On the way to our Disney World vacation, we made a two-night stop in Las Vegas. It was so much fun, that we decided to add two more nights on the way back from Orlando. This was my first time staying at Luxor. I have to confess, that I've never been a fan of Luxor. I'm not a huge gambler, but what little I've played at Luxor, has been a straight losing streak. I also don't think much of their dining options. However, the price was right, and it seemed like a cool hotel to take the kids. I mean, who wouldn't want to sleep in a giant pyramid? The Sphinx at the entrance makes a huge impression.
The theming was a hit with the kids. They were wide-eyed as we arrived and awe-struck for the entire stay. I've stayed at a majority of the hotel in Vegas, and although Luxor isn't the fanciest, it's a hotel that I'd consider for future visits.
We had a standard room for the first visit, but on the way back we were upgraded to a room with a jacuzzi tub. Zoe and Felix loved the massive tub. It's like a private swimming pool, especially for small kids! Our room had a sitting area that was off to the side, not quite a separate room, but it was designed in a way that gave us plenty of extra space. Here are pictures of the second, larger room.
Since this was a vacation with the kids, we did zero gambling. It was fairly easy to navigate the family friendly areas of Luxor and avoid the casino. The food options were somewhat limited. We ate over-priced pizza in the food court and even more shockingly over-priced snacks at Starbucks. The prices at the Starbucks in the Vegas casinos is far higher than regular Starbucks. Every Vegas trip, we can't believe the Starbucks sticker-shock. The kids liked the buffet at Luxor, where we dined twice. This is probably my least favorite buffet in Vegas, but it had kid friendly items. It's always easiest when the whole family can pick exactly what they want to eat. No food drama.
Here are pictures of the hotel, including the lobby area. I should also mention that due to the shape of the hotel, the elevators move slightly sideways. It's a strange sensation, that was also a huge hit with the kids.
Above all, our primary reason for visiting Vegas was to have some pool time.
The pool at Luxor isn't the best in Vegas, but it's very good. It's missing a lazy river: which is the mark of a superior pool experience. What really made our pool time special, is we splurged on a cabana.
To make the most of our cabana time, we arrived when the pool opened and stayed until closing. We would never have been able to spend so much time outside in the summer heat without a cabana. We relied on having our private spot of shade with misters to keep us cool and sunburn free.
The Luxor cabanas come with four lounge chairs and a large sofa. They have storage lockers, a stocked refrigerator, and a television. We were given a small basket with snacks, like cookies and chips, but we definitely ordered plenty of food and drinks too.
The cabana rental came with a semi-private pool: a pool dedicated just to people renting cabanas. There were several other families renting cabana's and the experience on both days of our rental, were completely family friendly. We were even given access to pool toys and the grass area behind the cabanas had a giant Jenga and corn-hole set. Unlike the main pool, the cabana pool wasn't crowded at all.
Compare the cabana pool crowds to a walk-way to the main pool. The cabana certainly wasn't inexpensive, but it was a great experience.
Hands down, the best part of our cabana experience was our cabana attendant: Gina. Our family loved Gina. We loved her so much, that when we returned from Orlando, we switched to a less desirable cabana location, just to be in Gina's section. She was the best.
Definitely splurge on the cabana: it's worth every penny. Make sure to insist on Gina's section! Here are a few final pictures of Luxor as viewed from the pool complex. Luxor isn't the most luxurious hotel in Vegas, but it's certainly a solid mid-range hotel with a fun theme. It's perfect for a family trip.
