[ALL OVER THE WORLD] — Okay, this is a fun one. It’s not just about somewhere I went, it’s about the best of all the places I’ve gone. These are my favorite hotel pools in the world. At least, the best hotels in the world I’ve found so far.

Some people are golfers. Some people love sporting events. Some people are into concerts. A lot of people are resort people. And people travel all over to find what they love.

I’m a Pool Guy. And I work my vacations around great pools. It took me years to figure out that I don’t really like beaches as much as I like being by a pool overlooking a beach.

This is Pool Appreciation Post and it’s a long one. If you like pools, then this post is for you.

It’s not just the pool to me, it’s the views from the pool that make these pools special.

The Best Hotel Pools in the World (at least my favorites, so far)

This is an eclectic mix of my favorite pools. These aren’t the biggest, the flashiest, the most posh pools. The pools I chose are more stories about the place. Each has its own appeal. Some in familiar locations, some far, far away. Some fancy. Some humble. It’s more about cool pools in amazing places.

I’m breaking this into two posts because there are so many of my favorites. This is the first batch, in a kindofa favorite priority, but I go back and forth nearly daily on which pools are my favorites. That doesn’t mean my follow-up post will be any lesser.

As usual, this post is photo-intensive and best viewed on your computer versus a scrunched up scroll on your phone. If you like what you see, click on the links to the full posts I’ve made for each of these killer locations to discover more.

And definitely, definitely let me know your favorites in the Comments section below.

My Motto: “Always pick your hotel based on the pool furniture. If they get that right, you know the rest of the hotel will be great.”

Man oh man do I love pools. Here we go.

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Le Sirenuse — Positano, Italy

I know I’ve posted this pool a lot, as have endless others, but to me, this still reigns as one of the best hotel pools in the world. Le Sirenuse in Positano, also one of the best hotels in the world.

Perched overlooking Positano, towering staircase buildings march up the steep hillsides. It’s a view that can’t be beat, with the sea below and expensive yachts anchored in the harbor.

I’ve stayed here four times and the views still took my breath away each time I walked out here (not to mention the impeccable service from hotel).

If you’re liking this, here’s my big post on Le Sirenuse. And a roundup of other places to go in Positano.

Positano has been over-touristed for years, but if it’s your first time in Italy, you still want to go here. It’s like being in a movie.

Careyes — Jalisco, Mexico

Careyes is a crazy cool resort created as a remote artist haven decades ago by an eccentric Italian count, on the sparsely populated rocky coast of Jalisco. Completely unlike the typical over-developed popular areas in Mexico. It sits right next to a nature preserve, with scattered villas you can rent, a hotel and some owned casitas.

There’s always something artsy going one, whether it’s full moon parties — they have their own Burning Man-esque festival each year, drawing a bohemian jetset crowd from all over the world.

It was years ago that eight of us were there, staying at one of the their cool cliffside villas. But we got a tour of their top of the line Sol de Oriente Villa which had one of the coolest pools I’ve ever seen. Sitting high up on a hilltop above the crashing surf, the pool surrounds a giant villa on nearly 360 degrees, with rooms opening right onto the pool — you can roll out of bed and slip right in from your room.

You can see how cool the position is of this massive villa in these photos from the Careyes website:

Careyes gets a double-tap here because the infinity pool at our villa — Casa Altiplano — which was just as good. Even though it overlooks the resort and other villas, nobody can see you up here.

You can see a bunch more photos of Careyes on this post I made here.

Philippe Starck’s La Co(o)rniche–Pyla-sur-Mer, France

I still think about the views from this incredible pool and hotel about every other day. It’s burned into my retinas. People rave about the south of France, but this location on the Atlantic Coast of France is to die for.

The hotel sits high upon a pine-covered hilltop, right next to the tallest sand dune in Europe, the Dune du Pilat, about an hour south of completely different Bordeaux.

Surrounded by Philippe Starck’s incredible design in every nook and cranny, inside and out, the whole hotel and gigantor restaurant are built around the pool. With breathtaking views of the sandbars of Bassin d’Arcachon — home of the best oysters in France — winking in and out of the tides far below.

Even the purposefully-crazy spelling of the name is pure Starck: the (o) celebrates the oyster.

You rarely read about La Co(o)rniche outside of France, so go there before everyone finds out about it. You have to check out my love post about this hotel here.

The hotel and sprawling restaurant, which are one, are built all around the simmering pool, celebrating the views and changing light throughout the day.

La Co(o)rniche sits side-by-side to the 1,500ft high Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe. Looking over the Arcachon Bay, celebrated for having the best oysters in France and are celebrated at every meal.

Pousada Maravilha– Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Not many people know about Fernando de Noronha — a tropical island 200 miles off the northeastern coast of Brazil. You are literally on the tip top of a volcanic mountain range that rises 2,300 feet from the ocean floor, with just the tips showing and forming crazy shapes I’ve never seen anywhere else.

The whole island is only seven square miles and a protected nature preserve — there are no cars, only dune buggies to rent. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a was rated one of the best islands in the world by Condé Nast Traveller.

They only allow a certain number of people on the island at a time; you have to get a permit before arriving, so there are very few hotels. But Pousada Maravilha is the nicest one on the island, with only a handful of bungalows and one amazing pool.

Pousada Maravilha, is only 3 stars, but the pool views are 5 stars.

It’s not a giant pool, but the giant exotic views from the pool that make this one of my all-time faves. It looks like “Bali Ha’i”.

This remote archipelago 200 miles off the coast of Brazil is actually the tippy-top of a gigantic volcanic mountain range, rising 2,300ft from the bottom of the ocean.

Here’s a giant post I made about everything to do on this enchanted paradise nobody knows about, except Brazilians. When you mention the island, Brazilians coo “Oooooh Fernnaaaando. A magical place.” Adventurers come here to surf, scuba, swim and view the giant tortoises, spinner dolphins and exotic wildlife.

It’s so far out there, this was the last refuel stop for the great PanAm Clipper seaplanes before they crossed the wide southern Atlantic Ocean.

Il Pellicano–Porto Ercole, Italy

Il Pellicano has been the “It Hotel” in Italy for many many decades, but especially famous now under the artistic hand of the incomparable Mary Louise Scio — the founder’s lovely and stylish daughter. Fashionistas, celebrities and the cognoscenti have been coming here for decades for these views and outstanding Italian chic.

Actually, this area has been a favorite destination for the Roman elite since, well, Roman Times. Caravaggio actually died here in the 1600s.

It’s still popular today, with some of the wealthiest Roman families having estates scattered all over this island off the Western Maremma coast of Tuscany.

A quick two hour drive from Rome, on a former island turned peninsula over time by land bridges, Monte Argentario. Il Pellicano overlooks a pristine bay with humps of islands in the distance to complement your Aperol Spritz. With its unique location, you get sunrises and sunsets.

This is a self-contained luxury vessel you never have to leave. The Michelin-starred restaurant, famous for its pasta pomodoro overlooks the whole views of the pool, the sea, the islands and the sun.

Here’s a big post I made on this incredible place.

Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot — Atlas Mountains, Morocco

If you’ve followed me for some time, you know I’ve posted a lot about the famed Kasbah Tamadot, a luxurious kasbah in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, owned by Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Hotels. But in a roundup of my favorite pools, this ranks near the top.

Just a surprisingly quick hour away from busy Marrakesh, you feel a world away. With snow-covered Mount Toubkal — the highest mountain in North Africa — as your backdrop and about the most perfectly proportioned pool to drink in the views. Mountains to one side, a roaring river below and an ancient Moroccan village just across the valley.

Only a quick hour away from busy Marrakesh, you feel a world away.

The views from the infinity pool fry your brain a little bit — you’re bobbing there in the lap of luxury overlooking daily life in a mud hut village across the way. Check out my giant post on this amazing place. And if you’re going to Morocco, make sure you work this into your plans.

Kasbah Tamadot also gets a pool double-tap because the private pool I had when my travel agent got me upgraded me to their famed, super private, Master Suite. After long days of hiking in the Atlas Mountains, it was great to unwind here, completely private. I was completely naked most of the time.

After I checked out, I learned that the next guest to follow me was one of the top supermodels in the world at the time, I passed her on a local trail. So that was my only connection to her. 😀

Estancia Colomé — Salta, Argentina

Estancia Colomé is the hardest place I’ve ever traveled to get to. The remotest, too. In Argentina’s desolately beautiful far northeastern Salta province, you drive for hours across just about every climate zone you can imagine: rainforest, to canyons, to a high altiplano, fording streams in your rental car.

It’s amazing this beautiful retreat is way out here. Even more so that the only museum in the world dedicated to James Turrell is here, one of my favorite artists and why I came here. One of the best artists in the world, way out here. Guests can tour the museum and you’re in there practically by yourself.

Sitting by this pool at 9,000 feet above sea level, you feel like you are touching the clouds.

Bodega Colomé is both a small boutique hotel and a large winery. The remote location and extreme elevation are what makes this pool at the top of my list. With the Andes high behind you, lush vineyards around you and vast valleys stretching for miles below. These are the highest vineyards in the world, producing amazing, complicated wines for the Hess Collection.

After you’ve been here, it feels like something special. Just. Pinch. Me.

Check out my giant post on this hotel and several other posts about the incredible Salta province here.

Tierra Patagonia–Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

From the top of the world to the end of the world in Patagonia, our Pool Tour continues. Torres del Paine is the national park at the very bottom of chili-shaped Chile. You fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas at the bottom tip of the country, then drive five hours back north to the park.

Tierra Patagonia is one of the few hotels bordering the Torres del Paine national park and your base for heading out each day into the park. The best part is coming back home for a soak in their indoor pool, with stupendous view over Lago Sarmiento and the towering Towers (Cuernos) mountain range, namesake of the park.

You read more about this pool and hotel on a post I made here. Or all about the best things to do in Torres del Paine National Park on another post I made.

Domaine de Murtoli–Corsica, France

Domaine de Murtoli is a five star hotel that attracts all the stars. Here, it’s all about privacy, which is why movie stars, billionaires and French politicians come here. To not be seen.

Domaine de Murtoli is a private estate on the best end of incredible Corsica, with 15 or so restored sheepfolds, restored farm buildings and private villas spread over 5,000 acres. It’s like everyone gets their own private mountaintop or hidden canyon. You can’t see where they all are. Or see in.

You can only stay for a week minimum, so it feels like you’re staying at a private villa. Each villa has its own private pool, and tricked out indoor and outdoor kitchens, outfitted with top-of-the-line La Cornue appliances.

They stock your fridge with everything you need for a week, linen-wearing staff, angels actually, silently pull up in electric carts at dawn and drop off fresh juice, steaming cafe au laits and croissants still warm from the oven.

It is fucking heaven. Here’s a huge post I wrote about it.

It’s not the size of the pool that matters, it’s the location. Clinging on the edge of a private hilltop, you can see down, but nobody can see Up. With views to right of giant yachts anchored in the bay or the towering inland mountains to the left.

You have everything you need. A dipping pool. Loungers overlooking the valley. A gorgeous outdoor kitchen. Each morning sweet angels drop off fresh baked croissants, cold milk from the Domaine’s cows and fresh-squeezed jus d’orange.

Speaking of pools that are not hotel pools, the best thing about Corsica are the Scope-colored clear streams scattered all through the craggy mountains, creating an infinite amount of crystal clear swimming holes and waterfalls. It’s a thing in Corsica. Check out my other post about them here.

Here’s a gigantic post I made about this sensational place — one of the best stays of my life. And other posts about all the cool things to do on Corsica.

Anemomilos Boutique Hotel — Folegandros, Greece

Anemomilos Boutique Hotel is in about the most amazing location you can want — a steep cliff on an undiscovered Greek island, Folegandros. Skip the crowds and hoards of Santorini and come to this tranquil island right next door. You get all the views, without the people and at a fraction of the price.

It’s a family-run place and it feels it. Nothing chain-y about this. It was built by their father and run by the mother and daughter and the rest of the family, how perfectly Greek is that?

The love shows everywhere. The pool sits right on the lip a thousand foot cliff down to the sea. You can have a greek salad in the shade and drool at the views. This is one of the my favorite hotels in the world.

Here’s a love letter post I made to the lovely people who run this beautiful hotel, you gotta check out the pics of the phenomenal views. And another on how cool the under-the-radar island of Folegandros is.

Mas Lazuli –Empordà, Spain

This pool was a last-minute booking surprise to me. I was sitting in a rented villa in Provence, wondering where I should stop on my way back to drop off my rental car in Barcelona.

As it happens, I bought at issue of Maisons Côte Sud design magazine and they featured a new design hotel in Catalunya, showing this exact pool, overlooking an olive grove. Booked it.

This pool is like swimming in an olive grove, looking out for miles over the plains of Empordà.

Mas Lazuli is a cool little design hotel, with only a dozen or so rooms and an amazing restaurant. The perfect base to explore this northeastern corner of Catalunya and Costa Brava. From here, you can see Roses, drive to the coves on Cap de Creus. Have lunch in painterly gorgeous Cadaqués. Then come back for a late-night swim and nightcap.

See more about this cool design hotel, exploring Costa Brava and Empordà on this post I made.

Alila Jabal Akhdar–Oman

To really appreciate this mind-blowing pool, you first have to understand where it is. It’s in Oman. In the high Hajar Mountains. On the edge of a sheer cliff. On the edge of one of the deepest canyons in the world. It’s Oman’s Grand Canyon, and you’re swimming above it. A straight three thousand foot drop right over the edge.

This pool is what made me come all the way to Oman. When I saw it, I knew I had to go.

Alila Jabal Akhdar was built to blend in. Perched like a falcon on the lip of the canyon. It’s way up in the Hajar Mountains that you have to take a 4WD SUV to get here — you even have to go through a police checkpoint to verify your 4WD it’s that steep.

It’s an adventure hotel, with guides who can take you on hikes into the canyon, there’s a Via Ferrata ropes course on the canyon wall below. Or you can just sit by the pool and watch the sun set.

Check out how cool this hotel is in this giant post I made about it.

Amangiri — Utah, United States

Amangiri opened quietly in the middle of the Utah desert, just miles from gigantic Lake Powell. I was able to go there a couple months after it opened, now it’s nearly impossible to get into. I call it the best hotel in the United States. And certainly, one of the most iconic pools.

Amangiri was the second Aman in the U.S. so most people weren’t aware of the amazing experience of the Aman brand like the rest of the world, including its always-spectacular design.

Amangiri is no exception, nestled invisibly into a vast canyon, miles away from anything else. It blends right into the canyon walls.

We were there over Christmas and the sun shined the whole time, light jackets during the day and cold temps at night, so this is a perfect warm winter getaway. Since it’s the desert, there’s no humidity so the air is sharp and crisp with bluebird skies everyday. When the sun comes out, the temperature perks up right away, then cools off at sundown, just like space.

Despite the great weather, we didn’t get to spend much time around this gorgeous pool. Amangiri is an adventure hotel, with guides to take you all over the property and surrounding canyon lands, so we were scrambling all over the place by day, coming back for a nice warm dip at night.

You can go hiking, tour abandoned towns or the hotel has its own Via Ferrata course (one of the first in the US at that time). There’s also boating gorgeous Lake Powell, horseback riding or you can even charter a helicopter to take you to drop you into one of the half dozen national parks nearby.

Here’s a big post I made about this amazing hotel in this amazing place.

Posada del Faro–Jose Ignacio, Uruguay

I’ve been saving this one for last, but not last place. This is my favorite pool in my favorite hotel in my most favorite place on Earth. Posada del Faro in the coastal bohemian jetset town of Jose Ignacio, in Uruguay. This lovely family run hotel is one of the most unique designs you’ve ever seen. Rustic elegance.

The hotel cups the small pool like a chalice 🤲, surrounding it on two sides, with amphitheater views of the most perfect wave-dominated beaches you’ve ever seen.

This is my favorite pool in my favorite hotel in my most favorite place on Earth.

This is a lovely family-run hotel and you can feel the love and attention, everywhere. It’s Carla’s remarkable taste in design and special touches, with Jose running the tight ship. You’ll know he’s arriving when the black labradors come shooting through the lobby.

You can just feel the mellow vibe here:

Even today, when I can’t fall asleep, I breathe deep and replay the sounds in my head of the waves and crashing surf, remembering sitting right here in the breeze. Then it’s lights out.

The best soundtrack gently wafts in the breeze like the sailcloth, while ripples in the pool lull you to sleep in the sun. There’s even a cool little self-serve bar sunken into the side of the pool.

It’s like this from sunup to sundown, starting with the cutest breakfast tray of warm baked goods and fresh fruit, you can pad out around the pool and munch in the warm morning sun.

It’s a short couple of blocks walk into town, where the best restaurants in the world are. You hear four, five different languages floating over the air. Famous people. Brazilians. French. Linen-clad Argentinians. Italians. Movie stars, fashion models and business moguls. People fly in their ponies for one the most prestigious Rolex polo tournaments in the world.

Few people have ever even have heard about Jose Ignacio — the World’s Best Beach Town. But those who do, come back every year. Mention Jose Ignacio anywhere cool in the world and people’s eyes light up with the excitement of a shared secret. IYKYK.

You gotta look at this gigantic post I made about this hotel and Jose Ignacio. A love letter to the world’s best beach town

— Post Created March 2025 —