Is Las Vegas a family-friendly destination? While I believe there are better vacation choices for families, there are plenty of reasons families find themselves here, from conventions to shows to sport tournaments. And when you do go, you’ll need a family-friendly Vegas hotel.
We just returned from Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau, and let me tell you: we’ll never stay anywhere else in Vegas. This non-gaming, non-smoking hotel right in the heart of the action felt like an oasis for our family, with a quiet ambiance, high-end decor, and excellent customer service. Even better, the value is unparalleled.
What you get when you stay at Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau:
- a family-friendly suite, with real rooms (not just ‘areas’) and a full kitchen
- complimentary valet parking
- free wifi
- two outdoor pools and hot tubs
- the best exercise facility I’ve seen in a hotel in a long time
We stayed in a two-bedroom suite, which could have slept 8. We had two complete bedrooms and two bathrooms (one of which had a jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower, the other of which had a walk-in shower). Our living space (in a third room) consisted of a living/sitting area with couch, a full dining room table, and a full kitchen, with oven, stovetop, dishwasher, and all kitchenware needed. There was nothing we were lacking; we had pots and pans, dishes, plates, silverware, utensils, bottle openers…even a tiny salt and pepper shaker.
Every unit at Grand Chateau includes a full washer and dryer (yay!) and free wifi connection. Parking is free and very convenient.
We were one block from the South Strip, which meant we were a five minute walk from the pedestrian paths up and down the Strip and a 10-minute walk to New York New York and the Aria. The Miracle Mile shops (with good fast food options) are a two minute walk away, at best.
Hotel amenities:
Upon check-in, families receive a full page of activities scheduled during their stay. Buckle up…there’s a lot on there, from arts and crafts to tequila tasting. In addition, there are two pool complexes at Grand Chateau. The first is on level 5, with a larger outdoor pool, lounge areas, hot tubs, and a bar and grill open during daytime hours. The second pool is on the rooftop, adjacent to Sky Bar 38. This pool is also kid-friendly, and there’s an additional hot tub here. Both have towels and changing rooms on-hand. Even if you don’t grab a cocktail at the bar, take a peek at the amazing views of the Strip!
The exercise facility is located on level 1, and is the largest I’ve seen in a long while. You have the full range of cardio equipment here, as well as extensive weight training and stretching areas. I worked out during the ever-popular 7 am-8 am time period, and had no trouble getting the machines I needed.
The valet parking is located right out front, of course, and there are ample valets on-hand to take your car immediately. Getting your car out is easy too: just hang onto your slip and have the valet desk scan it. We never waited more than five minutes for our car (and we visited during the busy Valentine’s Day weekend). We tipped our valets daily, but parking is complimentary.
Dining at Grand Chateau:
Grand Chateau does not offer a full restaurant. Rather, you’ll find a lobby bar, Sky Bar 38, and the Pool Bar and Grill. There’s a marketplace with convenience foods, which also serves as a coffee bar in the morning and has treats and ice cream available any time. We utilized this amenity quite a bit. If you plan to prepare most your meals in your kitchen (by far the most economical way to visit Vegas with kids), stop en route at a grocery store and stock up. However, we easily grabbed a carton of milk and a box of cereal, plus snacks and drinks, at the Marketplace.
From the hotel, the Miracle Mile shops are directly across the street, where you’ll find plenty of healthy fast food options, like Chipotle and Earl of Sandwich.
Room rates:
You’ll probably be surprised at how affordable full suites for your family can be at Grand Chateau. While this hotel is a Marriott Vacation Club, you don’t have to be a member to stay here. At the time of our visit, our two-bedroom unit was listed at just over $200/night. Single room units were well below this. Check for current rates.
Overall, it’s hard to define the worth of being able to step inside your Vegas hotel lobby and not be accosted by the smell of lingering cigarette smoke or hear the buzz and clang of gaming machines. To me and my family, this is priceless. Of course, gaming can be found within easy walking distance of the hotel, but you’ll be isolated from it once ‘home’. We valued this ‘amenity’ above all else, and we’ll be back!
For another hotel pick that may fit your family, check out our review of Desert Club Resort.
As we disclose whenever applicable, we stayed at Grand Chateau as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own. After three Marriott Vacation Club location reviews to date, we were not surprised to love Grand Chateau!
