The Best Family Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada

To stand out on the Strip, big and bold is your only option. And the iconic Luxor pyramid has both in abundance. Guarded by a grand sphinx, the Egyptian-themed hotel has plenty for children to gawp at. Particularly good for older kids, it’s home to a dedicated esports arena and the hypnotic, out-of-this-world Blue Man Group. It also has a pool – split into four areas – spanning 19,000 square feet (1,765sqm).

The open-book-shaped Mirage Hotel is astounding from the get-go. At the main entrance, a volcano fires replica lava into the sky every evening. Behind the front desk, a 20,000-gallon (91,000-liter) saltwater tank is home to 450 fish and a brightly colored coral reef. The Mirage is also home to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, which houses several white lions, tigers and frolicsome dolphins.

You don’t have to be a gambler to put good money on kids loving a hotel with a rollercoaster. New York-New York’s hits 67mph (108kph) and features a 203ft (62m) drop. It’s also got a virtual reality experience that whisks users out of Sin City into a research facility, where aliens are on the loose. This fun-at-every-turn hotel also has a neon-lit arcade with the latest video games and some classics, too.

While most come for the casino, the South Point has plenty to keep kids entertained. The 64-lane bowling alley and the lagoon-style pool are ideal energy-burners. There’s also a 16-screen movie theater showing new releases and classics. Parents who want to experience the more adult side of Las Vegas, without the hassle of hitting the Strip, can explore the casino pit, where traditional table games await.

Built in 1946, the Golden Nugget is one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas. Kids will care little for its history but will almost certainly love its swimming pool. The Tank, as it’s known, includes a three-story waterslide that powers through a shark aquarium and ends in the main pool. For parents, there’s a just-for-adults area called the Hideout. Here, you’ll find an infinity pool, cabanas and a bar.

Sitting at the south end of the Strip, Mandalay Bay Resort is part hotel, part conservation center. Its watery core is the Shark Reef Aquarium, home to 2,000 marine animals including sea turtles, piranhas and, yes, sharks. It also has a motion-platform VR theater. Strap on a headset, and swim behind a humpback whale in Tonga, or dive with a 15-foot (4.6m) tiger shark in the Bahamas. If you’re happy to return to the water, there’s an extensive pool complex with looming palms and a lazy river.

It wouldn’t be a family vacation in Las Vegas without an exotic animal taking center stage. And, at this Vegas institution, it is, of course, the flamingos that grab the spotlight. The hotel has a flock of Chilean flamingos in a wildlife habitat, which is also inhabited by two rescued brown pelicans, as well as several koi fish and turtles. Elsewhere, the kid-friendly Beach Club Pool has waterslides and plenty of space to splash around in without annoying your fellow guests.

In a city of epic pools, the MGM Grand’s offering is, perhaps, the best for children. Spanning 6.5 acres (2.6ha), the Grand Pool Complex features plummeting waterfalls, three whirlpools, four swimming pools and a lazy river. In-house entertainment is also kid-friendly – the Cirque du Soleil is an obvious highlight, and children over five are allowed to attend. There’s also a Hunger Games exhibition with set recreations and film props.

Based at the north end of the Strip, Grand Vacation Suites is about as family-friendly as it gets in Las Vegas. It sits in a quieter part of town, plus there’s no gaming and no smoking. Rooms can be self-catered – ideal for a family on a budget. It has a basketball court, tennis courts and two swimming pools. If you do fancy an evening of blackjack, the nearest gambling establishment is a 10-minute walk away.

Rising high above the Strip, the gold-glass Trump International Hotel might just have the best views in Las Vegas. These can be enjoyed from the luxury rooms, which feature huge floor-to-ceiling windows. This non-gaming, non-smoking hotel is far enough from the neon lights to make children feel safe, but not so far that you feel out of the action. Its spa offers specialized menus for little ones and teens, and there’s access to next-gen gaming consoles.