The pools you spotted belong to the three Sky Villas at the Las Vegas Hilton, which were designed for Barron Hilton himself and were for many years available exclusively to the highest of the Hilton's high rollers. Several years ago they were then released into the hotel's public inventory, availability permitting (they get hired out regularly for private business functions, and so on), where, depending on how busy it is, they rent for anywhere from $7,000 to $17,000/night. Each has its own private outdoor rooftop pool (although they're not exactly Olympic-sized and only really for dipping).
The famous suites in the Mansion at MGM Grand which, like the Sky Villas, were for a long time kept exclusive and away from public eyes, are now occasionally available for public occupancy, if you have $5,000 or more per night to spend. Each one has a private indoor pool and hot tubs.
Bellagio features nine luxury accommodations called The Villas, which are among the most opulent high roller suites on The Strip. The smallest model is a 6,500-square-foot, two-bedroom/five-bathroom villa and each one, we understand, features a private terrace and garden with pool and whirlpool. These are available on a very limited basis and are by invitation only.
The Penthouse Suites at Palms Place each feature a private cantilevered clear-glass spa/pool (the bigger the suite, the bigger the "pool"). They start at $2,000/night for a one-bedroom on weekdays, going up to $9,000/night for the larger suites on the weekend. The legendary Hugh Hefner Sky Villa next door in the Palms' Fantasy Tower features a cantilevered Playboy Jacuzzi pool, with glass end wall overlooking the Strip below, which is yours to enjoy for the princely sum of $40,000/night (making it the most expensive suite in Las Vegas).
The five-star Tower side at Wynn Las Vegas features an exclusive Terrace pool for Tower guests only. When we called to check, a 1,200-square-foot one-room suite was $650/night.
The Bacchus Pool at Caesars Palace, part of the huge "Garden of the Gods" pool complex that debuted last summer, is a private pool reserved for invited guests, celebrities, or private parties only. It features two pools overlooking the rest of the Garden of the Gods, plus a hot tub and several cabanas offering butler service.
This surprisingly short list, in a city known for its over-the-top extravagance, comprises the only private/exclusive pools we were able to find. Calls to other likely suspects, including Venetian, Hard Rock, and Four Seasons all drew a blank; if anyone out there knows of a private pool we missed, please let us know and we'll add it to the list.
For details on those pools in town that are open to guests and non-guests alike (a list that's grown substantially this year, especially if you're a local), plus information about other amenities and offerings, like pool parties, topless sunbathing, concerts, and much more, check out our Cool Pools feature, which we'll be updating throughout the summer.
