Is there anything better in life than spending a lazy day lounging in the sun by a pool? Probably not — unless your idea of the perfect pool day is floating in a larger-than-life lazy river or chasing your kiddos around a pool with a kid-friendly splash pad or wave pool.
Whatever your version of an ideal pool day is, it all starts with the swimming pool. Thankfully, here in the U.S., we have more incredible hotel pools than we could ever possibly write about.
That said, we have gathered a handful of our favorites from sea to shining sea. These include sky-high pools with knockout views you have to see to believe, ones with cabanas you could live in, and ones that are just so fun and functional you’ll never want to leave.
From the Las Vegas Strip to the theme parks of Orlando and everywhere in between, here are some of the best hotel pools in the U.S. to consider for your next trip.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Resort
In Orlando, there’s no shortage of activities, and there’s certainly no shortage of pools.
You can find one of the best in Orlando (and in the country) on the grounds of Disney World, shared between two Disney resorts: Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club. Called Stormalong Bay, this 3-acre pool complex is basically a water park complete with a trio of leisure pools (including a sand-bottom pool), a 230-foot-long waterslide, a lazy river and an elevated tanning area, proving that not all the Disney magic involves waiting in line for rides.
As two of the more expensive properties at Walt Disney World, rates easily reach more than $500 a night. However, with the help of a free Disney vacation planner, you might be able to find a better deal.
Related: The best Disney World hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
When we think about incredible pools, our minds don’t usually go straight to indoor pools — unless you’re familiar with the luxe Four Seasons Philadelphia. On the 57th floor of the downtown Philly hotel, the 30,000-gallon infinity-edge pool is reserved exclusively for hotel guests and boasts some of the most incredible views of the city, all seen from the comfort of heated water.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
It’s open all year long, so hotel guests can take in those stunning views or sit back with a healthy bento box meal delivered to their lounge chair even while it’s snowing outside.
Cash rates at the Four Seasons Philadelphia start at around $995 per night. Though the Four Seasons doesn’t have its own loyalty program, this property is available on American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, a program for holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (and other Centurion- and Platinum-branded cards) that offers complimentary breakfast, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, potential upgrades and a $100 spa credit.
Related: Why the Four Seasons in Philly is the perfect weekend getaway
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Everything’s bigger in Texas — and that’s exactly the case with the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa pool.
There, guests will find more water action than at most resorts, including a 9-acre water park with multiple waterslides, a 1,100-foot lazy river, a kids pool with a zero-depth beach entry, an activity pool and even an adults-only pool. So, whatever your preferred vacation style, everyone who visits this Marriott Bonvoy-associated resort can find the perfect pool to beat the intense heat of Texas Hill Country.
Related: The best Marriott hotels in the world
Rates at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country start around $280 per night but can fluctuate wildly during peak seasons and holidays. Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 41,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Conrad Orlando
As TPG’s own Summer Hull put it, this Central Florida resort’s “8-acre lagoon is, without question, the highlight of Conrad Orlando.” Yes, you read that right: The resort, which is a stone’s throw from Disney World, has a swimmable, 8-acre lagoon with cabanas and a zero-entry beach. There’s also a large pool and splash pad for kids, so the hardest thing you have to decide during a lazy day at the Conrad is whether to lounge with your feet in the sand at the beach or spend the afternoon by the pool.
Rates at the Conrad Orlando start at around $400 per night or 90,000 Hilton Honors points.
TWA Hotel
The best hotel pools aren’t all massive pool complexes with waterslides and lazy rivers. In New York, you can actually swim on top of a historic hotel designed by Eero Saarinen that harkens back to the golden age of travel. It overlooks planes landing and taking off at New York’s JFK airport.
Open all year long (it’s heated in the winter), this pool is the perfect place for planespotters to watch the runway or for travelers passing through New York to enjoy a very special stay. If you have a long enough layover, TWA is open for day stays, and the pool is open to non-guests through ResortPass.
Rates at the TWA Hotel start at around $280 per night.
Resorts World Las Vegas
In Sin City, choosing a hotel based on its pool can be overwhelming because there are many great options.
Those trying to trade in some points for a stay at a property with one of those pools should look no further than Hilton’s Resorts World. It’s home to three different hotels in one massive complex: the Las Vegas Hilton, the Conrad Las Vegas and the luxury-focused Crockfords Las Vegas.
Related: The best hotel pools in Las Vegas
At the property’s 5 1/2-acre pool complex, which is outside on the fifth floor, guests can experience a handful of different pools. That includes the large Main Pool, where guests can reserve daybeds with a dedicated server, side table, concierge, towel service and shade.
There’s also the Family Pool with rentable cabanas; the Bimini Pool with oversized games and activities; the Cabana Pool, where guests can rent cabanas with amenities like a television, refrigerator, coffee table and misting fan; and a VIP pool.
Rates at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World start at $84 or 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Rooms at the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World start at $106 or 38,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Also, at Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts, accommodations start at $259 or 88,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
The West Hollywood Edition
If you want to take in sweeping views of Hollywood Hills and the Los Angeles skyline, there’s no better place to do it than from the pool at the celebrity-friendly West Hollywood Edition.
High in the hills, the pool offers wooden lounge chairs and lush greenery to complement the stunning California sunsets and sunrises. It’s a must-stop at this Marriott Bonvoy property. For food and drink, The Roof offers pool guests a wide range of drinks, including “tropical-inspired cocktails with Southern California flair” and an extensive list of tequilas and mezcals.
Cash rates for the West Hollywood Edition, including access to its rooftop pool, start at $458 a night. Award night starts at 74,500 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
When it comes to swimming pools, Disney knows what it’s doing — that’s why it has two entries on this list. This time, we’re looking at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, one of the most popular hotels in Hawaii, especially for folks traveling with family.
Called the Waikolohe Valley pool area, this resort has something for everyone: pools with ocean views, the kids pool, the main Waikolohe pool, and an 8,200-square-foot zero-entry pool with a waterslide in a volcano. Hotel guests can rent cabanas, dine poolside and forget the outside world while splashing and relaxing under the big Hawaii sky.
Cash rates at this top-tier Disney property typically cost $600 or more per night.
Related: Disney’s Aulani: What it’s like to stay at Mickey’s Hawaiian getaway
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Another contender from Las Vegas, the pools at The Cosmopolitan — a Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection property — are where people go to bake in the sun and enjoy the flashing lights of Las Vegas Boulevard.
Of the two pools, the Boulevard Pool reigns supreme with its fourth-floor location overlooking the Strip. Folks who head up to this pool deck can book cabanas with a server and complimentary fruit plate or just opt for a daybed. The pool frequently features live entertainment and “dive-in” movies. However, you can always hit up the bar for a refreshing drink to cool down from the desert heat.
Or, if you want to experience an over-the-top Las Vegas pool party, check out the resort’s Marquee Dayclub.
Rates at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas start at $106 or 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Related: Jackpot! Best hotels in Vegas for a Sin City getaway
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
There’s no skyline like the New York City skyline — and there’s really no better place to take it in than the rooftop pool at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.
Located in Brooklyn Heights near the trendy Dumbo neighborhood, this hotel is prime Brooklyn real estate. However, the real star of the show is the pool. It’s reserved for hotel guests, but pool chairs are limited to two-hour slots. Food and drinks are served from Harriet’s Rooftop, which stays open even after the pool closes, so even after you dry off, you can soak in the beautiful city views.
Rates at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge vary throughout the year. In the busy summer months, rooms start around $400 a night during weekdays but can climb to more than $600 on weekends.
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Another resort with a pool area that doubles as a water park, the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the perfect place to take the kids (or kids at heart). You can enjoy a day basking in the sun, splashing in the water and racking up some Marriott Bonvoy points along the way.
At Adventure Water Park, guests can ride a 110-foot waterslide, float along a lazy river or try a surfing simulator that feels more California than Arizona desert. You can rent a cabana to get a little shade or reserve a Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef — basically a private island right in the middle of it all. If that’s just too much, the adults-only pool is the ideal spot for folks to relax without a child in sight.
In the hot summer months, you can find rooms as low as $189 at this property. As the Phoenix area cools down in the fall, rates go up significantly, easily upward of $500 a night. Award nights can be found starting at 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Perched above a golf course in Newport Beach, California, right by the blue waters of the Pacific, the Resort at Pelican Hill has long been a California favorite. Soon, the resort will transform into a St. Regis property that can be booked through Marriott Bonvoy. At the resort, the saltwater Coliseum Pool is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful pools in the world thanks to its 1.1 million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles, luxury cabanas and ocean views that stretch for miles and miles.
Rates at The Resort at Pelican Hill start at $795 per night. The resort will join Marriott on July 1.
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
The heat around Palm Springs can be treacherous, so the best area hotels and resorts have great pools to cool down in. At the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California, a pool doesn’t just mean calmly wading in the water (though that’s an option). Rather, this resort offers a water park with a 425-foot lazy river and two 100-foot waterslides, a sand beach, a cliffside hot tub and pools. Additionally, the resort has a spa pool, an adults-only pool and lots of cabanas to rent for shade and privacy.
Rates at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa start around $242 per night.
Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
On the island of Maui, you’ll find some of the best hotel pools in the world. But at the island’s Waldorf Astoria, you’ll find a full-fledged pool complex with a place to relax or play for every family member. At the adults-only Hibiscus Pool, swim over a beautiful glass mosaic hibiscus flower sitting under the water. At the Adventure Pool, splash around a 2,000-foot-long pool area with nine different pools, a river with whitewater rapids, five slides (including a whitewater rapids slide), a sand beach, waterfalls, Jacuzzis and swim-up pools. For the most fun, be sure to take a trip down the Lava Tube Slide — a three-story slide that projects riders up to 22 miles per hour.
How to book: Rates at Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort start at $822 per night or 110,000 Hilton Honors points.
