If you’ve been in Las Vegas for any amount of time during the scorching months of late spring and summer, then you’ve no doubt seen or heard the countless ads for the various pool clubs and parties all over the city. The pool party grows in popularity year after year on the Las Vegas Strip, and the 2007 season ushered in the era of European-style bathing, pool clubs that encourage women to bathe topless. Go somewhere like Bare not expecting this and you may be in for a bit of a surprise.
Rehab, of course, is the most notorious pool party in the city and quite possibly the entire United States! Guests from all over the world can always be found at the Hard Rock Hotel’s infamous Sunday afternoon pool party. An afternoon at Rehab is quite surreal the first time you go, with celebrities and musicians mingling with everyone else at the amazing Hard Rock pool.
If you’re not quite looking for something like Rehab, lots of options still await. Sullivan Charles frequents every pool party in Vegas as a photographer for 944 Magazine and Spy On Vegas, and the 26-year-old likes to mix it up when it comes to partying on the pool scene. “I like Bare because it’s a little bit more mellow than the rest of them,” Charles said during an interview from the 944 offices. “Tao Beach is pretty mellow too, but I think out of both of them I like Bare a little better because it’s topless.”
Justin Simms sees pool season from a different perspective. Unlike most of the thousands of locals and tourists that descend to the pools on the weekend for a day of drinking and partying, Simms has to stay sober and on his best behavior, or else lose his employment status at the Hard Rock pool. “Imagine the best nightclub you’ve ever been to,” says Simms. “Then cut the top off, expand it three times, put three pools in, take the clothes off everyone, include celebrities outside the red rope, then imagine the loudest party ever, drinking from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. nonstop. That’s Rehab.”
Looking to party poolside with hundreds of Las Vegas’ most beautiful people? Here’s the rundown:
REHAB (at Hard Rock) – The original Vegas pool party is still by far the craziest. Rehab is a world-famous event taking place every Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel pool. Doors usually open at 11 a.m. but you’ll definitely want to show up earlier than that if you want to have any chance of getting in (unless you’re willing to be brave and try to sneak in, which isn’t easy). Rehab is the pool party of choice for celebrities and musicians from the Hollywood A-list as well as beautiful people from around the world. There’s nothing like Rehab, and you have to experience it to understand!
ADMISSION: Varies, but it’s free if you’re staying at the Hard Rock, so reserving a room for the weekend with some friends is not a bad way to go. Vegas.com has it listed as $30 for men,$20 for ladies and $15 for local ladies. As with any hot club, the more you’re willing to pay at the door, the better the chance you’ll get in. (Note: If you’re a guy or group of guys with no females in your party, expect to pay a lot more than $30, if you even get in). Cabana reservations don’t come cheap and can be upwards of $2000 on certain weekends.
BARE (at the Mirage)- The Mirage’s European-style pool club opened in 2007 and gets positive reviews from many that check it out. Bare is much smaller and more relaxed than Rehab, with private cabanas and a small private pool overlooking the main concourse. For a pool scene with more of a local flavor, check out Bare. Cinco de Mayo weekend went off nicely at Bare, and the party should go on all summer. This is definitely a great spot to relax with friends, particularly if the chaotic pace at Rehab doesn’t appeal to you. If beautiful topless women in a hidden paradise at the Mirage does appeal to you, then check out Bare.
ADMISSION: Monday-Thursday $10 for women, $20 for men. Friday-Sunday, $20 for women and $40 for men. Reservations for the VIP cabana area and for daybeds start at $250 and the price goes up on holiday weekends and for other special events.
GO POOL (at the Flamingo) – The legendary Flamingo has no doubt hosted numerous guests over the decades, but Flamingo’s Go Pool is an all-new concept, bringing European-style bathing to the pool area. Lots of fountains and waterfalls and an overall great spot to relax and party. Go Pool is the upstairs pool of the Flamingo’s two-story complex, and the lower pool is open to all ages. Definitely very different environments, you’re looking for Go Pool so head upstairs. Lots of frozen fruity drinks are available and cabanas come equipped with plasma screens and XBox 360s.
ADMISSION: Go Pool offers a couple of $100 packages on weekends. The Lagoon Lounger package grants admission and six bottles of domestic beer, and the Day Bed rental package offers a guaranteed spot to lounge for theh day and a complimentary bottle of champagne. Go Pool cabanas run $300 for a reservation fee, with a one-bottle minimum purchase required.
WET REPUBLIC (at MGM Grand)- Newly open for 2008 is Wet Republic, which MGM is calling “the first-ever ultra pool in Las Vegas.” Check out the website, it sounds like it should be a great spot. Christening itself as the birthplace of “Daylife”, Wet Republic is already drawing large crowds on weekends.
ADMISSION: Varying rates from week to week for admission, daybed rentals and access to the VIP bungalows.
VOODOO BEACH (at Rio)- Local women get in free at the beautiful VooDoo Beach, which presents a host of live music events throughout the summer.
ADMISSION: $34 gets you in the door, and an open bar package is available for $60.
TAO BEACH (at Venetian)- Already an insane party place with Tao Bistro and Tao Nightclub at the top of the class in Vegas nightlife, Tao Beach just makes the Venetian’s party epicenter even better. Simply put – it’s European-style bathing mixed with the vibe, music and beautiful people that frequent Tao. You can’t lose! The Tao name apparently doesn’t get applied to anything that’s not world-class nightlife/daylife entertainment, so expect to not be disappointed. Tao Beach has been the pool party of choice for A-list celebs like Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, Heidi Klum and Jessica Simpson, and if the over-the-top, Rehab-like pool party scene is your thing, definitely check out Tao Beach. Pool party by day, Tao Beach becomes an extension of Tao Nightclub at night. Special promtions include “Good Fridays” on Friday afternoons and “Sunset Sundays”, featuring a lineup of house DJs on Sunday afternoons.
ADMISSION:General admission varies. Daybed rentals start at $400 and VIP cabanas start at $750. Tao Beach’s VIP Cabanas are amongst best in Vegas, with 46′ plasma TVs, XBos 360s, internet access and an extensive library of DVD titles. Call a few weeks in advance if you want to get a cabana.
MANDALAY BAY BEACH- The closest thing to an actual beach in Las Vegas can be found at Mandalay Bay. The Beach sits on 11 acres, has more than 100 cabanas and underwent a $30 million renovation in 2007. Moorea Beach Club within the Beach is an upscale European-style club, and nearby Border Grill is one of the finest Mexican restaurants in the city, with beach attire welcome on the patio that overlooks the beach and pool areas. Definitely worth checking out. If you have an friend coming to town, tell then to stay at Mandalay Bay and use the room key to get in!
ADMISSION: Moorea Beach Club is $50 for men and $10 for women.
DITCH FRIDAYS (at the Palms)- Not to be outdone is the Palms, Vegas’ center for youthful debauchery. The wildly popular Ditch Fridays party takes place on Friday afternoons, encouraging partygoers to call in to work with an excuse and “ditch” work for the day! Local ladies get in for free, and the $25 for guys is well worth it if you’re curious at all to see who might be hanging out at the Palms Pool. Playboy Bunnies? Strippers? What do you think, it’s the Palms!
ADMISSION: $25 for men.
CHERRY POOL (at Red Rock Resort)- Far, far away from the supercharged Strip scene is Cherry Pool, which goes off every day at Red Rock Resort, one of the most popular venues amongst Las Vegas locals. Cherry Pool is open every day and functions as a special area of Cherry Nightclub at night. Check out Cherry Pool on Sundays for the “Seductive Sunday Pool Party” during the day and “Sunday Night Live”, featuring local bands, during the evening. Cherry Pool also throws the Red Rock Retreat Midnight Swim Party on Mondays.
ADMISSION: The Sunday and Monday pool parties both offer free admission.
VENUS POOL CLUB (at Caesars Palace) – The experience at Venus Pool Club might be best described as the high-end option on the Las Vegas pool scene. Picture Evian water spraydowns, suntan lotion treatments and massages available poolside and European-style bathing in huge VIP Cabanas. Venus Pool Club has a much more relaxed vibe than a typical Vegas pool, so if you’re looking for a spot to just relax, this is it.
ADMISSION: $25 on Saturdays. VIP cabana rentals start at $425.
FYI – Admission prices for all LasVegas pool clubs are subject to change week to week, so check out the websites or call ahead to get the inside information. Like all Vegas clubs, these places can be tough to get in, so be prepared!
