Las Vegas Pool Season Is Open For Business

Travel, Travel Tips, World Roaming 4 Minutes

Slide 1 of 8: It was 15 years ago when the Hard Rock Hotel decided to juice its sluggish Sunday business by throwing a pool party, aiming to replicate the bottles-and-bikini scene of South of France staples like Nikki Beach. Christened "Rehab," that ad hoc bash was an instant success, turning Sundays into the second-highest grossing day for the casino, as well as spawning the inevitable reality show focusing on its sexy, quarrelsome staff. “The Hard Rock gets the credit for creating [the Las Vegas pool scene], with a party that was really geared toward hospitality people who’d show up and bring their friends,” says Brock Radke, a longtime chronicler of the Strip scene—who now works as editor-at-large for Greenspun media there. The Hard Rock, of course, is soon to shutter after Rehab’s final summer season, but a buzzy Vegas pool party is now as essential to a casino’s success as its high-rollers, penthouse suites, and a show from Cirque du Soleil. This month kicks off 2019’s summer season, so we've rounded up our picks of where to go—including the newest places to lounge in a dry-clean only bikini, and the best of the classic venues that never go out of style.

It was 15 years ago when the Hard Rock Hotel decided to juice its sluggish Sunday business by throwing a pool party, aiming to replicate the bottles-and-bikini scene of South of France staples like Nikki Beach. Christened “Rehab,” that ad hoc bash was an instant success, turning Sundays into the second-highest grossing day for the casino, as well as spawning the inevitable reality show focusing on its sexy, quarrelsome staff.

“The Hard Rock gets the credit for creating [the Las Vegas pool scene], with a party that was really geared toward hospitality people who’d show up and bring their friends,” says Brock Radke, a longtime chronicler of the Strip scene—who now works as editor-at-large for Greenspun media there. The Hard Rock, of course, is soon to shutter after Rehab’s final summer season, but a buzzy Vegas pool party is now as essential to a casino’s success as its high-rollers, penthouse suites, and a show from Cirque du Soleil. This month kicks off 2019’s summer season, so we’ve rounded up our picks of where to go—including the newest places to lounge in a dry-clean only bikini, and the best of the classic venues that never go out of style.

Slide 2 of 8: Like entertainment’s answer to an Intel chip, the 300-room Nomad Las Vegas is a hotel-within-a-hotel, adding upscale cachet to the Park MGM. The third floor roofdeck space was designed by Jacques Garcia, the French architect who came to prominence via Paris's sexy, snooty Hotel Costes: expect a souk-inspired space soaked through with decadence, and plenty of luxurious, if pricey, cabanas. Forget R&B: the lure here is F&B. Instead of bottle service, expect an emphasis on craft cocktails, devised by Leo Robitschek, the award-hogging head of Nomad’s bar in NYC, and gourmet snacks by the same team behind 11 Madison Park. If you’re not a hotel guest, you can access the pool on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays once its new party, the oddly named JEMAA, kicks off next month via a weekend blowout that includes an appearance from Uptown Funk-er Mark Ronson.

The Nomad Pool

Like entertainment’s answer to an Intel chip, the 300-room Nomad Las Vegas is a hotel-within-a-hotel, adding upscale cachet to the Park MGM. The third floor roofdeck space was designed by Jacques Garcia, the French architect who came to prominence via Paris’s sexy, snooty Hotel Costes: expect a souk-inspired space soaked through with decadence, and plenty of luxurious, if pricey, cabanas. Forget R&B: the lure here is F&B. Instead of bottle service, expect an emphasis on craft cocktails, devised by Leo Robitschek, the award-hogging head of Nomad’s bar in NYC, and gourmet snacks by the same team behind 11 Madison Park. If you’re not a hotel guest, you can access the pool on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays once its new party, the oddly named JEMAA, kicks off next month via a weekend blowout that includes an appearance from Uptown Funk-er Mark Ronson.
Slide 3 of 8: The early days of Hard Rock’s Rehab were low-key: it was an affordable, inclusive bash for locals and anyone still lingering along the Strip once the weekenders had left town. Go’s pool party is a welcome throwback, say Greenspun’s Brock Radke. “It’s a hidden gem, really informal, for people who don’t want to wait in line or pay those bigger prices,” he says. The 15-acre hideaway, with pools, lagoons, and even a cascading waterfall, is open daily with live performers programed throughout the week. Thankfully, this summer it will offer respite from the ubiquitous EDM with a regular series of country concerts, starting with Parmalee the weekend of April 6. Tickets start at just $10.

Flamingo Go

The early days of Hard Rock’s Rehab were low-key: it was an affordable, inclusive bash for locals and anyone still lingering along the Strip once the weekenders had left town. Go’s pool party is a welcome throwback, say Greenspun’s Brock Radke. “It’s a hidden gem, really informal, for people who don’t want to wait in line or pay those bigger prices,” he says. The 15-acre hideaway, with pools, lagoons, and even a cascading waterfall, is open daily with live performers programed throughout the week. Thankfully, this summer it will offer respite from the ubiquitous EDM with a regular series of country concerts, starting with Parmalee the weekend of April 6. Tickets start at just $10.
Slide 4 of 8: The Park MGM has commandeered the building in which the Monte Carlo once operated, soap opera recast-style. In tacit tribute to that old casino, much of its décor is intended to evoke the South of France—and the pools are no exception; think acres of mint green and striped umbrellas courtesy of glam design specialist Martin Brudnizki. There are so-called Baja shelves, the shallow steps that double as sunbathing spots in the water; a dozen cabanas; and food that aims to keep would-be Bardots bikini-ready (poke, watermelon salads). Park MGM has three separate pool areas practically named North, South and East, so it’s easy to tell friends where you are. The East’s the most appealing, as it’s home to the VIP area. There’s no pool party program planned yet, but expect it to join the fun soon.

 

Park MGM

The Park MGM has commandeered the building in which the Monte Carlo once operated, soap opera recast-style. In tacit tribute to that old casino, much of its décor is intended to evoke the South of France—and the pools are no exception; think acres of mint green and striped umbrellas courtesy of glam design specialist Martin Brudnizki. There are so-called Baja shelves, the shallow steps that double as sunbathing spots in the water; a dozen cabanas; and food that aims to keep would-be Bardots bikini-ready (poke, watermelon salads). Park MGM has three separate pool areas practically named North, South and East, so it’s easy to tell friends where you are. The East’s the most appealing, as it’s home to the VIP area. There’s no pool party program planned yet, but expect it to join the fun soon.
Slide 5 of 8: This new complex, another splashy addition to the reinvented Palms hotel, features both day and night-club venues; the larger, and more intriguing, is its poolside complex, with room for up to 5,000 party-goers. With the highest number of pools in any resort stateside—alongside the two main pools, there are countless dipping spots dotted around—and plenty of cabanas, there’s a stage for live performances and a DJ booth, so that exclusive residents like Armin van Buuren and Marshmello can easily play to both indoor and outdoor crowds. Smartly, the hotel also invested in a retractable dome that could better allow its pool party season to run year-round. As for that headless sculpture at the center? It’s a Damien Hirst piece snatched up by the casino’s new, art-collecting owners from his controversial show at the Venice Biennale two years ago.

KAOS at the Palms

This new complex, another splashy addition to the reinvented Palms hotel, features both day and night-club venues; the larger, and more intriguing, is its poolside complex, with room for up to 5,000 party-goers. With the highest number of pools in any resort stateside—alongside the two main pools, there are countless dipping spots dotted around—and plenty of cabanas, there’s a stage for live performances and a DJ booth, so that exclusive residents like Armin van Buuren and Marshmello can easily play to both indoor and outdoor crowds. Smartly, the hotel also invested in a retractable dome that could better allow its pool party season to run year-round. As for that headless sculpture at the center? It’s a Damien Hirst piece snatched up by the casino’s new, art-collecting owners from his controversial show at the Venice Biennale two years ago.
Slide 6 of 8: Wynn was the first of the major casino operators to dedicate resources to the emerging pool party scene—notably, custom-building this three-tier complex at its second Strip property in 2010, and even promoting one of its nightlife gurus to COO. (That man, Sean Christie, defected to become President of events and nightclubs at rival MGM.) Even a decade into operation, Encore remains the benchmark-setter: While other venues focus on EDM DJs, Encore Beach Club is importing adventurous, underground performers from overseas; see the recently inked deal with Ibiza-based Elrow, a collective known for its outlandishly dressed performers who interact with the crowd during DJ sets.

 

Encore Beach Club

Wynn was the first of the major casino operators to dedicate resources to the emerging pool party scene—notably, custom-building this three-tier complex at its second Strip property in 2010, and even promoting one of its nightlife gurus to COO. (That man, Sean Christie, defected to become President of events and nightclubs at rival MGM.) Even a decade into operation, Encore remains the benchmark-setter: While other venues focus on EDM DJs, Encore Beach Club is importing adventurous, underground performers from overseas; see the recently inked deal with Ibiza-based Elrow, a collective known for its outlandishly dressed performers who interact with the crowd during DJ sets.
Slide 7 of 8: Don’t be dismayed by the mention of the regular DJ here, affable Jersey Shore alum Pauly D; this rooftop pool, on the eleventh floor of the 188-room Cromwell hotel, hosts one of the Strip’s best daytime scenes. At night, the 65,000 square-foot club is known for its hip-hop programing; before dusk, though, the five-year-old venue is more eclectic. It’s the brainchild of movie producer and modelizer-turned-nightlife-mogul, Victor Drai, who oversaw the entire design. Book one of the second floor cabanas for the best views across the pool. Then again, you might want to turn around for an unexpected bonus: Killer views across the street of the Bellagio fountains’ splashy son-et-lumière show.

Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub at The Cromwell

Don’t be dismayed by the mention of the regular DJ here, affable Jersey Shore alum Pauly D; this rooftop pool, on the eleventh floor of the 188-room Cromwell hotel, hosts one of the Strip’s best daytime scenes. At night, the 65,000 square-foot club is known for its hip-hop programing; before dusk, though, the five-year-old venue is more eclectic. It’s the brainchild of movie producer and modelizer-turned-nightlife-mogul, Victor Drai, who oversaw the entire design. Book one of the second floor cabanas for the best views across the pool. Then again, you might want to turn around for an unexpected bonus: Killer views across the street of the Bellagio fountains’ splashy son-et-lumière show.
Unknown's avatar

Published by Sarha

Helping those who are looking for good international travel tips. I also have published few articles posted by top notch writers on different sites.

Published

Leave a comment