If you’re traveling to Las Vegas, chances are you want to be right in the center of the action. But if you’re going with kids, maybe having to walk through a casino to get to your room isn’t ideal. That’s where the Vdara Hotel & Spa comes in! Smack in the middle of the Vegas Strip, but set back just far enough to be a relaxing retreat. Add big rooms with kitchenettes to the mix and you’ve got an ideal Las Vegas family hotel.
Las Vegas Family Hotel Review: Vdara Resort and Spa
The Vdara Hotel and Spa is an all-suite hotel with luxurious amenities, a killer location, and an upscale vibe for guests who love the excitement of Las Vegas but prefer to stay in a non-gaming, smoke-free environment.
Located right on the world-famous Vegas Strip, between The Bellagio and ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara is just steps away from shopping, casinos and gourmet restaurants. This Las Vegas family hotel is located at the City Center, Las Vegas’ newest collection of luxury hotels, shopping, fine dining and entertainment. A convenient free tram links the Bellagio, Vdara, ARIA and Monte Carlo resorts.
The Vdara offers contemporary interior spaces with modern hotel amenities, a rooftop pool and spa. If you are traveling to Las Vegas with kids, the Vdara is a nice option for staying center Strip while still having lots of extra space to spread out in your room (and maybe do a little cooking, too!).
WHAT WORKS FOR FAMILIES
- Spacious rooms
- Big windows with great views on the upper floors
- All suites come with kitchens
- Media hub for Mp3 players, cameras, DVD players, and game consoles
- 42-inch flat-screen TVs
- No onsite casino (aka no smoke, no drunk people, less foot traffic in the lobby)
- Easy access to the Las Vegas Strip
- Free tram to The Bellagio, ARIA and Monte Carlo
WHAT DOESN’T WORK FOR FAMILIES
- Hefty resort fee
- Parking fee
- No dishes, utensils or cookware in the kitchen (HUH?)
- Upscale atmosphere is not the most kid-friendly
THE HOTEL
The Vdara doesn’t have a casino, but it does have a superb location in the middle of the Strip, making it easy to walk to neighboring casinos, or take the free tram. Downstairs is a small bar and lounge with nice outside patio, a Starbucks, and the Vdara Market Cafe. A full service spa offers the usual array of spa treatments in a very relaxing atmosphere.
I made my reservation for the Vdara online with Vacatia, which specializes in resort residences. These types of accommodations are perfect for families, because they offer all the conveniences of home with the services of a hotel. The great thing about Vacatia is you can view not only photos of all the properties you’re considering, but floor plans too! It is great to be able to see sleeping arrangements and layout before you book.
If you are a Hyatt rewards member, note that the Vdara – along with all other resorts in Las Vegas’ MLife family of hotels – will allow you to use your Hyatt loyalty card to earn or redeem points. So even though I booked my stay via Vacatia, I was still able to earn points on my resort fee, spa and room charges. Bonus!
THE ROOMS
The Vdara is over 50 stories tall and offers studio, one and two bedroom suites. Guest suites have open floor plans with big bathrooms and basic kitchen areas.
I stayed in a studio suite, which had a king bed and separate living area. A large window on my 50th floor location offered supreme views of the Las Vegas Strip and Bellagio fountains.
The suite had a living room area that was separated from the bedroom by a desk and television. The kitchen had a small dining table with two chairs, a mini-fridge with two bottles of water, a small cooktop, a sink and a microwave. So while it wasn’t huge, it was ample for heating up leftovers and storing a few breakfast items to save money on eating out.
I visited solo and had a suite to myself, actually making me wish my family was with me (that never happens in Vegas!) so we could take full advantage of the resort’s spaciousness and amenities. When my son is with me, we like to make microwave popcorn and watch movies in the room, so the microwave oven is a great amenity for families!
TravelingMom Tip: Request a room on an upper floor. You’ll be rewarded with an excellent view! If your windows face north, you’ll have an incredible birds-eye view of the Bellagio fountains. You can’t hear the music, unfortunately, but the water show is spectacular with or without sound.
DINING
If there is one thing that the Vdara is lacking, it is dining options. But this is Vegas, so you’re never more than a short walk away from world-class restaurants, all-you-can-eat buffets and inexpensive food courts. The resort is adjacent to the Bellagio, which has no shortage of dining options, everything from fancy restaurants overlooking the fountains, to an upscale café overlooking the garden, to snack bars and a buffet.
The Vdara features a rooftop pool. Snacks and cocktails are served at the poolside bar (open seasonally). While there is no buffet or exclusive restaurant onsite, the resort has the Market Café for casual dining and Vice Versa at Vdara serves coffee and cocktails. It also has a reasonably priced room service menu, though I didn’t get a chance to try it!
And of course, you have a kitchen in your room. This is great for breakfast and snacks, keeping sodas and milk for your coffee. If you’re staying a while, it’s always nice not to have to eat out three meals a day. And as a health-conscious mom, I love being able to stock the fridge with fresh fruit, yogurt and water bottles.
HEALTHY TIP FOR THIS LAS VEGAS FAMILY HOTEL
Enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie at the Vdara’s smoothie bar, located at ESPA.
Digital Detox on a Family Vacation in Aruba
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