Best Las Vegas Pool Parties

We expect Rehab (Hard Rock) to remain the best in Vegas for the 2010 pool party season which will kick off with Wet Republic (MGM) opening on March 12 (grand opening April 17).  Rehab opens the day after on April 18 with Relax (Hard Rock) on April 19.

 

Liquid (Aria) is now set for a March 18 opening with their grand opening on April 8 (with Tiesto spinning).  This topless optional party will have about 16 cabanas and a small restaurant. When open, hours will be Th-Su from 10 am to 6 pm.  Industry day is Thursday.  Bare (Mirage) known mostly for being topless tolerant, reveals itself on March 15.

 

Encore enters the Pool Party fray with Encore Beach Club (Encore) and Surrender Night Club.  The official opening date is Memorial Day (May 31) weekend but an unofficial source indicated privately it might have an earlier dry run opening similar to what Wet Republic is doing this year.

 

It will be about 50,000 square feet with 3 pools with a small 4,000 square feet night club and about 7,000 square feet of decking in between the Beach Club and Surrender.  This is a bit bigger than Wet Republic which is 53,000 square feet total.  Switch restaurant will also be blended into this Encore complex along the lines of Tao's restaurant, club and beach party.

 

Relapse (Flamingo) will not return in name although perhaps in spirit.  No official re-name has been chosen but some party is likely around the April 1 opening of the Flamngo Go pool.  Other changes may also be underway. Day Dream (M Resort) will debut by April 1 but could be earlier depending on weather.  No big changes are expected for this locals popular party.

 

Tao Beach (Venetian) is doubling their cabana count to 14 up from 7 and plans on more events this year starting April 5th.  The always solid Ditch Fridays (Palms) is set for May 7.  Poolside Sunday at XS is more a cocktail party around the pool than a true pool party and remains continuously underway for Sundays.

 

Most of the pool parties in Vegas will have a firmer schedule around mid-March so expect a complete update then.  For now, if you are planning a trip to Vegas, count on some great parties starting in March with the full season completely underway by May 31.

 

 

 

Last season's write-up follows.

 

 

We continue to rate Rehab the top pool party. The 2009 Las Vegas Pool Party season has already started with MGM's Wet Republic re-opening on March 28. Vegas has the best pool parties and they range from a chill vibe to spring break hysteria.

 

The expected expansion for Rehab has been pushed back to next year so it will continue to be packed. The new M hosts Day Dream which is a smallish 12,000 sq. ft. facility which grand opened April 9. Rio has not officially announced their free main pool party (not the Sapphire pool) but it will probably be on Thursdays and feature smooth jazz.

 

Poolside Sunday at XS runs 10 pm to 4 am and is much more like a cocktail party around the pool with only a few taking advantage of the relaxed dress code that allows sandals, bikinis and board shorts. Most are in club attire and the vibe is more laid back than the usual Monday/Friday/Saturday rush.

 

 

Here is a day by day view of the pool parties in Las Vegas:

 

 

Rehab/Relax

This is VegasMadeEasy.com's second choice for best Las Vegas pool party. Their big advantage is that it is open 7 days a week. It has saltwater pools and attracts some celebrities. A valet entrance off Harmon helps when the traffic on the Las Vegas Strip is bad.

It is a smaller facility at around 53,000 square feet versus 3 acres (200,000+ square feet) for Rehab and Ditch Fridays and this is before the major expansion that Rehab has planned for 2010. It is unlikely to achieve the mass hysteria of Rehab but that could be a good thing if you prefer a good but more stately pool party.

Sometimes the water at Rehab seems to get a residue from the huge crowds with their suntan lotion. The saltwater pools at Wet Republic have a cleaner feel to them and a lower chlorine smell and burn factor.

Cabanas have a larger than average flat screen and the usual list of amenities seen elsewhere such as DVDs, refrigerators, fan, etc. Bungalows have their own bathroom and a better view. Food is actually pretty good and competitive with the other pool parties in Vegas despite the lack of a guiding hand from a big name chef.

 

Ditch Fridays

Tao Beach

 

Other Las Vegas Pool Parties

Bare is listed under our discussion of topless pools in the VegasMadeEasy.com Pool section. It is technically not a true pool party but has a very similar vibe as Tao Beach. If the maddening crowd at Rehab is too maddening for you, both Tao Beach and Bare will provide a good alternative.

Flamingo’s Go Pool attracts a younger, less affluent crowd--their cabanas max out at $300. Their Monday party, Relapse, is geared toward the young and drunk as any good pool party should be with some spontaneous or encouraged toplessness. For the money it is a good value and recommended for the budget-minded.

Day Dream is based on a somewhat plain pool facility but have had enough specials and talent to draw a loyal local crowd. M has turned out to be a pretty good casino.