Nightlife used to have an ebb and flow, a cadence, a natural rhythm of day and night, drunk and sober, party and sleep. You filled your liver with booze, you crashed, and then you hid from the sun while you recovered. Repeat.
During the summer in Vegas, at least, that pattern has changed. Call it an evolution. Or maybe call it Nightlife Darwinism. But the age-old cadence is gone, replaced by a glorious new schedule that will test your stamina, drain your wallet, and kick your partying into a new gear you didn’t know you have.
The evolution is the pool party. It began, of course, with the infamous Rehab at the Hard Rock. Rehab’s mix of bikinis, alcohol, DJs and sunshine was a winning formula, luring the A-List and the celebrities. It took some time, but the competition has noticed. And the competition has responded. This summer, more pool parties will be available than ever before, giving Vegas the same kind of outdoor debauchery as San Tropez or Ibiza.
The Mirage has entered the game with the appropriately-titled Bare Lounge, offering decadent amenities like “Boat Beds,” for those moments where you absolutely must sip your mojitos while splashing in the water.
“A pool party is what a nightclub is to a casino lounge,” explains Kalika Moquin, Marketing Manager at Bare. “Pool parties have that same atmosphere of a nightclub by offering a different level of service, entertainment, and exclusivity that guests comes to enjoy, only during the daytime.”
And there’s the catch: exclusivity. The double-edged-sword of Vegas nightclubs also holds true with the pools: you’ll love ‘em if you can get past the velvet rope, you’ll hate ‘em if you can’t.
Here’s some advice. Like always, bring more girls than guys. “Every guy who does not have a reservation must be accompanied by a female guest,” Moquin says of Bare. “It’s all about keeping the right ratio. That is what makes a good party. Just like any Las Vegas nightclub, groups of attractive ladies, bed reservations, and industry locals will always have first priority for admittance.”
The same principles apply for Tao Beach at the Venetian, the latest high-end, instant success from Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss. Accented by the same Asian décor you’ll find at Tao, the 18,000 square feet venue takes the original “upscale pool party” concept and puts it on steroids.
When you reserve a cabana at Tao Beach, for instance, you don’t just get privacy, you get to star in your own Jay-Z video. The pampering amenities include plasma TVs, Xbox consoles (but do you really want to be “that guy” playing Halo 2), masseuses, and thoughtful extravagancies like sunglass cleaners.
As if you needed more options, the Palms, which already had a sexy outdoor scene, unleashes the newly redesigned Palms Pool & Bungalows, complete with waterfalls, four outdoor cabanas, and 27 VIP areas.
And the original? Rehab is aware of the competition and is stepping up its game. Jack Lafleur of Rehab says, “We're making a number of changes which won't necessarily be seen, they'll actually be felt. We're adding new bars, which will help with flow issues, improving our sound in the VIP/Cabana areas, and doing more to increase the overall experience of all guests.”
Oh. One last thing. If you’re an attractive local girl, you’ll probably get in for free. If you’re anyone else—especially guys—brace yourself for a cover between $20 and $40.
And stock up on the Red Bull. Because sleeping was so last year.
