This post is for the travelers that never go anywhere without their swimsuit.
And if you’re a person willing to travel for a good swim, you know that some hotel pools are destinations in and of themselves. An ideal hotel pool is an excellent place for a dip, but a great hotel pool is also a meeting ground, and the world’s very best hotel pools attract both locals and guests to the water for great vibes—and perhaps even a few drinks.
Whether you’re sipping poolside cocktails or just looking for a stunning backdrop while you’re swimming laps, these nine pools are some of the most photogenic in the world.
Courtesy Faena Miami Beach
Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Miami
If you like your pool time with a dose of culture, layout next to Damien Hirst’s gold-covered mammoth skeleton, “Gone But Not Forgotten,” at Faena Hotel Miami Beach. The deck is covered in custom tiles designed by Juan Gatti and festooned with chic wood-framed umbrellas. The scene is completed by surrounding palm trees and best enjoyed with an ice-cold cocktail.
Courtesy The Berkeley
The Berkeley, London
When city life calls for an escape, venture to the seventh floor of The Berkeley hotel in London. From their sun chairs, poolside loungers have panoramic views of the skyline and nearby Hyde Park—or can choose to hide away in the lush “secret garden.” Stark white arches and an impossibly-blue pool make this hideaway one of the most photogenic urban aquatic hideaways.
Courtesy JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Los Cabos, Mexico
This is the ideal location if you’ve always dreamed of swimming off into the sunset. Book an evening appointment at the JW Marriott's Jasha Spa to take advantage of the sleek infinity pools that overlook the Pacific Ocean. A surrounding maze of fountains and greenery will surely make this experience one of the most relaxing swims of your life.
Scott Frances/Courtesy Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
This view clogs travel Instagram feeds for a good reason. Marina Bay Sands is home to the world’s highest infinity pool on its 57th floor. Look out over the Singapore skyline by day or party in the pool as the sun sets. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., so you can Instagram the fantastic view as it changes throughout the day—or work on your tan for as long as possible.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
Hotel Molitor, Paris
The Piscine Molitor was an institution when it opened in 1929, renowned for its Art Deco interiors and fabulous clientele. Several Olympic swimmers turned laps there; it hosted artists’ galas and beauty pageants. Today, it attracts a similar “who’s who” of Paris, from the guests at the attached five-star hotel to the city’s celebrated fashion bloggers. Check-in for a session at the Clarins Spa to experience the pool at its most luxurious.
Courtesy 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn
The year-old 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge has a view of the Manhattan skyline worth bragging about. Grab a cocktail at the rooftop bar and wade through the three-feet-deep pool. (Or go around sunset for the best views.) Because the pool faces the west, you’ll be able to capture stunning photographs as the sun sets behind New York’s skyscrapers.
Courtesy Jade Mountain
Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
When you book a suite at Jade Mountain, you get private access to one of the resort’s 24 unbelievable infinity pools. Not only is each pool fitted with its own unique glass tile color scheme, but guests can also control a fiber-optic light system that illuminates the pools at night. And, of course, there’s the stunning backdrop of mountains rising out of the sea.
zxvisual/Getty Images
Hanging Gardens of Bali, Ubud
Imagine a luxury pool—but in a treehouse. The cascading infinity pools at the Hanging Gardens of Bali make guests look like they’re swimming among the jungle canopy. The pool’s unique curves and its remarkable surroundings have made it one of the most photographed swimming holes in the world.
Courtesy The Cambrian Hotel
The Cambrian Hotel Adelboden, Switzerland
Not all pools are best enjoyed in tropical climates. This mountainside retreat in the Swiss Alps is a perfect place to unwind after hiking or skiing. The hotel’s outdoor thermal infinity pool overlooks a mountain vista, complete with running waterfall.