A great hotel pool can be the reason for a whole trip: an infinity edge that seems to pour into Santorini’s caldera, a seawater lagoon a kilometre long on the Chilean coast, or a glass-edged box hanging over a Dallas street. These ten pools, from Hellas to the Maldives, show how designers use water to frame a view.

A shaded arch framing the Santorini caldera beside the Katikies pool in Oia
A shaded pool arch framing the Santorini caldera at Katikies, Oia.

Lagoon and palace pools

1. San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, Chile

About 100 kilometres west of Santiago, San Alfonso del Mar has a seawater lagoon 1,013 metres long, covering 8.2 hectares and holding around 250 million litres of water pumped from the Pacific and then filtered. When it was completed in 2006, Guinness listed it as the world’s largest pool by area. It was developed with Crystal Lagoons, the company founded by Fernando Fischmann. Chile’s summer runs from December to February, the best time for the lagoon. More in our San Alfonso del Mar article.

The large lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar beside apartment buildings and the Chilean coast
The large lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar beside apartment buildings and the Chilean coast.
San Alfonso del Mar lagoon pool, Algarrobo, Chile – view two
San Alfonso del Mar lagoon pool, Algarrobo, Chile – view three
San Alfonso del Mar lagoon pool, Algarrobo, Chile – view four

2. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

On the banks of Lake Pichola, directly opposite Udaipur’s City Palace, The Oberoi Udaivilas spreads over 30 acres of gardens. Its architecture follows traditional Rajasthani design, with interconnecting domes, walkways and courtyards of water. Premier rooms with City Palace or garden views open from their terraces onto semi-private pools; see the official accommodation descriptions.

The Oberoi Udaivilas pool and domes, Udaipur, India
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur – pool view two
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur – pool view three

Island and beach pools

3. One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives

One&Only Reethi Rah occupies a private island ringed by 12 secluded beaches, which guests explore by bicycle along palm-shaded paths. Accommodation is in beach villas, water villas and signature residences.

One&Only Reethi Rah pool and the sea, Maldives
One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives – view two
One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives – view three
One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives – view four

4. The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand

The Sarojin lies in Phang Nga province about an hour north of Phuket, roughly 8 kilometres north of Khao Lak centre near Pakarang Cape. Its 56 suites are spread over seven buildings, and the turquoise-tiled infinity pool is dotted with pavilion islands holding sun loungers under removable roofs. The Pool Residences have their own onyx plunge pools.

The Sarojin infinity pool with pavilion islands, Khao Lak, Thailand
The Sarojin, Khao Lak – pool view two
The Sarojin, Khao Lak – pool view three
The Sarojin, Khao Lak – pool view four

Mediterranean clifftops and coasts

5. Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Ravello, Italy

Caruso occupies an 11th-century palace on a cliff in Ravello, high above the Amalfi Coast, with 18th-century frescoes inside and 50 rooms and suites. Its infinity pool seems to merge with the sea far below. The hotel is seasonal; the hotel’s official page gives the reopening date of 13 April 2027. Pair it with a day in Amalfi.

Hotel Caruso infinity pool above the Amalfi Coast, Ravello
Hotel Caruso, Ravello – pool view two
Hotel Caruso, Ravello – pool view three
Hotel Caruso, Ravello – pool view four

6. Mardan Palace, Antalya, Turkey

Opened in May 2009 in Lara, Antalya, at a reported cost of US$1.4 billion, Mardan Palace was built with one of the largest pools in the Mediterranean, complete with a sunken aquarium holding about 2,400 fish, and a beach made with 9,000 tonnes of sand imported from Egypt. The hotel changed hands several times after 2015 and was acquired by Swandor Hotels in early 2026, so check its current status before planning a stay.

Mardan Palace resort pool, Antalya, Turkey
Mardan Palace, Antalya – pool view two
Mardan Palace, Antalya – pool view three

7. Katikies, Oia, Santorini, Greece

Built into the caldera cliffs of Oia, Katikies Santorini is the Hellenic island hotel many people picture when they think of a Santorini pool: whitewashed walls, blue water and the volcano across the bay. The main pool is heated, two further pools use fresh water, and some suites have private pools. Every room has its own veranda. Our guide to choosing a Santorini base helps you place it in a wider island trip.

Katikies Hotel pool above the caldera, Santorini, Greece
Pool beside whitewashed walls and cushioned seating at Katikies, with the sea beyond
Katikies Hotel, Santorini, Hellas – pool view three

8. Amirandes, Crete, Greece

Near Heraklion on Crete, Amirandes takes its inspiration from the water palaces of the Minoan kings and of the Venetian nobles who later ruled the island. Life centres on a long lagoon running towards the sea, and the resort adds indoor, freshwater and children’s pools as well as private pools for some rooms.

Amirandes Grecotel resort lagoon pool, Crete, Greece
Amirandes, Crete – pool view two
Amirandes, Crete – pool view three
Amirandes, Crete – pool view four

Pools of the Americas

9. Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Photographed here when it was Capella Pedregal, the resort is now Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. It is tucked among the cliffs at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, looking out over the Pacific, yet within walking distance of Cabo San Lucas town.

Pedregal resort pool in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, photographed under its former Capella name
Pedregal resort, Cabo San Lucas – pool view two
Pedregal resort, Cabo San Lucas – pool view three

10. The Joule, Dallas, USA

The Joule’s rooftop pool is cantilevered 8 feet beyond the edge of the building on Main Street in downtown Dallas, so swimmers feel they are floating out over the city. It is open daily from 8am to 8pm, and cabanas and daybeds can be reserved through the pool page.

The Joule Hotel’s cantilevered rooftop pool, Dallas
The Joule Hotel, Dallas – pool view two
The Joule Hotel, Dallas – pool view three

Before booking any of these, check whether the pool you have in mind is shared or belongs to a particular room category, and whether it is heated in your travel month.

Sources