America's Best Hotel Pool

The pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel

The infinity pool at the Post Ranch Inn.

The Main pool at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach

Katie,
Shouldn't you be using your prestigious position at Fodor's to go over to the Peninsula Hotel to "research" this question?

Unfortunately, I've yet to come across a hotel pool in the US that comes close to the pools at the resorts I've stayed in while in Asia. The pool at the Peninsula in Hong Kong and the Four Seasons in Bali are tough to beat.

I can't remember any pools pre-kids that I'd put on that US list. With kids, the pool at Disney's Beach/Yacht Club is the reason to stay there.

Las Vegas- Wynn, Mirage and the Golden Nugget.
Hawaii/ Big Island- Hilton and Marriott Waikoloa.

Ryan...thanks for the tip. It's only two blocks away! =)

Unfortunately, the Peninsula Pool is under renovation until October. <sigh>

The last pool I sat by was LA's Hotel Roosevelt; not a great pool--but definitely a "scene".

trippinkpj-- I haven't been to Vegas since the pre-Wynn days. What makes the pool so great?

andrew8--- Breakers Hotel; what a classic.

I'm thinking Vegas as well, but I'm not a big 'pool' guy. I will defer to the pros.

"Best" can mean different things to different people, but I think the pool at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables (Miami), Florida is still billed as the "largest" hotel pool in the Continental US.

Here's a pic of part of that pool:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pool_Biltmore_hotel_coral_gables_florida.jpg

I, too, would endorse the Biltmore's pool.

The pool at the Williamsburg Inn is also lovely, kind of old-time luxurious glamour. I still remember the big fluffy yellow towels, white wooden furniture, and excellent service. Not a "scene," just old-fashioned, "why spend less" luxury.

This pool isn't anywhere as big as this motel makes it look in their opening shot.....but check it out for a laugh.
Ah the wonders of photography!

www.ogunquitmotel.com

The Nugget in Vegas was the first thing that came to my mind but this time of yr you'd just trade hot & steamy for extremely hot & dry so not really an upgrade.

I really like the pool at the Hapuna Beach Prince hotel on Hawaii.

Something about being able to sit in the pool and look out at the ocean.

It probably isn't the best-fanciest-largest-most spectacular, but I really like it.

My favorite is the whole scene around the pool at the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale.

They have a sandy bottom beach type pool, a swim up bar and karaoke pool, lots of small 2 person pools, slides, whirlpools and waterfalls. It's especially beautiful at sundown.

My favorite is near you as well: the rooftop pool at the Parker Meridien, with a view over Central Park.

The salt water pool at the Hyatt Kauai has been my favorite so far.

Katie, the Wynn's pool(s) are fascinating in that they are tiered according to levels of wealth and what you are paying for your room. The most expensive suites have their own private large pools at their doorstep. Then the tower suites have their own pools with excellent service and it is like a caste system as you stand atop a bridge overlooking people that are paying the normal $300/nt. It is hard for a tower suite guest to go to the main pool and vice-versa. The towels are also different colors according to your section. Elitism at it's finest! It is so brazenly obvious which I think was Steve Wynn's intention. Great place to people watch.

I agree with travelinwifey, it's the pool at the grand hyatt in kauai. And don't forget the Bellagio's pool in Vegas.

"tiered according to levels of wealth"

Actually, they are tiered according to levels of spending, not wealth. Two very different things.

I'd add any pool to the list where I can just walk up and get a spot at will. I hate the competition for a place to sit that occurs at some resorts. But, if the only way to get a decent spot is to get out there by 7:30, I'll be there by 7:25.

I know someone here posted about this pool in Chile, recently named the world's largest. It's a little too big I would say...isn't that why we have oceans?
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5eloqu

Pools with views of oceans though do appeal to me. On a visit to Miami, my SO and I stayed at The National, which I believe has either Florida or the country's longest "infinity" pool:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6cll6w

I sat up on our deck overlooking the pool; while he swam laps, I watched the ocean. RELAXING.

While for my own sake, I'm thinking of quiet and relaxing pools---I wouldn't mind hearing from kid-minded travelers their brood's favorite pool.

And for everyone...is the pool ever a deciding factor for where you choose to stay?

Katie,

From the perspective of my 6 and 5 year old, any pool is a great pool.

But, if I had to pick one that we would all agree on, for completely different reasons, my family would choose the pool at Disney's Polynesian. (I suspect if we took them to one of the pool's in Kauai with a lazy river, they would change their mind.)

For now, from my kids perspective they are looking for a pool where they can jump in, where there is something to explore (like a waterall), where there is a beach nearby and that has a decent slide. The volcano pool at the Polynesian fits that description.

From my perspective, I want a pool where I can easily keep an eye on them and where there is a big enough shallow area for them to stay in. Both are really strong swimmers but its nice to know they are in water not over their head at all times. More importantly, the top of the slide can easily be seen from the pool so I know when they are coming down.

The pool at the Beach/Yacht Clubs in WDW is the coolest pool we have ever gone to. Sandy bottom, zero entry, whirlpools, big slide, two small slides for the little ones, a mini river, hidden spas, pirate ship. Lots of fun for kids.

Ryan, I respectfully disagree. I am giving away city secrets here. Fodorites keep it to yourselves! Gambling revenue may have nothing to do with with your hotel treatment. It's still a town of who you know. I stayed in a comped suite (higher priced and larger than what is showed on the website, not advertised) over a high attendance weekend and didn't gamble a dime or spend a dime for the room through connections. My SO is known through their profession and our connection hooked us up so we received treatment others pay big bucks for. $1000-1800 dinners on the house when we aren't guests. Our connection is wealthy and also not a high roller but famous in another way. He may bring in "whales" or famous persons in their own right therefore he gets the same treatment as one without spending tens of thousands. People that will bring notoriety to the hotel just by being seen there. There's an entire secret society in LV many don't know about. It's not just the above named casino but other casinos as well. Some people may not be spending a dime and get treated the same as those who blow significant amounts of money.

Regarding pure spending, there are secret services for people that win or lose over 1 million but those secrets I must keep that way for the good of the hotel. And we like our comps Steve Wynn is a brilliant man, he has every angle figured out. And he takes care of his employees.

For pools to actually swim and play in, especially with kids, I like the lazy river and waterfall features at the Hilton Waikaloa on the Big Island. I think it has a lazy river, too, doesn't it?

For pools to relax and enjoy, I like the Mauna Lani's, also on the Big Island.

The Biltmore in Coral Gables FL. It's great just to relax by and read a book, there are nice restaurants nearby and if you get bored you can go to the beach or have some nightlife.

Vegas operates on its own scale so my comment may not hold when it comes to Vegas.

But, my own experience with this issue is my former bosses husband. He's in the top 100 of the Forbes 400. He regularly flew coach and when they left New York for the weekend, they rented a midsize car from Avis.

Outside Vegas, spending and wealth are two different things.

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Caruso Ravello in Ravello Italy when it first reopened. Believe it or not it looks better in person.

http://tinyurl.com/66bo7c

OMG- andrew8- Sign me up for the Hotel Caruso Ravello.

Will I need a second mortage to stay there for a week?

wow.

Geez...that looks amazing. "What a day for a daydream..."

Marginal,
It's not nearly as nice as the Palazzo
Sasso which is next store. The main draw here is the pool. Three days is all you need in Ravello so you won't need to stay a week to enjoy yourselves.

How about a private plunge pool in your own villa, does that count?

This is from the Four Seasons in Jimbaran Bay. (The villas to the far left of the main building are more private. If I could insert a winking emotcom, that's what I'd put here.)

http://www.fourseasons.com/jimbaranbay/guest_rooms_and_suites.html

The Raleigh in South Beach is very pretty. It is used in many advertisements with a pool in the background.

http://www.raleighhotel.com/features/pool.html

For our honeymoon we stayed at the 4Seasons Jimbaran Bay and the 4Seasons Sayan, both on Bali. I must say, private plunge pools are the way to go! Of the 2, I actually preferred our Sayan pool and it was in the river valley right next to the river. So gorgeous. I hope to return someday...

As for the US, the 4Seasons on the Big Island has some beautiful pools, but most hotel pools are too crowded and you have to wake up at the crack of dawn to "reserve" a space. I was about to throw down someone's stuff the other day at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica. I think people just wake up early and put their towels on the lounge chairs and expect that they have rights to the chairs all day long. But, I digress...

My kids (15 and 10) enjoy most hotel pools. But their favorite pool, so far, is at the Hilton Waikloloa, Hawaii.

I love the Mosaic pool at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach! ***kim***

The pool complex at the Grand Wailea in Maui.

The wave pool and lazy river at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

And for pure relaxation, I agree with Marginal, The pool at Hapuna Prince on the Big Island.

The pool at Tabacon Resort in Costa Rica was voted best international water feature for 2008 by International Restaurant and Hotel Awards. It is heated by the volcano, as are the thermal baths and hot springs throughout the tropical landscape. I couldn't believe we were soaking in the pool at night watching the molten lava ooze slowly down the face of the volcano.

OK, I just realized you asked about "America's" Best Hotel Pool. Sorry! My favorite I have visited so far are the pools at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas with it's real sand beaches and awesome music!

Hi, There,

This pool isn't in the US, but I would love to be at the pool at the Aruba Marriott Surf Club. We have a timeshare there and we are in that pool most of the time we are there each year. The lazy river is absolutely great for hanging onto an innertube or float and just drifting aroud with a nice drink and a good book - all day long. It's paradise.

daisygirl48

I've got to admit-- I love Atlantis in Nassau. Plenty of pools, waterfalls, lazy river, hot, hot weather.

The Marriott Surf Club in Aruba has a GREAT pool with waterslide, lazy river, and pool bar....you don't even have to get out of the water. All next to the beach. Leave the cell phone and laptop at home!

Hey I was quoted on the home page story..thanks Katie.

Actually, I would very much love to try that big outdoor thermal pool in Iceland!

I second the pool at the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, AZ. Heaven!

I don't know if someone say it, but heres my vote: The Woodlands Resort and conference. www.woodlandsresort.com

Lots of great pools in Florida!

Agree with The National and The Raleigh.

Other faves, The Westin Diplomat, Margo Lar, The Delano, The Hotel, The Shore Club, The Biltmore.

I'm a real Disney fan so I'll say Beach/Yacht Club pool at Walt Disney World! That sounds great right about now.....mmmmmmm.....with a nice cool marguerita from the pool bar. An added benefit....my kids would be happy in the parks for the day....without me.