Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

MID-STRIP 95
Tips
So Your Trip Goes Swimmingly . . .
Part of the delight of the Vegas resort complexes is the gorgeous
pools—what could be better for beating the summer heat? But there
are pools and there are pools, so you’ll need to keep several things in
mind when searching for the right one for you.
During the winter, it’s often too cold or windy to do much lounging,
and even if the weather is amenable, the hotels often close part of
their pool areas during winter and early spring. The pools are also not
heated for the most part, but in fairness, they largely don’t need to be.
Most hotel pools are shallow, chest-high at best, only about 3-feet
deep in many spots (the hotels want you gambling, not swimming).
Diving is impossible—not that a single pool allows it anyway.
And finally, during those hot days, be warned that sitting by pools
next to heavily windowed buildings such as The Mirage and Treasure
Island will allow you to experience the same thing a bug does under a
magnifying glass with a sun ray directed on it. Regardless of time of
year, be sure to slather on the sunscreen; there’s a reason you see so
many unhappy lobster-red people roaming the streets. Many pool
areas don’t offer much in the way of shade. On the other hand, if your
tan line is important to you, head for Caesars or Mandalay Bay, which
both have topless sunbathing areas where you can toast even more
flesh than at the other hotels.
At any of the pools, you can rent cabanas (which often include TVs,
special lounge chairs, and even better poolside service), but these
should be reserved as far in advance as possible, and with the exception
of the Four Seasons, where they are complimentary, most cost a
hefty fee. If you are staying at a chain hotel, you will most likely find
an average pool, but if you want to spend some time at a better one,
be aware that most of the casino-hotel pool attendants will ask to see
your room key. If they are busy, you might be able to sneak in, or at
least, blend in with a group ahead of you.
erupts every 15 minutes, spewing fire 100 feet above the lagoons below. To be
honest, it’s not very volcano-like; if you’ve seen any of the lava-saturated volcano
movies, you’ll be disappointed. Instead of lava flow, expect a really neat light
show, and you won’t mind a bit. (In passing, that volcano cost $30 million,
which is equal to the entire original construction cost for Caesars next door.)
The lobby is dominated by a 53-foot, 20,000-gallon simulated coral-reef aquarium
stocked with more than 1,000 colorful tropical fish. This gives you something
to look at while waiting (never for long) for check-in.
Next, you’ll walk through the rainforest, which occupies a 90-foot domed
atrium—a path meanders through palms, banana trees, waterfalls, and serene
pools. If we must find a complaint with The Mirage, it’s with the next bit, as you
have to negotiate 8 miles (or so it seems) of casino mayhem to get to your room,
the pool, food, or the outside world. It gets old, fast. (On the other hand, the
sundries shop is located right next to the guest-room elevators, so if you forgot
toothpaste, you don’t have to travel miles to get more.)