5 Gorgeous Hotel Pools Worth Traveling For In 2024

It’s officially pool season, and while swimming is a hallmark of summer vacations, some swimming pools rise above the rest. From beautiful pools overlooking rows of vineyards in the heart of wine country to the Caribbean’s first ever ocean pool, cooling down in some of these spectacular pools comes with the added bonus of scenic views on the horizon.

If a pool day (or, rather, many pool days) is a priority on your vacation itinerary, here’s five more superlative hotel swimming pools to put on your must-swim list, ranging from a rock-lined pool in Saudi Arabia to another one fronting rapids in Uganda, plus more that make a splash.

1. Banyan Tree AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Banyan Tree AlUla is an all-villa resort and desert retreat set in the sandstone mountains of the Ashar Valley. The adult’s-only Rock Pool matches the scenery: Surrounded by towering crimson rocks, the infinity pool peers out over the Ashar Valley and the dramatic wind-carved rock formations that define the region. In the distance, guests can catch a glimpse of the iconic Maraya Concert Hall, which bills itself as the world’s largest mirrored building, reflecting the surrounding landscape. A night swim is in order for unparalleled stargazing. It’s scorching hot in Saudi Arabia during the summer, so the best time to visit is October to March when the temps subside.

2. Marriott Marquis Houston in Texas

I’m from Colorado, where pretty much all of our pools are shaped like our state: Rectangles. But in Texas, at the Marriott Marquis Houston, you can grab an innertube and float around the outskirts of the Lone Star State in a Texas-shaped lazy river. The family-friendly downtown Houston hotel pool has water features you can direct your tube towards for a little extra relief on a summer day, and there’s a transparent bridge to cross over into the interior of the state, which is filled with lounge chairs. The downtown Houston hotel is across from Minute Maid Park, so you can fill out your summer itinerary with an evening at the ballpark cheering on the Astros.

3. Lemala Wildwaters Lodge in Uganda

Lemala Wildwaters Lodge is located on Uganda’s Kalagala Island, overlooking the mighty River Nile and the grade five rapids that rush and tumble through the waterway. That means a day at the pool or relaxing on a daybed comes with a soundtrack of flowing water. The property’s spa services are also available to be booked by the water’s edge, and, the lodge partners with whitewater rafting guides at Adrift Uganda should you want to get out on the river for a guided trip on the river.

4. Hoshinoya Bali in Indonesia

What if instead of hallways, your corridor was a meandering pool? That’s one way to move about Hoshinoya Bali, a luxury resort thoughtfully designed around three canal-like pools that connect 30 villas. The resort is tucked away in a 75-acre rainforest, and floating in the pool becomes a multi-sensory experience when you factor in the lush greenery and the soothing sounds of the Pakerisan River’s flow.

5. Villa d’Este in Lake Como, Italy

Villa d’Este’s pool was the first ever pool to float on a lake. Favored by celebs, the pool was originally built in 1966 and replaced a few years later by the current pool, which stretches out onto Italy’s famed lake.

The pool and jacuzzi is connected to the mainland by a walkway, and it rests on a platform made up of teak planks and covered by a painted wood balustrade.

Guests can continue the quintessential summer fun with a ride on a vintage vaporina. These were the first motorboats to be create on Lake Como in the late-1800s.