Travel
Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools
Slide Nr 1From architectural marvels to historic surrounds, immersive experiences and panoramic views, these stunning swimming pools make for the ultimate bucket-list dip. Whether you’re a swimmer, a diver or an expert pool-side lounger, get ready to make a splash in the world’s coolest pools.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 2Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool in Singapore – When talking about spectacular pools, it’s hard to get past what was once the world’s highest, largest rooftop infinity pool. Although the United Arab Emirates and China have battled over the title of highest, tallest and largest pool in recent years, the impact of Marina Bay Sands remains unrivalled. The curved structure that holds the pool and SkyPark viewing platform lies perpendicular across three towers, giving an impression of weightlessness when viewed from below, and making it an instant architectural icon. From above, it offers unrivalled views across Singapore, enhanced by poolside dining and cocktails.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 3The Hacienda Uayamon Pool in Campeche, Mexico – Tucked inside an 18th-century stone enclosure that was once an agave cellar, this intimate hotel pool is a true haven of peace. Plush white-cushioned loungers and a breezy hammock invite guests to hang by the pool all day long, and the wild setting in the middle of the Campeche jungle allows for a refreshing connection with nature. Add to that the centuries-old walls and stone columns rising out of the water, and you’ll be literally floating in a historical sanctuary.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 4Çırağan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, Turkey – If you fancy a swim with views of Europe and Asia, then this grand hotel on the Bosphorus is for you. The style and glamour of the pool is in keeping with the history and architecture of the hotel. Housed in a former palace built by Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, the building blends European and Asian architectural elements. A pool was first installed on its grounds when it was home to the Parliament during Turkey’s transition to a constitutional monarchy. Remind yourself that you are swimming in history – or just enjoy the intercontinental perspective.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 5The Golden Nugget Hotel’s “Tank” in Las Vegas, USA – Want to swim with sharks, but also not actually swim with sharks? The Golden Nugget Hotel’s Shark Tank lets guests and non-guests (for a fee) slide down a 9-metre water slide through an impressive 757,000-litre aquarium habitat in which live sharks are swimming mere inches away. After this heart-pounding ride, you’ll splash into the main pool and swim under artificial waterfalls, before relaxing on in-pool daybeds or private cabanas, and then drying off at the blackjack tables. Only Vegas could deliver such an experience.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 6The Time + Tide Pool in Chongwe Camp, Zambia – Take your safari to the water: at this luxurious safari camp, you can observe the local wildlife as you float in the tranquil pool. The private Chongwe House and the adjacent Suites and Camp all share the same serene riverside location at the edge of Lower Zambezi National Park. The views are enhanced by a communal pool, as well as private plunge pools and open-air soaking tubs integrated seamlessly into the camp’s low-impact design. Elephants are known to wander into the camp, and the pool is the prime spot to catch a glimpse of them – along with a variety of other wildlife.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 7Gellért Thermal Baths in Budapest, Hungary – Gellért Baths might not have the fancy technology and sleek design of many modern pools, but this place boasts incredible history: though the current edifice was built during World War I, records of the location’s “Palace of Baths” healing waters date back to the 13th century. Apart from the 10 Art Nouveau thermal pools of different sizes and temperatures, you’re welcome to enjoy the saunas, book a massage, or simply sunbathe on the terrace overlooking Gellért Hill with a refreshing drink in hand. [Image credit: Roberto Ventre/Wikimedia Commons]
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 8The Alila Ubud Pool in Bali, Indonesia – A visit to Ubud is all about immersing yourself – both in the rich local culture and in the lush vegetation of the surrounding landscapes. Amidst the verdant hills, terraced rice fields and dense jungle, Alila Ubud blends into the scenery with its discreet architecture inspired by local crafts. The same goes for the serene pool, which is perched on a hillside, reflecting the colours of the surrounding forest and opening up to vistas of the Ayung River Valley below.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 9Nemo 33 in Brussels, Belgium – Never heard of an underwater aquatic park? With a depth of 34.5 metres, Nemo 33 is one of the deepest swimming pools in the world, attracting enthusiastic divers looking to up their scuba and free-diving skills. Filled with spring water and heated by solar panels, the warm, non-chlorinated waters offer an aquatic playground complete with underwater caves, tunnels and air pockets. Not a pro diver? No problem! There are tons of activities and classes for beginners, plus an underwater restaurant for those who prefer to keep dry. [Image credit: Eric Burgers/Flickr]
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 10Bondi Icebergs Club in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia – Open to the public all year long, it only takes one glimpse to understand why this is the most famous pool in Australia – and the most photographed in the world. While you can find plenty of pools located at the ocean’s edge, this one dares the ocean to crash right in. Offering a large pool for advanced swimmers and a smaller one for kids, the club combines rugged coastal views and cool Pacific waters to create a stunning saltwater swim spot that captures the unrivalled essence of Australian beach life.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 11The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India – What better way to complement a modern hotel built to emulate an ancient Indian palace than by surrounding it with a moat? In this case, the water isn’t there to keep invaders out, but to invite guests for a dip. The unusually shaped pool complements the regal Rajasthani architecture, and is made up of public, semi-private (accessed through some of the premier rooms) and private (accessed through the suites) sections. All offer the same expansive views of the surrounding gardens and the sprawling scenery of Lake Pichola just beyond.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 12Hearst Castle Pools in San Simeon, California, USA – Hearst Castle, which takes its name from the wealthy family that built it, is home to two pools of note: the indoor Roman Pool and outdoor Neptune Pool, both sporting an aesthetic reminiscent of ancient Rome, complete with Italian marble sculptures, temple replicas and intricate tile mosaics. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported from contemporary California straight to Caesar’s Italy. And while the one-time ticket to access the pools isn’t cheap, you can’t really put a price on the opportunity to swim where stars like Cary Grant and Charlie Chaplin also took a plunge.
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Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 13Euphoria Retreat Sphere Pool in Mystras, Greece – Enjoy a unique wellness experience at this holistic destination spa in the forested hills of Mystras, in the heart of the Peloponnese peninsula, where a curious Sphere Pool promises a complete cleansing journey cocooned within its Byzantine domes. In this innovatively designed pool, guests will find walls lined with strong hydrotherapy jets to relieve muscle tension, as well as soothing marine sounds for total sensory relaxation. There’s also a warm-water Watsu pool for massage therapy and a cold plunge pool for a dopamine rush.
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Travel
Water Wonders: 12 Uber-Cool Swimming Pools.
Slide Nr 14San Alfonso del Mar Pool in Algarrobo, Chile – At this Chilean resort, the pool is a destination unto itself – measuring as long as 20 Olympic pools lined up, it holds the first-ever Guinness world record for the world’s largest pool. Its record-breaking size allows visitors to traverse it by canoe or sailboat, or engage in a number of water-based activities from kayaking to scuba diving and snorkelling; there are also water aerobics classes and a water slide. The pool is filled with salt water that’s pumped directly from the Pacific Ocean, then filtered and purified, reflecting the crystal-clear turquoise hue of the ocean right behind it – so it’s basically a safer version of the open seas, with all the perks. [Image credit: lanube360/Flickr]
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