Vegas Q&A: What Are The Best Hotel Pools On The Strip?
UPDATED: 4:40 p.m. EDT May 14, 2004
Question: I've written before and you've always been so
helpful, I want to say thanks for that and also to tell you again
that I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!! Keep up the good work!
I was wondering -- can you give a rating for the pools at some of
the hotels on The Strip? I'm most interested in Treasure Island,
Monte Carlo, Paris, MGM and Bellagio's pools -- but any that you'd
like to give an opinion on would be terrific.
Lisa in Lowell, Mass.
Answer: Hey, Lisa! You're just sucking up to get published
in the column aren't you? Well it worked!
Pools... well, I'm not much of a lounge-around-the-pool kind of
guy. I get bored. But it is true that not all Vegas pools are
created equally.
Of the ones you mentioned, Treasure Island's is probably the most attractive
with lots of landscaping but it is a bit on the small side. Monte Carlo and MGM Grand are huge affairs with multiple places to
swim, lazy river rides, and other water themed attractions. That's
both good and bad depending on how you want to look at it. I
consider it a downside because it does draw a lot of kids, making a
peaceful poolside cocktail very difficult. Bellagio's pool area is beautiful in a very
upscale, classical kind of way but I've never been a big fan of it --
construction happening with the new hotel tower nearby probably
isn't helping right now. The Paris pool area is one of my least favorites
as it is located on the casino roof, in the shadow of the hotel and
Eiffel tower, and has always felt a little barren to me.
My favorite pool areas are the lush tropical wonderlands at The Mirage and Flamingo, the beautiful landscaping and amazing
views at the Ritz Carlton and Green Valley Ranch (although construction there is
an issue right now as well), and even the over-the-top audacity of
Mandalay Bay with its giant wave pool and sandy
beach and Caesars Palace with the Roman garden theme gone
mad.
My least favorites are at New York-New York (too close to the parking
garage, driveway, and roller coaster); Luxor (gigantic but not a lick of shade to be
found); Exalibur and Circus Circus (lots of families with kids); and
the older places like Sahara and Imperial Palace that have little to offer.
I hope all this helps - thanks for the compliments and the
question.
If you have a question you'd like to submit, click here.
Answer: Hey, Lisa! You're just sucking up to get published
in the column aren't you? Well it worked!
Pools... well, I'm not much of a lounge-around-the-pool kind of
guy. I get bored. But it is true that not all Vegas pools are
created equally.
Of the ones you mentioned, Treasure Island's is probably the most attractive
with lots of landscaping but it is a bit on the small side. Monte Carlo and MGM Grand are huge affairs with multiple places to
swim, lazy river rides, and other water themed attractions. That's
both good and bad depending on how you want to look at it. I
consider it a downside because it does draw a lot of kids, making a
peaceful poolside cocktail very difficult. Bellagio's pool area is beautiful in a very
upscale, classical kind of way but I've never been a big fan of it --
construction happening with the new hotel tower nearby probably
isn't helping right now. The Paris pool area is one of my least favorites
as it is located on the casino roof, in the shadow of the hotel and
Eiffel tower, and has always felt a little barren to me.
My favorite pool areas are the lush tropical wonderlands at The Mirage and Flamingo, the beautiful landscaping and amazing
views at the Ritz Carlton and Green Valley Ranch (although construction there is
an issue right now as well), and even the over-the-top audacity of
Mandalay Bay with its giant wave pool and sandy
beach and Caesars Palace with the Roman garden theme gone
mad.
My least favorites are at New York-New York (too close to the parking
garage, driveway, and roller coaster); Luxor (gigantic but not a lick of shade to be
found); Exalibur and Circus Circus (lots of families with kids); and
the older places like Sahara and Imperial Palace that have little to offer.
I hope all this helps - thanks for the compliments and the
question.
If you have a question you'd like to submit, click here.
This Week's Trivia
Q: The new Wynn Las Vegas will be the most expensive hotel ever built. At over $2 billion it works to around $625,000 for every room in the hotel. Prior to this, which Vegas hotel had the highest room to cost ratio? ANSWER The Weekly Trivia Question is sponsored by the Online Memorabilia Museum at Vegas4Visitors.comThe Full Story
-
Big Plans For Historic Downtown Las Vegas Building
Lucky 7 List: 7 Cool Things To Do In Vegas This Summer
Big Changes Downtown: 'New Nugget, Plaza To Expand
Vegas Q&A: What Are The Best Hotel Pools On The Strip?
Vegas Q&A: What Are Odds Of Winning Progressive Slots?
