It’s not quite summer but on the West Coast the temps are getting warmer and that means the opening of “pool season” in Las Vegas one of the most popular destinations for the bold and the beautiful looking for a weekend of sun and fun that rivals Europe’s best beach clubs all without requiring a passport or visa. The best part is they keep competing for your attention so the parties get better and better and it seems each year a new hot spot opens up, so we have your guide to the best hotel pool parties in Sin City to satisfy even the most demanding of party seekers.

We start off with the Grand Daddy of the them all, Rehab the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel. It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since we were all blown away on how this spot was all the rage and the buzz could be heard all the way to LA. The first time I was there I had never seen so many beautiful people, in such good shape, in one location since beach club hopping in Ibiza. The music was loud and the drinks hard to get due to the crowds but rest assured you knew you were at one of the best parties on the planet when you were there prime time.  Hard Rock was the first to break through the wall and it was a huge investment but it paid off handsomely as it became the second-highest grossing day of the week for the casino and gave them the huge advantage of being the first in the space as it would take over a year for any casino to create something comparable. For the longest time they were the only game in town, and now a pool presence in the Spring and Summer is an essential component when it comes to high roller or at least “big spender” hospitality. However, enjoy the legend while you clan as this will be the hotel’s final season but if I anything about the Virgin brand what they will construct will be as out of this world as their upcoming space flights.

The Park MGM – Pool Oasis, which debuted in March with a complete makeover as now it is decked out in lime green and white with almost a pink sand pool deck. has 3 pools, a heated spa, 12 private cabanas, and 6 park bungalows. Lounge chairs for two guests on a Saturday in June will cost about $100 each, a day bed for 3 guests will cost about the same, but the beauty are the cabanas. A cabana for as many as 10 people will only cost approximately $400, a very reasonable considering the party that comes with it for an average of $40 per person.

 

 

Flamingo GO – Like the rest of you, when I plan a weekend getaway the last thing I want to deal with are long lines or someone working the velvet rope like it their personal calling in life and they’re protecting Queen Denarius. If I’m working with a three-day weekend an hour as a percentage of my time is too expensive so I want to have my reservation and not deal with any “selective door policy”.  The Flamingo Go gets it. It’s a lot more low-key in regards to formality but not on eye candy. It’s more of a local hangout, the way Hard Rock used to be back in the day but even bigger. This 15-acre hideaway more resembles a Disneyland attraction with pools, lagoons, and even a large cascading waterfall. It has live performances on schedule throughout the week. Weekends feature quality music and DJ’s to bring in the European lounge experience.

Encore Beach Club – I was not aware of the fact that the Wynn was the first of the major casino operators to dedicate substantial funds to the emerging pool party scene, specifically their three-tier complex at its second Vegas Strip property nine years ago. Encore remains the trend-setter by researching hot trends and DJ’s that are trending in the hot spots overseas and implementing them here. The newest being a deal with Ibiza based Elrow, a festival of electronic based music where the interaction of the DJ’s and dancers provide an electronic and interactive experience that is trending in several countries.