Vegas Amps Up Sunbathing Scene

Forget everything you think you know about the Las Vegas pool scene. Sure, the mega-resorts still offer great places to cool off while baking under a hot desert sun, but the today's hottest pools are more like Sin City's stylish and sexy nightclubs. They're designed for the young and attractive who are willing to spend the same as a night on the town in an afternoon. Instead of chirping children, expect to hear the latest club cuts spun by live DJs. Rather than reserving a table for bottle service, here it's all about cabanas and daybeds. And in lieu of getting hot while dancing till dawn, it's all about cooling off until the sun sets. Plan on trading in that iced tea for a signature cocktail; there's even a red velvet rope and a long line of would-be revelers waiting for entry. (Oh, and a lot of these new pools offer European-style sunbathing—that means topless, but not gratuitous.)  The new Bare pool club

Mostly developed during the last couple of years, this trend is still in its nascent stages, and most people are still completely unaware these places exist. For those in the know, they add an entirely new component to a Vegas vacation. One caveat: you have to be 21 or older to enter.

A good tip is to not send gaggles of guys to these places alone, as it's all about keeping ratios of men and women in check. If a group is more than four men, tell them to either get several women to join the group or break into pairs and enter at different times.

Moorea at Mandalay Bay

Where to Sunbathe

Now in its fourth season, Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a bawdy bastion for revelers who didn't get their fill on Saturday night. Held every Sunday, this near five-acre playground gets about 3,000 people on an average weekend, while holiday weekends can attract up to 7,000. And they all want the same thing—to ratchet up the excitement of the traditionally lazy Sunday afternoon.

Renting a cabana can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 (that's not a misprint!) depending on location and weekend. They're dispersed between trees, a babbling brook, waterfalls and sandy beaches and they come with VIP service, naturally, and feature plasma TVs, telephones, refrigerators, personal misting systems and more. If your clients don't want to dish out the big bucks, they can also just grab a complimentary towel and find a poolside spot.

Rehab takes place every Sunday through September and is from noon to 7 p.m. Admission is $30 for men and $20 for women. Hotel guests are free (up to four guests per room). Call the lead VIP host Adam Nixon at 917-406-5469 for the ultimate hook-up, and visit www.rehablv.com .

Oozing with the aura of what you'd expect from a laid back pool party thrown by a Hollywood celebrity, Bare is a sexy, contemporary and chic refuge from the fray of the typical Las Vegas pool scene. Running through October 15, Bare features private daybeds and boat beds as well as cabanas for an added fee. Bottle service is offered, as well as complimentary services like chilled cucumbers to soothe tired eyes; iced towels chilled in flavored water; frozen fruit skewers, icy popsicles and smoothies.

One highlight is a dipping pool featuring a see-through wall. The temperature ranges from cool to hot-tub hot depending on weather and time of day. Bare is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm. Admission Monday through Thursday is $10 for women, $30 for men. Friday, Saturday and Sunday: $20 for women and $40 for men. Visit www.barepool.com or call 702-791-7442.

Open from 10 a.m. until sunset, Tao Beach is an 18,000-square-foot sun worshipping destination cast in an Asian inspired theme. It's an extension of the popular nightclub, which is directly beneath TaoBeach and exudes its high energy atmosphere. Refreshing drinks created by mixologist Alex Strauss are blends of fresh fruits with the finest spirits. Amenities include iPod rental and massages. Also, cabanas come with X-Boxes. As the sun sets, the music gets livelier and the facility becomes an outdoor nightclub featuring a floating dance floor and 14-foot-high fire columns. Cabana rentals and bottle service are available, but charges vary so call 702-388-8588 or e-mail [email protected].

Sexy Havens for Sunbathers

Though it's exclusively for hotel guests, the 11-acre tropical oasis, Moorea Beach and Mandalay Bay Beach, is a sun worshipper's haven. Featuring a manmade beach and wave pool, MandalayBayBeach is so chill, beach lovers might consider staying here solely for this sun and sand drenched amenity. Moorea Beach Club is a separate and more upscale area. Day beds, "opium" beds and pavilions from $250 to $750 per day available as well.

Just opened is a $30 million expansion featuring a casino, open air restaurant and new luxury cabanas dubbed Villas Soleil. Each has modular seating and day beds, a restroom, wet bar, 50-inch flat-screen TV, MP3 player, safe, ceiling fan, changing area and a private deck overlooking the beach. They're priced from $750 to $2,000 for the day or can be rented for an evening concert. For booking information contact MandalayBay at 877-632-7800 or visit www.mandalaybay.com.

Located center Strip at CaesarsPalace, the 10,000 square foot Venus Pool Club is now in its second season. Here, guests will find not only a secluded area to catch some rays, but also oversized chaise lounges, and air-conditioned bars with flat-screen TVs. On weekends DJs spin a variety of tunes matching the atmosphere of the day. Also available are frozen towels, Evian face spritzers, body massages and bottle service for a fee. Try the fabulous lobster sandwiches and ahi tuna poke.

Day beds at Venus range from $150-$250 and cabanas range from $425-450 for a half day and $475-500 for a full day. Admission is free for hotel guests (except Saturdays, when it's $20). It's open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For cabana and outdoor spa reservations, call 702-650–5944.