Downtown Pools

Just spent a few days Downtown and got to checkout the different pools. Did a pool-crawl with my 7 year old while the Mrs was playing:

1. Golden Nugget
Easily the best pool and despite being 10 times larger than any other was still the most crowded. Must have been 500 people there. It is however super cool. Great 3 story slide through the shark tank and you FLY down that slide. Great ride. Third floor pool just for adults was a cool looking pool area and that pool alone beat out the others downtown. Lots of music, waterfalls and plenty of drinks and food. We spent 4 hours here!
CONS: Good luck getting a seat!

2. Plaza
This was the second biggest pool (large square pool). Lots of chairs with about 50 people hanging out at the pool. There is a bar and food service from the Cafe and Pizza joints. Music playing and a cool view of Fremont street. The kid and I liked it and he hung out for an hour. LOTS of potential if they added a spa tub/plants/shade.
CONS: Pool was a good few degrees cooler than GN which on a 82 degree day made a difference!

3. Binions
Best view up on the 50th floor. Smaller pool than Plaza but warmer. Unfortunately it was closing for a wedding so we only got about 5 minutes up there but we were the only ones! No food, but there was a small bar (closed). No music.
CONS: Closed!


4. The D
Basically in the parking lot! Yuck.... Didn't go in.... No bar, no music, no food.
CONS: It's in the car park!!!!

5. The Cal
On the 13th floor, very small pool (I've been in bigger baths!) and it was freezing! Completely unheated. Save for one of those 100 degree days! There were about 10 people there, lots of chairs but no towels! We stayed 5 mins then left. No music, no bar, vending machine.
CONS: After 5 minutes in water you go blue....

Interesting! Thank you for that report!

RecVPPlayer

Nice!! Did you have to show a key card or pay a cover to get into the GN pool?
I have always liked the Plaza pool. Big enough to meet the needs of a pool but not out of control and was it easy to get there as well?

Thanks!
Marko..

Do all of these pools have nearby restrooms? The reason I ask, is because if they dont, many people will just relieve themselves in the pool. Then there are those who will relieve themselves in the pool even if the restrooms are nearby.

All pools did have restrooms and all had showers.

I had a room at the GN so just showed a key card to get in.

Note on the thrid floor pool at GN. It's called The Hideout. You do have to pay for seating, but the pro is that you can reserve in advance, and it is suggested. The day we went, Sat. May 19th it was entirely presold. We had made reservation, so we got in. Nice adult setting, no kids. The lounge chairs cost $20 each. Don't know how much regular chairs, daybeds or cabanas cost.

Poll is long rectangle with one side being glass. There are areas of pool you can sit and they even have padded head rests there.

Drink and food service was great. Waitress will even find you in pool and deliver your drink. Only real con is there is only a single bathroom for men and a single bathroom for women, so there's always a line for both.

And keep your wristband on..........at least on Saturdays, you can go back to the Hideout until 1am!

Nice review.

Love the view from Binions. Boy how that view has changed over the last 40+ years. They never used that pool to it's full advantage IMO. It should have a full bar and a little more pop. But still. . . that view!

Tommy, I agree with you.
Also noted would be the Pool on top of the Riviera they never used.
As well As the pool that is now Oscar's at the Plaza, would have been fun to be in.
And lets not forget the Glass Bottom Pool on the South end of the Strip.