Vegas' Best Pools, From Dayclubs to DJs

One of three of the Cosmopolitan’s pool areas, the multilevel Boulevard Pool has an unobstructed view of the Strip below. Big shareable daybeds give cover from the sun, and you can hang out in the wading pool, play ping-pong and foosball, or belly up to one of three bars. The pool springs to life at twilight, when either Dive In movies play on the 65-foot screen or the pool becomes a concert venue with live music performances.

When to Go: Open daily.

Admission: $20, but varies according to the event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Free for Cosmopolitan guests; prices vary for special events.

Family Friendly? Family friendly during the day; adults only for some special events.

The modern Tahitian vibe at Liquid is less frantic than higher-volume dayclubs, and its 16,000 square feet qualifies as intimate, so you can enjoy a good mix of local DJs and the industry’s A-listers without battling a throng of crazed dancers. Eight cabanas are each outfitted with flat-screen TVs, a private pool, two daybeds, and a fridge. Handcrafted wicker daybeds and lounges surround the pool. Order from Light Group executive chef Brian Massie's menu poolside or at Liquid's own restaurant.

When to Go: Saturdays are busiest; Sundays are relaxed.

Admission: From $20 for women and $30 for men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

Break out your best swimsuit for this weekend institution: three acres of beautiful people downing bottle service and signature cocktails around the 50 Tahitian-style cabanas and along the man-made sandy beaches and lazy river. The raucous party—which originated the dayclub concept in Vegas in 2003—shows no signs of slowing down. If Paradise Beach (which hosts Rehab) is too intense, hotel guests can migrate to Nirvana Beach. Breathe Pool is even more private—right above Nirvana with views of the Strip.

When to Go: Saturdays and Sundays for Rehab.

Admission: Free for hotel guests daily and the general public Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, from $20 for women and $40 for men; on Sundays, from $30 for women and $50 for men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes

Family Friendly? Monday-Thursday. Adults 21 and over only Friday-Sunday.

If a gyrating crowd of thousands isn’t your thing, you’ll likely appreciate the scene at the garden pool area that the Bellagio has transformed into its Cypress Premier Lounges. Sedate and private, this is all paid seating, and includes a personal host, infused water, smoothie shots, Evian misters, and chilled towels. Order food, drinks, and poolside massages from a menu. For extra privacy, reserve a cabana at one of the four other pools—it comes with an HD television, a fully stocked refrigerator, and pool rafts.

When to Go: Monday through Thursday for the best rates.

Admission: On weekdays, lounge chairs cost $50, daybeds $150, cabanas $300; prices increase for weekends and holidays.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Hotel guests only.

Family Friendly? Must be 14 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Few know that they can gain entry to one of the Strip’s most rarefied spaces with the rental of a cabana—for a relatively low price, compared with others around town. On the eighth floor, the sleek pool deck has fabulous views over CityCenter, and two pools, two Jacuzzis, and one intimate plunge pool. The vibe is serene, if not downright hushed, and attendants circulate to clean sunglasses and distribute mini-smoothies and frozen fruit. Inside the cabanas: fresh fruit, smoothies, ice cream samples, sun care products, a 42” flat-panel TV, PlayStation 3, and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade.

When to Go: Open seven days.

Admission: Free for hotel guests; others must pay for a cabana reservation.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes, with a cabana rental.

Family Friendly? Yes.

The crowd at the Palms is young, thirsty, ready to dance. The party goes on seven days a week around two big pools, 27 cabanas, three large bars, and on seven lily pads in the water. Weekends are even wilder: the "Ditch Friday" party (pictured) encourages guests to do just that, with live Friday performances by poopular DJs. Food and drinks are served poolside including retro cocktails like the Cîroc Coconut.

When to Go: Fridays, for Ditch Fridays. Mid week for a bit more quiet (and lower prices).

Admission: $20 women, $25 men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Family friendly on weekdays; adults 21 and over Friday–Sunday.

Otherwise known as the ultra-pool at MGM Grand, Wet Republic packs thousands of revelers into two saltwater pools, plus lounges, daybeds, cabanas, and bungalows. The pool has been overhauled as part of the hotel-wide “Grand Renovation.” An expanded DJ booth sits under massive new LED displays with special effects, and the marble bar now stretches for 95 feet. Order pitchers of summer drinks like mojitos, all served in the crisp blue and white venue by models—Wet Republic doesn’t hire; it holds casting calls.

Admission: Prices vary depending on the event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

White wicker and wood, and brilliant red drapery punctuate this lush, three-pool complex. Patrons lounge on oversize lily pads and dance under shower poles—and those who splurge enjoy private bungalows overlooking the Strip, with private dipping pools, showers, and climate control. Daybeds have private safes for stashing your things, and the 26 cabanas are outfitted with refrigerators and flat-screen televisions.

When to Go: Fridays for Recess Fridays; Saturdays for headlining DJs and music artists.

Admission: $35-$55 for men, $25-$35 for women.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

Classical landscaping, Roman statues, and a flowing 18-foot waterfall make this oasis fittingly palatial. Its 30 cabanas are spread around seven distinctively different pools. The only pool complex on the Strip with swim-up blackjack, it’s also one of the few that welcomes families. There's a separate adult-only Venus Pool Club. Just wander the pools until you find one that fits.

When to Go: Any day, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission: Two guests are complimentary per Caesars Palace or Nobu Hotel room key.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Open to non-guests (21 and over) with a $20 admission fee Friday–Sunday.

Family Friendly? Yes.

Marquee is at the forefront of the electronic dance music and daytime lounge scene. Grammy-nominated DJ Kaskade was in residence during summer 2014, supported by massive 32,000-watt subwoofers and lasers. As a result, the two-pool deck, with multiple bars and a gaming area, is an adult party zone. Book a cabana and your guests can escape the heat in private infinity pools.

Admission: $20, but varies according to the event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over only; European bathing permitted Monday–Thursday.

That old Club Med vibe—non-stop activities, dance offs, raft races—is alive and well at the GO Pool, where a big tropical retreat surrounded by 15 acres contains an undulating pool, cascading waterfall, and all the adult antics you can handle. While Jell-O shots and go-go dancers might not be your thing, if you can put up with them, you’ll get one of the most surprising cabana values on the Strip. Rentals include a bottle of liquor with mixers, fresh fruit, lounge chairs, a mini-fridge stocked with water and rolled iced towels, and a cabana host at your beck and call.

When to Go: Open daily 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Admission: Free for Flamingo guests; other Caesars Entertainment resort guests for $15; non-Caesars guests for $25.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over only.

Tao Beach brings a bit of Bali to the Nevada desert thanks to bamboo trees and Asian-inspired cabanas.At night, the relaxed daytime atmosphere heats up—literally, with 14-foot fire columns and high-energy music—as an extension of Tao nightclub. As of 2013, beachgoers can order a menu of drinks and snacks from the Tao kitchen. Reserve as early as possible for one of the 12 cabanas, and look for the bevy of masseuses and personal body misters to cool you down on request.

Admission: $20 for men and women, depending on the event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over; European bathing permitted Monday–Thursday.

With four pools of different sizes and surrounding manicured gardens, the Wynn scene is secluded and grown up. The 46 cabanas contain flat-screen TVs with cable, misting systems, and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, plus snacks and a telephone; 15 cabanas are available only to guests staying in the Tower Suites. The service is outstanding: hosts act as waiters, concierges, and personal butlers. Reserve a massage in the dedicated cabana or play blackjack at the Cabana Bar. It all feels discreet and very exclusive.

When to Go: The pool is open seven days.

Admission: The resort pool and lounge chairs are complimentary for hotel guests.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Only for Wynn guests, Encore guests, and their guests.

Family Friendly? Yes.

At XS, the most expensive nightclub ever conceived, rolling an electronic dance party from day into night actually works. Guests are encouraged to shed the club clothes and wear their best swimwear while dancing under the stars and in the pool at the Sunday after-dark party. The 26 poolside cabanas sprawling over two stories let guests take in a panoramic view of the party scene.

When to Go: Sundays for Night Swim.

Admission: From $20 for women and $30 for men, but varies by event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over only

As its name suggests, Azure is modeled after the Côte d’Azur. While most pool scenes are either crazy dance parties or spa-quiet, Azure ably bridges the gap. No one will mind that you’re swaying your hips, but your fellow guests aren’t flailing around to the sounds of the DJ, either. Perhaps the quality of the poolside offerings has something to do with maintaining your couth. You can order dishes from Wolfgang Puck’s Solaro restaurant, and Canyon Ranch SpaClub massages are all on offer poolside. Each of the 11 air-conditioned cabanas comes with a flat-screen TV .

When to Go: Open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: $20 for men and $10 for women.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

The most anticipated dayclub to debut in 2013, Daylight takes over 50,000 square feet of outdoor space on the Strip adjacent to Mandalay Bay, with a massive stage framed by six LED screens, modeled after the beaches of Ibiza, and capacity for 5,000. Reserve well in advance to snag one of 70 daybeds, 23 cabanas, and two bungalows. Expect cocktails like the signature watermelon mojito and big-name DJs like Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso and Nicky Romero.

When to Go: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Admission: $40 for men, $20 for women.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over only.