A good pool can make or break a hotel experience. For some, the pool is the most important feature of the hotel, above and beyond the bed and bath. Some places with notable hotel strips, from South Beach to the Côte d’Azur, live and die by their pool scenes. Others exist amid exotic natural beauty and offer magnificent scenery to those fortunate enough to take a dip.
With all that firmly in mind, here are some of the world’s most extraordinary hotel pools.
Blue Lagoon Geothermal Resort, Grindavík, Iceland
Iceland? Indeed. In what may well be the most popular tourist attraction in the entire country, Grindavík’s Blue Lagoon, a mere 45 minutes from the capital Reykjavik, is a geothermal paradise. The spa resort sits on a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Waikiki, Honolulu has more brand-name recognition that just about any beach in the world. The honeymoon resort par excellence has a first-rate luxury hotel in Halekulani, with a first-rate pool to boot. Notable pool feature: 1.2 million South African glass mosaic tiles in the shape of a Cattleya orchid cover the bottom.
The Beverly Hills Hotel pool makes the list less for aesthetic appeal than for sheer legendary status and Hollywood lore. Take a dip here and you follow in the proverbial breaststrokes of Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe, to name a few.
The Delano, South Beach, Miami
South Beach is all about the pool scene, from Nikki Beach Club to Shore Club, The Setai and The Raleigh. All exude the ultra-luxe vibe that SoBe is famous for. The Delano’s Philippe Starck “Water Salon” pool however, is a triumph and the best place to spot celebs and gorgeous glitterati bods.
The most exclusive hotel in the world must have a superior pool, otherwise, why the 7 stars? Thankfully, when it comes to unparalleled luxury, Dubai’s Burj-Al Arab delivers on all fronts – for a hefty premium of course. Still, the spectacular views the hotel’s pool affords are remarkable. A veritable work of art, the Burj-Al Arab’s pool is just another obvious example why the superlative hotel cost US $650 million.
Bali is synonymous with exotic beauty and tranquil, elegant escape. The Alila Ubud is a luxury boutique hotel in the idyllic Indonesian destination with a phenomenal infinity pool that offers views of Bali’s lush, central foothills.
The Wynn was the first Las Vegas-type deluxe resort casino to hit the Macau Peninsula. In trademark Stephen Wynn style, no expense was spared to outfit the sprawling hotel with all the requisite amenities. Needless to say, the massive heated pool is awesome.
When the Guinness people award your 1 km long, 19 acre outdoor pool a world record, you deserve to make our extraordinary list. Chile’s San Alfonso del Mar resort pumps and filters water from the Pacific Ocean to fill and refresh their mammoth pool.
Tongsai Bay Hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand
Thailand is one of the world’s most desirable beach destinations and has gone resort-mad in recent decades to keep up with demand. The spectacular Tongsai Bay Hotel in Koh Samui is a notable exception to the foreign-built mega-hotels that dot the country’s exquisite coasts. Still Thai family-owned after more than twenty years, sustainable development and least-harmful practices have kept the fantastic facility in good stead. Tongsai’s free-form, gazebo-laden pool – just off the main beach – is a dream.
Amangani, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is now the trendy alternative to Vail, thanks in no small part to upmarket resorts like Amangani. The luxury hotel spa’s outdoor pool spares no luxury and offers incredible views of the snowy Grand Tetons. Even on frigid winter nights, the water temperature is a comfortable 27°C (80°F).
A sustainable ecolodge with pool that offers pristine panoramas of the dense, biodiverse rainforest wilderness? Oh yeah!
The home of the most famous fountain show in the world and the Cirque de Soleil aquatic production O has to make the cut. The Bellagio’s pool scene is indeed extraordinary, with private cabanas and a swish café and bar.
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InterContinental, Bora Bora, Tahiti
For exotic escape, Tahiti is the place to be. The InterContinental Bora Bora is one of the best resorts in the South Pacific, with a sensational pool that must be seen to be believed.
Photo courtesy of Duncan Rawlinson.
Hotel Villa Mahal, Antalya, Turkey
Hotel Villa Mahal’s pool may possibly be the best spot in the entire Turkish Riviera. A jewel in gorgeous Antalya.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Hi there,
Thank you for for using my photo in this post!
However you must attribute it to Duncan Rawlinson and link to me @ TheLastMinuteBlog.com as per my request on all my photos:
http://flickr.com/people/thelastminute/
Thank you.
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for the heads-up … the attribution has been changed.
Great photo btw!
Cheers,
Ian Harrison