Fancy a dunk? Check out my top five hotel pools – all that’s left to decide is which one do YOU want to wallow in?
Laucala, Fiji
The first thing you need to know about Laucala is that you’ll love it. The private island resort of Red Bull billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, it’s the ultimate castaway retreat – yet there’s nothing rough ‘n’ ready about it. Paddleboard in gin-clear seas, hike along jungle paths, and pluck fruits straight from the trees. The second you need know about Laucala is that you’ll struggle to tear yourself away from its outstanding pools – one is dotted with mini islands, the other is raised with glass edges, so you can gaze at other guests whilst hovering underwater. Just don’t forget your waterproof camera.
The Sarojin, Thailand
Giving some much needed respite from the throb of Phuket, The Sarojin is all about taking it easy. There’s something to be said for top-notch service, and at this hideaway, you’ll be treated like a Hollywood icon: four-handed massage on a floating pavilion? No problem. Champagne cocktail chilled to just the right temperature? It’s done. Seafood BBQ on a private sandbank? Every evening if you wish. And its pool, with raised sunbeds and swishing white curtains, is the place to float for hours on end. It’s a dream.
Perivolas, Lifestyle Houses, Greece
When it’s done right, you can’t beat a pool with a view. And just look at that view from this cliff-dwelling number. It’s even better when matched with utter tranquillity, terraced gardens spilling down to the Aegean, breezy, whitewashed rooms stuffed with colourful poufs, and a chef who does marvellous things with just-caught fish and locally grown veg. After dusk, potter back down to the pool for an icy glass of something delicious. You won’t want to move from your pool-side seat.
Sydney Park Hyatt
For a view of the iconic Sydney Opera House, without the snap-happy tourists standing cheek-by-jowl, you can’t beat a few laps of this rooftop pool. Head here as soon as it opens each morning, and you might just have it ALL to yourself – hurrah! This place is laugh-out-loud exclusive – it’s smooth, it’s professional, and it’s setting the standard.
The Hanging Gardens of Bali, Indonesia
You’ll be shouting ‘ay carumba’ as your arrive at this pad, scattered across a hillside of the Balinese jungle near the arty centre of Ubud. The pull of the pool here is far too good to resist – so don’t. Lie back on a sunbed and gaze at monkeys jumping from tree to tree and tropical birds flitting amongst branches, as you sip on a fresh coconut and jostle into position for the perfect envy-inducing shot.
Read my review of the Hanging Gardens of Bali here
