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.

Weekly Vegas Deals

Well, travel season is in full swing, and the crowd is looking for deals! So, that's where we come in.

It's chilly in many places, but Vegas is just getting warmed up. This hot city is delivering 24-hour excitement along the fun-filled, sun-drenched Strip. Stay three or more nights and you'll get $50 instant savings on custom flight + hotel packages, or $25 savings on hotel stays. Plus, stay at featured hotels and receive additional savings, special offers and more!

Also included below are Family Sale and Winter Getaway Sale links. Happy Hunting.

Orbitz Vegas Sale: Save up to $50! Expires April 15.

Orbitz Winter Getaway Sale: Save up to 40% off plus $75 off Top Destinations! Expires March 2.
Orbitz Family Sale: Save $150! Expires April 15.

The AP gives from more freebie advice for Vegas visitors. From Houston Chronicle:

For freely given advice on thrift in Vegas, start with www.bigempire.com, a site that proudly offers dozens of tips for "living low on the hog," as the authors put it. Suggestions run the gamut, from decent buffets and other cheap eats, to free eats (if you dare), to cheap hotels that offer clean $35 rooms and surly gamblers. Free stuff abounds as well, if you're in the market for key chains and coffee mugs.

Much more mainstream is www.vegasfreebie.com, a site that sorts free attractions by locations and category . Check out the photos of the Sunset Stampede at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino, a free animatronic, laser light and water show with a pioneer theme.

The site also lists hotels with free lounges, including the storied Tropicana, built in 1957, which has two free shows and a 24-hour lounge with a 15-foot TV screen.

The site http://vegas4locals.com/deals.html has an extensive list of free things to do, including some dueling pianos; exotic bird shows and magic shows; and a family-friendly medieval show at the Excalibur Hotel, and live German music at the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas. Like the other sites, it also includes directions to the volcano at the Mirage, a famed Las Vegas spectacle.

EBay is a good place to look for last-minute Las Vegas deals too, with vacation packages, lodging, and tickets to shows, some of them affordable.

Free attractions also lie outside the city. Fifteen minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, Ethel's Chocolate Lounge offers tours of its candy factory and of its four-acre botanical cactus garden, which it says is the largest in Nevada. Go to www.ethelschocolate.com for directions and photos of chocolates and cacti.

Just 30 miles from Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam, where the Bureau of Reclamation runs tours for close to a million visitors each year. They cost $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $6 for kids over the age of 6; younger kids are free. You'll find www.hooverdamtourcompany.com also offers tours, from Las Vegas, by bus, helicopter, plane, or van (hint: for budget travel, take the bus).

Farther afield is the Grand Canyon. At www.lasvegasgrandcanyontour.com you'll find information on trips to, around, in, and above the canyon starting at $89 for a bus trip with breakfast and lunch.

Just like other major cities around the world, the city of sin has some hostel-type places for young backpackers who don't mind sharing a room. Go to http://usahostels.com/lasvegas/index.html?lang10 for pictures of its dormitory accommodations, which come with pool, kitchen, and free Sunday-night barbecue.

Shopping coupon

Looking for discounts at the mall?

Go to www.VisitLasVegas.com. Under "Shopping," users can download the Shop Las Vegas Passport coupon redeemable for gifts and discounts at most Las Vegas malls including Fashion Show, Desert Passage and Las Vegas Premium Outlets to name a few. While you're at the malls, check out the variety of free entertainment they offer, from singing gondoliers at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian to the Forum Shops' Roman statues that come to life inside Caesars Palace.

New hotels coming to Vegas in 2008

New hotels open in Vegas all of the time. Here is a list of what coming in 2008
In January, The Palazzo celebrated its grand opening. The newest resort by Las Vegas Sands Corporation is located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. When combined with the neighboring Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center, The Palazzo gives the company the largest hotel and convention complex in the world. The $1.8 billion Palazzo features more than 3,000 all-suite rooms and offers shopping, dining and entertainment on two luxurious levels. The 450,000-square- foot retail space, The Shoppes at The Palazzo(tm) is highlighted by Barneys New York and connected to The Venetian via The Grand Canal Shoppes. It houses approximately 60 high-end and mid-level stores from the most recognizable brands to the hottest newcomers and unique one-of-a-kind boutiques drawn from all over the world.

Aliante Station, the latest resort project by Station Casinos and Greenspun Corporation, topped off the concrete structure of its hotel tower in November 2007. The $675 million project broke ground in late February 2007 in North Las Vegas. The property is scheduled to open late 2008 and will feature: 200 hotel rooms; a full array of gaming offerings including table games, slots, race and sports book and poker room; six restaurants; a 16-screen Regal Cinemas movie theatre; a 700-seat entertainment showroom and meeting/convention space. Aliante Station is located on approximately 40 acres at the intersection of the 215 Beltway and Aliante Pkwy. in North Las Vegas.

Palms Place Condo Hotel and Spa broke ground in January 2006 and, after 19 months of construction, continues to be right on schedule for occupancy in early 2008. Palms Place will feature 599 condominium-suites, from spacious studios to one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites and spectacular penthouses. Amid lush landscaping and beautiful gardens, a world-class, 50,000 square-foot pool and spa enclave will boast the first hammam in Las Vegas offering decadent blend of ancient and contemporary treatments. The building will also feature the SkyTube, a moving walkway that will join the residences with the Palm's casino, restaurants and nightlife.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is set for opening in April of 2008. True to the brand's form, the property will reflect the "Ultra Luxury Trump Lifestyle" in every possible fashion. From the exterior, which will be clad in 24-carat gold glass to the elegant lobby areas and luxuriously furnished and decorated condominium hotel units, every aspect of the building will reflect the superior level of quality that is synonymous with the Trump name. Rising 64 stories, the building will house 1,232 suites and 50 penthouse suites, a world-class spa, salon and fitness center, gourmet dining at DJT Restaurant and Bar, a pool with private cabanas, indoor meeting space and a business center. Plus, Trump will offer a personal attache service for every guest.

Luxor has announced a multi-phase enhancement plan designed to revolutionize the resort and bring new energy to the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The evolution is slated to take place in several phases, with the first phase encompassing the casino level and the second phase encompassing changes to the property's signature atrium and galleria areas including several retail changes, a re-branded coffee shop and new buffet. The third phase will focus on room remodeling and is planned to begin in 2009. Projects in Phase One of Luxor's evolution include a host of sexy-chic new restaurants, lounges and nightspots, as well as a spa-like poolside lounge, redesigned casino floor and Cirque du Soleil show featuring illusionist Criss Angel.

Encore, the second tower of Wynn Las Vegas, is under way with completion expected in December 2008. The $1.4 billion hotel and casino will house approximately 2,000 rooms. The tower will house its own casino, pool, restaurants and other luxury amenities.

Top free attractions

For those looking to make the most of their travel budget while visiting the "Entertainment Capital of the World," there are myriad options for the value-conscious visitor. Here are just a few:

Free attractions line the Las Vegas Strip and they're not hard to find. The Mirage's volcano erupts in a lagoon filled with waterfalls and palm trees every 15 minutes from dusk to midnight.

Next door, nightly passersby can catch the "Sirens of TI" at Treasure Island. The revamped version showcases the popular pyrotechnic war as male renegade pirates battle "sexy sirens" of Sirens' Cove. Performances run every 90 minutes beginning at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the world-famous Fountains at Bellagio thrill visitors with more than 1,000 water-emitting devices choreographed to music by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Whitney Houston and Andrea Bocelli.

The Rio's "Masquerade Show in the Sky" features state-of-the-art floats that are suspended from the ceiling and parade above the casino floor in a one-of-a-kind Carnivale celebration.

Downtown's famous, casino-lined street is now the Fremont Street Experience, a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by a continuous canopy studded with more than 14 million lights. Each evening on the hour, this canopy comes alive with spectacular light-and-sound shows.

From Las Vegas Hilton to Luxor to JW Marriott, most major resorts offer free lounge entertainment that is available practically around the clock.

Low-priced attractions abound as well. "The Mac King Comedy Hour" at Harrah's Las Vegas is a great show value, with tickets priced at less than $20. The show contains quirky humor, visual gags and King's sleight-of-hand, all delivered in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

For lunchtime bargain-hunters, nothing beats the classic $0.99 shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, the oldest hotel in Las Vegas. For gourmet on a budget, many Las Vegas buffets now offer fare from around the world and at a reasonable price.

The Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino's Carnival World Buffet offers more 300 offerings and 70 dessert dishes from around the world - from pizza to omelets to teppan yaki to fresh pasta. Another example is Paris Las Vegas' Le Village Buffet which showcases five provinces of France. Each station is themed for a particular province and features a different facade designed to replicate the architecture of that region.

Cars and wax

If your Las Vegas dream vacation involves fast cars and celebrity sightings, you'll have plenty to brag about to your friends back home.

Check out the multi-million-dollar Auto Collections at Imperial Palace, one of the world's largest selections of antique, classic, muscle and special-interest automobiles available for sale. The 250 automobiles span a century and range in price from $20,000 to $3 million.

Then, check out Penske-Wynn Ferrari/Maserati showroom at Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada's first and only factory-authorized Ferrari and Maserati dealership, offering the finest in new and pre-owned cars.

After you've chosen your dream car, you'll be ready to meet and greet some of the most famous celebrities in the world at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Located at The Venetian, the museum showcases more than 100 wax figures of some of the world's most popular film, television, music and sports celebrities. Visitors can even interact with several of its "celebrity" experiences for a truly memorable photo opportunity.