The Vegas 'Beach' Scene

 

Mandalay Bay Beach has a wave pool, lazy river, three swimming pools, a jogging track and casino amid 2,700 tons of real sand

 

Sure, Las Vegas has great hotels, restaurants, nightlife and gaming, but for some clients that’s just not enough. For these vacationers, nothing beats lounging on a sandy beach, tropical drink in hand. Well, Vegas is nothing if not accommodating—here are some “beach” options to sell to your sun worshippers.

Spread over 11 acres, Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino provides the ultimate in aquatic relaxation. This world-famous playground has a wave pool, lazy river, three swimming pools, jogging track and 2,700 tons of real sand. A $30 million expansion in 2007 brought to the Beach more premium seating and the Beachside Casino.

 

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Steps away from Mandalay Bay Beach, the Beachside Casino has three stories of superior indulgence in a glass-fronted, climate-controlled environment. Sliding glass panels open up to the sand and surf while still allowing guests to beat the heat in air-conditioned comfort. On the first level, beach-goers may dine at the open-air Beach Bar & Grill. Unlike past Beach amenities, which were limited to simple snacks and the usual poolside fare, the Beach Bar & Grill boasts an expansive menu of true culinary temptations. Sit-down service is available (though there are no shirt-and-shoes requirements here) or guests could grab a quick snack at the counter and head back for their chairs on the sand.

The second floor features blackjack, roulette and craps with views of the water in a casual, yet upscale setting where beach attire is preferred and encouraged, and even the dealers are dressed for a day at the beach.

The third level houses five Villas Soleil with views of the entire Mandalay Bay Beach. Ranging in size from 250 to 500 square feet, each of the contemporarily designed villas accommodates up to 16 guests, and comes with cabana service and access to the private third-level pool. Each has cozy modular seating and daybeds in crisp colors, a restroom, wet bar, 50-inch flat-screen TV, MP3 player, safe, ceiling fan, changing area and a private deck overlooking the Beach.

Set amid Mandalay Beach is Moorea Beach Club, an upscale, European-style pool experience with a South Beach vibe, catering to guests 21 years of age and older. This exclusive outdoor environment comprises dipping pools, cushioned chaise lounges, comfortable daybeds and a private pavilion.
Poolside spa treatments are also available. Rental fees do not include club admission. The club, which is open seasonally, will remain closed until spring.

The May-September Beach Concert Series invites concert-goers to bring their blankets and sit on the beach or wade in the surf as they listen to popular performers. Artists featured in the past include Chicago, Joss Stone, Ziggy Marley, Foreigner and Pat Benatar.

Mandalay Beach and Moorea have 100 rentable cabanas, daybeds, bungalows and villas ranging in price from $200-$1,800 per day. All-day rentals include personalized service and tube rentals.

Cabana reservations for the 2010 season began on February 1. Agents should call 702-632-7997 to contact a cabana host.

On the Wild Side

Beach party animals may find themselves more at home a few minutes from the Strip at the VooDoo Beach at Rio, which has real sand beaches, cascading waterfalls, three swimming pools and three Jacuzzi-style spas as well as poolside massages.

During the summer, VooDoo Beach hosts wet and wild beach parties for the 21-and-older set that include specialty cocktails such as fresh fruit mojitos and delicious rum cocktails at two bars, the Cruzan Cabana Bar and Island Bar.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the season, VooDoo Beach has two cover packages available: the Cocktail Package for $34 includes admission and choice of two specialty cocktails or a bucket of beer, or for those who plan to make a long day out of it, the Open Bar Package for $60, which includes admission and open bar. VIP cabanas (with bottle-service parties and complimentary fresh fruit) are also available. Hotel guests and non-guests alike are welcome.

For nighttime fun, on the last Wednesday of each month, VooDoo Beach hosts the CALOR Latin Pool Party from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., featuring the VooDoo Dolls and DJ Dave Guzman, as well as rotating entertainment.

For a schedule of events or to make special arrangements for your clients, call 702-777-6875.
Partygoers and sunbathers will also enjoy The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Beach Club. The pool’s Caribbean-blue water meanders for almost a mile while lapping up to real sand beaches. Your clients can enjoy a day of luxurious lounging in one of the decadent Tahitian-style cabanas, set back from the popular beach area and staggered on various levels throughout the pool area, allowing guests to seek out their own private spots among the sand, rocks and palms. Each cabana comes with LCD TVs, two liters of bottled water, a telephone, refrigerator, fresh fruit, misters, safe, lounge chairs, towels and a personal cabana host to serve you. To request a cabana, call 702-693-5555.

On the horizon is Steve Wynn’s ambitious new Beach Club at the Encore, which will open over Memorial Day weekend. It will have three pools splashed out over 50,000 square feet, 4,000 square feet for Surrender Nightclub and 7,500 square feet of decks between an outdoor gaming area. The restaurant Switch will be incorporated into the Beach zone, making it a day and night bistro. The $100 million project is eagerly awaited as the next luxurious pool playground complex in this desert oasis.

 

 

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Beach Club pool laps up to real sand beaches