Excalibur Hotel & Casino

The family-friendly, medieval-themed Excalibur Hotel and Casino is a fortress-shaped hotel-casino on the southern end of the Strip. Vegas may be best known as a sexy, sinful, adults-only playground, but it can also be a place for family fun, and the Excalibur epitomizes this hybrid. It is definitely one of the kid-friendlier options on the Strip, and the 3,981-room hotel is a bit cheesy, with architecture that is themed to the max. The arches over the cabstand are outfitted with mock wooden portcullises, while suits of armor, stained-glass windows, and medieval-style chandeliers adorn the entrances. Signboards proclaim, "Welcome to Excalibur. You Rule." (The hotel shows some restraint in staff uniforms, however; staffers dress in sports coats and ties, not medieval garb.)
The castle motif tends to be a hit with children, who can be seen bustling around the casino floor and the mezzanine-level food court. At the pool, parents tend to their water-wing-clad children in the shallow end, and kids flock to the waterslide. A healthy contingent of young adults stay at the Excalibur, too, drawn by its affordable rates -- some of the most competitive on the Strip. The entertainment offerings illustrate the hotel's split clientele; families might enjoy the Arthurian-themed dinner show, while bachelorette parties can hit up Thunder Down Under, known for its scantily clad male dancers.
The Excalibur is typically a more affordable alternative to other themed Las Vegas properties like the New York-New York Hotel and Casino and Luxor Las Vegas. Travelers may find it’s worth paying more for the contemporary and upscale Mirage Hotel and Casino or well-loved Roman-themed Caesar’s Palace.

Most Las Vegas visitors want to explore all of the big properties along the densely packed stretch of hotel-casinos known as the Strip, and the Excalibur sits at the southern end. An indoor walkway and a tram connect guests to the pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel and Casino, where an enormous atrium houses a variety of solid restaurants. Across Tropicana Avenue, New York-New York Hotel and Casino features its own roller coaster, and the nearby MGM Grand Hotel and Casino has an enormous casino. Cabs are easy to find at virtually any time of day or night; travelers can also hop on the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the strip 24 /7. There's also a monorail system, which stops at Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, Harrah's Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, and the SLS Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Virtually every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is a 10- to 15-minute cab ride from McCarran International Airport.

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino features a whopping 3,981 rooms, all with either one king-size or two queen-size beds (some rooms also include a pull-out bed). Decor varies a bit from room to room, with differing color schemes but more or less the same generic vibe. Most have patterned carpeting, beige or blue-gray walls (or both), wooden desks and dressers topped by 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, and white bedding with blue or multicolored patterned throw cushions. A variety of accessible rooms are available, some with roll-in showers.
There are also four types of suites, the largest of which -- the Royal Two-Bedroom Luxury Suite -- features a very small range of extras such as a tiny wet bar and a deep soaking tub, though not a whirlpool one. Parents with kids tend to like staying in the Resort Tower, which means a direct walk to the pool, versus having to trek through the casino each time.
Bathrooms are also on the outdated side, with older-looking tiles on the floors and in the showers. All rooms are air-conditioned and have desks, safes, and irons with ironing boards. Like many Las Vegas properties, rooms lack coffeemakers and fridges. Bathrooms have glass-enclosed walk-in showers, low-voltage wall-mounted hairdryers, and toiletries.

Along with a number of bars, there are a host of dining options to suit all budgets and cuisine preferences. The most upscale restaurant is Camelot Steakhouse for beef and seafood. Other options include Buca di Beppo, a family-friendly Italian restaurant, and a 24-hour branch of Tex-Mex fast-food chain Baja Fresh. The fun Dick's Last Resort is also located here, as is a food court for casual fare such as a hybrid Orange Julius/Dairy Queen, and the burger joint Johnny Rockets. In true Vegas style, the Excalibur hotel buffet has a large spread, including made-to-order crepes and eggs Benedict, as well as lunch and dinner fare.
Room service is also available, but during limited hours. All-day passes are sold for the buffet and allow guests to come and go as they please for meals.

It wouldn’t be Vegas stay without a casino in the hotel, and Excalibur’s is massive at 96,656 square feet of space. It offers quite a bit to keep those trying their luck occupied. It has 62 casino gaming tables, 1,200 casino slot machines, and a VIP room for high-rollers. The casino floor isn’t off-limits to kids like the fitness center or spa, and little ones can be spotted taking in the castle-themed decor while their parents play.

Access to the four Excalibur hotel pools is included in the resort fee that's tacked on to all reservations -- and at 30,000 square feet, the pool deck is huge, with plenty of seating for guests. There's an adults-only pool for the 18-plus set that comes at an additional charge (though one that includes cushioned lounge chairs, if available), a spa pool, a pool with a waterslide, and a main pool with regular DJ performances on the weekends in the summer months. Guests can also opt to rent one of 19 cabanas at the pool for the day, which come stocked with refreshments. American food and a full range of drinks are available from the poolside Drenched Bar & Grill, and there are two other poolside bars serving up beer and cocktails. However, those coming for a winter break should keep in mind that the pool area opens in early March and closes in November.

Vegas isn’t just for couples and bachelorette parties: The Excalibur has a reputation as one of the city’s best mid-range family-friendly hotels, and it delivers. There’s the Fun Dungeon, an arcade and game room, and those with babies can take advantage of the free cribs and infant beds offered. Highchairs are also available at the restaurants. However, older teens might be disappointed to learn that they can’t escape to the gym for a workout or to the spa for a massage after full days with the parents -- those facilities are only available for those 18 and up.

Unsurprisingly for a hotel of its size, the Excalibur has plenty of amenities, including a 13,000-square-foot spa with a modern fitness center (the latter of which is included in the resort fee) housing cardio and strength-training equipment. The spa, which overlooks the pool, also features separate saunas for men and women, steam rooms, hot tubs, and treatments ranging from hot stone massages to facials. While access to the fitness center is free, guests must pay a fee to access the spa’s facilities such as the saunas and steam rooms.
Entertainment is a big focus here, with a variety of one-off events and concerts, plus regular Excalibur hotel shows such as Bee Gees tribute performances, Tournament of Kings (an Arthurian-themed dinner show complete with knights in shining armor), and Thunder From Down Under, an Aussie-themed dance and performance show put on by toned, shirtless men.
While it’s definitely not one of the most well-known places on the Strip to get hitched, the property offers a number of wedding options and nine meeting rooms, the largest of which -- the Great Hall -- can fit up to 850 guests. Wi-Fi is included in the resort fee. Self- and valet parking are available for a fee, or they’re free for certain M life Rewards members.