There are certain Las Vegas experiences everyone tells you about: the shows, the restaurants, the casinos, the nightlife, and all of the spectacular things to see and do.
But if you’re coming to Las Vegas in the summer, there’s another experience I think absolutely belongs on your itinerary: a full day at the pool- and doing it in a cabana at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Because summer in Las Vegas is HOT.
During our recent visit, the city was experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with the thermometer pushing well into the triple digits (112 degrees). And while there are plenty of ways to escape the heat in Las Vegas, I think there’s something much more fun about finding a way to actually enjoy a summer day here.
That’s exactly what we did at Fontainebleau.
We were invited to experience the King Cabana, and it turned an incredibly hot day into one of our favorite summer experiences in the city.
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This Cabana Has a Secret Weapon Against the Vegas Heat
I’ll admit, when someone tells me a misting system will keep me comfortable in the middle of a Las Vegas summer, I’m skeptical.
But this one really worked.
The King Cabana has an incredibly effective misting system when you walk into the large space, along with a fan above to pull the heat up and away from you, and together they created a surprisingly cool, comfortable space even as temperatures outside soared.
In fact, here’s how effective it was:
At around 4:30 p.m., we got out of the pool and walked back to our cabana. By the time we got there, I was actually chilled. I wrapped a towel around myself and had to sit for a minute to warm back up.
Yes. In Las Vegas. In the middle of summer.
That may have been my favorite discovery of the entire day.
And that’s really the magic of the cabana. You can enjoy the beautiful desert sunshine and the energy of the pool, but you always have a comfortable place to retreat when you need a break.
Your Own Home Base for the Day
The King Cabana isn’t just a beautiful place to spend a pool day with your family. It’s also designed for groups, which makes it a fun option if you’re planning a family reunion, birthday celebration, bachelorette party, girls’ getaway or special weekend with friends.
The spacious King Cabanas can accommodate up to 15 guests and sit just steps from the grand pools of Fontainebleau’s Oasis Pool. So whether you’re planning a full day of poolside fun or celebrating a special occasion, you have your own elegant, photo-worthy home base right in the middle of it all.
Our King Cabana gave us plenty of room to settle in for the entire day, with a full sectional sofa, multiple private lounge chairs and an umbrella, a dining table, refrigerator, large TV, sound bar and bar area. There’s also a ceiling fan, safe and pull-out storage compartments, along with a dedicated server and an exclusive menu.
But what I loved most was how flexible the space was.
You don’t have to choose between a pool day and relaxing day. You can have both.
Go into the pool.
Come back to the cabana.
Play a game of cards or a board game.
Go back into the pool.
Come back and have lunch.
Stretch out on the sectional.
Turn on the TV.
Get back in the water.
It creates this wonderfully easy rhythm where everyone can enjoy the day in their own way without anyone feeling like they’re missing out.
And that made it particularly wonderful for our family.
Our daughter absolutely LOVES Fontainebleau and its huge pool. She could have stayed in there all day.
For parents, that’s one of the things that makes the cabana such a great option. Kids can swim and play while adults have a comfortable place to relax, eat, play a game or simply enjoy the day. And because you have a refrigerator, dining space, dedicated server and food and beverage service, you don’t have to pack up the entire family every time someone gets hungry.
For a group, I can also see how easily this could become the centerpiece of a celebration. Imagine starting a bachelorette party with a pool day, celebrating a milestone birthday with cocktails and lunch, bringing the extended family together for a reunion, or simply gathering friends for a luxurious Vegas weekend.
Everyone has a place to come back to, but you’re still just steps away from the pools.
It’s a little bit of privacy, a lot of fun and the kind of setting that makes a special occasion feel even more memorable.
Come Hungry: The Food Is Part of the Experience
Of course, we couldn’t spend the day by the pool without trying some of the food from La Côte, Fontainebleau’s poolside restaurant.
And our favorite part of the meal was definitely the wraps.
We tried the Italian Tuna Wrap, with whole wheat tortilla, sprouts, tomato and arugula, served with fresh kettle chips.
We also had the Thai Chicken Salad Wrap, with Napa cabbage, pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro and a tamarind-lime vinaigrette, along with marinated cucumber salad and chips.
Both were delicious- and both were much more substantial than I expected.
In fact, there’s a lot of food in one wrap. We couldn’t finish them. The three of us each ate about half of our wrap along with the sides, and that was plenty.
We also tried the À La Côte Caesar Salad, with baby gem lettuce, endive, Parmesan and garlic croutons.
And for sharing, we had chips with three different salsas: salsa tatemada, salsa fresca and salsa guacatillo.
It’s the kind of poolside lunch that lets you actually settle in and enjoy a meal rather than grabbing something quickly between activities.
And Yes, You Need a Good Sunscreen
One thing I would absolutely add to your Las Vegas packing list: a really good sunscreen and a great moisturizer for once you get out of the pool.
You’re in the desert, the sun is strong, and you’re likely to spend hours outside. Even with the cabana’s shade, misting system, and fan, you’re still enjoying a pool day in the middle of the Nevada summer.
Bring the sunscreen. Reapply it. Then do that again.
Because the goal is to finish your pool day feeling relaxed- not like you’ve been slow-roasted in the desert. You’ll also need a great moisturizer (including lips) for once you get out of the pool for the day.
Pro-tip: Put everything- sunscreen, lotion, lip balm, and your phone and spare charger in the fridge. When it’s hot outside, it’ll feel great reapplying, and the heat won’t break down or melt your sunscreen, lotion, or balms. Your charger will not work for long in the Vegas heat, so do what we do and keep an entire shelf in the fridge just for electronics and sun essentials.
Don’t Miss the Cocktails
Naturally, a Vegas pool day also calls for some refreshing drinks.
My favorite was the Side Piece, made with Flecha Azul Blanco Tequila, pamplemousse, lemon, and prickly pear.
It was bright, fruity and refreshing without being too heavy, and it was exactly what I wanted on a hot afternoon.
My husband tried (and loved) the Blackberry Bliss, made with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry Whiskey, lemon and mint.
We also tried the Bella Donna, made with Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka, elderflower, lemon and soda water.
It was a refreshing take on a white linen, and we both loved it. Light, crisp and incredibly refreshing, it was the perfect poolside cocktail.
It Doesn’t Have to End When the Sun Goes Down
Another reason I love this as a Las Vegas itinerary idea is that the cabana experience isn’t limited to a few hours by the pool.
Fontainebleau also offers movie nights, where you can settle into the pool area, enjoy your cabana, grab popcorn and special candy treats, order cocktails and watch a movie.
Think about that for a family: swim, dry off, grab some popcorn and candy, get comfortable in your cabana and watch a movie together.
It’s a completely different way to experience Las Vegas.
And that’s something Fontainebleau does particularly well. The property has this incredible luxury feel, but the pool experience can still feel welcoming and genuinely fun for the entire family.
Fontainebleau is a Michelin Key-recognized hotel, and you can absolutely feel the level of luxury throughout the property. It’s stunning. But there’s something wonderfully approachable about spending the day in a cabana, playing and talking with your family, eating lunch, swimming, and watching a movie or TV in your cabana. It’s the perfect little slice of summer- a home base where you can relax, recharge, and enjoy the day at your own pace.
Put This on Your Las Vegas Summer Itinerary
When you’re visiting Las Vegas, it’s easy to build an itinerary that keeps you moving from morning until midnight.
But if you’re coming during the summer, I would absolutely plan at least one day where you don’t have to.
Spend the morning exploring the city. Then head to Fontainebleau and let the rest of the day unfold.
Swim. Relax. Play cards. Have lunch. Enjoy a cocktail. Watch some TV. Go back into the pool. Have another snack. Play with the kids. Maybe stay for a movie.
That’s the beauty of having a cabana: you can make the day whatever you want it to be.
For us, it became one of those beautiful days that didn’t feel rushed or over-planned. It was simply about being together and enjoying where we were.
And that’s what I love most about travel. Some of the memories you take home aren’t from the biggest attraction or the most elaborate itinerary. They’re from the unexpected moments- the afternoon your daughter spends swimming and smiling in the pool, the cocktail you discover that becomes your favorite, the game of cards at the cabana, or even the bizarre experience of needing to wrap yourself in a towel because the misting system worked so well.
Yes, in Las Vegas. In August.
It’s another way to live a Memory-First Life™– being intentional about creating experiences and moments that we’ll remember long after the trip is over.
So if you’re coming to Las Vegas this summer, put a pool day at Fontainebleau on your list.
And if you really want to make a day of it, book a King Cabana.
Because when it’s 100-plus degrees outside, you don’t have to hide from the Las Vegas summer.
You can make it one of the best parts of your trip.
Disclosure: We were invited by Fontainebleau Las Vegas to visit and enjoy the property. As always, all opinions and observations are our own.