When in search of a summer holiday destination last July, I decided on Las Vegas (www.visitlasvegas.com) where visitors are offered a fine combination of relaxation and fun. I have visited before in the winter, but had not yet experienced some of the special resort swimming pools that Vegas has to offer.

Vegas is an immensely popular tourist destination, with more than 42 million visitors and nearly 24 thousand conventions annually. Las Vegas has a lot of vacation options: concerts, shows, sports, shopping, dining, nightlife, golf courses, spas, adventure activities, and luxury accommodations. While generally considered an adult destination, Las Vegas is also a place for a family holiday.

With its central location on the Las Vegas Strip, Park MGM (www.parkmgm.com) offers direct access to what is quickly becoming the city’s premier entertainment district, featuring the T-Mobile Arena, The Park, and the Park Theater; which mostly recently housed the residencies of both Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson.

Formerly known as the Monte Carlo Hotel, the Park MGM comprises two new distinct experiences: Park MGM, and a Las Vegas version of the renowned NoMad, a standalone 293-room hotel encompassing the tower’s top four floors. There are also many extraordinary dining experiences on site.

The Park MGM has 2,700 guestrooms and suites, intended to give a residential ambiance. There are three distinctive guest suite types: Nighthawk, Nightingale and Skylark. The Peacock Hospitality Suite features 700 square feet of social and entertainment space with an adjoining guest room.

We stayed in a beautiful King bedroom, and appreciated the residential feel, complete with a lovely and comfortable window seat overlooking the swimming pool complex. The bathroom offered a spacious walk-in shower. There are bedside outlets for phones and computers, blackout shades, a laptop-sized electronic in-room safe, a hair dryer, a television with cable and movie service, high speed Wi-Fi, and both self-check-in and mobile check out.

Park MGM Las Vegas

The Mandalay Beach is quite spectacular.

The pools at Park MGM offer a relaxing escape from the high energy bustle of the Vegas Strip. There are three pools; the South, East, and North Pools—as well as 12 cabanas, lounge areas, multiple bars, and a spa. Poolside food and beverages can be delivered directly to your seat as you take in the sun. Twelve private cabanas serve up VIP treatment with deluxe amenities.

During our trip, we took the time to explore some of the other MGM properties in Las Vegas by spending some time at their pools.

The Aria Resort and Casino (https://aria.mgmresorts.com/en.html) pool complex  features the only ellipse-shaped pools in Las Vegas. For added privacy and amenities, guests can reserve one of a fleet of cabanas with Wi-Fi, shaded dining tables, and food and beverage service.  Visitors can also order poolside beverages and meals via the Breeze Café and Pool Bar, which features a wide menu of dishes and drinks. It was a relaxing way to spend the day. Of the 4,000 rooms, more than 100 at this resort are handicapped accessible.

The other MGM pool that we experienced what was the Mandalay Beach (https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/en/amenities/beach.html), and we were impressed with this resort property. The Mandalay Beach features an 11-acre tropical water environment, featuring more than 2,700 tons of sand, a signature 1.6-million-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, four swimming pools, a jogging track, as well as private gazebos, cabanas and beach bungalows. The open-air Beach Bar & Grill serves up American cuisine, such as sandwiches, wraps, adult beverages, and other beach favorites. Over the summer, you can also take in a concert series held on its outdoor stages, which overlooks the wave pool.