Summer time is here, and what’s a better way to enjoy it than sitting by the pool sippin’ on some cooled alcholoic beverage? And where’s a better location for such activities? Vegas of course! Sin City has some of the grandest pools around, and after a long night/morning of partying and dancing, there’s nothing like relaxing pool side. Several Hotels have equisite pool parties, but since I was staying at the Venetian, I decided to check out Tao Beach first.
(disclaimer: the lower picture is taken outside of Tao Beach at the regular Venetian pool)
Positives: Hot music, cool drinks, hotter bodies…what more can I say? When you walk in you feel like you’re at an Italian riviera villa private pool party. The decor is very mediterranean and music is pretty mixed - top 40, current hits. Obviously, attire is swimwear, but you’ll see a wide range of outfits, or lack there off. There’s a good amount of furniture set up to lounge on, and more than enough cocktail waitress patrolling happily taking orders. The bar is fully stocked and easy to get to, never had to wait longer than a few minutes to order drinks. For those wanting a little more seclusion, private cabanas are available and pretty spacious. The crowd was diverse and most people looked under 35, mainly 21 - 28. Overall, Tao Beach does an excellent job of bringing the night club vibe to the day time pool party.
Negatives: The biggest downside is that they prohibit outside liquor, which sucks if you’ve been hanging by the regular Venetian pool bar before Tao Beach opens. The security guards will ask you to promptly get rid of any liquor at the entrance (the cups inside Tao Beach are specially branded). The Tao Beach pool isn’t really that big, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can get somewhat crowded…and er ah, murky. There’s no public bathrooms inside Tao Beach, I had to trek back to the regular Venetian pool area adjacent to Tao Beach. The whole guestlist/admissions situation was confusing to me. I signed up for the guestlist inside at the concierge desk and let the guards outside know I was staying at the hotel, didn’t seem to change the outcome, they still asked me for $20. I guess ladies are pretty much always free, Vegas locals get discounts or are also free, and visiting guys, well, are at the mercy of whoever is working the door at the moment. $20 isn’t bad, I just wish I wouldn’t have wasted time trying to figure out how to get in free when in the end I paid anyway. *Tip: wait until the person working the cash register leaves for the day around 4pm and admission is guaranteed free. Lastly, do not try to sneak in, we tried this one day and the guards at the front weren’t having it at all, in fact they suspended our access for the rest of the day (some people that were leaving gave us their wristbands).
- Location/Transportation: Located in the Venetian, you can easily get there from any part of the strip. Parking is free if you’re driving over, cabbing isn’t more than a few bucks, and walking (as long as its not a scorcher) is not that bad either. Grade: 5/5
- Line: Depending on the time, and weekend, the line can vary. I went on a random weekend in May and the line was always about 10 - 20 people long. The staff pulls girls out of line for immediate entry, so if you’re a guy, be prepared for logjams Grade: 3/5
- Interior: Clearly gorgeous and very comfortable - definitely thematic . The only negative is the small pool area. Grade 4/5
- Exterior: N/A
- Drinks: Pretty reasonable for Vegas, I remember paying $10-12 bucks for different mixed drinks. Grade: 3/5
- Services: Lots of security and cocktail waitresses. The security guards at the front can be a bit pushy, but not the worst I’ve ever encountered. Cabanas start off at 2 bottle minimum, which usually runs $800. Grade 3/5
- Sound system: I didn’t actually see any speakers (I guess that’s the point), but I definitely heard them. The volume was always at a medium level, which is great since it’s more about mingling than dancing. Grade 4/5
- Overall: Pool parties are a must when in Vegas and Tao Beach at the Venetian is one of the best to check out. It’s not the biggest, but it attracts a great clientele, and provides a great vibe perfect for those hot summer days. Grade 22/30
*I want to reiterate I went during a random weekend, any of the big time summer weekens i.e. 4th of July, expect things to be ten times crazier.
