The top tier
Encore Beach Club and the Wynn pools are the gold standard: five separate pools, cabanas from about $600 on weekends, and a genuinely serene European pool if you want quiet. The Cosmopolitan's Boulevard Pool is my pick for skyline views and doubles as a concert venue after dark. Resorts World's three-tier complex is newer, cleaner and less zooey, with rooms from around $180 midweek. If you want to actually swim laps rather than pose, ARIA's Liquid pool has the calmest vibe on the central Strip.
Party pools vs. adult calm
For dayclub energy, Marquee at The Cosmopolitan and Tao Beach at Venetian pull the biggest DJs, with entry $40 to $80 depending on the lineup. Adults-only alternatives include Bare at Mirage and the Elia Beach Club at Virgin Hotels, which sits a mile off-Strip and is noticeably cheaper. Skip the Flamingo pool unless you have kids in tow — it is fun but tired. Caesars Palace's Garden of the Gods is worth the walk for the seven-pool layout and Roman set-piece drama.
Good to know
Are Strip pools open year-round?+
Most close from late October through mid-March. Waldorf Astoria, ARIA and Resorts World keep at least one heated pool open all winter.
Do you need to be a guest to use the pool?+
Generally yes for resort pools. Dayclubs like Marquee, Encore Beach and Tao Beach sell public tickets, usually $40 to $100.