Vegas Pool Season
Imagine catching a movie, surfing, playing croquet, being served by a butler or placing a bet poolside. Set on the desert floor, Las Vegas has long had the nation’s most vibrant pool scene, and some of its casino resorts are raising the bar.
The latest and greatest—and one of the biggest—is the Oasis Pool Deck at the brand-new Fontainebleau. Spanning six acres, it has seven distinct pool areas, including a European-style day club, 21+ area, throwback Rat Pack-era intimate pool, Moroccan area, and lawn games. In this mix are outdoor movies, many cabana options and a 2,300-square-foot casino.
Long the gold standard, Mandalay Bay reinvented the Vegas pool scene with its 11-acre “Beach” complex featuring real sand, a wave pool big enough to host surfing competitions, a lazy river floating pool and a topless 21+ area for all-over tanning.
Gambling options abound. The Circa rooftop has the “Stadium Swim,” a giant sports bar disguised as a pool complex. The drive-in-theater-sized screen displays multiple games for sports fans who use the outdoor betting windows. On the day of the big game, there’s a 50-person “super cabana.” At the Fortuna Pool at Caesars Palace, bathers play at the Swim-Up Blackjack tables.
The rooftop Scene Pool complex at Planet Hollywood has a FlowRider professional-quality surfing wave machine. The Virgin Hotel Las Vegas just added the new 21+ European-inspired Kassi Beach Club, complete with sand beach, DJs and a full-service Italian-coastal cuisine restaurant and bar.
While the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool overlooks the Strip, the many terraces create a more intimate scene. Its over-the-top Terrace Lounges comprise 500 square feet of air-conditioned interior with sliding glass doors. The “French” cabanas at the Paris Las Vegas come with a television, refrigerator and cocktail service. The Venetian’s cabanas include their own private plunge pools, holding up to 12 guests. Each has a stocked bar, water misting, AC and private cabana host/butler. Dive in!
