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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 16, 2010

Summer pool scene is flashy, splashy


By Anthony Curtis

It's 90 degrees in Las Vegas — time to hit the pools.

The season runs from now all the way into October, and there are many options. Every resort in town has a pool, but several have taken the "day life" concept to higher levels, including the three big developments this year: at Encore, where a huge nightclub/pool concept has been designed to capture the spirit of Ibiza; Caesars Palace, with its new Garden of the Gods complex of eight pools; and Aria, with a new open-to-the-public pool called Liquid.

The scope of the pool scene is huge, but the following are starting points for what's out there.

TOPLESS POOLS: Caesars (Venus Pool Club); Encore (European/XS Pool); Flamingo (GO Pool); Golden Nugget; Mandalay Bay (Moorea Beach Club), Mirage (Bare Pool Lounge); Stratosphere (Beach Club 25); Venetian (TAO Beach); and Wynn (Sunset Pool).

BLACKJACK BY THE POOL: Caesars Palace, Encore, Encore Beach Club, Flamingo, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Mandalay Bay, Palms, Rio, Tropicana and Wynn.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: You don't have to be a hotel guest (though you usually have to pay an entrance fee) to visit the pools at Aliante Station, Aria, Caesars Palace (Venus), Flamingo (GO), Golden Nugget, GVR (The Pond), Hard Rock, M Resort (Daydream), Mandalay Bay (Moorea Beach), MGM Grand (Wet Republic), Mirage (Bare Pool Lounge), Red Rock (Cabana Club), Stratosphere (Beach Club 25) and Venetian (TAO Beach).

IVEY AT ARIA: The poker room at CityCenter's Aria has added an exclusive one-table high-limit area called the Ivey Room.

Named for seven-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Ivey, the room will offer some of the world's highest-limit poker games. The Ivey Room will debut May 22.

Q. What would rate as the absolute best low-cost show choice?

A. Mac King Comedy Magic at Harrah's. Mac has just completed 10 years on the Strip, which is further confirmation of this show's quality.

Showtimes are Tuesday to Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.

Tickets are $34.95.

Find out about Las Vegas shows, buffets and deals at www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.