A great hotel pool is a destination in itself. The eight below earn that distinction through architecture, setting, or scale.
The eight
1. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Pool (Singapore)
The 150-metre rooftop infinity pool on top of the Marina Bay Sands. The most-photographed hotel pool in the world. The view of the Singapore skyline at night is the photograph. Guest-only access.
2. Hotel Caruso Ravello (Italy)
The cliff-edge infinity pool 350 metres above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The water visually merges with the sea below. One of the most-photographed pools in Europe.
3. Cambodian Hilton Manila (Philippines)
26-metre rooftop pool with city skyline view.
4. Joule Hotel (Dallas, USA)
Cantilevered rooftop pool that extends past the building edge. Glass floor allows looking down to the street.
5. Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, USA)
Heritage California beach hotel pool with Pacific Ocean view.
6. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc (France)
The seawater pool carved into the rock at the cliff edge of the French Riviera.
7. Astir Palace Athens (Greece)
Beachfront pool overlooking the Aegean. Heritage Greek luxury setting.
8. The Standard, High Line (New York)
Heated rooftop pool with Hudson River views. Unusual for New York.
What makes a great hotel pool
Five specific criteria:
Setting
The pool must integrate with its setting. A pool surrounded by walls is just a pool. A pool with a view, an architectural relationship to the building, or an unusual design element is a destination.
Size
Pools should be at least 15 metres long for swimming. Smaller pools are decorative rather than functional.
Service
Pool service (towel delivery, drink service, food service) defines the pool experience. Hotels that under-staff their pools deliver poor pool experiences regardless of pool quality.
Hours
Real luxury hotel pools open at 6am or earlier and close at 9pm. Limited hours signal a pool that is amenity rather than experience.
Privacy
Adult-only pools, pool villas, or large pools with quiet zones produce better experiences than crowded family pools.
Five rules for pool-led hotel selection
- Verify the pool is functional (15m+) for actual swimming
- Check pool hours and service availability
- Confirm whether the pool is shared or private
- For honeymoon and anniversary, prioritise sunset orientation
- The standard pool villa rooms have the best pool access at most resorts
For more, see the hotel amenities pillar and the best hotels with private pools.
