hi joanne sorry i have taken so long to reply.
i would defo recommend having a drink in the pink panther bar, when you get to the strip there are always loads of people advertising the place. also have a meal in the restaurant which is right next door, we ate in there quite alot (especially the sunday dinner).
Also a good place is the lambarder(that is not how you spell it ha ha) that is closer to the beach (on the strip) we always had at least one drink in there.
There is one place right next to the beach i think it was called Brothers, i would not recommend having a drink in there!!!! we had one in there and the hubby nearly feel over!!
They said it was buy one get one free on the cocktails but for one cocktail it worked out about £6 in our money and it was only in a crappy little thin glass, the hubbys drink was about £5 (jack daniels).
The banana bar is also really good for drinks, they have a drink called the banana special and it was my fav drink.
The garden palace is a great place to have a drink and something to eat also. I always had my breakfast there before sunbathing.
when you are at the garden palace if turn left there is a restaurant about 2 mins walk (in seeing distance) it was a really nice place and very reasonable priced.
make sure you ask yarnee (co owner & always serving at the bar) where the short cut is to the stip it only takes about 5mins which if you go the long way it is quite a walk.
you will have a brilliant time, we will defo defo be going back to stay in the garden palace in a couple of years.
i havent got any children but they will also have a great time. let me know what you think. You are defo staying in a better place than the people who are staying in the Rose. (i would say that about anywhere though coz i love the garden palace)