since when is 1/2 mile major walking? i just came back from a 2 mile walk and could walk more.

Go, Stephanie! ;-) Now don't go putting all us "mature" gals to shame. :)

For your group, without a doubt, stay at the Wynn. No contest.

bayou:

I'm 41 not exactly a youngster.

A pool was a big consideration for my husband and myself. We were there in June. We also were not interested in being with many children. The Mirage was by far the best pool I had the opportunity to visit. I didn't see the Wynn or Belagio and the hotel was out of my price range. There is a childrens pool at the Mirage which helps. It has a tropical feel to it with a winding pool and a great waterfall. There are also many trees for shade. We loved the Pool at the Mirage, and would highly recommend it if a pool is a consideration. The location is good as well. You can hop on the bus to get around. We also didn't have a car but found this location fine for all purposes. We did see the Flamingo hotel which was a top contender and it is not as it was in its day or the pictures depict it to be. I would have been dissapointed if I would have stayed there. The rooms at the Mirage are fine we were upgraded to a volcano view which is not worth paying extra $$$.

Let us know how the girls' week-end goes!! Next year, I'll be joining my old gang of friends from high school for a similar trip.
I can walk for miles in some places, but Vegas isn't one of them. I was there for a convention held in August at the MGM Grand, but stayed at the Luxor (whose rooms were not very impressive and that whole inclinator stuff was way overhyped). On paper, the distance between the two spots didn't look bad, but the reality of slogging back and forth between them in heels, business dress and stockings was exhausting. After the first two days, we quit hoofing it and took taxis.

Love the Mirage pool. Tropical and plenty of shade. We also enjoyed breakfast outside in the poolside restaurant. You might want to look into the cost for the Tower rooms at the Mirage. A suite in the tower might make more sense than separate rooms, and the club floor has snacks all day long.

Bugswife1,

Me too! I LOVED the Mirage pool it was the best!!! I saw Monte Carlo, New York New York, MGM's and flamingo, nad Mandalay Bay and I was pleased with my choice. I tried to check out Wynn and the veneitian Pools but you needed to be a hotel guest to go up the elevator. Mandalay Bay is very off the beaten path. I would also think since it has the wave pool it would attract more children. The Mirage was totally Awesome!! Good Drinks poolside.

I hesitate to advise five women in the prime of life on their own for a weekend in Vegas as I'm a guy in my verrry late 40s (if early 50s counts as very late 40s) who has always been there with my spouse (we have a great time and go to visit our money 2-3 times a year), but here goes. I've never stayed at the Mirage, but the pool is supposed to be nice. I have stayed at the Flamingo many times, and the pool area is beautiful. They have music geared toward a young crowd pool side most nights. I couldn't recommend paying extra for just a strip view at the Flamingo, especially a lower or middle floor - it was just not that special. The views of the pool area are all very nice. Once we requested a room on the Flamingo Road side toward the front corner (the strip) on an upper floor. That gets you a good view of the Bellagio fountains. Oddly, the bathrooms are slightly larger in the rooms in the north wing, however. Compared to the other casinos, the Flamingo has great location, lower price, a great pool, and a decent mid priced buffet with the most entertaining view of any buffet - overlooking their wildlife habitat with flamingos and swans and other birds and waterfalls and koi swimming around. The rooms are just nice hotel rooms. We walk all around that corner, Ballys (connected by tunnel to Paris), Bellagio, Caesars Palace, even in the heat (it will be hot, but you'll experience the wonders of a negative heat index because of the low humidity - drink lots of water). A long shot as to accomodations - If you know someone who owns a timeshare at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at the Flamingo, which is just across the Flamingo pool area, you might ask if they can get you a one bedroom or two bedroom apartment on an open season reservation. Those are unreserved units available only to owners for cash rental starting 30 days before the date. A one bedroom (full kitchen, living room with sleeper sofa and separate bedroom) goes for $80 weekday and $100 weekend. A two bedroom (same plus another bedroom and bath) goes for $100 weekdays and $120 weekends). Only an owner can make the reservation, and it's pot luck, whatever is available. You can check them out at hiltongrandvacations.com. As to taxis - we take taxis all the time & don't bother to rent a car any more unless we are driving outside the city. You will wait for a taxi when shows are getting out, but for us that's better than driving on the strip and parking in remote hotel garages which is no fun at all. Last trip we also got 24 hour passes for the new double decker buses that go up and down the stip, all the way downtown, for $5.00. They are new and clean and fun and great for sightseeing. Good luck, don't wait too long make a hotel reservation & have a wonderful time.

Labonds;

Food for thought. My 30 yr old daughter and her "old" college friends like to do Vegas getaways whenever possible. They are all west coast girls and they swear by the Hard Rock Hotel, they say it has the best pool in Vegas. I get the impression the Hard Rock is more of a younger crowd. I just read in the Sunday Travel Section that they have a swim up blackjack table right in the pool.

It is not on the strip however.