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24 Of The COOLEST Swimming Pools And Hot Tubs On The Planet

From infinity to Alpine, hot tubs to Tibetan energy pools - these are the best places in the world to get wet

The swimming pool has great power: It can make or break a holiday.

But not all pools are created equal. So we've scoured the globe to create a bucket list of the best human watering holes you can dive into. Water way to have a good time.

Behold: The Coolest Pools In All The Lands

1. Villa Sapi, Lombok, Indonesia

Villa Sapi
Villa Sapi

Let's start of with something simple. Just a beautiful, giant pool with beds floating over it and palm trees reflected in the calm water. Oh GOD, TAKE US THERE RIGHT NOW.

Villa Sapi. You can go whenever you like. (Budget depending.)

2. Maldives Velassaru, The Maldives (obvs)

Maldives Velassaru
Maldives Velassaru

One of the islands south of Male boasts this stunning infinity pool. But with 'pearl-dust beaches, turquoise lagoon and myriad coconut groves' (their words), who neds a pool? (Though, when it looks like this...)

Velassaru

3. Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Alila Jabal Akhdar
Alila Jabal Akhdar

For a pool view like no other on earth, Alila's Jabal Akhdar in Oman is perched 2,000 metres above sea level. It looks out over the raggedly dramatic Al Hajar mountain terrain and boasts phenomenal sunsets.

Alila Jabal Akhdar

4. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania

(Four Seasons)
(Four Seasons)

Need the added excitement of safari animals wandering past as you float about on your lilo? Well, don't we all? Will elephants do?

Four Seasons

5. RumFish Grill, Florida

RumFish Grill
RumFish Grill

Order, scuba, eat. Not a bad date, eh? You can swim with your dinner before you eat it (OK, OK, they're probably NOT the same fish...) at the RumFish Grill, part of the Tradewinds Resort on St. Pete Beach on the west coast of Florida.

RumFish Grill

6. Ski Portillo, Chile

Portillo Pool
Portillo Pool

If nearby animals don't float your rubber ring, perhaps this icy option is more your thing? The Ski Portillo pool at a ski resort in Chile, South America and gives swimmers stunning views of the Laguna del Inca in the shadows of the Andes highest peak (from the hot tub if you get chile...). And it's heated through the mountains' own geo-thermal heat.

Ski Portillo

7. Chalet Lottie, Switzerland

Chalette Lottie
Chalette Lottie

Speaking of hot tubs - yeah we're coutning them, we're not watering hole snobs - chill out in the mountains in your own private hot pool on the deck of this Apline getaway.

Chalet Lotte, Gstaad

8. The Scarlet, Cornwall

Sarlet Spa
Sarlet Spa

If a holiday hot tub is nothing without a sea view then forget the mountains and head to Cornwall. YES, Cornwall. Where you may need the comfort hot tub in case of inclement British weather (though it does also have a nice pool). This eco-resort has organic menus (where possible), an ayurvedic inspired spa, natural pools and sustainability running through every level. And fizz in the hot tub? We're sold. Organic or not.

The Scarlet

9. Thermae Bath Spa, UK

Bath Spa
Bath Spa


Staying in the UK and with warm water, the thermal pool on the roof of Bath Spa gives you beautiful views of the city, and allows you to 'bathe in naturally warm, mineral-rich spring waters as the Celts and Romans did over 2000 years ago'. Particularly spectacular at sunset, we're assured.

Thermae Bath Spa

10. Tinside Lido, Plymouth

Tinside Lido
Tinside Lido

 

We're staying in the UK, only this one isn't thermal. Stay with us.

It's a saltwater lido built on Plymouth Hoe in 1935 and restored in a £3.3 million project in 2003 - bringing it back to its original art deco glory. Just pick a sunny day, hey? It's filled with naturally filtered sea water, but isn't heated.

Tinside Lido

OK, perhaps the British ones don't LOOK the most impressive. But they are more accessible to many of us than some.

But stay with us, we have GOLD pools, energy pools and skyscraper pools coming up!

11. Villa Nettuno, Italy

Villa Nettuno
Villa Nettuno

This gorgeous pool hanging off the Amalfi Coast is one of Europe's finest.

Villa Nettuno

12. Jagged Edge, New Zealand

Jagged Edge
Jagged Edge


New Zealand's answer to the watery-view is suspended high above the waters of Lake Wakatipu and at Jagged Edge. Surrounded by the most spectacular mountains, lounge in the pool to your heart's content.

Jagged Edge

Huvafen Fushi

Huvafen Fushi
Huvafen Fushi

It's like swimming in OUTER SPACE!. This fibre-optic lights up at night and looks out into the Indian Ocean.

Huvafen Fushi

Resort Valle dell’Erica, Sardinia

Orso
Orso

Jodie Kidd hangs out here. And if you were a supermodel why wouldn't you?

Resort Valle Dell'Erica

Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Botswana

Chobe Chilwero
Chobe Chilwero

After a long day spying on incredible Botswana safari wildlife, relax in a luxurious tub in one of the thatched cottages. Plus the highest concentration of elephants in Africa can be found on the lodge’s doorstep.

Sofitel So, Singapore

Sofitel So Singapore
Sofitel So Singapore

A rooftop bar with stunning views over Singapore, and it's got gold tiles. Wowza. Pass the Champers.

Sofitel

The St.Regis Lhasa Resort, Tibet

St. Regis Lhasa
St. Regis Lhasa

The resort's own marketing sound so good I'm just going to let them do the talking here: "The St.Regis Lhasa Resort is the first and only luxury resort in Tibet, standing on the 'Roof of the World' at 12,000 feet above sea level.  The hotel grounds, surrounded by crimson walls, feature a meditation garden and the hotel’s Iridium Spa. The Iridium Spa, with its unique gold-tiled swimming pool, is one of the world’s highest spas, with a design and approach that reflects the art and spirit of Tibet."

LEGOLAND Florida Resort Hotel

LEGOLAND Hotel
LEGOLAND Hotel

Not so much the pool but more what's floating in the pool - giant LEGOs! We're sold.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort Hotel

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel, Galapagos

Iguana Crossing Pool
Iguana Crossing Pool

Named after the reptiles that make their way from the wetlands to the beach each day. Watch from the comfort of your lounger. Great eco-friendly credentials too.

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel

Brooklands Hotel, UK

Brooklands
Brooklands

Neighbouring historic Brookalands Museum (where I happened to get married) and overlooking the Mercedes Benz World racetrack, a perfect tub for car-fans.

BSpa, Brooklands Hotel, Surrey

Wetside, Australia

Wetside
Wetside

On the Fraser Coast of Australia (in Queensland, on the east side), this waterpark aims to educate Aussies on water and sustainability. Plus there are water slides, tipping buckets and a killer whale (not real). Also, free.

Wetside

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives

Jumeirah
Jumeirah

JUST LOOK AT IT. Waaaaah!

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

Hotel Molitor, Paris

Mgallery's Hotel Molitor
Mgallery's Hotel Molitor

This beautiful pool, built in the 1930s, shows off Paris' style perfectly. The elegant surrounds of the outdoor pool is the main draw but the hotel reopened in 2014 with a spa and indoor pool for days when Paris isn't quite so sunny.

Hotel Molitor

The Oberoi Udaivillas, Udaipur, India

Oberoi Hotels
Oberoi Hotels

This stunning design was built on the shoes of Lake Pichola overlooking the Lake Palace and the City Palace in Rajasthan. Its crowning glory is the stunning swimming pool that stretches along the building and overlooks the lake and gardens.

Oberoi Udaivillas

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