Pool Loungers
Header photo: An inflatable pool lounger with a backrest floating in a tiled pool. Photo: Jason Thibault from Montreal, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Some days you want a giant unicorn. Most days you just want to lie flat, close your eyes and drift. That is what pool loungers are for, and choosing the right one makes the difference between a nap on the water and an afternoon of sliding off.
Rafts versus floats: a useful distinction
The original Floatys float guide made a point that still holds. A raft lies flat on the surface and usually has a raised pillow for your head: ideal for lounging and tanning, but not for paddling about. A float with a backrest or seat keeps you more upright, which is better for chatting, reading or holding a drink, and less suited to lying flat. Knowing which you want narrows the choice quickly.
The main lounger types
| Type | How it floats you | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflatable mattress | Flat, on top of the water | Cheap, light, classic | Hot to lie on; punctures end it |
| Mesh hammock lounger | Partly in the water on a mesh sling | Cool, folds tiny, stable | You will get wet |
| Recliner with backrest | Seated, with armrests | Comfortable for reading or a drink | Bulky, takes time to inflate |
| Foam lounger | Solid foam pad | Cannot deflate; works even when nicked | Heavy, harder to store |
| Pool noodle | Under arms, knees or back | Cheap, versatile, great for exercise | Gives no support on its own |
Pool noodles: the most underrated float
Foam pool noodles became a fixture of pools in the 1980s and 1990s and are now used for everything from aqua-aerobics classes to lazy afternoons. Hook one under your arms and another under your knees and you have an instant lounger; tie three together and you have a mat. They are not buoyancy aids, but for confident swimmers they are the cheapest way to float for hours.
Comfort tips
- Mind the temperature. Dark vinyl mattresses get hot; splash them before lying down.
- Do not overinflate. A slightly soft mattress cradles your body; a rock-hard one tips you off. See our inflation guide.
- Use a headrest. A raised pillow chamber keeps water out of your ears and your neck relaxed.
- Sun protection. It is easy to fall asleep on a lounger. Reapply water-resistant sunscreen, and set a timer.
Daybeds, cabanas and the price of shade at casino pools
Lounging has an economy of its own at the big casino resort pools. On the Las Vegas Strip, ordinary sun loungers around the main pools are usually free for hotel guests on a first-come basis, and they go early on summer weekends. A step up are daybeds, cushioned platforms for two to four people, and then cabanas, shaded private rooms with seating, fans or air-conditioning, a television and sometimes a private plunge pool. These are rented by the day, and at the busiest dayclubs on a headline-DJ weekend a cabana with its minimum food-and-drink spend can run into the thousands of dollars, while a weekday daybed at a quieter resort pool costs far less. Prices move with demand almost like odds on a betting board: holiday weekends and big fight nights push them up, and late-season weekdays bring them down. If you are planning a trip, our guides to the best casino resort pools and Las Vegas pool parties and dayclubs explain what you get for your money, and swim-up blackjack covers the pools where you can play a hand without leaving the water.
Storage
Mesh hammocks fold flat, foam loungers stand in a corner and inflatable mattresses should be dried, deflated and rolled loosely. For more, read helpful tips for pool floats and rafts.
