13 Unforgettable Hotel Pools Around the World
The right accommodations can make or break your vacation, transforming it from a perfectly adequate experience into a memory you'll keep forever. And when it comes to picking the right place to stay, a luxe hotel pool can make all the difference. Nothing beats relaxing in the water after a long day of exploring a new city, especially if the poolside views are picture-perfect. Whether you're looking for a rooftop view over a big city, an island getaway with your own private plunge pool, or an Instagram-worthy spot on the Amalfi Coast, there are plenty of gorgeous hotel pools just waiting for you to take a dip. While each of our picks is in a jaw-dropping destination of its own, you'll be hard-pressed to leave the comforts of the property once you've seen it. If you do manage to pull yourself away for a little bit of off-property exploration, you can rest easy knowing that a cool dip in the water awaits when you get back.
Whether you're planning your summer vacation or hoping to leave the cold behind for somewhere warmer, you'll find something for everyone—these 13 hotels are worth a trip just to hang out in the pool and soak in the views.
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Courtesy Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa/Maurice NaragonhotelMonastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Salerno, Italy
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Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022You'll be hard-pressed to find a view of the Amalfi Coast quite like the one you'll get from the luxe infinity pool at Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa. Carved into the rock-base cliff and surrounded by four levels of lush gardens, the freshwater pool overlooks the clear blue sea and stunning coastline, giving the perception that you're one with the Tyrrhenian Sea below. You'll only find 20 rooms and suites at this property, so if you're looking for a secluded, magical stay, you've come to the right place.
Courtesy The Retreat at Blue LagoonhotelThe Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, Iceland
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, so why not stay right on property to ensure that you get the best experience while there? The 60-suite hotel is home to a subterranean spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and, of course, a private, more intimate lagoon that hosts geothermal seawater from the same wellspring as the Blue Lagoon. This retreat lets you reap all the same benefits of the tourist hotspot without having to deal with the crowds.
Fabrice RamberthotelAirelles Gordes, La Bastide, Gordes, France
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Gold List 2020 
Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Surrounded by ancient olive trees, dry stone walls, and a view that just cannot be beat, this luxe 100-foot pool in the South of France will amaze you. Guests can enjoy the glorious sun with a cocktail in hand while they laze about on one of the comfortable loungers under a parasol, or they can take a dip in the pool itself to cool off after a long day of rest and relaxation. From your perch, it's easy to take in the views of neighboring villages and surrounding mountains.
Courtesy Four SeasonshotelFour Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021Nestled amidst the northern Thailand countryside, the Four Seasons Chiang Mai is a sanctuary. At the center of the property is a small lake surrounded by working rice patty fields. The two pools (one is for adults only) seem to spill over into the rice fields, blurring the lines between man-made luxury and natural beauty. It’s easy to waste away warm days sipping on cool wine or cocktails while watching the sun pass overhead. As the sun fades, workers begin to exit the rice fields, drumming and singing in welcome of the evening breeze. —Eugene Shevertalov, associate entertainment director
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JAMES BAIGRIEhotel1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, New York
$$ | Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023While you won't get much deep diving done in this three-foot pool, you sure will have the time of your life gazing out at some of the best skyline views New York City has to offer. The rooftop plunge pool is a seasonal, exclusive amenity for hotel guests. Sip delicious cocktails on the lounge chairs, snack on some tasty bites, or cool off from a hot New York City summer day with a dip in the pool surrounded by an incredible skyline.
Courtesy Mandarin OrientalhotelMandarin Oriental, Marrakech
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022This glorious hotel is a true oasis 10 minutes away from the medina of Marrakech. The property is vast, and while most rooms are villa-style with private pools, they don’t hold a candle to the gigantic hotel pool. It’s the jewel of the property flanked by several ponds that make the pool look even bigger and more impressive. —Eugene Shevertalov, associate entertainment director
Rock House Grace BayhotelRock House
$$$ | Hot List 2023While Turks and Caicos is home to so many incredible properties, Rock House has a special charm that stands out amongst the greats. It is an intimate resort with only 46 accommodations, and the pool is a sight for sore eyes. The resort itself is nestled among jagged rock formations with the pool as its centerpiece—it is surrounded by a limited number of lounge chairs, overlooking the shining turquoise waters that make Turks and Caicos so unique. While I only visited the resort for dinner, the view of the bright blue pool overlooking the ocean has stuck with me. —Emily Adler, associate social media manager
Courtesy Design HotelshotelZannier Hotels Phum Baitang, Siem Reap, Cambodia
$$ | Gold List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020Just a stone's throw away from UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat, this hotel is surrounded by rice paddy fields and glorious gardens. There are 45 private terrace and pool villas (each pool villa has its own private plunge pool), but the star of the show is the main infinity pool, perfect for catching the sunset. If you need a break from swimming, visit the two on-property restaurants and the Spa Temple, or hop on a bike and explore the neighboring villages.
Martin Harvey/Courtesy The Oberoi Udaivilas, UdaipurhotelThe Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2020, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Overlooking lush gardens and Lake Pichola, this glamorous resort in Udaipur is almost too beautiful to be real. Luckily for us, it is. The 88-foot pool is clearly an architectural work of wonder, sandwiched between views of the garden and ocean, and the beautiful arches and domes of the hotel. While it's open to all hotel guests, there is a secondary spa pool for adults only. The property itself is located on 50 acres of the 200-year-old hunting grounds of the Maharana of Mewar, and boasts a 20-acre wildlife sanctuary.
Courtesy Aman TokyohotelAman Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021Step foot in the vaulted stone atrium that houses this one-of-a-kind swimming pool high above Tokyo's skyline and you'll never want to leave. The 100-foot heated indoor pool is part of the Aman Spa— alongside onsen-style hot baths and steam rooms, a fitness center, and yoga and Pilates studios—and boasts gorgeous panorama views of the capital city of Japan. Stay in one of the 84 guestrooms and suites, all of which feature views of the picturesque city below, and get full use of the spa amenities included in your stay.
Courtesy Belmond Copacabana PalacehotelCopacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023When describing the pool scene at this South American Grande Dame, it almost feels like a stand-in for Rio itself. Bossanova beats gently carrying through the breezy warm air, happy Cariocas scooping chocolate and strawberry gelato from an ice cream cart, beautiful bronzed bodies soaking up the sun, not unlike the scene just across the street at the famous Copacabana Beach. All is to say, it’s the type of pool scene that channels the destination, instead of shutting yourself out of it. Which makes it a slam dunk in my book. — Erin Florio, executive editor
Courtesy Laucala IslandhotelCOMO Laucala Island, Fiji
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020What could possibly be more wonderful than hanging out in the pool at a private island resort in Fiji? Hanging out in a pool within a pool, of course. This property is home to 25 villas, scattered over the picture-perfect lagoons, hilltops, and rainforests of the island. While some villas have their own private pools, it's the main basin you'll want to keep an eye out for. The massive pool takes paradise to a new level: stretching all the way from the pool bar to the beach, multi-layered, and full of many nooks and crannies to retain some privacy.
Courtesy Hôtel du Cap-Eden-RochotelHôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022, 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023This seven-time Readers' Choice Awards winner and three-time Gold List winner has a lot to love about it, including the incredible saltwater pool. The heated infinity pool is carved into the rocks and overlooks the breathtaking Mediterranean. Perched on the French Riviera, this stretch of coastline is home to some of the most beautiful views in the world. If you're not particularly interested in getting your feet wet, guests can also lounge around the pool deck sunbathing and taking in the views, or book the iconic location for a private party.