Oyster's guide to spring break -- Vegas-style

Notorious For: Playboy bunnies, the Real World, and now MTV’s Spring Break The Palms is known as THE Vegas party hotel, so it's no wonder MTV couldn’t stay away. First, the Real World Las Vegas was filmed there in 2002, now they'll be filming Spring Break. In the Palms Tower, Rain is the quintessential nightclub, complete with go-go dancers. The Playboy Club, a gambling area with another dance floor, is staffed by card-dealing Bunnies. Above the Playboy Club is Moon, another nightclub with live DJs, multiple bars, and a retractable roof. With four pools and three poolside bars, you can relax at the Palms even with the inescapable party atmosphere.

Notorious For: Rock stars, grotto pool, and the new Real World With its rock star theme and 4,000-seat concert venue (Joint), celebs and musicians (and their celeb significant others) are always coming through the door. For The Real World's 25th season, MTV is returning to Las Vegas in a custom suite at the Hard Rock. The hotel's nightclub, Vanity, is one of Vegas' newest and hottest clubs -- and has one of Vegas' toughest doors. And true to its Hard Rock name, big-name bands regularly play the recently-renovated Joint, a 4,000-seat venue attached to the hotel. (The hotel is perhaps most famous for its raucous pool party, Rehab, which will restart for the season in late April).

Notorious For: Booze, wings, and leather-clad bartenders With a name like Hooters, it's no surprise that this hotel is home to a raging party scene. The breasts are big, the tops are skimpy, and the drinks are a-flowin'. By day guests imbibe at the colorful Pool Bar. Come nightfall the scene moves indoors to Dixie's Dam Bar where the female bartenders dance on the bar in teensy outfits. They sometimes even hang from the ceiling. But after a long night, Dixie's best asset might just be its 25-cent wings at 4 a.m.


On the Strip

Notorious For: Lions, pool parties, and everything under one roof MGM Grand is the second largest hotel in the world, so it stands to reason that this hotel would be a perfect place to unleash one's party animal side -- right alongside the lions. Studio 54 is a 22,000-square-foot nightclub with four dance floors and go-go dancers that purports to be a wilder version of the New York City original. The six other bars and lounges include Tabu Ultra Lounge, Centrifuge, and Rouge. When the sun is shining, the Wet Republic pool scene can get out of control with live DJs, swimsuit competitions, and the like.

Notorious For: Tryst nightclub, a 90-foot water fall, and go-go dancers The Wynn is home to two of the Strip's most popular nightclubs -- one intimate, the other a full-on party. Tryst is a 12,000-square-foot club with a 90-foot waterfall, go-go dancers on tables, waitresses with prepared shots (tequila and lemon drops), a very danceable club mix, and scantily clad twenty-somethings. The lounge, where there are sitting areas for bottle service, looks out on the surreal Lake of Dreams. Those who don't have the style or the famous face to get past the Tryst bouncers can instead party at Blush, a smaller, more intimate nightclub with an onyx dance floor that lights up.

Notorious For: Tao restaurant, bikini-clad waitresses, and gondolas While not the typical spring break hotel (we spotted a wedding ceremony taking place in a gondola), the Venetian transforms after the dinner guests have left: Tao restaurant becomes Tao nightclub, one of the hippest party scenes on the Strip. The trendy, modern space pulls in a young crowd that you can spot waiting for entry for an hour or so inside the hotel's mall. By day, Tao Beach (which opens for the season in mid-April) is an adults-only scene where the waitresses wear little clothing and the customers let loose.

Notorious For: Lamborghinis, haute couture, and Lavo nightclub In the evening, the Italian restaurant and bar LAVO transforms into a bustling nightclub that draws long lines of twenty-somethings. The second-floor club overlooks the lounge and dining room and is adorned with vaulted arches and a domed ceiling. The hotel is home to Las Vegas' Lamborghini showroom, a display of more than a dozen real-life hot wheels, and a shopping mall featuring Christian Louboutin and Chloe.

Notorious For: The Hangover, PURE nightclub, and ancient Rome The site of debauchery and mayhem in the movie The Hangover, Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino has had its share of celebrity guests. PURE nightclub is located here, which is a two-story, 40,000-square-foot space with four distinct spaces in one, each with its own DJ. The space is modern and posh, swathed mostly in white. Guests can enjoy Strip views and party outside on an oversize Terrace. The Venus Pool is the adults-only pool area, and is sometimes attached to parties at PURE. It's generally much more laid-back and less obnoxious than some of the more notorious pool parties in Vegas.

Notorious For: LAX, the sphinx, and pharaohs Los Angeles megaclub LAX has landed at this hotel, making it a safe bet for a night out on the town. LAX has 26,000 square feet spread over two floors, and with red leather, mirrors, and bottle service everywhere, you can be sure you'll be fist-bumping with the best of them. LAX is the main affair at Luxor, but there are eight other bars, including Flight and the sexier CatHouse.