As temperatures rise in the final months of summer, now is an ideal time to slip away to some of the prettiest swimming pools on the planet. Whether you want sweeping ocean views and tropical scenery or utter seclusion, there’s an ideal poolside getaway for you. From St. Barts to the Bahamas, here’s where to beat the heat and unwind this summer.
[See: 11 Hotels Without Resort Fees to Visit This Summer.]
Jade Mountain
Soufrière, St. Lucia
Jade Mountain and its sister property, Anse Chastenet, on St. Lucia’s southwestern Caribbean coastline, lures travelers with its infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stone-faced columns. Here, you can expect grand sweeping spaces appointed with private infinity pools that seemingly float into the jaw-dropping backdrop showcasing the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea. Should you wish to steal away from your private suite, head to the Pavilion to lounge or swim laps.
Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan’s vibrant skyline offers a special setting for the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino‘s fourth-floor infinity pool and spacious sun deck. You won’t want to skip relaxing at the pool cabanas or ordering a Bio Bay cocktail as you lounge on the pool deck. Best of all, there’s an on-site hot tub and a kid-friendly pool on-site.
Oil Nut Bay
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Tucked away in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda, Nut Bay features one of the newest collections of luxury villas. Take your pick of three unique, organically-shaped infinity pools attached to the heart of the resort, the Beach Club. With recycled glass beads, the surface of each pool captures and reflects the natural light of the sun. Even better, after getting pampered at the spa or embracing the great outdoors in Virgin Gorda, you can enjoy casual poolside dining.
Hotel Le Toiny
St. Barts
Privacy is a premium at Hotel Le Toiny St. Barth. The 14 villas each have their own private terrace and temperature-controlled infinity pool. Enjoy sweeping sunset views of the Caribbean Sea from the hotel’s elevated position on the rugged hillside above Toiny Bay. Plus, a large infinity pool serves as the center point for the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, where guests and visitors can take a dip following a decadent breakfast or lunch.
[See: 10 Cheap Summer Vacations.]
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Nadi, Fiji
At the five-star Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, you can take your pick from three pools. The infinity pool offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the private plunge pool at the Quan Spa offers an enticing place to take a dip after enjoying a soothing treatment or an intense workout. As the sun sets, sip on poolside cocktails at the swim-up bar.
The Somerset on Grace Bay
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
If you’re looking for a supreme poolside retreat, put the five-star Somerset on Grace Bay on your radar. The pool complex is a launching pad to Provo’s Grace Bay Beach, one of the top beaches in the world. The reverse-current lap pool (the longest in Turks & Caicos) leads to the zero-entry, infinity-edge pool. Plus, the pool is outfitted with an underwater sound system and custom-made, LEED-certified sun-absorbing glass tiles that emit a soft glow at night. Even better, the nearby beach offers lounge chairs, umbrellas and attendants serving beverages and snacks.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
King’s Pond, a free-form pool at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, offers a unique wow factor. The 1.8 million-gallon, salt-water pool is carved into lava rock with more than 4,000 tropical fish from nearly 100 species. You can snorkel in the pool for free, learn about the ocean and marine biology through touch tank exploration, ray and fish feedings, or simply unwind in the adjacent whirlpool. Plus, the property offers the Palm Grove Pool, which features a swim-up bar and striking ocean vistas.
W Retreat & Spa — Vieques Island
Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
The W Retreat & Spa — Vieques Island is home to a two-level infinity WET splash pool with built-in lounge chairs and an underwater sound system. Add to the mix views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and attendants distributing snacks and sunscreen and taking requests for meals and cocktails, and it’s easy to see why this Starwood outpost is an ideal poolside retreat. What’s more, the property’s pool area offers sunbeds along with private cabanas equipped with flat-screen TVs, spacious chaise lounges and fresh fruit.
[See: Escape the Summer Heat in These Cold-Weather Destinations.]
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Nassau, the Bahamas
The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is a pool lover’s paradise. The property boasts seven elaborate pools with swim-up bars, aquariums, cliff jumps and an underwater marine cavern inspired by one of the world’s deepest salt water sinkhole, Dean’s Blue Hole. What’s more, the main pool is located next to an underwater sea life sanctuary filled with adopted nurse sharks, stingrays, tropical fish and other aquatic life.
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