What’s one of the first things you do when visiting a resort hotel? You grab a drink and head to the pool. Few things in life can be as simultaneously fun and relaxing as swimming in a pool. But not all pools are created equal. Some go above and beyond what is expected. Whether it’s because of their massive size, their beautiful location, or their unique design; these are some of the most amazing swimming pools in the world.
1. The Joule Dallas Hotel
The Joule is a luxury hotel located in the heart of Dallas. It is a restored building from the 1920s with 160 rooms that can cost more than $300 a night. The inside of the hotel is certainly impressive, but it’s the rooftop pool that is the star of the show.
The Joule rooftop pool is 10 floors off of the ground and 8 feet deep. What’s most impressive about this infinity pool is that it extends several feet beyond the edge of the building. The end of the pool that hangs off the edge of the Joule has a plexiglass front. This gives the sensation that you are swimming right off of the building and into the street. It’s an amazing and unique pool experience.
2. San Alfonso del Mar
The San Alfonso del Mar, located in Chile, is a private resort filled with massive apartments. It also has a massive pool between the apartments and the ocean. The pool covers an impressive 20 acres of beach and is 3.323 feet long. Some areas are as deep as 11 ½ feet, and it takes more than 66 million gallons of water to fill the pool. At the time of its opening in 2006, it held the record for the world’s largest pool by area.
Water for the pool is pulled directly from the nearby Pacific Ocean. It is filtered and treated before filling the pool. The pool is like its own small bay. You can even spot the occasional boat sailing in its waters. Booking a vacation rental at the nearby apartment is going to cost at least $400 a night, but it’s worth it to swim in one of the world’s most amazing pools.
3. Marina Bay Sands
Rooftops and infinity pools always seem to make a great combination. There’s something exciting about swimming on the edge of a building. The rooftop infinity pool at the Joule hotel was on the 10th floor. The Marina Bay Sands infinity pool is located on the 57th floor. As you swim to the edge of the pool, you can look out at the beautiful city of Singapore and the many other buildings that are actually below you.
The Marina Bay pool is 500 feet long and offers some of the best views in the entire city. The infinity pool design makes it appear as though the pool simply drops off the roof at the edge. It’s a huge tourist attraction and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
4. Ik Kil
Some of the most amazing pools in the world weren’t designed by humans at all – for example, the Ik Kil located in Yucatan, Mexico. Ik Kil is a cenote, which is a type of natural pit or sinkhole. It’s located in the Ik Kil Archeological Park and attracts a lot of visitors each year. The water is a deep blue; there are waterfalls and wild jungle plants. It’s the perfect combination of an incredible swimming pool and beautiful scenery.
Of course, the best thing about the Ik Kil swimming pool is that it doesn’t require an expensive resort vacation. It’s open to the public and only costs $6 to swim. The cenote swimming pool stretches for 96 feet and goes down 130 feet deep, so there’s always enough room for everyone to swim.
5. Chongwe River House
Sometimes, a pool is designed so that it can blend in with the nature around it. The pool at the Chongwe River House, located in the Zambezi National Park is a great example of this. The house is a popular destination due to its close proximity to the Chongwe River where elephants and other wildlife often travel. It’s a luxury vacation rental hidden in the middle of a safari.
The main attraction is the pool that nearly borders the river. You can relax and swim in the shade while a group of peaceful elephants drinks from the river. It’s a swimming experience that you won’t soon forget.
6. St. Regis Resort In Lhasa
In Lhasa, Tibet there is a resort with a pool known as the Gold Energy Pool. It only takes one look at the pool to see how it got the name. The bottom and sides of the pool are tiled with gold. The water is warmed to around 89 degrees Fahrenheit and salted. The combination of 14-carat gold tiles and heated saltwater is said to create an energizing and therapeutic experience.
People travel from across the globe and stay at this hotel just to take a dip in the pool. Even if they don’t believe in the therapeutic benefits, there is something enjoyable about swimming in a fancy pool. And it doesn’t get any fancier than a pool filled with gold. Just make sure you bring your wallet because it’s going to cost at least $300 a night.
Honorable Mentions
These six pools are some of the most amazing swimming destinations in the world, but there are many other pools that couldn’t make a list. For example, the Nemo 33 Pool in Belgium is on record as the world’s deepest manmade pool. It’s open throughout the entire year and is designed specifically for divers. Beneath the surface is a collection of rooms, doors, tunnels, and obstacles.
In Italy, you’ll find the Grand Hotel Tremezzo with a massive pool built floating in the middle of Lake Como. In Sydney is the Bondi Iceberg public pool, which sits in the ocean and is several degrees colder. And finally, in Bali, you’ll find the Ubud Hanging Gardens Luxury Hotel which features a split-level infinity pool unlike any other in the world. Altogether, these are the world’s most amazing swimming pools.
