Best 10 Las Vegas Pools to Cool Off In

For substantial numbers of people who go to Las Vegas, and not always the ones with children, the hotel's swimming pool is an important factor when they decide where to check-in. In Las Vegas, the average temperature goes from 69 in March to 78 in April, and late April is when the swimming season generally kicks off and the pools start to get crowded. All the Las Vegas pools will stay very active, especially the Top 10 Las Vegas Pools, until some time in November as the average temperature drops back down to 75. In July, the average temperature is 105, but there's no reason fry. The Top 10 Las Vegas Pools now offer huge wave pools, swimming pool river rides and sandy beaches. Many of the Top 10 Las Vegas Pools now feature topless European style sunbathing although that can get expensive, especially for men.. Keep in mind that most of these Top 10 Las Vegas Pools have been on everybody's radar screen for sometime, meaning they're likely to be crowded. None of these Top 10 Las Vegas Pools charge admission for hotel guests but room keys are checked to get in. All the Top 10 Las Vegas Pools also provide guests with free towels.

1. Mandalay Bay
Surf's up! Mandalay Bay moves to the top of the Top 10 Las Vegas Pools with a $30 million dollar expansion in 2007 to create an 11 acre oasis with three pools, 2,700 tons of sand, and waterfalls in a lush jungle setting. Then there's the wave generator which can crank out perfect 6' waves. The wave generator is a body surfer's paradise although it's big enough for real surfing. You can also take a lazy 1 mile long river ride if you want. Only 1 pool stays open in winter. There is also a secluded topless sunbathing area called Club Moorea which charges for admission. Cabanas, bungalows and villas are available ranging from $200 - to $1800 a day as well as day beds, rafts, and inner tube rentals. Hours, summer: daily, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., winter: daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

2. The Flamingo
Often referred to as number one among the top 10 Las Vegas pools, the Flamingo's tropically landscaped 15-acre pool area has plenty to offer. Set in a jungle theme it's dotted with waterfalls, grottos, and tropical birds. The Flamingo has 4 pools (1 is heated) and two hot tubs. The Flamingo is a mid-range hotel/casino so the pool at the Flamingo has always had a special appeal to families and moderate spenders. Meaning, the Flamingo's pool can be uncomfortably crowded, so much so that during the peak summer season you can be hard pressed to believe your on 15 acres of swimming area. There are cabanas available for luxury lounging at $150 - $250 per day. One pool features European style bathing. The Flamingo's pool is open 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

3. The Hard Rock Cafe
At 4.7 acres it's much smaller, but The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is the top spot to go for single young players. The scene at the pool is right out of a Daytona Beach/Cancun/MTV Springbreak party. The pool area is really one of Vegas's top shelf pools and that's why it's one the list of top 10 Las Vegas pools. The Hard Rock has sand beaches and a river to float along on. Unique to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino are their live streaming pool cams which provide a good idea of what the Hard Rock pool is all about. Every Sunday the hotel hosts a huge poolside party from Noon to nighttime called The Rehab. The Hard Rock's pool has got the landscaping, sand, poolside gambling, and waterslides but bear in mind the crowd is definitely geared to the fast 30 and under set. The pool's summer season hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Free admission for hotel guests but $20 for non-hotel guests. In addition to the Sunday Rehab party, every Friday features live entertainment by assorted artists. 4 jacuzzis, cabanas $250.00 and up, rafts and inner tubes $10 a day.

4. The Mirage
The Mirage has a really inviting pool area that belongs among the top 10 Las Vegas pools. The main pool has an island with waterfalls and a winding waterslide. It's really a series of connected lagoons with coves and waterfalls, and it has lanes for lap swimmers. There is also a smaller pool with a couple of shorter water slides. Several hot tubs, and the Mirage offers water aerobics classes. Cabana rates are $200 - $250. At the Mirage there are lifeguards by the pools and there are free life jackets for small children. They have rafts available for rent. The main pool is heated and open all year long except for one month during the winter, usually December when it's closed for renovations. Hours of operation vary but generally 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.. The Mirage also features European bathing with upscale services and DJ spun music in an area called Bare'. Bare is open seven days a week 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Admission varies by weekday to weekend $10-$20 for women and $20 -$40 for men. Cabanas and daybeds are additional.

5. The Bellagio
There are five pools and they're all heated to 80 degrees.Bellagio has six different pools in a beautifully executed elegant Mediterranean setting ranging from lap pools (2) to regular pools to four Jacuzzis. All the foliage and trees make privacy easy amongst the pools. Bellagio offers a lot of creature comforts like, drink service, a pool cafe with tables and chairs for patrons, and changing rooms. The pools are open daily in the summer, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., the Jacuzzis are open until 9:00 p.m. Fall hours are 8 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jacuzzis until 8:00 p.m. and spring and winter hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. jacuzzis until 6:00 p.m. The Bellagio offers a one hour ahead reservation service for the pool chairs and chaises that is free of charge. Cabanas rent for for $300 a day during the week and $350 a day Friday and weekends. Rafts and tubes are $5.00 an hour or $20 for the day.

6. Monte Carlo
The Monte Carlo pool area is a very downsized version of Mandalay Bay. In a tropical setting, it has a wave generating pool, a lazy river to float on, a large regular pool and some very small pools for children. The wave pool was Vegas' first but with smaller 3 foot waves. The pools are heated and open year round. The pool area is open daily 9:00 a.m - 6:00 p.m. Rafts and inner tubes are $12 dollars a day. A thoughtful feature at the Monte Carlo makes the Lagoon pool handicapped accessible, providing a chair lift. The pool at the Monte Carlo tends to attract families and the pool doesn't have the heavy party atmosphere that pools like the Hard Rock and Mandalay Bay have acquired. You'll see the occasional loud drunk but you won't be bombarded by them.

7. The Tropicana
The Tropicana was one of the first to take tropical landscaping to the next level in their pool area. It has three tropically landscaped pools set on five acres, with lagoons and waterfalls. The main pool is 12,000 square feet, and the Tropicana also offers two lagoon pool of 800 square feet, one of them an adults only pool. The adult pool is a nice feature. Also, the Trop's pool may be the best pool around in the winter months. During winter they enclose 1500 square feet of pool making it an indoor pool in winter. The main pool and one 800 foot pool are also heated in the winter. Lifeguards are on duty at the main pool 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m, and the 800 foot pools and the three jacuzzis are open 24/7. Cabanas rent for $100-$150 and there's swim up gambling. The Tropicana hosts a Monday night party from noon until dark called Mint Mondays featuring Cajun and Latin bands at 7:00 p.m. If your on a budget or going to Vegas in winter the Trop has a a great pool area and the hotel is in the lower mid-range price. The Island Tower rooms are right above the pool area entrance.

8. Caesars Palace
Set on 4.5 acres, the pool area is one of the most beautiful in Vegas. Like the Bellagio, Caesar's pool area is done in a Mediterranean theme, but even with lots of pillars and fountains it's not quite as stunning as Bellagio. The main pool of the three at Caesar's Palace is very large and round with an island in the middle. There is one pool for laps, and separate from the others is the Venus pool which allows European-style topless bathing. Admission to this area is free Monday through Thursday but $10 for women and $20 for men on weekends. There are also two hot tubs. The rows of chairs and chaises are laid out on escalating levels giving the pool area an amphitheater structure. Caesar's pool is open daily from April - October, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and November - March, 8 a.m - 6 p.m. The pools are heated. Cabanas are plentiful. Prices vary from $250 - $1000, depending on where they are located and the dates involved. Rafts rent for $10 a day.

9. The Golden Nugget
Located in downtown Las Vegas, The Golden Nugget is the class act of a hotel/casinos downtown, often getting 5 star ratings, but the pool was never considered much to write home. That changed in 2007. The pool area underwent a $20 million dollar upgrade with the money being spent on a three story circular water slide and a 200,000 gallon shark tank. There's only one pool and there's nothing exotic about the landscaping, but you can swim inches away from some very large sharks and other aquatic species. The pool is Olympic size. The three-story water slide is made of enclosed clear glass and takes you through the shark tank. There's a hot tub open until 2:00 a.m. and poolside blackjack. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. but seasonal. Daybeds and cabanas are $100.00 to $250.00 and up. The shark experience and the general upscale but relatively laid back atmosphere (sometimes uncrowded) put this pool in the top 10 Las Vegas pools.

10. The Rio
The Rio does a very good job with their pool area. Lots of palms trees, boulders and rocks and waterfalls. This is a pretty comfortable pool to lounge around at. One beach has a sand shore, and all of the four pools have waterfalls. There are five whirlpools in all. The entire pool area is wired with stereo speakers so the music never sounds far away and a live DJ is onboard Friday through Sunday. There's swim up gambling over the weekends and lifeguards are on duty. One pool, Sapphire Beach, is the Rio's spot for European style sunbathing. Admission is $10 for women all week. For men, $30 weekdays, and $50 weekends. This area has its own jacuzzi. In summer, Rio hosts weekly pool partys called Calor with a new guest VIP guest DJ each week. Cabana are $240 during the week and $480 weekends including Friday. The cabanas cost more in the Sapphire pool area. Two of the pools are heated and open year round. Rafts can be rented for $16 per day or only $8 after 1:00 p.m.. Pool hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Those are the Top 10 Las Vegas Pools. For honorablle mention, other notable Las Vegas pools are The Palms, The MGM Grand, The Wynn, Binions (roof top with a great view of the city at night).