New Years in Vegas

Spending New Years Eve in Vegas is something everyone should do once.

Unless you do not like crowds.

New Years Eve is one of the most crowded days to be Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see whether the economy will impact the New Years Eve party in Vegas.

Want fireworks?

At midnight a spectacular fireworks show, coordinated with a musical soundtrack, will launch from eight ground locations along Las Vegas Blvd. from Mandalay Bay, Luxor, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island/Mirage, Las Vegas Convention Center, Stratosphere and Fremont Street Experience.

Want stars?

Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Fergie (from the Black Eyed Peas) performs live at The Venetian and The Palazzo before heading to LAVO nightclub to take on duties as celebrity host. At the Playboy Club in the Palms, Kid Rock, will host and DJ the 2009 New Year's Eve celebration following his live performance at the Pearl Concert Theater while AKON rocks the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Pink will turn up the heat at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The Kardashian Sisters will host a party at LAX inside Luxor, while Carmen Electra hosts the annual bash at Tao inside The Venetian. In addition to the street party outside, Las Vegas Blvd. morphs into a celebrity block party within Strip nightclubs. Usher celebrates all night at The Bank in Bellagio, while Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz party at PURE next door in Caesars Palace. Just on the other side of Caesars, JET at The Mirage rings in the New Year with New Kids on the Block, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, while hit reality-stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt host festivities at Christian Audigier at TI. The newest nightclub to hit Las Vegas, XS at Encore, is sure to please New Year's crowds with 40,000 square feet of party space.

Getting around

With thousands of revelers descending upon The Strip for New Year's Eve, the Las Vegas Monorail will be the only form of public transportation available because Las Vegas Blvd. will be closed to traffic. The Monorail offers visitors a convenient option to and from the city's hottest spots safely, quickly and efficiently. On New Year's Eve, the system will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.

General tips
1. Eat early - You WILL be waiting in line for everything.
2. Bring a jacket - It snowed in Las Vegas for only the second time that I remember (because I was there both times). It's December and it can get cold.
3. Park and walk - It's probably the only day of the year that you have to pay for parking unless you are a hotel guest. So leave the car in your hotel parking lot or pay $10 to $20 bucks to park and walk to where you need to go. But once you park, leave it until you are ready to go home.
4. Stay the extra day - The airport will be in chaos. The hotel check out will be in chaos. If you stay on the Jan. 1, you can watch the bowl games and the town will go back to normal.
5. You can still get a room for NYE now if you move. Look on different hotel websites for the rates. If you are driving to Vegas, you can still get a room and have a blast.

Memorial Day pool time

(note: This was written for Orbitz Travel Blog and may be posted there in the near future in some form. I look forward to writing more for them.)

Memorial Day is considered the first day of summer and that is very true when it comes to the Las Vegas pool scene. Beginning on Memorial Day, hotel pools in Vegas become the place to go during the day. Whether your body is toned or not, everyone goes and loves the pool to beat the Vegas heat.

One general tip: If you have a group and you want to sit together, hit the pool early if you want to get a lounge chair. This applies even more if you are in town on the weekend or a holiday. If you go late, you will be lucky to get one. Either go as a group or assign one or two people to go early and reserve chairs.

Best all-around: MGM Grand Pool Complex. At six acres, it has four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls, lazy river, bar, . According to their website, at least three will be open every day at 8 a.m. during the summer and the “Backlot River”, opens at 9 a.m. Negatives: Crowds. The MGM is the biggest hotel in Vegas and a LOT of people will venture to the pool area.

Best family pool: Flamingo. Truthfully, I love this pool. It has four pools, two jacuzzis, and water slides with a kiddy pool over 15 acres. It's designed to be a tropical paradise. Very picturesque. This is the pool where you will find me the most. You might also spot a wedding or two at the pool if you go early in the morning or at sunset. Negatives: According to the Flamingo website, a hotel room key is required for entry before 1 p.m. So it could become crowded with locals and people staying elsewhere in Vegas.

Best pool party: Hard Rock Hotel, Rehab Sundays. This is where the beautiful people hang out all day Sunday. The party takes over the pool at the off-strip Hard Rock. The line to get in Rehab can be long, but it is the best party in Vegas on Sundays. There are other hotels who are adopting the “pool as a nightclub” strategy: Tao Beach at Venetian, Ditch Fridays at Palms, Bare at Mirage are examples. Tip: Check to see what is happening at the pool in your hotel. Including cost and times. For example, Rehab is free for individuals staying at the Hard Rock.

My suggestions are just that. There are a lot of good pool options all over Vegas. If the hotel pool is important to you, check it out online before booking your stay.

One final tip: Hotel pools are not public pools. If you are not staying in that hotel, you might have to pay an admission fee to get in. So if there is a pool you want to go to, call the hotel and ask for the pool and check on the admission fee.

Summer Concerts and pool openings

The best reason to go to Vegas in the summer is the pool scene at different hotels. When I stayed at the Hard Rock, I got an unexpected surprise as MTV shot a live concert from the great pool at HRH. The topper was a performance from my favorite singer, Shakira. So in Vegas, you can get a tan while enjoying live music by some of the top artists in the world.

So when you are looking at hotels, also look at who will be performing. The 2008 lineup, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority, includes Kanye West and Smashmouth.

One of the first pools to introduce European-style sunbathing to Las Vegas, Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay, is still beaconing sun worshipers. Also offering this poolside perk to visitors are the GO Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas, and BARE at The Mirage, which also invite guests to let go of their inhibitions and say goodbye to those pesky tan lines.

The newest aquatic destination to open in Las Vegas is WET REPUBLIC. Opening in April, WET REPUBLIC is a 53,000 square-foot ultra pool at MGM Grand featuring the only two saltwater pools on The Strip. In addition to the main pool area is an open-air ultra lounge featuring signature cocktails, premium bottle and pitcher service and sophisticated cuisine. A sundeck will transform into a stage that will host renowned DJs and entertainers.

TAO Beach, located on the roof of TAO Nightclub at The Venetian, is hosting its second pool season beginning April 18. In addition to cabanas featuring high-definition plasma televisions, X-box consoles, iPod and DVD rentals, guests enjoy poolside manicures, pedicures, massages and order an exotic meal from the menu at TAO Asian Bistro.

Last summer, Mandalay Bay Beach completed a $30 million expansion with the Beachside Casino, the first of its kind on The Strip. Home to the Beach Bar & Grill, it also features climate-controlled beachside gaming and a range of cabanas atop the three-story casino. The Villas Soleil offer exclusive amenities and a spectacular view of Mandalay Bay Beach.

Some of the hottest pool parties are happening off the Las Vegas Strip. The Palms Pool & Bungalows returns with Ditch Fridays beginning in May. Hosted by resident DJ Skribble of MTV fame, the parties feature live performances, fashion shows, prize giveaways and more. The three-acre paradise consists of three pools, four outdoor bars, a separate dining area, waterfalls and lavish cabanas.

The always popular Rehab at Hard Rock Pool and Beach Club returns for its fifth season. In this adult beach-club atmosphere, floating palapas become dance floors with the music of famous deejays like Tiesto, Jonathan Peters and Scooter & Lavelle. Party-goers enjoy the Beach Bar & Grill or placing a bet right along the water's edge at the gaming tables. Note: Rehab takes over the pool at the Hard Rock every Sunday.

The line to get in Rehab can be long and getting a cabana can be pricey. But it is the best party in Vegas on Sundays.

The Friday Night Live (FNL) Concert Series begins on May 2 with Puddle of Mudd. In its second season, FNL will feature Eeek-A-Mouse, Dropkick Murphys, Stephen Marley, Smashmouth, Steel Pulse, De La Soul and Jonny Lang.

Taking place in the Sandbar Backyard at Red Rock Resort is the Summer Concert Series. Launching on April 25, Red Rock will welcome GRAMMY(r) Award-winning artist Kanye West and special guests Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. Also appearing throughout summer are Dierks Bentley, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Peter Frampton and UB40.

Vegas pools

Summer is coming up and Vegas can get pretty warm. Picking a hotel also will include which has the best pool. Here is a guide:

NOT YOUR TYPICAL HOTEL POOL
Visitors often choose to vacation to Las Vegas because of its fabulous year-round sunshine. That famous desert dry heat can make lounging by the hotel pool for the day sound like paradise. It's no surprise, then, that the pools in Las Vegas are popular, but it's not just because they are a great way to beat the heat. Guests spend hours soaking up the sun simply because Las Vegas has some of the coolest pools in the world.

Only Las Vegas can bring the ocean and the beach to the desert. Mandalay Bay actually trucked in more than 1,700 tons of sand from Southern California for its 11-acre tropical water environment. The area includes a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool with waves that reach as high as five feet, three swimming pools and a jogging track. The resort's lazy river is 3.25 feet deep and stretches around the entire pool deck. Recently, Mandalay Bay added Las Vegas' only climate-controlled poolside gaming venue. Just a few feet from crystal-clear waves, a new three-story, glass-fronted Beach Casino invites guests to indulge at their leisure. The first level offers a casual bar and grill while the second level features table games with expansive, open-air views. On the third floor, guests will find the spectacular Villas Soleil, luxury pool villas ranging from 250 to 500 square feet. With your toes buried in the sand and with a refreshing cocktail in hand, it can be difficult to remember that you're in the middle of the Mojave Desert!

From a tropical beach to an ancient Roman oasis, you'll discover a place truly fit for the immortal at Garden of the Gods Pool at Caesars Palace. The ancient Romans revered water for its healing powers and indulged in the luxury of public baths among fragrant gardens. Surrounded by marble statues and relaxing fountains, you'll appreciate that Roman ideology as you enjoy four sapphire pools and two whirlpool spas. Enjoy private, European sunbathing at The Venus Pool, a newly redesigned piece of heaven offering 12 poolside cabanas.

Relaxation is priority #1 at The Mirage. The ultimate in poolside pampering, Bare, an experience apart from the resort's typical pool complex, is defined by its distinctive, contemporary ambiance and ultra VIP service. The DJ-spun music mix sets a lively mood as guests enjoy European sunbathing while secluded by towering palms. Two luxury dipping pools create a temptingly cool respite from the hot Vegas sun. Specialty food items and cocktail service are always offered in addition to complimentary services such as chilled cucumbers to soothe the eyes, iced towels, exotic frozen fruit, icy popsicles and Evian misting bottles.

If your idea of fun is a pool party, look no further than The Palms. Recently remodeled, the new pool area and bungalows, which re-opened in March 2007, span two acres and can accommodate up to 3,000 guests. Perhaps the pool's most unique feature is The Glass Bar. Located under an elevated, glass-bottomed pool, bar patrons merely have to look up for some unique scenery of guests swimming overhead. The pool area also features 27 contemporary cabanas and even three poolside bungalows, where overnight guests can watch live concerts and events from the comfort of their king-sized beds.

The party continues at TAO Beach, a seductive and sophisticated Asian-themed beach club and an extension of the already popular TAO Nightclub at The Venetian. By day, guests can secure a reservation to lounge poolside in one of seven luxury cabanas that feature such amenities as high-definition plasma screen televisions with X-Box gaming consoles, a DVD library, internet and customized mini bars. Other amenities include sunglass cleaning, iPOD rental and a staff of masseuses. As night falls, guests find themselves in an open-air nightclub featuring a floating dance floor, four 14-foot fire columns and high-energy music.

After a crazy night out on the town, you may just need a full day to recover from that hangover before you do it all over again. That's why the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers Rehab every Sunday at the pool during the summer season. This exclusive daytime "recovery" session offers therapy in the form of palm-shaded sandy beaches, blue water and some of the most beautiful bodies Las Vegas has to offer. In fact, if your poolside agenda has you concerned about missing out on the casino action, don't be! You don't even have to get out of the water to enjoy the excitement of blackjack at the swim-up Palapa Bar in the center of Hard Rock's watery playground.

From swimming with card sharks at the Hard Rock to swimming with the real thing at downtown's Golden Nugget...dive into all the action at the Golden Nugget's newest aquatic attraction, The Tank, a $20-million pool complete with a 200,000-gallon shark tank, three-story waterslide and well-appointed cabanas. Thrill in the excitement of swimming inches away from sharks and other marine life!

If you feel safer on dry land and long for the comforts (and security!) of being indoors, then a poolside cabana may be the answer. Nearly every major property features luxurious cabanas offering a variety of amenities including large, cushioned lounge chairs on individual patios, marble tables, private dressing areas, telephones, flat-screen televisions, misting systems, ceiling fans, wet bars and refrigerators. Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort recently introduced themed pool cabanas as the property continues to create new and unique guest experiences. The themed cabanas include The Fisher-Price KidBana, the SpahhhBana and the BizBana. The KidBana provides activities, toys and games and includes snacks and child-friendly movies. The SpahhhBana offers an enhanced level of quiet, relaxation and escape featuring magazines, use of an iPOD, herbal teas, chilled towels and more. The BizBana is complete with wireless internet connection, office supplies, business and financial books and magazines and an endless supply of coffee. The Loews Themed Cabanas are available for a fee for guests staying at the resort.

Bottom line tips: Look for specials. The Hard Rock Hotel always have weekday specials for cabana use. They are worth it and you don't have to stay there to rent a cabana for a day.