Las Vegas is hot in the summer, as you have probably heard. You have also heard that it is a dry heat, as if that is some relief when it's 118 degrees outside.
Thankfully, it has always been hot here, and we aren't the first people to deal with the problem. Previous generations saw an early need for swimming infrastructure, and now more than 200,000 pools dot the Las Vegas Valley. While most are residential, more than 2,000 concrete swimming holes exist for commercial purposes, and you can access a lot of them.
Whether you're looking for a quiet morning by the pool or instant heat relief in the afternoon, plenty of options exist within walking distance of the WSOP. You'll need to be a guest for some of them, but we have something for everyone in Las Vegas.
Horseshoe — Blu Pool
- Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week
- Cost: Free
If you're staying on-site at the WSOP, the Horseshoe provides a decent option that is off the beaten path from the crowded hallways and Strip crowds. You'll need to head all the way downstairs to the food court area and proceed toward the Monorail, where you'll find Blu Pool after a few twists and turns.
The pool is open every day from 9am to 5pm, and access is open to everyone. You can rent a daybed or a cabana in advance to sit by a large main pool surrounded by palm trees. It's not a fancy pool, but it's usually not that crowded, and it sits in a quiet spot just off the strip.
Paris — Pool à Paris
- Hours: 9am to 6 pm, seven days a week
- Cost: Free for guests
The Paris pool is another one of the Caesars family of aquatic oases, this one a two-acre rooftop pool with the vibes of a French garden and a great view of the fake Eiffel Tower. Lounge chairs, cabanas, and exclusive villas are all available, and it's another pool set away from the big crowds of The Strip. You can even reserve the Martha Stewart Villa, which comes with cookies.
You'll need to find the hotel elevators at Paris and proceed to the third floor. Signs will take you the rest of the way. Try the Beer Goggles Cabana package, which offers 48 beers for $500.
Flamingo — Go Pool
- Hours: 9 am to 6 pm, seven days a week (Both pools)
- Cost: Free
The recently renovated Flamingo Go Pool is back to full strength with five pools, live music, and the famous giant swim-up bar. Flamingo's pool is open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis, with opportunities to grab a cabana if you want to reserve ahead of time. You can also enjoy a Family Pool if you have guests under 21.
The menu is robust, including the same Beer Goggles special you can find at Paris, as well as a Wedding Party special that includes a bottle, mixers, water, and 24 beers for $750. If you are looking for an extra special day, consider the custom DJ shout-out for $50.
The Go Pool is located in the rear of the resort, near the Monorail entrance. Follow the signs for the outdoor exhibit, and the pool will be nearby.
Other options
Hundreds of other pools exist, though they may not be in walking distance of the WSOP when it's more than 110 degrees.
MGM Grand — More than 6 acres of MGM Grand property are used for four pools, waterfalls, and a lazy river. You will need to be a guest to use the Grand Pool complex.
Mandalay Bay — This one has it all. A lazy river, a lagoon, and a giant wave pool. This is probably as close as you are going to get to a water park experience since Wet n' Wild closed in 2004.
Off the strip
Public pools — If you are more into lap swimming or you want to relax away from the tourist mayhem, Las Vegas offers several public pools throughout the valley. They're all reasonably priced, with $3 admission and a $15 monthly pass.
Municipal Pool (431. E. Bonanza) offers an indoor lap pool, three diving boards, and a fitness room with lockers near downtown Las Vegas. Near the WSOP, Garside Pool (250 S. Torrey Pines Dr.) has a lap pool, diving board, and water slides.
UNLV — If you're looking for some serious laps, UNLV's Natatorium has a 50-meter indoor pool with diving boards. The facility is open every day from 6am to 6pm, with slightly shorter hours on weekends. You can also invite 1,200 of your friends to watch from its stadium seating. Day passes are available for just $10.
Image courtesy of UNLV.
