Battle of the Las Vegas Pool Scenes – Tao Beach at the Venetian vs. Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel
Tao Beach at the Venetian vs. Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas
Daytime partying in Las Vegas has reached new heights. First the nightclubs took over the town as nightlife became more about clubbing than gambling. Now, with all the daytime pool parties, one can party from the morning until the late hours of the night and never gamble a dime – at least in summer.
Over Labor Day Weekend of 2009, we went to two of the hottest pool scenes in Vegas to compare and contrast.
Let’s do a side-by-side comparison:
| Tao Beach | Rehab | |
| When? | All weekend in summer | Summer Sundays |
| Where? | Venetian Hotel | Hard Rock Hotel |
| Cost? | $10-$20 (girls)$20-$40 (guys)Discount fliers available in hotel | $50 – $100 (Girls)$100 – $200 (Guys)Price increases as pool fills |
| Size and layout | A modestly sized rectangular pool with loungers/cabanas all around and a bar | Gigantic! See the picture. Massive pool includes swim-up BlackJack and a second level for cabanas as well as many raised areas for dancing |
| Atmosphere | Club with a pool in the middle | Enormous party scene – more pool party than club. |
| Difficulty getting in | Like all things Vegas, girls will have a *much* easier time getting in. At Tao, guys will need to be on “a list” for the best chance at entry. Girls will have an easier time on a list but will likely get in eventually either way. | At Rehab, I hope you like lines! The party has gained such a following and, being that it’s only once a week, large crowds. Despite holding thousands of partiers, the lines are legendary. The best advice I can give is this: 1) Stay at the hotel that day. Hotel guests get free wristbands (likely paying for the room right there!) and use a special guest line. Still, get on line early as when I arrived at 1, the guest line was still over an hour long. If you are not staying there, get there by opening time which I believe is 9am. By 1, that line was SEVERAL HOURS LONG and the bouncer said he didn’t think everyone on it would make it in at all. It’s pretty crazy. |
| Swimming and drinking? | Alcohol around the pool only you cannot bring it in the pool. | Alcohol comes in massive sip cups to ensure maximum punch. Not only that, you can drink freely in the pool! |
| What does the crowd look like? | In both Tao Beach and Rehab, the crowd is HOT! Sure, you’ll find some strippers and some “working girls” but you’ll also find a ton of locals and a LOT of people in from LA for the weekend. That should give you an idea. | Both the girls and the guys obviously pay a lot of attention to their bodies and the eye candy may spoil you for life! |
| Music | Club music with guest DJs | Club music with guest DJs |
Tao Beach @ The Venetian - Las Vegas
So – how do you know which is for you? They are both great pool parties – no question.
Tao Beach has a smaller and more intimate vibe to it. We found it a
Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas
bit easier to talk to fellow partiers at Tao Beach – probably because the size kept you in closer quarters. So if you are easily overwhelmed, I’d suggest Tao Beach. Similarly, the lines and cost of Rehab may deter some people. A notable pro to Tao Beach if not staying at the Venetian is you can also use the massive and under crowded regular pool right next to Tao Beach.
On the flip side, Rehab is a far bigger and, therefore, crazier scene. It is probably 8 to 10 times bigger and that gives you a lot of room to roam. The ability to drink in Rehab’s pool will make a big difference to some as well.
If you have the energy, I’d suggest doing what we did… Tao Beach on Saturday and Rehab on Sunday. Try them both and find your groove. Although by the time you finish your weekend of partying at Rehab, you may well need to go to rehab!
-DG
