It’s no secret that a hotel’s pool can be an extremely valuable amenity for guests to experience during a trip. But some hotels have gone all out to make their swimming pools spectacularly beautiful. Think columns, fine art, and walls of windows framing a killer view. From North Carolina to Tibet, here are 16 hotels with pools that are worth staying at — even just for a swim.
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1. Club Med Quebec — Quebec, Canada
Photo: Club Med Quebec
In December this ski resort debuted at the foot of the Massif in the charming Charlevoix region – which only means its prized mountains are in full view from the pool, thanks to its all-glass enclosure. Hammocks are poolside as is an art installation of hand-painted canoe paddles. For a steamy plunge, step outside to the elevated hot tub for an even better view.
2. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah — Dubai
Guests at the hotel, with its iconic skyscraper design, can easily seek respite from the desert heat at the infinity-edge pool, featuring floor-to-ceiling tile, gold sconces, walls of windows and views of the Arabian Gulf that are hard to find, even in this destination already rich with towering buildings also boasting bird’s-eye views.
3. Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris — Paris, France
Right on the Champs-Élysées, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels spares no luxury, even at its basement-level Diane Barriere spa where reproductions of fine art—trust us, they’re not cheesy or cheap—are hung on the walls. Black columns woven into the pool’s architecture are a refreshing departure from typical lighter hues and waterfalls on the pool’s edge are a playful touch.
4. Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo — Monte Carlo, Monaco
Flaunting serious fashion cred, the “Odyssey” pool area at this hotel was designed by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. It sports a celestial feel as the crystal chandelier reflects on the water’s surface. Black-and-white wall-size screens depict seaside life nearby and sliding-glass doors open to a garden.
5. La Sultana Marrakech — Marrakech, Morocco
Vaulted ceilings, marble arches and Moroccan-style lanterns at the hotel’s Sultana Spa create an elegant Old World design. Another architectural anchor here is a hammam, which is a steam bath popular in Muslim cultures but dates back to the Romans.
6. Hotel 1898 — Barcelona, Spain
In the heart of bustling Barcelona, Hotel 1898‘s pool at the spa is in a location with serious roots. Before it was a spa, the spot served as the Philippines Tobacco Company’s chambers and, before that, a coal bunker. Exposed-brick walls and shimmery green and blue waters (due to soft backlighting) make the spa a hidden historical wonder.
7. 7132 Hotel — Vals Valley, Switzerland
The thermal spa’s indoor pool is entirely clad in slabs of Vals quartzite, creating a very modern-design immersion at the hands of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, a Pritzker Prize winner in 2009. The ESPA-brand spa at this hotel is home to eight thermal baths, including a fire pool, ice pool and spring grotto.
8. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort — Tibet, Chengguan
Photo: The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
The hotel’s gold-tiled pool — fittingly called the Gold Energy Pool — is about as luxe as it gets. And while views of the surrounding Himalayas are stunning, so is the pool area’s architectural design. Dark-wood tones; art on the walls; and a cathedral ceiling crafted from wood planks cultivate a cozy environment.
9. Room Mate Grace — New York City, US
Just like The City That Never Sleeps, this hotel snug in Times Square, the pool on the ground floor, where a lobby normally might be, stays open late (until 9:00 PM). There’s also a pool bar, sauna and gym adjacent. But what sells the space is the colorful backlighting, including pinks and purples, for a jazzy vibe.
10. The g Hotel — Galway, Ireland
Photo: g Hotel
Emerald-green back-lighting is just one of many design details courtesy of famed Irish milliner Philip Tracey in the pool area of ESPA at this Galway hotel. With 12 treatment rooms and spanning two stories, it’s also considered the area’s most luxurious spa.
11. Omni Grove Park Inn — Asheville, North Carolina
Taking a dip in the spa’s pool feels very subterranean, thanks to rock sculptures in the shape of towering columns. A definite spot to linger, the resort’s spa also features a café, treatment rooms, sauna and a steam room infused with eucalyptus.
12. Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas — Costas Palmas, California
The Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is an ultra-luxurious resort in the Baja Peninsula’s undiscovered East Cape region. This property boasts 141 guest rooms which include 23 suites — and each of the resort’s villas, suites, private residences, and select guest rooms offer their own private plunge pool(s) with an ocean view. Visitors will also encounter the world-renowned estiatorio Milos, a Robert Trent Jones II 18-hole golf course, multiple retail experiences, a top-notch spa and wellness center, and a variety of kids programs on-site.
And this summer, Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is offering a special guest experience — a wellness retreat called “Camp Verano” is available Memorial Day through Labor Day. This booking requires groups of two or more, with rates starting at $5,000 USD per person on a six-day program that combines feel-good exercise with blissful opportunities for relaxation on an escape that’s designed to “reset the mind, body, and spirit.”
13. Hyatt Regency Indian Wells — Indian Wells, California
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells is the ideal getaway for a fun-filled family vacation in the desert. This recently renovated property is home to the largest waterpark in Greater Palm Springs, HyTides, which features attractions including two 30-foot dueling slides, a 450-foot lazy river, a splash pad for children, and seven pools. This luxe hotel is tucked away into 45 acres of lush landscaping, with towering palm trees, panoramic golf courses, and scenic mountain views. There are 530 guest rooms — including deluxe rooms, suites, and luxury villas — along with a variety of dining choices, a 30,000-square-foot spa, tennis courts, and more. It’s a fantastic place to recharge and soak up some summer sunshine.
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells also just launched a new “Stay to Play” package for the summer, available through September 30. This package includes accommodations for two as well as a round of golf (with transportation and bag drop), $50 in credit at the Golf Pro Shop or resorts dining, a private cabana at the adults-only pool, $50 in dining credit, and access to Agua Serena Spa with 15% off treatments for a day of relaxation.
Images (credit: Hyatt Regency Indian Wells).
14. The Lodge at Kukui’ula — Kauai, Hawaii
The Lodge at Kukui’ula, which is located on the South Shore of Kauai, hosts seven different pools on the property — including a unique selection of saltwater pools connected by waterfalls. These pools even encompass a waterslide leading to a sand-filled pool that replicates a private lagoon. The hotel is the newest luxury hospitality property on the South Shore, offering a collection of cozy Club Cottages, modern Club Bungalows, and upscale Club Villas. It feels like the private service and personal attention that comes with a club, with access to an array of dedicated amenities.
Guests can visit the Plantation House, a community gathering spot that offers multiple dining options, bar service, a game room, and sandy bottom Makai pools — as well as an 18,000-square-foot spa, the 18-hole golf course, and enjoy the “Islands Pursuits” program which offers exclusive access to unique Kauai adventures.
15. Susurros del Corazon — Punta de Mita, Mexico
Opening in fall 2022 in Punta de Mita as Auberge’s third Mexico property, Susurros del Corazon will be home to 30 residences and 59 hotel suites, hosting ample indoor-outdoor spaces — including private terraces and spacious windows featuring the natural landscapes outside.
This property also offers a brand-new, innovative pool experience. This luxurious but playful resort is centered around three scallop-shaped pools that each cascade down to the beach where surfers, snorkelers, and fishers unite against the backdrop of the volcanic Marietas Islands — a protected wildlife refuge. Guests can enjoy four distinct culinary concepts, a 3,000-square-foot fitness center and yoga studio, a kids’ club, and the lavish, and a signature Auberge Spa.
16. Thompson Hotel and tommie Austin — Austin, Texas
The recently opened Thompson Austin hosts 212 elegant guest rooms and suites — as well as a 700-square-foot wellness center, a sports simulator, and a coffee shop. Visitors should be sure to visit Wax Myrtle’s Club & Pool — a signature poolside restaurant and bar overlooking the city sights and lights, with a menu combining fresh, local ingredients into a range of modern American dishes (in addition to delicious, signature craft cocktails).
Adjacent sister property, the tommie Austin, was created for the “spirited adventurer” — it’s home to 193 all king bed guest rooms, an infinity outdoor pool, an all-day restaurant, and bar concept that was designed to pay homage to the laid-back, West Texas atmosphere. This hotel’s outdoor deck is complete with a poolside terrace, multiple private poolside cabanas, a cozy oversized fireplace, and regular rotating monthly music and event programming. There’s never a dull moment, no matter what time of day or year visitors are stopping by either of these two properties.