I've already read through the last 250 posts or so in Nevada looking for info on the pools in Vegas. We were going to consider Mandalay Bay for the pool area, but now I'm hearing it's quite a trek to mid-strip / action. We will be 5 girls and won't have a car, so we'd probably need TWO cabs, which I'm assuming will be a pain. We'd like to be in walking distance of the cool hotels to check out, the various casinos, shopping, dining etc.

Anyway, of the mid-strip hotels, we are looking for the BEST POOL AREA (but we also want a nice overall hotel and rooms too!)

Have been hearing: Mirage, Ceasars...

Any info on these AND other hotels to consider would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Pool for what ages? Major factor in decision.

For adults -- the Wynn is by far the best.

For children -- Mandalay.

Mirage is okay/good for both.

Hi labonds..
I second the Wynn..just got back today and new is so key in Vegas and their pool is stunning and the rooms and the proximity to other hotels/shopping mall is perfect and deals are to be had right now..
wynnlasvegas.com or maybe expedia.com
Have fun..

Haven't been to the Wynn yet but I would say the Mirage.

Mandalay Bay has a fantastic pool but it is last hotel on the south side of the strip and it is a trek (or cab ride) to the main section of the strip.

labonds,

Vegas is NOT a town for walking! My philosophy about Vegas is "Everything is further away than it looks and you can't get there from here". From the door of the Bellagio Hotel to the street (i.e., the Strip) is probably a haf a mile.

IMHO rent a midsize sedan. I just came back from Vegas on Monday. There was free parking in all the hotel garages. I think in the it will save you money.

It's possible to take cabs without too huge a hassle, but you're right to consider location. I don't mind walking, but if you're visiting in the hotter months, walking is a pretty bad option.

Wynn: I love Wynn, but it's north strip, with a location only a bit better than Mandalay.

Flamingo: perfect location and a very good pool. However, the hotel is old and somewhat worn. The rooms, resetaurants, and casino are nothing special. I've stayed there a few times, and will stay there again - but it's not in the same class as a place like the Mandalay.

Mirage: very nice pool, very nice hotel, with the common areas recently redone to appeal to a young crowd. It's a little north of The Flamingo, but still in a good location. However, the standard rooms are small compared to the Mandalay, and the standard bathroom is very small indeed. If there are several people in a room, upgrade at least to the Tower Room (I think that's the name - it's the same as the standard room, but with a big bathroom).

The Mirage has a great pool (very Hawaiian/tropical feel to it). The location of the Mirage makes it very easy to go in either direction so you can walk to just about anyplace along the strip. Standard rooms are good sized (we stay at the Mirage a couple of times a year). Bathrooms are smallish in the standard rooms but there is a vanity outside the bathroom for extra space. They do have rooms with larger bathrooms but they cost more. Lots of stuff going on in the hotel (restuarants, bars, nightclub and all recently renovated - the rooms get renovated starting in 2007).

Since you are not specifying a budget here it's hard to recommend anything other then my own preferences.

The Mandalay Bay is a nice hotel - but it is too far down the strip for us, it's ok if you are not going to leave the hotel.

Wynn's is overrated I think. It's new so it's "in" right now. This is just my opinion tho.

Ceasar's is too big, you walk forever in there. It's fun to visit the Shops at the Forum tho, don't miss that.

Taking cabs back and forth gets expensive, but you can split the fares with 5 of you. Alot of cabs in Vegas (actually almost all) are Vans so perhaps all 5 of you would fit. I am not sure if there are rules about that. When I've been there with 3 other friends all 4 of us went in one cab.

I agree the pool at the Mirage is nice, but it's a zoo. Chairs are lined up one after another. If you don't get there when they open and stake out a spot, you'll be lucky to get anything at all. The pool area at the Bellagio is much nicer IMO.

unless you are fussy about the room (which you won't be in much) i would go with the flamingo and pay a bit extra to get a strip view room. also ask for one of the newly renovated rooms. the pool area is really nice and the location of the hotel can't be beat.
second choice, i'd go with mirage.
as long as you are all in decent shape, you can walk most anywhere without having to use cabs. if i stay at center strip (flamingo) i usually head one direction for one day/night and then head the other direction for the next day/night. cuts down the amount of walking somewhat.

I'd have to agree with the others that the Mirage offers the best combination of location, pool, and overall niceness of the hotel and rooms. It can get very crowded, but if you can afford it, you can try to rent a cabana for the day ($200-250).

Caesars is very nice as well, but the hotel is a bit more expensive. They also have a topless pool area, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

You all can take 1 cab together, they put you into a mini van which allows 5 passengers. You may have to wait a little longer if no mini vans are in the cab line, but typically it is only a few minutes before ones rolls around (if they are not already there of course). The Flamingo has a nice pool and is center Strip, also the Mirage has a very nice tropical pool, same good center Strip location.

Pool for adults or children? It makes a big difference.

Also, from my experience, location on the Strip isn't important. It's not like you're going to walk in the 110 degree heat. Distances are much farther than they look on a map.

Caesars.

We've stayed at THEhotel at Mandelay. It was new so we got a great deal. The pool is great at Mandelay, but it's way to far down on one end to walk the strip, although reasonably close to a few great casinos. We walked to/from Bellagio and that was more than enough in the desert heat, even at night. The Wynn was not quite completed while we were there, but as TahitiTams said, new is everything in Vegas. So try the Wynn--you might even find a great deal!

Caesar's pool is GREAT if your group is adults. Their pools offer nothing, like water slides, for children, but they do have lots of cabanas for rent and a topless bathing area. They also have a HUGE hot tub!

You really can't beat Caesar's center-Strip location!

Wow - thanks everyone for the great response!

We are 5 female adults - celebrating our 10th college reunion year. So we don't care about "kids" pool stuff, just a nice pool and atmosphere for adults.

We are going Aug 24 - 27 so it's going to be scorching as I can imagine (however my husband just returned from his "guys" weekend and said the heat doesn't feel as bad as it does here in Atlanta but it's so darn humid here!)

I also learned about the minivan cabs, and he said that they cabbed it all over. As many of you mentioned, things are further apart than they appear!

We don't have a budget set exactly, but we'll know when it gets to be too much. We found the following prices (avg) per night on Expedia last week:

OOPS. Here they are:
Luxor $136
Aladdin $142
Treasure Island $152
NY NY $152
Paris $174
MGM Grand $187
Mirage $195
Mandalay Bay $223
Ceasars Palace $243
Bellagio $272

We didn't look any higher than the 272 / Bellagio rate so I guess that's where the WYNN fell.

If we plan to take cabs, then maybe location isn't that big of a deal anyway? Arg! I don't know....

HI..
If you want no kids then I would do either the Wynn, Bellagio, The Hotel at Mandalay or Ceasars..
Kids will be a huge issue on most of the other hotels because it is the last weekend before Labor Day..
Nothing more obnoxious then screaming kids all day long..
We payed $119 a night but that might be because we always stay there but if you can get a 2 bedroom suite that would work out perfectly for all you girls..
The minivan cabs fit 5+ and it is cheap and you can always get a cab..
It was over 110 degrees but it is a dry heat.. the monsoons might be moving in while you are there and kick up the humidity..
You will not want to walk really anywhere in the heat, except to the pool.
Overall, you are going to have a blast but go more higher end..it will pay off for all of you in the end..

You might consider Priceline. I'd also consider renting a car (they're pretty inexpensive in Vegas). Reason being, cabs on the strip can be a hassle. I was there recently during the week and off peak time and had to wait 20 minutes to catch a cab (each time). Next time I go, I'm renting a car. Regardless, have fun!

Mandalay Bay, of course.