Hotel Pools – Islands https://www.islands.com The world's most beautiful island travel to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Tahiti and Mexico with expert reviews of resorts, snorkeling and the best islands to live on. Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:38:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.islands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/favicon-isl-1.png Hotel Pools – Islands https://www.islands.com 32 32 14 Romantic Resorts with Private Plunge Pools https://www.islands.com/14-honeymoon-resorts-with-private-plunge-pools/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:36:00 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=40411 Nothing says honeymoon like your own private plunge pool.

The post 14 Romantic Resorts with Private Plunge Pools appeared first on Islands.

]]>
There’s a reason “Do Not Disturb” signs were created. When a refreshing dip in a plunge pool is just steps from your bed, there’s no need to fight the crowd for a lounge chair — or even don a swimsuit. At these resorts with private pools, that’s exactly the lifestyle you can enjoy with your significant other.

From the Caribbean and Mexico to Spain, South Africa and even Utah, there’s a host of luxurious hotels with private pools perfect for the most relaxing, most romantic getaways. Isolate yourselves at Amangiri in the seemingly remote landscape of Utah; there are sunsets and gorgeous horizons all around. Prefer something more tropical? Visit St. Lucia and Jade Mountain for vistas overlooking the island.

If you’re looking for hotel rooms with a private pool, read on for our list of the best 14 locations.

a plunge pool at Jade Mountain resort in St Lucia
Jade Mountain has long been considered one of the Caribbean’s most romantic resort. Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain – Soufriere, St. Lucia

The 24 suites, aptly called sanctuaries at Jade Mountain, are stacked atop each other on a hillside, all with heart-stopping views. As you open the door, get ready to be wowed: Organic architecture blends curved stone walls with exotic hardwood floors, and the open plan means you’re never without a view, from the king-sized bed draped with mosquito netting to the sans-walls bathroom with its sexy whirlpool tub.

But the stars are the pools. Sized from 400 to 900 square feet, each is lined with iridescent glass tiles in shades like sapphire, jade, magenta and bronze. The effect is so mesmerizing you won’t mind that there’s no TV (or air conditioning, as the lofty locale provides cooling breezes). Just pour yourselves some bubbly, and slip into your infinity-edge paradise.

private villa at Royal Davui Island Resort in Fiji
Royal Davui Island Resort’s private villas are the main reason this is such a preferred property for couples. Royal Davui Island Resort

Royal Davui Island Resort – Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Each romantic “vale” is nestled into hillside foliage with plunge pools facing out toward the lagoon for ultimate privacy at Royal Davui Island Resort. Trading up from the island or deluxe categories to premium earns you the largest and most private oasis with its own refreshing rock waterfall.

Inside, a 20-foot netted canopy hangs from the ceiling to cocoon the king bed, which floats mid-room on a sea of polished Fijian-wood flooring adjacent to a large bathroom with a whirlpool tub and outdoor shower. A separate living room has sliding glass walls and a sunning patio with twin chaise lounges.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya oceanfront suite with plunge pool
Only the best plunge pools will convince guests to choose them over the beautiful ocean. Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Riviera Maya – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This 539-room all-inclusive is definitely abuzz, but the quiet Grand Class section perfectly combines luxe amenities with honeymoon privacy. All 90 suites in this section have ocean views, spa tubs and oceanfront balconies with private plunge pools. There’s even room for a massage table, should you prefer your spa treatment in suite. Top-floor rooms boast vaulted ceilings and the best views.

Hermitage Bay hillside cottage private plunge pool
Beachside or hillside cottages, guests can’t make a wrong choice. But only hillside have these romantic pools. Hermitage Bay

Hermitage Bay – Antigua

Yes, Hermitage Bay has cottages set right on the beach. But if it’s privacy and plunge pools you seek, request one of 17 hillside-cottage suites. You have to trek up a steep stone path to get there, but your effort is rewarded with the treehouse-like enclave, boasting sexy extras like a king bed, outdoor shower, wraparound sun deck and infinity-edge plunge pool with views that stretch all the way to neighboring Nevis and Montserrat.

The Resort at Pedregal plunge pool
The Resort at Pedregal goes above and beyond by offering plunge pools in every room and suite. The Resort at Pedregal

The Resort at Pedregal – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Each of the 66 rooms and suites features a private terrace with a plunge pool, but, for the most indulgent ambience, book one of the eight Capella rooms at the Resort at Pedregal. These oversized havens have carved, wood-beam ceilings, a separate sitting area and a driftwood-back king bed positioned opposite a fireplace. The terrace door opens to an infinity-edge plunge pool with stellar sea views. More watery revelry is on tap inside in the rainforest shower for two.

Cavo Tagoo Mykonos Greece plunge pool
Cavo Tagoo offers the best of everything travelers expect from Mykonos. Cavo Tagoo

Cavo Tagoo – Mykonos, Greece

Cavo Tagoo stays true to the stark-white Cycladic architecture Mykonos is known for, but the whitewashed interiors are refreshingly modern. Classic rooms on the lower level have private terraces and refreshing plunge pools while the upper-level deluxe rooms come with infinity-edge pools overlooking the Aegean Sea. A free shuttle runs between the hotel and Old Town five minutes away.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora overwater bungalow with plunge pool
The plunge pool is as enticing as the beautiful water surrounding these bungalows. Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora – Bora Bora, French Polynesia

All of the resort’s plush, overwater bungalows offer dive- or step-in access to the lagoon, but couples who book an overwater bungalow with a plunge pool can also take a freshwater dip on the lanai right outside their room. It’s perfect for a relaxing rinse after a snorkel session or a sunset soak complete with champagne.

Inside, contemporary Polynesian décor is equally seductive, especially the oversized tub with lagoon views. The glass panel in the living room floor lets you spy on multicolored reef fish below.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba plunge pool suite
Banyan Tree Mayakoba is the kind of resort that keeps getting better and better. Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Banyan Tree Mayakoba – Riviera Maya, Mexico

For a romantic respite, book a bilevel spa-pool villa at Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Here, your rectangular H2O oasis is the perfect relaxation spot after a massage in your private treatment area. The décor is Asian spare meets Mexican spice. Think minimalist architecture that blends into the landscape and a neutral color palette accented by touches of orange and red.

Your outdoor terrace has twin chaise lounges and a dining area. Round-the-clock room service ups your incentive to stay put, too.

Ladera St. Lucia resort plunge pool
Walls? You don’t need a wall when you can be enjoying the spectacular and romantic views from this resort. Courtesy Ladera

Ladera – Soufriere, St. Lucia

St. Lucia oozes romance, and the 32 treehouse-style rooms at Ladera match that vibe perfectly. Situated on a ridge 1,100 feet above sea level, the three-walled suites boast panoramic views of the Caribbean, the Pitons (two mountainous volcanic plugs) and the town of Soufriere. Each terrace has a private plunge pool surrounded by lush landscaping. Many also have waterfalls and teak swing sets hanging from the ceiling.

Spice Island Beach Resort Grenada
This beloved resort exudes Caribbean style. Spice Island Beach Resort

Spice Island Beach Resort – St. George’s, Grenada

This all-inclusive, 32-room boutique resort on Grenada’s southwest coast is on prime real estate, steps away from expansive Grand Anse Beach. The resort’s 1,200-square-foot Anthurium pool suites are located on the lower level, and each has a private courtyard terrace where gardens and chaise lounges surround a supersized 12-by-16-foot plunge pool.

Uma Ubud Bali private plunge pool suite
With only a trio of plunge pool suites available, this is the definition of exclusive. COCO Uma Ubud

Uma Ubud – Bali, Indonesia

There are just three Uma pool suites at COCO Uma Ubud. They’re constructed in an open, airy Balinese style with separate lounging, dining and sleeping areas. Each bedroom features a four-poster king bed and gleaming terrazzo floor that leads to a light-filled bathroom with a sunken tub for two. Outside, a pair of chaises flanks a sapphire-blue infinity plunge pool embraced by the solitude of the Balinese jungle.

Belmond La Residencia Mediterranean resort
The traditional Mediterranean vibes are strong at Belmond La Residencia. Belmond La Residencia

Belmond La Residencia – Majorca, Spain

The isle of Majorca is classic Mediterranean: olive groves, quaint towns and seaside cliffs. Within the sleepy artists village of Deià is Belmond La Residencia, a pair of stunning stone houses that have been converted into a 67-room Orient Express retreat. Here, guests lounge around the grounds, hike to the nearby swimming cove or hole up in a Tramuntana suite with a tiled garden terrace and private pool.

Amangiri Utah resort
Even in Utah you can find otherworldly seclusion and luxury. Courtesy Amangiri

Amangiri – Lake Powell, Utah

The stunning Utah landscape is best experienced at Amangiri, a 34-room oasis surrounded by stark plateaus near the Arizona border and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Six of the hotel’s suites have spacious plunge pools and private, candlelit sky terraces accessed by staircase and furnished with a daybed. It’s perfect for evening stargazing.

Earth Lodge Africa resort plunge pool
Earth Lodge is an entirely different experience. Earth Lodge

Earth Lodge – Mpumalanga, South Africa

Spend your mornings spotting lions, giraffes and elephants from a Land Rover while on safari around Kruger National Park. Then, return to Earth Lodge for afternoons staring out over the bush from the pool on your private terrace. The lodge’s 13 suites were made from stone and built low to the ground. While they appear minimal on the outside, inside, they’re an interior designer’s dream.

Each suite is filled with rich metallic art and funky, locally sourced furnishings, such as handmade twig chandeliers.

The post 14 Romantic Resorts with Private Plunge Pools appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Best All-Inclusive Resort Pools: Islands All-Inclusive Awards https://www.islands.com/best-all-inclusive-resort-pools-2019/ Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:16:53 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=41647 What makes a pool at an all-inclusive resort great depends on what you want — a party vibe, a Zen zone or family-friendly waterpark features. These resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico have something for everyone.

The post Best All-Inclusive Resort Pools: Islands All-Inclusive Awards appeared first on Islands.

]]>
ISL Awards 2020 Logo

Our editors and writers scoured the globe to find the best all-inclusive resorts based on standout offerings, from top-notch dining options and cool bars to over-the-top suites and white-glove butler service. We also asked our readers to vote for their favorites in each category. We’re proud to present the winners of the 2019 Islands All-Inclusive Awards.

There are beach people and there are pool people, and if you’re in the latter group you know that just any old pool won’t cut it. Today’s resort pools are more than just a respite from the hot tropical sun. They’re an extension of a hotel brand’s identity — as in let’s get this party started or we’re all about family-friendly fun — and resorts with great pools earn rave reviews from guests. These resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico offer something for everyone.

Winner, Editors’ Choice and Readers’ Choice: Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, St. Lucia

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa features its own waterpark Courtesy Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Simply having five pools might have qualified this upscale all-inclusive resort on St. Lucia for honors, but the fact that it’s also home to the island’s largest waterpark guaranteed it.

Set on 500 acres on the south coast, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa has amenities that appeal to all types of sun-seeking water lovers. Singles and couples can channel a grown-up vibe at the adults-only Harmony wing, which offers sunning and frozen-cocktail sipping at two pools.

Families, on the other hand, can make a splash (literally) in the kid-friendly wing called Splash and its Cocoland Waterpark, which features a 1,500-foot Lazy River complete with drenching waterfalls and waterslides like the exhilarating Coconut Canon.

Even the tiniest guests can get wet and wild amid the spray fountains and water geysers of Cocoland Waterworks. And when you crave a little salt water, there’s one mile of beach to enjoy, too.

Winner, Editors’ Choice: Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, Jamaica

The Main Pool at Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa is the largest in Jamaica Courtesy Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa

Jamaica is home to dozens of resorts, but the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa has a grand distinction: Its Main Pool is the island’s largest at an impressive 48,437-square feet — that’s more than an acre — and has a lively ambience, swim-up bar (daiquiris for everyone!) and adjacent water park that will keep kids cooled off and excited.

But there’s more: Tranquility reigns at the resort’s Roselle Pool, while adults-only merriment is on tap until midnight at the Coral Pool (located in the adjacent Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton). All three feature built-in Jacuzzis surrounded by striking contemporary versions of ancient Roman pillars.

Grand Palladium also has a Spa Pool, located within its 64,500-square-foot Zentropia Spa, but unless you’re a Travel Club member or a Royal Suites by Palladium guest, you’ll pay a fee to access it and the thermal suite. As Jamaicans like to say, no worries — there’s enough free H2O to keep everyone happy.

Winner, Editors’ Choice: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Central Pool is one of 13 pools at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana Courtesy Hard Rock Hotels

What’s harder than picking your top 10 desert-island albums? How about choosing a favorite among the 13 (yes, 13!) pools at this sprawling, music-centric resort?

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana has made the decision a bit easier by reserving two of them for Vacation Club members, restricting one to Rock Royalty Level guests and giving each remaining pool a theme.

Head to the expansive Central and Eclipse Pools for classic Hard Rock ambience and fun activities, or the Family Pool for teen-friendly music and waterslides (the Kids Pool also has one).

Craving something more low-key? Find a chaise at the Bongo Pool (for soft rock from the ’80s) or the Sax Pool (for no music at all). For a high-energy vibe — plus an adults-only, European-style, bikini-tops-optional setting — choose the Eden Pool. Rounding out the options: the Woodstock Pool, the Guitars and Bongos Pool and the Moon Pool.

Stay for a week and you can check them all out as well as dine at nine restaurants, flirt with Lady Luck at the casino and dance the night away at the Oro Nightclub.

The post Best All-Inclusive Resort Pools: Islands All-Inclusive Awards appeared first on Islands.

]]>
20 Amazing Hotel Pools Around the World https://www.islands.com/best-hotel-pools-around-the-world/ Wed, 18 Oct 2017 03:01:03 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=39402 These gorgeous hotel pools are sure to wow.

The post 20 Amazing Hotel Pools Around the World appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Many islands are home to the world’s best beaches, but sometimes people simply prefer to chill by the pool (for reasons that include comfier chaises, no pesky sand underfoot and relaxing swim-up bars). And while most resorts have a pool, some are just way more inviting, with scenic backdrops, locally inspired design and dramatic infinity edges. Here’s a look at some of the most amazing hotel pools around the globe.

Best Hotels with Pools: Kata Rocks
Kata Rocks Courtesy Kata Rocks

Kata Rocks – Phuket, Thailand

Your vacation will go to infinity and beyond at this luxury resort on Thailand’s sunny Phuket island, where the pale aquamarine water of the sleek infinity pool that fronts each of the 34 modern suites and villas meets the deep blue calm of the Andaman Sea. The private pools are generously sized (23 or 46 feet depending on the category) but if you’re feeling social you can also soak in some sun at the chaise-lined Infinity Pool located off of the main bar and lounge. katarocks.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Hotel Caesar Augustus
Hotel Caesar Augustus Courtesy Hotel Caesar Augustus

Hotel Caesar Augustus – Capri, Italy

Check into this 55-room luxury hotel perched on a hillside on the beautiful Isle of Capri and you can literally surround yourself with blue at the irresistible infinity-edge pool. The cool cobalt of the 88-foot-long pool is matched by the the intense cerulean of the Bay of Naples, the brilliant cornflower of the Mediterranean sky and the dusty indigo of the silhouette of one of Italy’s most famous volcanoes, Mt. Vesuvius (of Pompeii fame). This pool is a daydreamer’s paradise — even during cooler months when it’s heated. caesar-augustus.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Jade Mountain
A Sanctuary at Jade Mountain Courtesy Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain – St. Lucia

Yes, there’s a resort pool atop this sexy, one-of-a-kind hotel overlooking St. Lucia’s famous Piton peaks. But it’s not the one you’ll be spending most of your time in — not when each of the 24 wood-and-stone Sanctuaries has its own private pool with a view. And we’re not talking tiny plunge pools that can barely fit two people. Depending on the category (except for Sky, which only has a Jacuzzi), your personal glass-tiled oasis will measure between 400 and 900 square feet. The pool, not the room. The Sanctuaries, which have just three walls and are open to nature, are 1,400 to 2,000 square feet. jademountain.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
The King Pond at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai – Big Island, Hawaii

The King’s Pond isn’t really a pool per se, but it’s one of the coolest and most refreshing places to swim (make that snorkel) at this 243-room resort on the island of Hawaii. That’s because this 1.8-million-gallon, man-made saltwater “aquarium” carved from lava rock has been stocked with more than 4,000 tropical fish and a few spotted eagle rays. If snorkeling isn’t your thing, there are five other more traditional pools to choose from, including a lap pool, the adults-only Palm Grove Pool and the family-oriented Sea Shell Pool. fourseasons.com

Best Hotels with Pools: InterContinental Hong Kong
InterContinental Hong Kong Courtesy InterContinental Hong Kong

InterContinental Hong Kong

Where does the pool end and Victoria Harbour begin? You’ll have to swim on over to the infinity edge of one of the three spa pools (each a different temperature) to find out as you soak in views of Hong Kong across the harbor — crisscrossed by the legendary Star Ferries — from your perch on the Pool Terrace of this 503-room hotel located on the Kowloon waterfront. There’s also a large central pool and teak-decked dining area with a distinctly Asian ambiance that both offer plenty of space to relax and recover from your jetlag. intercontinental.com

Best Hotels with Pools: One&Only Ocean Club
One&Only Ocean Club Courtesy One&Only Ocean Club

One&Only Ocean Club – Paradise Island, Bahamas

Lots of pools in the Caribbean offer water views — and this 105-room luxury resort on Paradise Island has a new 125-foot infinity-edged Ocean Pool that’s framed in serene Bahamian blue — but this is also the only property in the region with a smaller, palm-shaded pool that faces a manicured terraced Versailles Garden topped by a 12th-century Augustinian cloister brought to the island from France. Breezy seascape or historic backdrop — the choice is yours. oneandonlyresorts.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Grace Santorini Hotel
Grace Santorini Hotel Courtesy Grace Santorini Hotel

Grace Santorini Hotel – Santorini, Greece

Slip into the spare, geometric confines of this serene infinity-edge pool and you’re apt to decide that this is exactly what heaven should be like. Set high atop of the volcanic cliffs of Oia — perhaps the most photographed village in the Greek Islands, famous for its whitewashed Cycladic-style houses and blue-domed churches — the largest pool of its kind on Santorini overlooks the dramatic sea-filled caldera and offers a perfect view of the famously romantic sunset. gracehotels.com

Best Hotels with Pools: InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa
InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa Courtesy InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa

InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa – French Polynesia

Travelers sometimes overlook French Polynesia’s main island of Tahiti, treating it as a mere gateway to neighboring Moorea or bucket-list mainstay Bora Bora. But two of the most amazing infinity pools in this South Pacific paradise are just a few miles from the international airport at this 245-room resort. One, Le Lotus measures 8,600 square feet and features a sandy bottom, swim-up bar and incredible views of Moorea, while the 12,900-square-foot Te Tiare pool has refreshing cascades. intercontinental.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Zoetry Agua Punta Cana
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana Courtesy Zoetry Agua Punta Cana

Zoetry Agua Punta Cana – Dominican Republic

A river runs through it — a lazy, leisurely, pale-blue river of cool, refreshing pool water that winds its way around the lush, palm-tree-lined grounds of this 96-suite all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic. “Agua” mean water in Spanish, so the meandering pools (two separate ones, actually, that end with infinity-edge views of the white-sand beach and sparkling Caribbean) are totally apropos. zoetyresorts.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Banyan Tree Seychelles
Banyan Tree Seychelles Courtesy Banyan Tree Seychelles

Banyan Tree Seychelles

Set on a hillside above a perfect crescent of golden sand, this intimate resort on Mahe island in Seychelles features 60 contemporary Creole-style villas, each with its own sapphire-blue infinity pool that seems suspended in mid-air. The views are as dreamy as the décor and the privacy is the stuff honeymoons and romantic getaways are made of. The larger infinity pool near the bar and lounge area has an inviting glassy sheen just waiting for someone to take a dip and send ripples racing off toward the endless horizon. banyantree.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Courtesy Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Puerto Rico

Having a choice of pools — one reserved for adults and the other dedicated to family fun—is always a welcome amenity. At this 115-room super-exclusive resort located 30 minutes from San Juan, you can enroll kids aged 4-16 off in the Ambassadors of the Environment program, order an icy mojito and claim a chaise (or reserve a cabana) at the serene, palm-tree-lined Positivo Pool with its soothing views of the beach and waves. An equally compelling panorama awaits at the Encanto Beach Club Pool, where splash pools will assure even the littlest ones enjoy some fun in the sun. ritzcarlton.com
Editor’s note: Puerto Rico was heavily impacted by Hurricane Maria and this resort may be closed. Please visit the hotel’s website for updates.

Best Hotels with Pools: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Courtesy Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in drama. The seasonal rooftop pool (open mid-May to September) at this 379-room red-brick hotel located on Venice’s Giudecca Canal — it was converted 10 years ago from a late-19th-century flour mill — offers some of the best panoramic views in the city. It’s almost surreal to enjoy a swim here as you gaze down on the red rooftops and bell towers of one of the world’s most famous island cities. Hang around until twilight (there’s a rooftop bar, too) when things truly get magical. hilton.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Alila Villas Uluwatu
Alila Villas Uluwatu Courtesy Alila Villas Uluwatu

Alila Villas Uluwatu – Bali

The island of Bali is pretty magical all on its own, but when you slip on your swimsuit and glide over to the edge of the infinity pool at this 65-villa resort to watch the sunset, it becomes absolutely divine. Set atop limestone cliffs more than 300 feet above the Indian Ocean and measuring a generous 164 feet in length, this is the kind of pool that transports you to a deeper kind of relaxation than you ever knew was possible. alilahotels.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa Courtesy Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa

Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa – Jamaica

The all-inclusive fun at the family-friendly, 488-room resort in Montego Bay includes a swimming pool complex that’s home to the Sugar Mills Falls Water Park, the largest in Jamaica and the second largest in the Caribbean. Features include a 280-foot water slide, several waterfalls, a lazy river for splashing and tubing, three terraced pools — and for the accompanying adults, a swim-up bar. The resort also has a large, chaise-lined main pool if screams and thrills aren’t your thing. hilton.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Courtesy Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort – Maui, Hawaii

It’s the best of both worlds at this 776-room enclave set on 40 acres along Maui’s Wailea Beach and offering a splash-centric pool for kids of every age and a more sedate adults-only option for guests who prefer to chill. The former, known as the Canyon Activity Pool, measures over 27,000 square feet and features nine separate pools on six different levels with rapids, slides, waterfalls, rope swings and a swim-up bar. The latter is 4,850 square feet and features more than 2.2 million glass mosaic tiles forming the giant flower that gives it it’s name: The Hibiscus Pool. grandwailea.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Belmond Reid’s Palace
Belmond Reid’s Palace Courtesy Belmond Reid’s Palace

Belmond Reid’s Palace – Funchal, Madeira

If the beach isn’t your thing, perhaps you’d rather be surrounded by a lush, 10-acre subtropical garden as you swim in your choice of three heated pools (two of them saltwater) and gaze at the intense blue Atlantic Ocean hundreds of feet below. That’s how you’ll spend a relaxing afternoon at this 158-room historic hotel — it dates back more than 120 years — located in Funchal, the capital of this Portuguese territory of Madeira, which is known as the Island of Eternal Spring. belmond.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Gansevoort Turks & Caicos
Gansevoort Turks & Caicos Courtesy Gansevoort Turks & Caicos

Gansevoort Turks & Caicos – Providenciales

Sometimes size does matter. The folks who created this 91-room resort on Providenciales in the sunny Turks & Caicos Islands certainly thought so when they built a 7,000-square-foot infinity pool for their guests — even though the clear, calm, invitingly blue water of Grace Bay is just steps away. Lined with chaises and accented with rustling coconut palms and four umbrella-shaded “island pods,” this pool can channel a bit of a Miami scene, complete with a DJ at times, but there’s plenty of room to kick back and relax. gansevoorthotelgroup.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Cheval Blanc Randheli
Cheval Blanc Randheli Courtesy Cheval Blanc Randheli

Cheval Blanc Randheli – Maldives

When privacy is a priority it’s hard to beat the 40-foot infinity pools attached to each of the 45 island and water villas at this luxury resort located on private Noonu Atoll in the Maldives. The contemporary style of the Jean-Michel Gathy-designed villas extends to the sleek, slate-lined pools and sun decks, where room-service breakfast, lunch or dinner can precede or follow a relaxing dip. chevalblanc.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Jumby Bay Island
Jumby Bay Island Courtesy Jumby Bay Island

Jumby Bay Island – Antigua

Shhhh! If you’re a couple looking to unwind, you’ll be happy to learn that the most alluring pool at this intimate 40-room resort set on a private island just off the coast of Antigua is the lagoon-shaped infinity pool. Set at the far end of Jumby Bay Beach, next to the Pool Grille casual dining restaurant (you won’t have to budge from your chaise to enjoy lunch), it’s a blissful spot to work on your tan, finish that book you started on the flight or just reconnect with your partner as you sip some seriously potent rum punch. oetkercollection.com

Best Hotels with Pools: Qualia, Hamilton Island
Qualia, Hamilton Island Courtesy Qualia, Hamilton Island

Qualia, Hamilton Island – Australia

This exclusive resort set on the secluded northern tip of Hamilton Island in Australia’s postcard-worthy Whitsunday Islands offers its guests not one but two infinity-edge pools, each with views of the aqua-hued Coral Sea and verdant green hills that are so soothing, they’ll convince you you’ve discovered the travel alternative to Prozac. Better still, the resort, which features 60 harmonious one-bedroom pavilions, doesn’t allow guests under the age of 16, so your zen zone at the pool won’t be interrupted. qualia.com.au

The post 20 Amazing Hotel Pools Around the World appeared first on Islands.

]]>
10 Best Hotel Pools in the Caribbean https://www.islands.com/best-hotels-with-pools-caribbean/ Mon, 27 Mar 2017 19:22:36 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=40772 These Caribbean resorts offer more than just the beach — they also boast the best pools.

The post 10 Best Hotel Pools in the Caribbean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Couple, family or golden girls? Party hardy or peace and quiet? Eat your calories or drink them? No matter your type, the Caribbean has a pool that’s perfect for your getaway. From Anguilla to Zoetry, these 10 tropical hotel pools are the best in the Caribbean. You’re only one swim away from nirvana.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Excellence Playa Mujeres
Excellence Playa Mujeres Courtesy Excellence Playa Mujeres

Best for Couples: Excellence Playa Mujeres – Mexico

Not one, not two, but seven pools meander through the grounds of Excellence Playa Mujeres, an adults-only all-inclusive resort just 25 minutes north of Cancun. Admire the view from a pair of palapa-shaded loungers or a double hammock swaying idly over the water. Upgrade to an Excellence Club Junior Swim-Up Suite for direct swimming access, as well as entrée to two private pools exclusive to club guests.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Matachica
Matachica Courtesy Matachica

Best for Serenity Seekers: Matachica – Ambergris Caye, Belize

With just 31 “adult-oriented” villas accessible by water taxi, Matachica embodies peace and quiet. The resort’s infinity pool is HQ for reading, napping and taking a leisurely dip — or multitasking from one of the lounge chairs placed directly in the water. If you catch a few too many rays, the Jade Spa has your back (literally) with its cooling, soothing Aloe Sun Lover’s Treatment.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: El Conquistador Resort
El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Courtesy El Conquistador Resort

Best for Families: El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort – Puerto Rico

El Conquistador Resort flaunts seven pools, but families flock to the property’s 2.4-acre Coqui Water Park, open only to registered resort guests. After setting up home base at the expansive main pool, plunge down high-speed water slides or drift along the lazy river. Another day, drop the kiddos off at Camp Coqui for a nature hunt or sand-sculpting workshop while you gaze at the Atlantic from your poolside perch.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort Courtesy Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort

Best for Paparazzi: Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort – St. Lucia

If you don’t spot any A-listers while you’re at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, point your camera toward the photogenic twin Piton mountains, which rise dramatically on either side of the resort’s huge, gleaming infinity pool. But the odds of spying a VIP are pretty good: In addition to welcoming stars like Minnie Driver, Gwyneth Paltrow and Russell Brand, the resort hosted Matt Damon’s 2013 vow renewal, with a celeb-peppered guest list (yes, best friend Ben Affleck was there).

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Zoetry Agua Punta Cana
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana Courtesy Zoetry Agua Punta Cana

Best for Girlfriends: Zoetry Agua Punta Cana – Dominican Republic

If a reunion with your best ladies is long overdue, Zoetry Agua Punta Cana is the ideal spot to catch up. The all-inclusive boutique’s uncrowded pool twists and turns through the property, creating multiple nooks for gabfests. Toast to your years of friendship at the swim-up bar, and take advantage of the Girlfriends Getaway package, which includes mani-pedis, mimosas, a keepsake group photo and more.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Montpelier Plantation & Beach
Montpelier Plantation & Beach Courtesy Montpelier Plantation & Beach

Best for Historians: Montpelier Plantation & Beach – Nevis

Pools don’t get more Old Caribbean than at Montpelier Plantation, an 18th-century sugar estate cum luxury resort. The 60-foot mosaic pool has a front-seat view of the 300-year-old sugar mill, whose hand-cut round stonewall is still completely intact. After admiring the mill’s exterior from the comfort of a lounge chair, spend an evening dining inside it: Mill Privée serves a gourmet five-course tasting menu.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa Courtesy CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

Best for Foodies: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa – Anguilla

What do you get when you mix a tiered infinity pool, a white-sand beach, an executive chef trained by Eric Ripert, and the first resort hydroponic farm in the Caribbean? CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, the Caribbean’s premier epicurean retreat. You have to see — or, preferably, get in — the infinity pool to appreciate its impressive length. Then amble to Café Mediterraneo for a poolside lunch of spiny-lobster salad with today-picked arugula, shaved radishes and cherry tomatoes.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa Courtesy The Westin Grand Cayman

Best for Barflies: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa – Cayman Islands

The largest freshwater pool in Grand Cayman is also an island hot spot, thanks to The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort‘s daily happy hour. Belly up to the swim-up bar to enjoy discounts on draft beer and cocktails like Cayman Lemonades, mudslides and Cayman Coladas. As the sun sets, unwind in one of the two hot tubs while live Caribbean-influenced music gets guests in a convivial mood.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: The Somerset
The Somerset Courtesy The Somerset

Best for Fitness Enthusiasts: The Somerset –Turks and Caicos

The Somerset‘s 138-foot lap pool is the longest in TCI — and, equipped with a reverse current and underwater sound system, it’s not for the faint of heart. If that’s not intense enough, the resort also offers a fitness center and classes like SUP yoga and poolside Pilates. With your workout complete, relax at the hotel’s other pool: a zero-entry oasis overlooking Grace Bay Beach.

Best Hotels with Pools in the Caribbean: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Courtesy Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

Best for Partiers: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya – Mexico

For adults-only revelry, book the Heaven side of Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive that takes its rock ‘n’ roll vibe seriously. The swim-up bar at the main pool is a daily gathering spot, but things really get loco when the “animation team” rolls out the twice-weekly foam party. Pumping music, balloon animals, pool floaties and, of course, billows of foam combine with merry guests taking full advantage of the resort’s free-flowing drinks.

The post 10 Best Hotel Pools in the Caribbean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
8 Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View https://www.islands.com/best-resorts-infinity-pool-with-view/ Thu, 05 May 2016 23:37:47 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=39359 What’s better than an infinity pool? An infinity pool overlooking a camera-ready vista, from the sea to the sunset. Here are eight places to take a dip and take in the view. Cancun, Mexico Guests at the all-inclusive Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort can cool off in the three tiered infinity pools that overlook the Caribbean […]

The post 8 Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View appeared first on Islands.

]]>
What’s better than an infinity pool? An infinity pool overlooking a camera-ready vista, from the sea to the sunset. Here are eight places to take a dip and take in the view.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort Courtesy Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort

Cancun, Mexico

Guests at the all-inclusive Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort can cool off in the three tiered infinity pools that overlook the Caribbean Sea. No need to towel off to order a michelada, thanks to in-pool bartenders.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino Courtesy Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino

Puerto Rico

A few minutes from the beaches at Isla Verde, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino‘s fourth-floor infinity pool and sun deck grant a bird’s-eye vista of the capital city’s twinkling skyline all the way to Old San Juan.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
The Setai Courtesy The Setai

Miami, Florida

A landmark of South Beach’s Art Deco District, The Setai comprises three infinity pools positioned to maximize sunset vistas. Get some exercise in the 75-degree lap pool, play with the kids in the 95-degree family pool, or work on your tan by the 85-degree center pool. All three keep guests comfortable with water, towel and magazine service.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
Thompson Playa del Carmen Courtesy Thompson Playa del Carmen

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Just opened in 2015 close to Fifth Avenue, the 92-room Thompson Playa del Carmen features a 30,000-square-foot rooftop infinity pool playground of cabanas, sun beds and in-water lounge chairs. Guests can savor 360-degree views of downtown Playa del Carmen and the Caribbean Sea, thanks to the resort’s location on the city’s highest point.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island Courtesy W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island

Vieques

Six miles off Puerto Rico’s southeast coast, Vieques is home to one of the Caribbean’s most vibey, playful resorts, W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island. The fun continues both above and under the water in the bilevel infinity pool, flaunting an underwater sound system and panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Rico and Culebra Island.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
Oil Nut Bay Courtesy Oil Nut Bay

British Virgin Islands

Oil Nut Bay, tucked away on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda, is the BVI’s newest collection of luxury villas. Part of a 300-acre resort community, the one- to six-bedroom homes range from beachfront to hilltop, like the Waters Edge Ridge Villa, whose infinity pool drops off into a turquoise oblivion. If you can rip yourself away from this private perch, the community offers the benefits of a full resort, including a Beach Club with a restaurant, watersports and a kids club.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
The Reefs Resort & Club Courtesy The Reefs Resort & Club

Bermuda

Hovering seven stories above a private crescent of pink beach, The Reefs Resort & Club‘s clifftop infinity pool is a prime spot for gazing at the endless, boulder-studded Atlantic Ocean.

Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View
Zemi Beach House Courtesy Zemi Beach House

Anguilla

Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa, a beachfront boutique resort on the sugar sand of Shoal Bay East, features an oceanfront infinity pool. But wait — it gets better: There’s an underwater window facing the beach.

The post 8 Resorts Boasting an Infinity Pool with a View appeared first on Islands.

]]>
10 Swoon-Worthy Infinity Pools https://www.islands.com/10-swoon-worthy-infinity-pools/ Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:15:56 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=42927 These idyllic plunge pools may just make you forget about going to the beach – at least for a little while.

The post 10 Swoon-Worthy Infinity Pools appeared first on Islands.

]]>
These idyllic plunge pools may just make you forget about going to the beach – at least for a little while.

Best hotel pools: Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses Laamu, Maldives Courtesy Six Senses Laamu
Best hotel pools: Pitons Beach, St. Lucia
Pitons Beach, St. Lucia Zach Stovall
Best hotel pools: Alila Ubud Bali
Alila Ubud Bali Courtesy Alila Ubud Bali
Best hotel pools: Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa
Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, Philippines Courtesy Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa
Best hotel pools: Grace Santorini
Grace Santorini, Greece Courtesy Grace Santorini
Best hotel pools: Blanket Bay
Blanket Bay, New Zealand Courtesy Blanket Bay
Best hotel pools: Pacific Resort, Aitutaki
Pacific Resort, Aitutaki Courtesy Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Best hotel pools: Casa Bonita
Casa Bonita, Dominican Republic Courtesy Casa Bonita
Best hotel pools: Shigira Bayside Suite Allamanda
Shigira Bayside Suite Allamanda, Okinawa, Japan Courtesy Shigira Bayside Suite Allamanda
Best hotel pools: Therasia Resort Sea and Spa
Therasia Resort Sea and Spa, Vulcano Island, Italy Courtesy Therasia Resort Sea and Spa

The post 10 Swoon-Worthy Infinity Pools appeared first on Islands.

]]>