Question of the Day - 15 April 2014

Although some of the hardcore party joints (typically, the ones you’re less interested in) have already been open for a month, for the mainstream scene, it’s still a wee bit early in the season for a full round-up; we literally started our annual pool update late last week, and we’re still getting "call back in a couple of weeks" responses from some places.

However, that said we can give an updated repeat of a similar question we addressed last year, and we’ll broaden and deepen the picture with more specifics as the season rolls into full swing, which will happen between now and Memorial Day (formerly the traditional start of pool season, before all this "daylife" shenanigans took over).

Since we are typically chained to our desk here day and night, we confess (as we did last time around) that we haven’t actually been to a pool in awhile (not even our own!), so what follows will be a combination of some prior personal experience, plus reports from trusted third parties, some hearsay, and a touch of common sense/guesswork. If any reader feels we’ve missed the mark on anything that follows, please drop us a line and we’ll investigate/update as appropriate.

That whole daylife explosion means that these days, the pools pull names just as big as the clubs do -- the lineup at last weekend’s launch of Rehab at Hard Rock was Robin Thicke followed by Flo Rida -- and often a resident star DJ will play at a different pool during the day, then hit his club at night. It’s like a game of musical turntables out there and some scenes get really wild (witness the unfortunate drunk drowning that has already occurred this year, and it’s sadly not the first in the city’s history).

So, that’s what you’re not looking for and we’d advise you to steer clear of the likes of Hard Rock, Wet Republic at MGM Grand, Liquid at Aria, Palms Pool, TAO Beach, and Daydream at M, which are all generally catering to a raucous younger crowd. We feel you and understand that vibe you seek, however, and the good news is that it should be attainable at several venues. We have not yet verified which of these will be open to non-guests for the 2014 season however (again, it’s too early, and policies in place right now often don’t hold true once the summer heats up, so call before making a special trip if you’re not staying at the property whose pool you wish to visit):

• If you’re up for catching good current music and a fun, sexy ("toptional"), but more mature and less outrageous crowd, Artisan’s Naked Pool is off-Strip and intimate, with comfy daybeds and cabanas. It vacillates on the guest-only policy and we’re not sure what their plan is yet for this summer.

• Gossip, the pool at Artisan’s sister property Rumor is, like Naked, a smallish and intimate set-up, but it’s not topless and the hotel is both dog- and gay- friendly, so you know it’s a fun spot!

• Like Naked at Artisan, Bare Pool Lounge at the Mirage is topless (although in general none of the topless pools we’ve been to feature much toplessness) and the last time we were there it featured a broad span of ages (20s through 50s) having fun, chilling out, enjoying cocktails and music, but not getting stupid (aside from that porn star and her companion, who were ejected from the pool...). You didn’t have to shout to converse with your neighbor, but the cocktails were flowing and people were there to have fun, as opposed to curling up with a magazine or catching a nap, shall we say.

• Cosmopolitan has a cool pool complex, and we’ve heard good things about Marquee Dayclub, which is the most party-centric of the three. If it’s too hectic, retreat to the mellower Boulevard Pool.

• Mandalay Bay is famous for its white sand and wave machines, and it’s definitely an awesome pool if you’re looking for water activities. There’s a poolside casino, plus the option of retreating, for a hefty fee, to the more refined atmosphere of Moorea Beach Club (topless).

• It was only in the past couple of years that Bally’s renamed its facility the Blu Pool and opened it up to the public (for a $10 cover). It boasts the deepest (12 feet) deep end in town, is adjacent to the race and sports book, and has DJs, but the official website describes the ambiance as "serene."

• Caesars Palace has a massive pool complex which literally features something for everyone, from swim-up blackjack, to DJs, to adult-only chill zones, plus it’s home to Las Vegas first-ever topless pool (the Venus Pool, run by Pure nightclub). We figure you’re bound to find something that suits your mood at the Garden of the Gods (note that Venus Pool may have a separate cover charge, since it’s operated by an outside third party).

• Last year, Stratosphere’s "8" was open to hotel guests only, which was a shame and a policy we hope they’ll reverse this year, since it’s another pool that’s not as crazy as Rehab, but still features lots of fun activities including beer pong, poolside blackjack, volleyball, and so on. Give ’em a call if you fancy checking it out and see if you can chat your way in if they’re not open to non-guests. It often works, especially if you’re female.

• Lastly, if you’re downtown, you can’t go wrong with "The Tank at the Golden Nugget, which is another of those, "something for everyone" set-ups, including an aquarium and shark tank (that you can slide through the middle of!), poolside gaming, a small discreet topless area, lots of lounging opportunities, and an adult-only pool -- The Hideout -- on the third-level upper deck. The Tank is almost always open to non-guests, albeit for a fee (usually $20).

We hope that’s given you some ideas and again, we welcome any additional feedback or suggestions from pool habitués, so drop us a line if you’re among them!

A reader writes: "Didn't know if it was because you'd rather not mention the Wynn properties [Ed: No, we have nothing against Wynn, we just know that all their pools have a strict guest-only policy, even if poolside gaming is offered], but the Sunset pool at Wynn is our favorite spot - and we are in our early 50s. Outdoor gaming, great music, topless option. Big bonus is the food at the outdoor grill. Nothing better in Vegas."