What better way to spend the holiday than floating around in your own private pool? From horizon-edge infinity pools to personal plunge pools with a view, dip in to our swimmingly chic selection of hotel room oases.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay – Spain
An iconic beachfront beauty on the quieter side of the White Isle, guests at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay can step straight from the hotel onto the white sandy shore – or one of the many boats bobbing in Talamanca bay. Nibble on bento boxes from the sashimi-serving Nobu Restaurant while you soak in your whirlpool hot tub in the Rooftop Junior Suite, or sip on fresh watermelon juice as you take in the panoramic sea views from the Royal Suite Jacuzzi. For the best of both worlds, splash out on the Junior Suite with its own plunge pool and direct access to the resort swimming pool.
MUSE Saint-Tropez – France
With its creamy, cooling interiors and fragrant Mediterranean gardens, MUSE Saint-Tropez effortlessly captures the essence of Côte d’Azur glamour. As most of the suites feature their own plunge pools (along with a complimentary beach bag) water-lovers will be spoilt for choice. Sit back on the sun-soaked private terrace of the MUSE Suite with a private pool overlooking the sea, or take a dip in the Prestige Suite plunge pool with a glass of local rosé in hand (straight from the suite’s own wine cellar). To make the most of the gardens, opt for the Romy Suite – with its own patch of pine tree-lined paradise, this plunge pool enjoys the sunshine with just the right amount of shade. If you’re in the mood for a longer swim, the main hotel pool is fringed by white-curtained cabanas, you can even dip your toes in the water from your luxury lounger.
Ksar Char-Bagh, Marrakech – Morocco
Framed by Romanesque arches with an irresistible stretch of palm-lined pool leading to the main building, it’s easy to picture the ornate palace Ksar Char-Bagh once was. Every inch still oozes Ottoman opulence and Moorish style, while fig and olive groves fill the air with heady fragrance. Swim beneath swaying palms and citrus trees in the private pool of the Large Harim Suite, or watch the sun go down over the souk from the heated rooftop pool of The Tower.
Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Alagoas – Brazil
Sitting between the warm ocean and pristine tropical jungle, Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort is the eco-chic jewel in the crown of North-East Brazil. Just nine degrees from the Equator, the temperature here is always balmy and the drinks always cold. Rooms with a view come as standard at Kenoa, while villas take things up a notch with ocean views and infinity edged private plunge pools made from Balinese stone. Hop from the Japanese ofuro tub into the heated infinity plunge pool in the Kenoa Villa, complete with its own private garden, decking, and direct access to the beach.
The Trident Hotel, Port Antonio – Jamaica
Perched on Jamaica’s relaxed northeast coast, the 13 private villas which make up The Trident Hotel add splashes of pure white to the colourful Caribbean canvas. With a private deck and plunge pool at your disposal, your villa gives you plenty of space to play with. There’s also endless amounts of water to explore outside of your private pool, with kayaking and snorkelling off the hotel beach, or a visit to the nearby Blue Lagoon, with waterfalls cascading into the jungle backdrop.
Domaine Misincu, Corsica – France
From plage to picturesque grounds, nature runs through Domaine Misincu. At the ‘wild’ tip of the island, Cap Corse, this seashore hideaway even has a river running through it – where outdoor yoga and Pilates take place on the banks. Opt for any one of the rustic villas for your own pool, to cool off after a hike inland past olive trees and beehives.
Sailrock Resort, South Caicos – Turks & Caicos Islands
A beautifully remote island retreat in South Caicos, Sailrock Resort is awash with activities for water lovers. Surrounded by untouched landscape and a boat-ride away from a coral reef teeming with life, you’re never far from adventure. Go whale watching, kite boarding, kayaking, conch diving or spend a day fishing for native mahi mahi and bone fish. For the best sea-to-swimming-pool experience, stay in any one of the Beachfront, Oceanfront, or Peninsula Skyridge Villas – all complete with private pools and spacious outdoor terraces.
Kasa Hotel Parota, Tulum – Mexico
The perfect jumping off point for exploring more of the Yucatan Peninsula, Kasa Hotel Parota sits between the centre of Tulum and its famous white sand beaches. Whilst the main pool features floating loungers and a poolside bar, the laid-back luxury continues through to the Penthouse Suites with rooftop infinity pools. To make the most of the Aldea Zamá views, be sure to book the four bedroom KASA Feliz for its sizable swimming pool surrounded by canary-yellow colonnades.
Milaidhoo Maldives, Baa Atoll – Maldives
Individual infinity pools that blend seamlessly into a mirror flat sea. A gourmet restaurant set in three Dhoni sailing boats. Beautiful villas and endless wooden walkways stretching over the water. When you arrive at Milaidhoo Maldives, immerse yourself in an underwater paradise of UNESCO protected waters, with snorkelling, scuba diving, and stand-up paddle boarding around Hannifaru Bay to make friends with the Maldivian marine life. For a double dose of lagoon luxury, watch the sun rise or set in the reflection of your private infinity pool in one of the over-water Pool Villas.
Viceroy Bali, Ubud – Indonesia
Wake to the early morning mists gently lifting from the hillside at Viceroy Bali, a collection of gravity defying, thatched villas set on the edge of a steep ravine, overlooking the Petanu River gorge in Bali’s mountain foothills. Sit by your private villa pool overlooking the rich tropical landscape with glimpses of monkeys leaping through the hillside trees and exotic jungle noises in the air.
Canaves Oia Suites, Santorini – Greece
Picture pristine white suites set into the dark volcanic rocks, with glittering pools and individual terraces. Every room at Canaves Oia Suites comes with its own pool, carved into cliffs with spellbinding views of Santorini. After a morning dip, wander through the cobbled lanes of Oia – a quintessential Cycladic village of whitewashed buildings set against the azure sea. Cool off after a climb up to the headland for sweeping views of the Caldera, or a day spent exploring ancient sites.
La Zebra, Tulum – Mexico
Named after the first creature to jump ashore from an African ship wrecked just off the coast many years ago, La Zebra is all about ‘jungle chic’. Here, plush day beds rest on creamy sand under thatched parasols. Listen to the crashing of the Caribbean waves as you make a splash in the private plunge pool of either the Sea View or Beachfront Suites, just steps from your tastefully tropical bedroom.
