, especially at the huge wading pool with sprinklers. Families enjoy kid-friendly extras like a multiplex movie theater, a 72-lane bowling alley, plus a kids' club and babysitting service. Kids Quest has an indoor playground with a giant maze and jungle gym and supervised activities, from arts and crafts to karaoke; accepts children from six weeks to 12 years old; hourly rate, depending on age.

Humongous rooms, spacious grounds, three pools, and daily organized activities make the Wyndham Grand Desert the quintessential family hotel. Kids can also keep busy at the mini-arcade, an arts-and-crafts room, and an activity room with pool tables and Xbox consoles. The hotel doesn't provide rollaway beds, but two-bedroom suites can sleep up to eight people. Cribs are available free of charge. The Oasis Cafe also has a kids' menu.

At the southern end of the Strip looms this massive ancient-Egypt-themed hotel, with a main building in the shape of the Great Pyramid of Giza (the 30-story structure shoots from its peak a beam of light so powerful, it's visible from space). In terms of room count, this colossal hotel-casino is second only to the MGM Grand, with 4,406 basic, but comfortable rooms. Two additional towers of guest rooms, four swimming pools, a 120,000-square-foot casino, the world's largest atrium, a giant sphinx, and a host of dining, entertainment, and nightlife options help the Luxor stand out even among its extravagant neighbors. Overall, the Luxor hosts more families than average Vegas properties, which isn't surprising given the huge pools, the Disney-like ancient Egypt decor and architecture, and the Bodies exhibition. Crib and cot rentals are available, but cost a nightly fee.