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1. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
With its “dreamy sunsets” and “thrilling animal sightings”, the Serengeti in Tanzania is “magical all on its own”, said Brandi Fowler in Hello! Magazine, but the Four Seasons hotel “takes a stay there to another – and very luxurious – level”. The “gorgeous” infinity pool has a watering hole right below it, where “herds of elephants and water buffalo often stop by to take a drink”.
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It’s hard to compete with the spellbinding natural beauty of Bali, but the Hanging Gardens hotel in the rainforests of Ubud does a pretty good job. This luxurious five-star resort is “probably the most romantic place” in Bali, said Anna Everywhere, and the “best” and “most well-known” part is the twin-tiered infinity pools. The gravity-defying structure is suspended over the rainforest to give the illusion of floating above the treetops.
Las Vegas is naturally home to one of the most lavish swimming complexes ever conceived. The Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis is a sprawling rooftop collection of seven swimming pools at the world-famous Caesars Palace. Each one takes the hotel’s Ancient Rome theme to excessive new heights, with the iconic Temple Pool providing the jaw-dropping centrepiece. True, you’re more likely to indulge in a spot of sunbathing, late-night raving or even a game of swim-up blackjack than doing any laps but, you know what they say, when in Vegas…
Not content with being located in one of the world’s highest cities, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Himalayas and ancient Tibetan landmarks, the St Regis Lhasa Resort is also home to one of the most visually striking swimming pools ever conceived. Much like the hotel as a whole, the Gold Energy Pool is part traditional, part unashamedly bling, and a true one-of-a-kind. Clad in thousands of gilded tiles, the heated indoor pool gives off a brilliant golden glow. Talk about bathing in luxury.
The striking, five-star Atix Hotel in La Paz is located in the city’s residential southern district and its architecture and design is “a celebration of native culture”, said The Telegraph. In a city located more than 3,500m above sea level, surrounded by mountains and replete with colourful colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers at every turn, it’s not easy to stand out. The best way to absorb the full scope of this frenetic city is in the Atix Hotel’s enclosed rooftop area, where the effortlessly stylish infinity pool and Jacuzzi invite you to drink in the city below, cocktail in hand (conveniently available from the adjacent bar).
There’s nowhere on Earth quite like the Maldives and this unique resort combines the “wonders of nature” with the “luxuries and style” of a five-star, said The Hotel Guru. A “true hideaway in utter bliss”, Huvafen Fushi is home to “fantastic” watersports and “ultimate pampering” in the world’s first underwater spa. The award-winning resort also boasts a saltwater flotation pool unique to the Maldives, but it’s the main infinity pool, however, that’s a real sight to behold. At night it’s romantically lit up with fibre-optics and resembles something from a fairy tale.
“Captivating and striking”, The Chedi Andermatt offers an “extraordinary blend” of Swiss Alpine chic and Asian Zen, said The Luxury Travel Expert. Located 1,447m above sea level, the hotel is home to elegant rooms and suites, award-winning restaurants and a spa that is “unique” in Switzerland – it’s “an oasis of calm and relaxation”. The “phenomenal” spa facility is centred around an “ultra-sleek, light-filled” 35m-long indoor pool, which is separated from the lobby by a glass wall.
The “best hotel on the French Riviera” offers everything you would expect of the very best Four Seasons hotel, but with “a sprinkle of French chic”, said Luxury Travel Diary. Celebrated as one of the world’s “most beautiful” swimming pools, the Club Dauphin pool has been a “signature symbol” of the hotel since 1939. Perched above the rocky Mediterranean coastline, this infinity pool is “heated and filled with seawater, overlooking the sparkling sea”.
You don’t have to be sweltering in tropical temperatures to enjoy the benefits of an outdoor swimming pool. Located deep in the valley of the picture-postcard Alpine village of Adelboden is the cool and contemporary Cambrian. This hotel offers “stylish design-led whimsy” in one of Switzerland’s “prettiest settings”, said The Telegraph, and its pool is “ultra-Instagrammable”. Surrounded by mountain views, ski slopes and hiking trails, The Cambrian is ideal for outdoorsy types.
Few hotels on Lake Como “match the glamour” of the century-old Grand Hotel Tremezzo, said Condé Nast Traveler. As an “international destination for Italian luxury”, you’re as likely to “brush elbows here with New York socialites as you are with Donatella Versace”. The palatial five-star hotel has an ace up its sleeve in the form of not one, not two, but three spectacular swimming pools. There’s the luxurious heated infinity number at T Spa and the tranquil outdoor pool in the hotel’s sprawling grounds. But the pièce de résistance is the beautiful “Water on the Water” pool designed to “float” on Lake Como itself. From here, the views of the lake and surrounding mountains are simply out of this world.
Whether it’s winter or summer, Watergate Bay Hotel is a “surfers’ paradise”, said Condé Nast Traveler, and here the sunrises and sunsets are “simply spectacular”. Laid-back, breezy and modern, the concept at this Cornish hotspot is “ski resort on the beach”, said The Telegraph. Guests can relax at the hotel’s Swim Club, with its “sea-view lounge, café/bar, outdoor hot tub, cardio suite and treatment rooms”, but the “real jewels” are the 25m infinity pool and wood panelled sauna, “both of which give dazzling views over the ocean”.
A “landmark” property in Palermo, Rocco Forte Hotels’s Villa Igiea offers “waterfront luxury” for Sicily’s tastemakers, said Sofia Gymer on TheWeek.co.uk. Located right on the water, most of the rooms offer private terraces that look out over the Gulf of Palermo and the hotel’s private jetty. The huge outdoor pool, complete with an ancient pillared ruin, is the “perfect place to lie languid” in the Sicilan sun.
Located in the countryside of the Scottish Borders, SCHLOSS Roxburghe is a historic manor house that’s a “delightful place to recharge one’s batteries”, said Judy Johnson on A Luxury Travel Blog. Home to a championship golf course, the estate also features cottages, a new restaurant and spa facilities. One of the highlights of the spa is the “huge relaxation room” which overlooks the heated outdoor infinity pool. Heated to 30C it can therefore be used all year round and at the side of the pool is a hot tub, a plunge pool, an aroma sauna and a Finnish dry sauna “giving visitors a full spa experience”.
The Four Seasons in Megève is “one of those hotels that raises the bar for future stays”, said Rosalyn Wikeley on Country & Town House. With its “spectacular” high-altitude setting above “postcard pretty” Megève, the hotel has “year-round appeal” and “cleverly bowls over both the powder hounds and the more-spa-than-ski brigade”. The spa has a “vast” pool that “spills through a glass door” into its “steamy outdoor equivalent”.
Is the iconic infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore the world’s best swimming pool? There’s no doubt that it’s “breathtakingly beautiful”, said Katie Machado of The Travel, but does it live up to the hype? In short, the answer is yes. Located 57 levels above the city-state, and spanning the hotel’s three towers, the 150m-long pool is “easily one of the world’s most Instagrammed watering holes”, said RTÉ. If you want to take an “epic poolside selfie”, you’ll need to check in for a night as pool access is reserved for guests of the hotel.
The “only thing better” than a cliffside infinity pool is a cliffside infinity pool “facing Santorini’s caldera coast”, said The Times. Most hotels on the popular Greek island only have plunge pools or hot tubs, but the Grace’s “jagged gem of brilliant aquamarine” is an “instant upgrade on all other hotels on the island”.
The Lake Argyle Resort in Western Australia is known as the “jewel of the Kimberley” and its pool was named the world’s second best hotel pool in a list compiled by Big Seven Travel. At its “most magical at sunset”, the 35m infinity pool is “spectacular” and “overlooks some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in Australia”. It is open to all day guests, accommodation and caravan park guests.
This freshwater pool spans 612sqm with a shaded swim-up bar at its centre, setting the perfect tone for relaxing and socialising. The Terrace at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai also features an 828sqm salt water infinity pool, four Jacuzzis, restaurant, beach and cabana space.
Perched high above the city’s vibrant skyline, the swimming pool and terrace at the 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok has been described as one of the “most Instagrammable” pools in Asia. In fact, there are two “fantastic” rooftop pools found at this “modern and urban venue”, said The Rooftop Guide. The one on the 27th floor is open to all hotel guests. While the other, on the 30th and top floor, is “more private and only available to suite guests”. The suite pool on the 30th floor is “really something extra” and “one of the best and most luxurious rooftop pools in Bangkok and also in the world”.
The chic and exclusive Fasano Hotel on Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema Beach was the first building in Brazil designed by Philippe Starck. The hotel’s architecture and interior design pay homage to the spirit of Brazilian design of the 1950s and 1960s and the “glorious Bossa Nova era”. It’s “true gem” – the infinity edge rooftop pool and lounge – is “one of the most famous roof pools in South America”, said The Rooftop Guide. Located on the eighth floor, the rooftop infinity pool gives an unparalleled panoramic view of Ipanema Beach and the bar menu offers a wide array of fresh-squeezed fruit juices, cocktails and dining options throughout the day.
Located on a secret stretch of Thailand’s Andaman Coast in the province of Phang Nga, the Grand Mercure Khao Lak Bangsak opened its doors in December 2020. Taking inspiration from the traditional riverside villages of Thailand, a canal flows throughout the beachside resort connecting guest rooms and shared areas. Travellers can enjoy a tranquil beach getaway experience here and each of the 195 guest rooms and suites feature private terraces overlooking the canal and tropical gardens. There’s three swimming pools on offer at the resort as well as a gym and a spa.
On arrival at the Zannier Hotels Omaanda luxury safari lodge, located a 30-minute drive from Namibia’s capital, guests are greeted by a shimmering, savannah-facing infinity pool. Overlooking a glorious expanse of desert, this one-of-a-kind pool provides the perfect spot for cooling off after an early morning safari.
The heated rooftop pool on the top of the Grand Ferdinand Hotel in central Vienna offers unrivalled rooftop views of the city’s historical architecture. It’s also right next to the hotel’s Grand Étage restaurant, allowing guests to enjoy fine wine and dining while relaxing poolside.
Located on the stunning island of Silhouette, the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa is a tropical paradise which offers guests the chance to swim and relax in the pool and spa, snorkel and dive in the waters of its white sand beaches, and hike through mountain forests. If you want a bit more privacy, then the resort has a range of rooms and suites, including beachfront pool villas, garden oasis pool villas, king sanctuary pool villas, and the two-bedroom Silhouette Estate, which includes a pool with panoramic sun deck, private beach access, private boat arrival, butler and bar.
Located directly on a white sandy beach is the infinity pool at the five-star Atmosphere Kanifushi resort in the Maldives. Perfect for an early morning wake-up swim or a relaxing sunset paddle, this enormous pool overlooks the Indian Ocean horizon.
The Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe’s stunning heated lakefront swimming pool is the perfect place to unwind and relax after a day on the slopes during the winter or sightseeing during the summer. This pool overlooks Lake Tahoe, the clear-blue lake that’s surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Mango House Seychelles is part of LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton’s collection of independent luxury properties. An intimate and exclusive island oasis on southern Mahé’s unspoiled beachfront, the sea is always a tempting option, of course, but guests also have the choice of taking a dip in the main infinity pool (pictured) or an oval-shaped pool located next to Soley, Mango House’s vibrant poolside bar.
The magnificent Aqua Club at The Headland, a five-star clifftop hotel in Cornwall, features six pools including a 25m swimming pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a children’s splash pool and an outdoor vitality pool (pictured). The complex also has a sun terrace with impressive ocean views and a restaurant.
Nestled high in the hills of Cote d’Azur with striking panoramic views over the surrounding Provencal landscape, the infinity pool at Terre Blanche is the crowning jewel of the five-star resort. Overlooking perched medieval villages and rolling vineyards, the pool is heated to a warmth of 28C, producing an ethereal steam which rises in the mornings and evenings.
Positioned on a headland above Saundersfoot harbour and Carmarthen Bay, the St Brides Spa Hotel’s infinity pool boasts a breath-taking view. The pool forms part of the hotel’s luxurious “marine spa” which includes aroma steam, rock sauna and treatment rooms, a sensation shower, a salt infusion room and an ice fountain.
The elegant Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy is one of the world’s “most celebrated” hotels, said The Telegraph. Its sporting club boasts a gym, eight tennis courts and the hotel’s “most famous and ambitious project”, a floating pool on the lake. Luxury Explorer described the heated floating pool, with its own Jacuzzi, as “a must” for hotel guests to visit.
The TWA Hotel, the only on-airport hotel at JFK International Airport in New York, is a haven for AV geeks and swimmers alike. You can enjoy a dip in the rooftop “pool-cuzzi”, eat and drink at the pool bar, or lounge on the observation deck and watch the jets take off for far-away destinations.
Guests at the NYX Hotel in London’s Holborn, named after the Greek goddess of the night, can take a splash in an expansive, indoor 13m Greco-Roman swimming pool. Offering an urban sanctuary in the heart of the UK capital, the unique, quirky pool has been designed with dramatic black and white tiles, neon signage and bold splashes of artwork on its surrounding pillars.
Gleneagles, Scotland’s iconic five-star luxury hotel and sporting estate, has three outstanding pools for guests to choose from: a vitality pool (featuring a Jacuzzi bench, hydro pods and a swan neck shower), a 31C leisure pool (pictured), and an adults-only 18.5m lap pool (featuring heated loungers, a steam room and saunas).
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok: a serene oasis in the heart of the Thai capital
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Fonab Castle: a regal stay in the Scottish Highlands
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Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh: a family-friendly haven in Egypt
Rome: historic haunts – and one new hotel – to explore
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