BEST POOLS: Mandalay Bay and Bellagio
WHY: Mandalay Bay Beach is the closest thing to a water park in Las Vegas. With four pools (one with an artificial wave), a lazy river, 2,700 tons of sand, and a new beachside casino, it has a decidedly festive atmosphere (702-632-7777; mandalaybay.com). On the other hand, fragrant gardens and Italian-style courtyards intertwine with five huge pools in The Bellagio, where peace and calm is the modus operandi (702-693-7111; bellagio.com).

QUIETEST ROOMS: Four Seasons Hotel
WHY: Perched on floors 35 through 39 of the Mandalay Bay tower, the Four Seasons rooms feel miles away from the Strip. Plus, in the only Vegas hotel without an on-site casino, youre guaranteed less noise (702-632-5000; fourseasons.com/las vegas; doubles, $275-$620).

LOCAL SINNER: Bette Midler
Finding a successor for Celine Dion posed quite a challenge for Caesars Palace...until Bette Midler agreed to take up the mantle for a two-year stint. The Divine Miss M. tells us how she blisses out—and finds bliss—in her new home.

CNT: How has Vegas been treating you?
Bette Midler: My husband and I are crazy about it. We're real foodies. So we go out to many restaurants on the Strip but also to the Chinatown Plaza, which is one of the biggest I've ever seen. I love to lunch there.
CNT: Your show is so high-intensity. How do you do it every night?
Bette Midler: Well, it's very interesting. Now that I've started, I'm in much better shape than when I was just rehearsing, because when I was rehearsing I was doing all of it: a little directing, a little writing, a little arranging, helping with the clothes. I put my imprint on every single aspect of the show. So I didn't have the time to do the workouts and the real hard dancing. And now that I'm doing that, the weight is just falling off. I have a routine that I do every night, almost like a ritual, as many entertainers do to keep themselves healthy and strong. In addition, I have to run around for an hour and a half on a 120-foot stage every night. It's a little bit extreme, I have to admit. But I'm okay. As long as you don't drink too much and you build up your strength and your stamina, you'll be fine.
CNT: How do you unwind after the show?
Bette Midler: I've taken to going to the spa Qua here at Caesars. They offer a huge array of services. They have fantastic mineral water pools in three temperatures, which are extraordinary. There are also non-mineral water pools on the property, which I kind of avoid because the chlorine takes all the color out of my hair. They have a fabulous steam room and a frigidarium, which is modeled on the Roman bath. The services are excellent. The beauty shop is fantastic. I've been there for mani/pedis many times. And the massages are really good too. As you can see, I have a weakness for spa life.
CNT: What do you do on your days off?
Bette Midler: Days off? Are you kidding? I'm sleeping. Or in the spa. I'm usually wiped out. The problem with days off is that when you let everything go it's so hard to get back into harness again.

The Showgirl Must Go On is at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S. For tickets, call 877-732-8836.