Caesars Palace Las Vegas Is A Fun Choice For Multigenerational Travel

Most multigenerational travel stories feature children, grandparents, and a beachy setting, but this doesn’t. It does, however, feature a middle-aged freelance travel writer who’s spouse- and child-free by choice, and her parents, who wanted to celebrate their 50th anniversary in what some might see as a surprising pick: Las Vegas.

While my folks shunned the idea of a flashy party or asking loved ones to fly in from all over on their behalf, they still wanted to spend this important milestone with me someplace, well, fun. They also requested easy access to reputable dining options, and a spa, too, for some well-deserved relaxation. Since blackjack is one of my dad’s favorite pastimes, on-site world-class gaming was also a must.

Though the city’s hotel market is very competitive, we set our sights on Caesars Palace Las Vegas, the commanding grande dame prominently perched on the Las Vegas Strip. Opened in 1966 by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin to channel the opulence and revelry of the Roman Empire, the classic property stretched across six towers checked all the boxes.

Since our family already spent countless weekends at its sister property Caesars Atlantic City, we knew to expect the same kind of hospitality and amenities—just on a much grander scale. (Note: expect to clock in a lot of steps in if you’re staying here.) From the moment we came upon the main lobby gleaming with spotless marble flooring, a stunning coffered ceiling, and a 15-foot-tall statue of Augustus Caesar, we knew we made the right choice.

Our accommodatons at the Colosseum Tower were just as impressive: my parents were booked in a massive, high-floor Premium Suite decked out with a bold pattern inspired by Cleopatra’s jewelry (carpeting, curtains, pendant lighting), a Roman red pool table, and huge spa-like bathroom; my smaller adjoining room was equally comfortable.

Though our schedules didn’t coincide with a show at the Colosseum Theater—where Adele held her “Weekends with Adele” wildly successful residency—we managed to fit in plenty of relaxation, memorable eats, and perhaps most important: family firsts.

The three of us have visited our fair share of no-frills Korean bathhouses, on separate occasions, but we’d never visited a high-end spa together—until this trip. A 50,000-square-f00t wellness haven with bubbling baths, Laconium (co-ed dry sauna room), and ice rooms, Qua Baths & Spa scheduled us in for simultaneous CBD massages to help alleviate our travel fatigue. And based on the relaxed grins splashed on our faces afterwards: mission accomplished. It was especially heartwarming to have someone pamper my dad, a retired pediatrician who spent nearly forty years caring for others.

The one thing my family priorizes, no matter where in the world we are, is food. (The question I’m most asked when we’re on vacation is, “What time are we eating, and where?”) As Caesars Palace Las Vegas is jam-packed with high-quality options—even its food court Celebrity Food Hall boasts venues by celebrity chefs such as Esther Choi and Rick Bayless—we had no problems filling up our eating schedule.

For our first night’s dinner at Amalfi by Bobby Flay, we feasted on whole branzino—which the knowledgable on-site monger helped us pick—from the fresh seafood display, alongside craveable pastas including orecchiette smothered in a chunky eggplant bolognese. Stanton Social Prime satiated our sweet tooths with its over-the-top desserts like the Butter Me Up, zippy lemon curd shaped like a stick of butter and accompanied by toasted croissant. My dad gleefully proclaimed Peter Luger Steak House’s beef was just as rich and mouthwatering as the Brooklyn original, and all of us couldn’t help but get overwhelmed (in the best way possible) by the legendary Bacchanal Buffet, a seemingly limitless spread presenting 250-plus items, from crab legs to prime rib to kimchi fried rice.

Though my parents are early birds, we opted for post-dinner drinks at the newly-unveiled Caspian’s Rock & Roe—a live music venue and speakeasy hidden away behind an unmarked door at Caspian’s caviar lounge—on our last night. As the local musican Indie Florentino belted out a crowd-pleasing ‘90s pop soundtrack, I asked my dad how did he did overall at the blackjack tables. When he revealed how much he’d lost, I raised my eyebrows. But he didn’t seem the least bit upset; if anything, he seemed happy to be right where he was.