Best Hotel Swimming Pools

1. ThisMay saw the unveiling of a revamped classic the art deco Piscine Molitor in Paris. Originally opened in 1929 its two pools (one indoor one outdoor) were hugely popular with local swimmers until they closed in 1989. Now though the pools have been completely restored and form the centrepiece of the new Molitor Paris by MGallery a luxury hotel complex. Rooms at the hotel start fromaround US$334per night. .....

The Raleigh Miami

2. Its nearly 70 years since Life Magazine named the pool at the Raleigh in Miami Beach .....

Alila Ubud Bali

3. Set high on a hilltop terrace the dramatic infinity pool at Alila Ubud in Bali almost seems to float above the Ayung river valley far below. From here views stretch out across the lush green jungle home to the monkeys that make regular poolside appearances and if the tranquillity all gets too much the buzz of Ubud Balis cultural centre is only minutes away. .....

The Library Koh Samui

4. Amazing what a difference it makes when you ditch the traditional blue tiles lining your swimming pool and replace them with something a little bolder. The .....

Jade Mountain St Lucia

5. The 24 infinity pool sanctuaries at Jade Mountain in St Lucia all have a private pool with views of the Caribbean Sea and the Pitons the islands famous volcanic peaks. With one wall of each room completely missing the pools all with their own unique shapes and colour schemes flow seamlessly on from the living and bedroom areas. Theyre lined with one-of-a-kind glass tiles and equipped with fibre optics so at night you can light them up in whateve .....

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

6. The latticework shell that curves above the rooftop pools at theYas Viceroy Abu Dhabi doesnt just provide some much-needed shelter from the fierce Arabian sun catch it at the right time and it also casts photogenic geometric shadows on the water below. After sundown it goes one better as the built-in lighting system sends a succession of different colours washing across the surface. .....

Avalon Hotel Gothenburg

7. Swim to the far end of the rooftop pool at Gothenburgs Avalon Hotel a member ofDesign Hotels and theres a surprise in store when the building comes to an end the pool carries on with a clear floor that allows you to gaze down on the pedestrians in the square several storeys below. Splash out and rent the penthouse suite and youll get the pool all to yourself in the mornings and evenings. .....

The St Regis Lhasa Resort Tibet

8. When youre staying 12000ft (3658m)up as you do when you check in to theSt Regis Lhasa Resortin Tibet its only wise to take things easy while you acclimatise. Luckily the hotels Iridium Spa has the perfect place to relax in the form of its Gold Energy Pool lined with thousands of golden tiles and filled with salt water thats kept at a constant temperature of 28 to 32C. .....

The Setai Miami

9. They know how to do cool pools in Miami Beach. At theSetai in the heart of South Beach the trio of temperature-controlled infinity pools is now looking swisher than ever following a major refurb that saw them resurfaced with Spanish glass mosaic tiles and the decks around them laid with Italian travertine. In the hotel lap pool swimmers can now plug in their smart phones or music players and listen to their own playlists through underwater speake .....

Royal Mansour Marrakech

10. Lots of hotels claim to be fit for a king or queen but in the case of theRoyal Mansour Marrakechits actually true. The hotel was commissioned by Moroccos King Mohammed Vl and is made up of 53 beautifully furnished riads that showcase high-end Moroccan craftsmanship. Best of all each riad has its own roof terrace and pool where you can splash around in the sun or lie back at night and watch the stars light up above. .....

Grand Hotel Tremezzo Lake Como

11. You get a choice of three pools at theGrand Hotel Tremezzo an hours drive from Milan but if you want to soak up the full glory of your Lake Como surroundings theres only one to go for. WaterontheWater is a floating pool just in front of the private beach and moves with the waves so you feel as if youre swimming in the lake itself. .....

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

12. Perched high above the prestigious Passeig de Gr .....

Ski Portillo Chile

13. When the snow melts on northern hemisphere pistes several national ski teams head down toSki Portillo hidden away among the jagged peaks of the Chilean Andes. The neighbouring Laguna del Inca may be a tad chilly for swimming but the hotels geothermally heated pool and hot tubs are the perfect place to unwind watch the sunset and share tales of the days adventures. .....

The Leela Palace New Delhi

14. When the chaos of the Indian capital all gets too much guests at the Leela Palace New Delhi in the citys well-heeled Diplomatic Enclave area have the perfect antidote. Hidden away on the hotel rooftop is a temperature-controlled infinity pool complete with .....

And Beyond Phinda Homestead South Africa

15. Its not just the guests who enjoy chilling out by the alfresco pool at &Beyond Phinda Homestead the local elephants are known to drop round for a sneaky drink too. This elegant safari villa is set in the northern end of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa and comes with a dedicated ranger and tracker team private butler and chef and its own open 4x4 safari vehicle. .....

Grace Santorini

16. Check out the satellite images on Google Maps and you can see that Santorini isnt short of pools with a view there they are little clifftop patches of blue strung out all along the rim of the caldera. But the pool at Grace Santorini still manages to deliver a little extra wow factor its the largest of its kind on the island and sits in prime position for enjoying Santorinis famous sunsets. .....

Belmond Hotel Caruse Amalfi Coast

17. The pool at Belmond Hotel Caruso is nothing short of stunning set high on a clifftop above the picture-postcard town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast with glorious views along the coast and out to sea. And if thats not enough for you the concierge is on hand to supply any luxe little extras you might need. .....

Habita Monterrey

18. Mexican hoteliers Grupo Habita are known for creating cool edgy properties and theHabita Monterrey is no exception. Set in the northern Mexico town of Monterrey its a very contemporary affair with designer decor and high-tech facilities in all rooms. But the crowning glory is the rooftop terrace where a buzzing bar is flanked by two infinity pools that offer all-round views of city and mountains. .....

The Nam Hai Vietnam

19. Why settle for just one fabulous pool when you can have three of them? The pools at the Nam Hai near Hoi An in Vietnam step down in tiers from the main hotel buildings. In the top pool giant urns on plinths add extra visual interest then comes a narrow lap pool and finally this Olympic-sized beauty lined with palm trees and sunbeds which stretches prettily down to China Beach and the South China Sea. .....

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

20. Theres no such thing as a dud villa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island but the two Sunset Water Villas in their own private area of the lagoon are the ultimate treat. Not only do you get unobstructed views of the Indian Ocean all around (theres even a glass floor in the lounge) you also get an outdoor whirlpool and a chromotherapy infinity swimming pool. .....