Nothing cuts through summer’s sweltering grasp like a little water time (a cold beer is good, too). For some, that means taking a hike and jumping into a cold, clear swimming hole. Others love sprawling out on the pristine, white sand of a gorgeous hidden beach. But many of us prefer to simply lounge poolside. Sure, a beer quaffed at the river’s bend or next to a bonfire is great, but there’s something about a Tiki drink served in a deck chair that can’t be beaten.
If you’re looking to escape the heat in one of the most amazing hotel pools the world has to offer, we have fifteen suggestions. These options don’t come cheap, but they’re definitely inconic. It’s up to you to decide if that juice is worth the squeeze.
Jade Mountain (Soufriere, St. Lucia)
There’s no hotel on earth like Jade Mountain. The work of Canadian railroad fortune heir and architect Nick Troubetzkoy, the property is what every luxury hotel wishes it could be (but lacks the balls to actually try). Positioned to take full advantage of the breathtaking Pitons, Gros and Petit, every single room faces these natural wonders. Well, we call them rooms, but the preferred term used by Jade Mountain is “infinity pool sanctuaries.”
Yep, friends: Though each one is different, they all have a private infinity pool terraced into the hillside.
Each pool is a glittering mosaic, as they are lined with tiles chosen specifically for the way that they capture and reflect light underwater. Plus, they have chromotherapy lighting that guests can fine-tune to soothe their karma. Wanna float in one of the most unique pools in the world? You found your splurge.
Hanging Gardens of Bali (Bali, Indonesia)
Bali is already the sort of place that calls to you to visit and spend the entire time in a bathing suit and sarong, but no aspect of it croons that siren song as loudly as the tiered infinity pools at the five-star Hanging Gardens of Bali resort. Tucked in a deep valley, the hotel is a luxury destination set on top of a cliff and circled by lush rainforest. It’s no wonder this is one of the most photographed pools in the world (and, yes, if you go, prepare to wait in line to take some amazing shots for the ‘Gram).
Lined with local volcanic stone called batu chandi, the softly rounded bodies of water are designed to resemble the paddy fields of the region and to blend seamlessly into the surrounding jungle. If you get excited thinking about floating in the free-form pools, it’s time to start planning a trip.
InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa (Faa’a, Tahiti)
Like most of the hotels on this list, The Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa has more than one pool, and we are hard-pressed to pick which is the better of the two. Both are jaw-dropping freshwater infinity pools, but each has its own distinct character. Le Lotus, the smaller of the two at 8,600-square-feet, is a sand-bottomed wonder with a swim-up bar and jacuzzi, as well as the more intimate ambiance, while the 12,900-square-foot Te Tiare is the more traditional option, with cascades and a jacuzzi as well.
In recent years, Tahiti has gotten overlooked in favor of neighboring Bora Bora or Moorea. However, these pools and the 257-room InterContinental Resort are reason enough to get excited about this South Pacific paradise once again. And, if the experience itself isn’t enough to tempt you, just think how great your vacation pics will look on social media. The envy will be palpable.
Wet Republic MGM Grand (Las Vegas, NV)
The MGM Grand has a 6.5-acre pool complex made up of different pools and amenities, but the premiere attraction is the 54,500-square-foot Wet Republic Ultra Pool venue — with its luxe bungalows, daybeds, dipping pools, and banquets. This adult destination also features an open-air covered lounge for dancing and dining when you aren’t splishing and splashing. You can also order food, signature cocktails, and premium pitcher and bottle service poolside from smoking hot, bikini-clad servers. You never need to leave the party. If that wasn’t enough to make this a bomb ass, waterlogged party locale, there is also a dedicated valet for guests.
Parties go all-day and all-night with big-name DJs like Tiesto and Steve Aoki working the scene underneath a hulking video wall. There are two large saltwater pools to take a dip in. And the lounge has a 95-foot-long marble-topped bar. This year’s theme is “champagne season” so expect to get sprayed with bubby while you frolic.
The Oberoi Udaivilas (Udaipur, India)
The Oberoi Udaivillas is so married to the image of a traditional Mewari palace that it is almost a theme hotel. The majestic property allows guests to leave their daily lives behind and to enter the realm of maharajas past in a lakeside fairytale. The 87-room resort features multiple options for your stay, but we like those closest to the main pool — which stretches along one side of the property. Enjoy a view of Lake Pichola on one side and lavish gardens on the other as you breaststroke through this gorgeous oasis. The resort is located within a 20-acre wildlife sanctuary, so you may spot deer or wild boar as well.
If you need a change of pace, you can also take a dip in the tranquil spa pool with its elegant arches, or book a lake view room and have access to a semi-private pool.
The Cambrian (Adelboden, Switzerland)
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“Another infinity pool?” you groan into your iPhone. Yes. Another infinity pool, for a few reasons. First, it’s an infinity pool that dovetails into a gorgeous natural environment is a treat for the eyes. And second, because they are so entrancing, they have become quite popular, prompting the hospitality industry to get incredibly creative in their construction, and we love that innovation. The Cambrian is an excellent example of both. Part of the spa property, this hot pool lets guests wind down après-ski without having to abandon the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
The pool is also equipped with jets and floating massage beds. Between these amenities, the views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, and the relaxing temps of the water, you will find yourself totally blissed out.
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Marina Bay Sands (Marina Bay, Singapore)
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The name “Marina Bay Sands” triggers thoughts of a tropical, ocean-adjacent swimming pool. But, that isn’t even close to the case at this luxury hotel. Nope. Instead, prepare for a swim 57 stories up, in the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool set atop the world’s largest public cantilevered platform. You’ll get your swim on overlooking the glittering Singapore skyline, so it’s still a tropical locale, but with a palpable fear factor. When you aren’t posing for pics or doing laps, recline on a poolside lounger under the shade of a palm tree and sip a cocktail.
The pool isn’t as large as some on the list, but it boasts a 479-foot vanishing edge that serves as a background for the dopest bathing beauty pics on Instagram. Plus, the rooftop also features a couple nightclubs, gardens filled with hundreds of trees and plants, and a public observatory deck offering 360-degree views of the skyline.
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The Standard (Los Angeles, California)
Looking to beat the heat of Southern California in style, then you have to take a visit to The Standard, Andre Balaz’s South Flower outpost. It’s a modern ode to fun, with canopy waterbeds that seat 10, red AstroTurf, videos projected onto a wall poolside, an outdoor fireplace, sculptured topiaries, a dance floor, and nightly DJs. Plus, its position on the property’s rooftop means you get 24/7 panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. The rooftop bar also means this entire area is 21+ only, so you won’t be snaking your way through groups of screaming kids cannonballing with wild abandon.
You may recognize this pool from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang — one of the best neo-noir films ever. We suggest having a theme day. Host an afternoon viewing of the Shane Black classic in your room, then head to the roof to party all night.
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The Joule Hotel (Dallas, Texas)
We wouldn’t necessarily say “There is nothing cooler than a cantilevered pool” because we aren’t cantilevered pool salespeople. But we do think you can tell by looking at this list that we would say they are at the top of the cool pool list. Clearly. The Joule Hotel can’t compete with The Marina Bay Sands for size, but it certainly does a great job competing on the scary side of things — as the swimming pool sits perpendicular to the property, overlooking Main Street and energy of downtown Dallas from the rooftop. There is also a bar area frequented by the fashionable set, so you can lazily float about in your best swimsuit watching your fellow beautiful people down drinks and network.
This 39-foot long, heated pool extends eight-feet past the edge of the building, allowing people to swim right up to the glass wall at the end and swim ten-stories above the street. Breaks for sunning yourself on surrounding sunbeds and in luxe bungalows are fully encouraged.
Perivolas (Oia, Greece)
The pool at Perivolas is as full of Aegean luxury as it is water. So groundbreaking was its design that it has since served as the model for a host of subsequent imitators in the region. The shimmering surface of the infinity pool perfectly meshes with the majestic Santorini scenery to create a faultless setting to enjoy a dip, some afternoon drinks, or the setting of the sun over the Med. Set into a hillside punctuated with the pristine white buildings the region is known for, the unheated pool seems to slide fluidly over the rim of a cliff and become one with the blue horizon.
As with other hotels in this area, the property is a renovation of a cluster of 300-year old caves, which once functioned as wineries, homes, and stables. So, the Perivolas Suite, a true space for the upper crust, also includes a private pool extending out from a cave. This is another Instagrammable wonder pool to consider when you make a visit.
Amankila (Bali, Indonesia)
The difficult thing about picking the best hotel pools in the world is that the properties that take this pursuit seriously typically have multiple pools to choose from. With a plurality of possibilities, our picks often have a preferred pool and a bonus option or two. That’s certainly the case at Amankila — which offers both an amazing three-tiered infinity pool that overlooks the sea as well as a beach club pool set against a backdrop of dense, tropical foliage. Plus, some suites have their own pools. All are lovely, but it’s the infinity pool built into the side of the cliff and designed to mirror the region’s famous rice terraces that proves the most photographable and awe-inspiring.
For guests, it will be hard to get motivated to leave the pool or poolside. This is the sort of hotel that invites visitors to cloister themselves in luxury, ordering cocktails and meals to their loungers or personal thatched pavilion while they take in the dramatic views and snap as many photographs as possible.
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Omni Grove Park Inn (Asheville, North Carolina)
The Omni Grove Park Inn boasts a 50,000-square-foot sports complex with a family pool, but that isn’t the reason you want to pack your swimsuit when you visit this resort. Screw family swim time. No, you want to spend your time in the 18-and-over spa pools housed in the 18,000-square-foot area, which includes relaxation pools, contrast pools, and a lap pool all set in a stone-walled grotto. Seriously, there are nearly two dozen pools housed in this little haven. Plus, the mineral pools offer soothing underwater music and in places, high-pressure waterfalls plunge into the languid bodies of water and provide those standing underneath with the ultimate muscle rub.
In addition to the relaxation opportunities in the water, there are surrounding cavernous rock walls, arches, and tunnels that make this place heavy on ambiance and photo opportunities. We are big fans of the lap pool, which sits beneath 6,500 fiber optic stars.
W Hong Kong (Kowloon Station, Hong Kong)
Located on the 76th floor, the WET® outdoor heated pool invites guests to wrap themselves in the Union Square skyline 692 feet above majestic Victoria Harbor. It’s not the highest rooftop swimming pool in the world, but it’s close. And between the views and the playfully dramatic mosaic wall, it is no wonder people flock here to party poolside at sexy, extravagant summer revelries. The W Hong Kong hosts pool parties that include casino-inspired games, luxe champagne cocktails, neon lights, and live music.
You’re going to want to pack your best swimsuit because this is the place to be seen poolside in Hong Kong. Grab a cocktail at the bar and relax in the jacuzzi or escape the sweltering heat in the infinity pool. Be sure to pose for a few hot pics and party until the wee hours.
Banyan Tree Seychelles Resort & Spa (Mahe Island, Seychelles)
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Looking for a stunning swimming pool in East Africa? Banyan Tree Seychelles Resort & Spa delivers. The infinity pool is lined in a mosaic of dark blue tile that makes it blend perfectly with the entrancing waters of neighboring Intendance Bay (which can be directly accessed from the pool area). The heated pool is surrounded by palm trees that sway in the tropic breeze, and it offers clear views of powdery white sand beach backed by hills covered in verdant rainforest.
Guests who prefer their infinity pools to be private and are willing to enjoy something on a smaller scale can stay in one of the property’s villas, complete with their own secluded pools. These creole-style, colonial digs are situated in the jungle and are reached using buggies that operate 24-hours a day. But no need to go that far, the main pool is so exquisite that it isn’t a must to spend the extra cash on your own private option.
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The Raleigh Hotel (Miami Beach, Florida)
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When it comes to top-notch hotel swimming pools, Miami has them in abundance. You have The Mondrian and Biltmore for starters. But, we don’t think the unique design of the pool at Raleigh Hotel can be topped, nor do event planners and pool party attendees. This art deco retreat from the southern heat plays on the vintage glamour of South Beach. And fans of old-school Hollywood will love embracing their inner Esther Williams, who performed in the pool during many of her classic films. There is even an Esther Williams Suite at the hotel, so they’re really leaning into that bit of history.
Nowadays, the pool is more likely to be used to host sexy, sweaty parties or fashion shows. Karl Lagerfeld has used it as the setting for showing his resort collection for Chanel. Our advice? Follow his lead, grab some friends and a mojito, and slide into the clear, cool water of the Raleigh before summer’s end.
