Where to stay in Las Vegas with the kids Kids do the Disk'O at The Adventuredome Theme Park, Circus Circus, in Las Vegas. By Bob Sehlinger, Frommers.com Luxury Las Vegas hotels are more affordable than ever, but some of these classic Vegas hotels are actually better suited for families. Complete with spacious suites, on-site bowling alleys, mini-golf, and kid-friendly pools, check out these affordable family-friendly Vegas hotels both on and off the Strip. Slideshow: Top U.S. resorts with lazy rivers & cool pools Both Excalibur and its North Strip sibling, Circus Circus, were designed with families in mind and feature regularly scheduled free entertainment and large arcades. Circus Circus edges out the Excalibur with its own theme park (including rides for all ages) and miniature golf. For toddlers, Circus Circus offers a midway, clowns, and jugglers. The Excalibur also has jugglers and throws in puppet shows and story times as well. More info: Excalibur (tel. 800/937-7777 or 702/597-7777; www.excalibur.com); Circus Circus (tel. 800/634-3450 or 702/734-0410; www.circuscircus.com) Most family-friendly hotel off the Strip: The Orleans The Orleans has a bowling alley with 70 lanes and an 18-screen movie theater. On-site child care means that parents can easily escape to the spa or for a dip in the pool. A free shuttle to the Las Vegas Strip runs about every 30 minutes. More info: tel. 800/ORLEANS (675-3267) or 702/365-7111; www.orleanscasino.com Best view: Stratosphere Casino, hotel & tower Unless you are on a low floor, at night, you should get a view of something sparkling no matter where you stay. But the view standing on the tower atop the Stratosphere, located at the northernmost end of the Strip, tops them all. 800/998-6937 or 702/380-7777; www.stratospherehotel.com Best suite deals close to the Strip: Carriage House The Carriage House offers plenty of room for families in a nongaming environment a block from the Strip (you'll find this property between the Planet Hollywood and MGM Grand hotels). A full kitchen in each suite also makes eat-in meals an option. And unlike some other Vegas hotels, there's full cable TV with more than 40 channels, along with Nintendo at an hourly rate, plus free board games. 800/221-2301 or 702/798-1020; www.carriagehouselasvegas.com Best pool: The Flamingo You can bob on a lazy river ride or bodysurf the gentle swells in the pools at both the (otherwise not quite kid-friendly) Mandalay Bay or the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, but the best pool scene for kids is at The Flamingo, where five pools, two whirlpools, a kiddie pool and waterslides are set in a tropical environment complete with exotic birds and koi ponds. The Flamingo also has one of the best hotel buffets for families: Kids 7 and under can eat for a discount price at breakfast, brunch and dinner, with a view of birds, habitat and fishponds. More info: Mandalay Bay (tel. 877/632-7800 or 702/632-7777; www.mandalaybay.com); Monte Carlo Resort & Casino (tel. 800/311-8999 or 702/730-7777; www.montecarlo.com); The Flamingo (tel. 800/732-2111 or 702/733-3111; www.flamingolasvegas.com) Most peace & quiet off the Strip Staying in Henderson at the Green Valley Ranch resort will give you plenty of peace and quiet in luxurious surroundings, plus entertaining activities for the children (including an on-site multiplex). There's a casino, but adults can avoid it completely and just play golf or sun by the pool. 866/782-9487 or 702/617-7777; www.greenvalleyranchresort.com