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One thing is for sure. Vegas knows how to party – pool party, that is! Vegas is known for its heat, among other things that we won’t mention here, but it’s easy to keep your cool because this town is on point for having some of the best swimming pools for families. With pools at almost every Las Vegas hotel and resort and every resort claiming to be the perfect place for family fun, it’s hard to choose which ones are the best, but here’s a round-up of a few of the best hotel pools and our favorites.
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Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay Resort
The crown jewel of swimming pools, IMO, is at Mandalay Bay Resort. There is a smorgasbord of pool fun when you hit the pool deck here. The pool area at Mandalay Bay has a variety of great pools to keep you cool, a lazy river snaking its way around the pool area, plus a surf riding wave pool, a sandy beach wade-in pool, a sprinkling of steamy hot tubs, and of course magnificent water fountains of Vegas proportions, not to mention, a beach club pool, a beach restaurant, and several bars all covering a vast 11 – acre space that can fit literally thousands of swimmers, pool surfers, sunbathers, and quite often a few dozen high-rolling gamblers.
The Mandalay Bay Resort pool area and amenities are available for hotel guests any day of the week, although a reservation for lounge chairs and private cabanas is recommended, and when they say recommended, they mean required. This goes for most of the pool areas in Vegas. Take it from me, you do not want to have the unfortunate experience I had of schlepping all your kid’s swim gear, goggles, floaties, pool noodles, 10 tubes of sunscreen, flip-flops, and the like all the way down to the pool deck only to have the attendant tell you all the chairs are taken and there’s a waitlist to get into the pool. Make the reservation. Cabana rentals are also available. And, while you may be thinking that sounds like a luxury right now, a few hours into that Vegas sun and let me tell you, the shade of your cabana will feel like the best place on Earth.
Circus Circus – The Splash Zone
We can’t talk about the best pools in Vegas without highlighting the new Splash Zone at Circus Circus Las Vegas. The resort outdid itself by remodeling the existing recreation pool area and relaunching it as – The Splash Zone – making it the only water park attraction on the Las Vegas strip. This new attraction is basically a giant water playground in the desert. Even your “too cool” older kids, that won’t be seen with you, will love it. In addition to the two recreation swimming pools and relaxing whirlpools, The Splash Zone features a complex dedicated to water slides, with slide options that include an aqua tube, a 50-foot waterslide tower, and mat racing slides for the thrill seeker in your family – which clearly is not me. Plus, there is an epic splash pad filled with water cannons, spill buckets, and rain trees…totally my style. And, for those of you interested in finding more slippery family fun outside of the city, Cowabunga Bay, a water park, located in Henderson, Nevada (16 miles SE of Las Vegas) is a great place to entertain the whole family, especially younger children.
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Drop in!
MGM Grand Pool Complex
The Grand Pool at MGM Grand Las Vegas, is just that… Grand! With four refreshing pools, a trifecta of relaxing whirlpools, cascading waterfalls, and top-notch amenities sprawled out over 6.5 acres, the MGM Grand Pool Complex has my vote for one of the best family pools in Vegas. And, let’s talk about one reason the Grand Pool is a favorite, the HEATED lazy river. I know what you’re thinking. It’s already hot as blazes in Vegas. But, if by some chance you are visiting Sin City on a cold weekend or a cloudy day or the evening has a bit of a chill, the heated lazy river is where it’s at, friends.
Only MGM Grand hotel guests may use the Grand Pool Complex, and like I said before, this rule goes for many of the pools in Las Vegas. So if you plan to post up at the pool, expect to show your key card to the pool attendant to gain access to the main pool area and all the amenities.
Remember the reservations tip? Not kidding here.
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The Tank & Hideout Pool Complex at Golden Nugget
Now, one of the coolest swimming pools and unique experiences you can have with your family is at The Tank and HideOut pool complex at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. This $30 million award-winning pool spans three stories and features private cabanas on each floor. But the real wow factor is the 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium that holds five species of sharks and hundreds of brightly colored tropical fish. And, the “wow” doesn’t stop there. If your family wants more than just swimming next to sharks, take a trip down the 30-foot see-through waterslide tube that runs through the middle of the shark tank – how’s that for a one-of-a-kind Vegas experience? What’s even cooler is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest at the Golden Nugget to get up close and personal with these man-eaters either. Admission for The Tank experience is available for nonguests Monday – Thursday.
A pool that’ll bring home more than three stories!
Tahiti Village Resort
Named as 2022’s Best of Las Vegas Gold Winner for Best Family Friendly Pool in Las Vegas, Tahiti Village Resort is truly an island-inspired oasis in the desert for everyone in your family. It’s located just far enough from the strobing neon lights of the Vegas strip to help keep your sanity, but close enough to partake in all things Vegas. This resort boasts an award-winning Polynesian-themed pool area – think tiki torches, palm trees, and palapas! Plus, two tiki-themed tropical bars, a one-of-a-kind sand beach pool entry, and a renowned lazy river, one of the longest lazy rivers in Las Vegas, wrapping you around and passing four distinct cascading waterfall features and palm trees galore that really make you feel like you are in a Tahitian paradise.
And Tahiti Village Resort puts on summer luau’s in the pool area for its guests. How fun is that! The Tahiti Village also has over 18 outdoor grilling areas, so the whole family can put on their own tropical feast whenever they choose. Imagine yourself relaxing in a plush lounge chair, with swaying palm trees high above, and sipping a fruity drink adorned with a tiny umbrella, while watching your kids float by in the lazy river, ahhhh! Actually, don’t just imagine yourself there. Get there with your family, that’s what I did, and let me tell you, this pool experience was a definite gold winner for me.
Feeling a bit lazy?
When You Go
Flying To Las Vegas From LA
Luck is on your side getting to Vegas. If you are looking for a quick, easy way to pop on over to Vegas, you can find flights from $50 – $250 on virtually any airline depending on how much planning and research you have in you.
An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia! This is where we start our research for the best deals!
Driving To Las Vegas From LA
Or, why not channel your inner Clark Griswold and load up the family wagon, or trendy crossover, queue up the Vegas playlist, smash all the luggage, kids and snacks into the back and hit the open road to Las Vegas. Plan on about a 5-hour drive…through mostly desert, so it will be hot, hot, hot! Bring some water (along with the Costco volume of snacks) for you and your car, just to be safe. Maybe make a stop at the cool Primm Valley Resort or check out the Alien Beef Jerky shop in Baker. It’s out of this world!