The Best Cities to Spend New Year's Eve

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When it comes to shopping, the recently expanded Forum Shops at Caesar's will provide you with plenty of retail therapy. Home to over 150 boutiques and myriad restaurants, it's a cool respite.

Meanwhile, The Palazzo has plans to house the first Barney's in Vegas, while the Wynn hosts the crème de la crème of couture: Blahnik, Dior, De La Renta, and Gaultier among others. To fund these splurges, you'll have to spend time at the games. This summer, Mandalay Bay unveiled its Beachside Casino complete with swimsuit-clad dealers. It's perhaps a sign of the times, as poolside lounging has become just as popular as gaming.

Free from the cacophony of scrambling children and the need to play musical beach chairs, these adult-only, European-style pools are the places to show off all your hours at the gym. Reserve your own personal chaise and enjoy the scene. BARE (Tel: 702-791-7442) at the Mirage features a DJ pumping house beats, beautiful lingerie-clad waitresses, and hot pool boys fetching ice-cold towels and exotic frozen fruit.

TAO Beach (Tel: 702-388-8338), just off the Venetian Pool, is peppered with tangerine-canopied cabanas swathed in a Balinese style that spells relaxation. Armed with bottled-water spritzers, the employees here are happy to cool you down and even clean off your designer shades.

A more subdued Moorea Beach reopened last April, providing a subtle, party-free lounging atmosphere.