Tag: hotels

Going up? On the Las Vegas Strip, Sometimes You Have No Choice!

Can you say “elevators”?

Stroller-Friendly: No
Access to Family Amenities: Limited
Overall Child-Friendly: No
Time Spent: 6-8 hours

I’m not sure what I was expecting the first time our family set foot on the Las Vegas Strip, but one thing that didn’t come to mind was the elevators. The Strip is a multi-level affair, and it’s quite a trek, from one end to the other. During our family trip in May of 2023, we enjoyed taking in the vibrant mix of sights and sounds. But families traveling to Las Vegas with a baby, be warned: this won’t be a simple walk down the street. For that reason, I’m ranking the Strip toward the bottom of my ranking of baby-friendly spots in Las Vegas, at #13.

The best advice I can offer is to prepare, both mentally and physically, and know that it’s easy to wear yourself out in the heat. If you’re planning to pump and/or bottle feed along the way, be sure to choose a resort with a refrigerator and freezer, so you can pack baby’s milk on ice. And you will, of course, need some sort of portable pumping set up, like the Medela Pump in Style. My insurance covered this one, but I’m also curious about wearable breast pumps, like the Elvie or Willow Go.

Once you get on your way, hopping into resorts and restaurants is the best way to keep cool, and it’s likely what you already had planned. One helpful feature: Many of the resorts are connected indoors. In these cases, there’s no need to leave the air-conditioning at all.

But when you do need to venture out, be prepared for a bit of disorientation. Beyond the heat and the copious ups and downs, the route via elevator can become circuitous and confusing compared with the straightforward footpath. Keep an eye out for signs along the way. It’s clear that there are ways to minimize the number of elevator trips and street crossings, but even as a planning aficionado, I didn’t manage to solve this puzzle in advance.

It’s also difficult to choose between using a stroller and baby-wearing, as both involve pros and cons. Baby-wearing comes with the benefit of skipping the elevators and using the stairs. After nearly getting stuck in an old elevator in Paris, I’m not the world’s biggest elevator fan, so I can see the appeal of this option. The elevators along the strip are also far from clean and fresh.

That said, baby-wearing can become tiring very quickly. We ultimately opted to use our Evenflo Pivot Xpand Stroller. This helped prevent exhaustion and provided much-needed storage space underneath for my breastfeeding gear and our diaper bag. Our 10-month-old daughter was also free to doze uninterrupted by our movements when she needed a nap during long days of exploration.

Looking back, though, I do wish we had tried a hybrid option, alternating between our Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Carrier and our stroller. Carrying a stroller up and down stairs isn’t exactly fun, but it’s more doable when baby isn’t inside.

Despite the indirect route, we were eventually able to access all the spots we set out to visit. The Strip certainly isn’t impossible for families with babies. It just takes a little extra footwork, navigation prowess, and energy. 

Paris Las Vegas: A Dreamy Excursion, Until You Need a Place to Pump

Thank goodness for purse hooks…

Family Restrooms: Unsure
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: Unsure
Stroller-Friendly: Somewhat
Overall Child-Friendly: Somewhat
Time Spent: 2-3 hours

Picture a pair of wide-open shutters looking out on winding, cobblestone streets. In the distance, you see cafes and famous wonders like the Moulin Rouge, the Sacre Coeur, and the Chat Noir. Ok, well, that’s actually a memory of Montmartre with my husband, years before our 10-month-old daughter was born. But our visit to Paris Las Vegas last May really did conjure that amazing adventure from six years prior. To me, it felt like Disney meets Paris: a combination of two mismatched destinations that I love.

It’s also a combination that creates a fairly family-friendly environment outside the casino floor. The downside? We had trouble locating family-friendly amenities, like a public lactation space or family restroom. For this reason, it ranks at #11 in my ranking of baby-friendly locations in Las Vegas. 

Our family of three passed through Paris Las Vegas before joining my extended family for dinner at Alexxa’s, located within the resort. This kept us there for a while. In order to follow my pumping schedule, I resorted to a tactic that I’ve reluctantly used only when necessary: pumping in a bathroom stall. We couldn’t find a private place for me to pump, and I wasn’t yet brave enough to pump along the restroom sinks.

Just a day or two later, I gave the sink method a try. Although it wasn’t very private or easy to keep my nursing cover in place, this tactic felt more comfortable and sanitary. Looking back, I wish I had avoided more bathroom stalls and pumped at the sinks instead.

At Paris, pumping in a stall felt like my best option. When we returned from our trip, I did reach out to inquire about any family restrooms we may have missed. So far, I haven’t heard back. However, my inquiries to other resorts have yielded surprising results. There are family restrooms we failed to find in several locations, and Paris Las Vegas could be one of these spots. If there is one, though, it wasn’t easy for us to find.

As far as the bathroom stalls go, the ones at Paris Las Vegas weren’t the worst I’ve encountered. There was much more elbow room than usual, and, importantly, there was a flat toilet paper dispenser and a purse hook. If you find yourself pumping in a stall, for whatever reason, these details make all the difference. I’ve used the flat dispensers as a spot to set up my portable, Medela Pump in Style pump. It’s also a great spot to set your phone, as you track the time or watch the latest series you’re binging (for me, it was a rewatch of The Magicians). The purse hook is where you’ll hang your pumping bag, providing a hands-free way to carefully sift through supplies without dropping anything on the dirty bathroom floor. 

This was the view we encountered outside the small “patisserie” where we stopped for pastries, a bottle of water, and a chance to give our daughter her bottle.

I hope I’ve made it clear that stall pumping isn’t my favorite, but at Paris Las Vegas, I was able to accomplish the task without too much fuss. Twenty minutes later, I changed our daughter’s diaper in a different restroom near the lobby. Not all the restrooms have changing tables, but we didn’t have too much trouble tracking one down.

I’m curious whether Paris Las Vegas has aligned with a relatively new law in Nevada that requires new buildings to have at least one changing table accessible to men and women. There are exceptions, and Paris Las Vegas opened its doors long before the law passed. But I’m encouraged to see Nevada moving in this direction. The changing table we located at Paris was in the women’s restroom, but we didn’t check all the restrooms on site. If anyone tracks down a changing table in a men’s restroom there, please feel free to reach out and let me know. Overall, I hope to see more changes across the Strip to help families access lactation spaces and family restrooms.

At Alexxa’s, we were a bit nervous about setting our stroller aside in the lobby during dinner, but there was no way it would fit near the table. In the end, the arrangement worked out fine. There weren’t many vegetarian options to choose from on the menu, but the appetizers were delicious, and the view from our patio table was spectacular. Our daughter slowly worked on a bottle as we ate and chatted. Throughout the trip, she took most of her bottles on the go in her stroller or with us at restaurants, alongside the solid food we prepared at our hotel, the Desert Rose. 

All in all, I wish I could rank Paris Las Vegas higher, because I enjoyed our time there. It was one of my favorite stops. But my ranking is focused on amenities for families and babies, and the overall experience is just one factor. In this case, the lack of adequate pumping space created significant hassle and discomfort. If you’re making a tour of the Strip, I would definitely recommend stopping at Paris Las Vegas. Just be prepared, or face the dreaded stall.

The Cosmopolitan: Exciting Vibe? Yes! Baby-Friendly? No.

Context is everything.

Family Restrooms: Yes
Diaper Changing Stations: Yes
Lactation Space: No
Stroller-Friendly: Somewhat
Overall Child-Friendly: No
Time Spent: 1-2 hours

My candid review of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas can only begin with a telling argument between my husband and me. He hated the fact that we were crowded into a tiny casino restroom, caring for our 10-month-old baby in a space much more well-suited to nightlife. I did too. But was I grateful, in the moment, that we found a private space at all.

As it turns out, had we looked a bit harder, we would have found a space much more suitable: a family restroom. Our search, during a family trip we took in May of 2023, turned up several gender-neutral restrooms, and we finally opted to use one of these as a private spot to pump. My husband came in with me to offer a second pair of hands, which helps as a strategy to keep things as sanitary as possible.

When we returned from our trip, I made a follow-up inquiry with the MGM Hotel Group, which includes the Cosmopolitan. I learned that there is at least one family restroom with a diaper-changing station on site. I reached out to ask about the location, but I haven’t heard back. If I do, I’ll be sure to update this post. In the meantime, if anyone finds it, please feel free to reach out.

In my post-travel research overall, I’ve learned that many places we visited had more family amenities than we realized. Surely, user error played a role in our failure to locate them. But I think it’s also important to consider findability, especially since some amenities were clearly labeled and convenient. For that reason, along with overall tone, I’ve ranked the Cosmopolitan toward the bottom of my ranking of baby-friendly attractions in Las Vegas, at #12.

Now is a great time for a reminder that this review of the Cosmopolitan is based primarily on our experience there with our 10-month-old daughter. Which is to say, an experience that doesn’t capture the resort’s main audience. We made it work, but I wouldn’t recommend the Cosmopolitan for pumping or breastfeeding in private. There is no public lactation space on site. The family restroom might be an ok spot to pump, but it’s hard for me to say without seeing inside. It would be great to see more lactation spaces all along the Strip, as well as more guidance to help families locate the existing amenities.

If you are planning to pump on the go, at the Cosmopolitan or otherwise, you’ll need the right equipment. I picked the Medela Pump in Style breast pump specifically because it comes with a battery pack, tote bag, and mini-cooler, making it portable and perfect for travel. There was no need to find an outlet, as long as I kept my pump charged. My insurance doesn’t cover any wearable breast pumps, like the Elvie or Willow Go, but I’m very curious about them. If they’re effective, they certainly would have made a huge difference on our trip.

Our family travels with the Medela Pump in Style breast pump, the tote bag and mini-cooler it comes with, and a backpack-style diaper bag, among other necessary supplies.

As for moving through the Cosmopolitan with a stroller, we encountered many ups and downs, literally. We took our Evenflo Pivot Xpand Stroller with us throughout our trip, and I’m glad we did. We were able to easily transfer our daughter from rental car to stroller, and the storage space at the bottom was indispensable, considering all the pumping supplies I was carrying. The downside was the number of elevators. At the Cosmopolitan, we zigged and zagged, searching for appropriate restrooms and elevators to get us where we needed to be.

The Cosmopolitan does look like an exciting place to stay with friends, or as a couple. It advertises itself as a luxury resort, and the advertising isn’t wrong. I enjoyed the quirky, colorful vibe. We encountered lots of edgy, Alice-in-Wonderland-esque decor and plenty of modern, pink elements, all of which align with my personal aesthetic. This stop also came with a fun mystery: the hunt for Secret Pizza, a hidden restaurant that offers a variety of large, cheesy slices. We found it, and the pizza was delicious.

That said, it was obvious from the get-go that this resort’s draw wasn’t its baby-friendliness. My best advice is to move through quickly, or plan to visit while baby is with a sitter. In our case, we celebrated the gender-neutral restroom and our well-sleuthed pizza, and then we moved along to the next stop. 

Looking for a Family-Friendly Vegas Resort? Try The Desert Rose!

This low-key home away from home checked all our boxes

Fridge and Freezer: Yes
Stroller-Friendly: Yes
Overall Child-Friendly: Yes
Time Spent: 5 nights

When you envision a trip to Las Vegas, several famous hotels might come to mind. The Desert Rose Resort, located near MGM Grand, probably isn’t one of them. This unassuming option might not be famous or fancy, but it did cover our most important f-words: family and friendly! Our family of three stayed there with our 10-month-old daughter on a trip with extended family in May of 2023. For us, the Desert Rose was affordable on a budget, and it offered amenities that accommodated our unique needs with a baby in Las Vegas. For that reason, I’m listing it at #4 in my ranking of baby-friendly attractions in Las Vegas.

In Vegas, it’s tricky to find a hotel that accommodates families who pump to keep baby fed. For us, the most elusive amenity was a full-size refrigerator with a freezer. My husband and I searched high and low, and our options were limited. But the freezer wasn’t optional. We needed it to re-freeze our icepack, so we could carry breastmilk at a safe temperature throughout our trip. In the future, it would be great to see more hotels providing this essential amenity for pumping families. During our trip, the Desert Rose Resort was the solution, with the freezer we needed and several other helpful features.

For starters, parking was very simple. There was no fee when we visited in May of 2023, and there were always plenty of spots near the walkway to our room. From there, we found that our suite was clean and pleasant. The layout was like a small apartment: both practical and comfortable. The fridge and freezer were located in a full kitchen, which made it relatively easy to keep our daughter fed. We stuck our Medela ice pack in the freezer daily, so we could explore with multiple bottles on hand at a time.

I used my Medela Pump in Style breast pump throughout our trip to Las Vegas. The battery pack and travel accessories came in handy countless times on our trip.

Back at the hotel, we used the stove and dishes that were provided to prepare additional meals, since our daughter was well into her journey exploring a limited selection of solid foods. “Messy” and “picky” are two very apt keywords to describe this journey. For that reason, we appreciated the flexibility to cook meals we knew she would like, and we especially appreciated the dishwasher when clean-up time came around. Beyond the kitchen, we made use of the small dining table, couch, end table, and coffee table, where I set up my pumping station. 

One of our favorite features at the Desert Rose was the family-friendly pool. Our daughter took her first “swim” there, and I enjoyed the hot tub. We also enjoyed our quiet, poolside breakfasts on site. The same waiter helped us throughout our stay and always made sure my breakfast burrito had no meat. 

The bottom line: Compared with other resorts, the Desert Rose has less of the flashy, Vegas appeal that you might expect. But if you can let that go, it’s the perfect refuge for families with young children after a busy day navigating the Strip. 

How Las Vegas Taught Our Family to “Go Anyway”

“What happens in Vegas…? No really, I’m actually asking. I’m traveling with a baby, and I have no idea what to expect.”

If this sounds like you, read on!

Ten months into my first ecstatic and terrifying year as a parent, breast pumps in hand, I found myself tucked away in a Las Vegas casino restroom. Reflected in the long row of mirrors in front of me, a cluster of pink-feathered showgirls touched up their makeup and fixed their costumes, unaware or unconcerned as I stood off to the side, catching snippets of conversation. With only their gossip to distract me, I did my best to keep my nursing cover in place and watched the minutes tick by. I had pumped in a lot of strange places, but the casino was (fittingly) a new winner.

Fast forward several months, and you’ll find me here at my keyboard, equipped with a wealth of information about making do when family-friendly amenities and breastfeeding accommodations are hard to find. Throughout my first year of motherhood, I pumped at casinos, airports, parks, and restaurants in Nevada, Missouri, Nebraska, Florida, Minnesota, and across my home state of Iowa. I deeply immersed myself in the pros and cons of traveling while breastfeeding, traveling while pumping, and, eventually, traveling while keeping a toddler safe and fed.

Before my daughter was born, I also racked up several years’ experience navigating safe travel during infertility treatment — and a global pandemic. Moving forward, the learning will only continue. My husband and I are busy planning new trips, even as we dive back into IVF and care for our energetic toddler.

Now, I’m ready to share the mistakes I’ve made, the strategies I’ve learned so far, and even a few things I’ve gotten right. I’m hoping others can benefit from the philosophy my husband and I developed over the years: Go anyway. Take the trip you’re on the fence about, even if you aren’t sure yet how you’ll breastfeed at the airport or pump on the road.

Go anyway, even if there’s another IVF cycle on the horizon. For me, it’s almost always worth it. With some careful balancing and planning, I’ve always found the solutions I need to successfully combine travel, parenting, and infertility treatment, even if those solutions weren’t obvious at the outset. While I certainly don’t mean to imply that travel is easy or accessible for everyone, I do hope this blog can chip away at a few, small barriers and help families become more confident and informed.

And Las Vegas feels like the best place to start. This trip put our “go anyway” outlook to the test. I found myself repeatedly vexed as I searched for public lactation spaces, family restrooms, diaper changing stations, and stroller routes that wouldn’t require half a dozen elevators. So. Many. Elevators.

Then, when I returned, I was vexed to learn how many amenities we actually missed as we ventured down the Las Vegas Strip. Although I spent weeks planning and checking maps beforehand, there were still several family restrooms and changing stations that eluded us along the way. This trip challenged my stubborn belief that enough advanced planning can quell the unexpected. But it also affirmed the notion that having a plan is worth it, as long as you’re able to adapt.

Red Rock Canyon State Park was one of my favorite stops on our family trip to Las Vegas.

In the end, I was able to identify three, key elements that helped us along the way: choosing the right hotel, planning an itinerary with relatively family-friendly stops, and exploring destinations beyond the Las Vegas Strip. What would I do differently? I would do much more thinking on my feet and ask for help more often.

So, if you’re looking for the TL;DR on Vegas with a baby, the takeaways are as follows:

  • Choose the right hotel. One with a family-friendly vibe and a refrigerator-freezer combo for storing breastmilk and re-freezing your icepack (which you’ll need in the heat).
  • Think ahead about where you’ll pause to breastfeed and/or pump, and create a flexible plan that involves at least one pit stop back at home base.
  • Venture off the Strip to see the mountains and desert. For us, these stops were the most family-friendly and enjoyable.
  • Think on your feet. Don’t assume an amenity isn’t there just because it’s hard to find, or it didn’t pop up in your research. It isn’t always easy to find someone who can help, but asking might be worth it.

When it comes to locating amenities, it’s also worth noting that Nevada passed a law in 2017 requiring most new buildings to be equipped with one or more diaper-changing stations in restrooms for men and women. I’m not sure how much this impacts the casinos along the Strip, since it focuses on new construction and has some exceptions. But it’s an encouraging sign. Overall, I would love to see Las Vegas and Nevada embracing more changes like this: More public lactation spaces, more family restrooms, and more guidance to help traveling parents find both.

As things stand now, this post covers the basics, as I see them. But if you’re looking for more details, I’ve got you covered! Below, you’ll find my ranked list of attractions, including our favorites, like Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon State Park, and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart.

In these posts, I’ve done my best to review the highs and lows when it comes to baby-friendliness, taking into account the missing amenities we discovered after the fact. I cover pumping, breastfeeding, changing diapers, getting around with a stroller, and, of course, having fun together as a family. I was exclusively pumping for my daughter during this trip, so my research leans in that direction, but I’ve done my best to provide a broad range of helpful information. So, here we go:

  1. Hoover Dam
  2. Red Rock Canyon State Park
  3. Meow Wolf
  4. Desert Rose Resort
  5. Mandalay Bay
  6. Tacotarian Restaurant
  7. The Shops at Crystals
  8. Harry Reid International Airport
  9. New York-New York
  10. Luxor
  11. Paris Las Vegas
  12. The Cosmopolitan
  13. The Strip
  14. Fremont Street