At a time of unprecedented competition in the high end of the market, resorts are pouring millions into pool complexes and waterside amenities to attract guests and keep them on the property once they check in. In no particular order, we’ve lined up a dozen hotel pools—new, recently upgraded, or just marvelous—that make a splash.
Text by Alexandra Peers
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Mandarin Oriental, New York
A half-dozen hotel pools have opened in New York in the past five years, but at 75 feet, the Mandarin Oriental's is the longest, and at 35 stories high, it's the highest and perhaps the swankiest. (Insider's Tip: While you usually have to check in to dive in, guests of the Spa at Mandarin Oriental can simply take the elevator inside the spa up to the hotel pool.)
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Bellagio, Las Vegas
Pool wars have heated up in Las Vegas, where Mandalay Bay added a poolside casino last summer and MGM Grand just introduced an adults-only poolside party, Wet Republic. But Goldilocks—not to mention the luxury-minded guest—might opt for the Bellagio: Its various pools are kept at different temperatures. The Tuscan-villa-style complex also features bubbling fountains, huge misting fans, and groves of citrus trees.
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Mezzatorre Resort, Ischia, Italy
In summer, the Isle of Capri is teaming with tourists, but neighboring Ischia (where The Talented Mr. Ripley was filmed) is relatively undiscovered—and locals like it that way. Dominating one edge of the Mediterranean island is Mezzatorre, headquartered in a 16th-century watchtower; its adjacent outdoor pool is heated saltwater. The hotel recently added an indoor thermal pool.
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Hôtel Costes, Paris
This art deco swimming pool, in the basement of a boutique hotel on the Rue Saint-Honoré, is one of the very few hotel pools in Paris. You’ll feel welcome: The underwater music is in both French and English, and often features tunes by past guests Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
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Harrah's, Atlantic City
This domed pool complex, which doubles as a nightclub, is only 11 months old, and already its revenues are running 100 percent ahead of projections, the hotel says. At 86,000 gallons, this is the nation’s second-largest pool (after the one at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida). But don’t tell the kids—it’s adults only, especially the foliage-shaded hot tubs.
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The Standard, Miami
There are more famous hotels in South Beach, but they’re also more crowded. Andre Balazs’ complex on the Intracoastal Waterway, which opened in 2005, has a chic minimalist vibe, an icy plunge pool next to the hot tub, and a new, expanded “mud station.” One big plus: The pool is open 24 hours.
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Atlantis, The Bahamas
The popular "Leap of Faith" waterslide propels guests through a tunnel in a shark tank. Long known as a haven for families, last spring the Paradise Island resort opened an adjacent boutique hotel, The Cove, to cater to adults. Guests have access to both the water park and a quieter pool complex of their own.
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Burj Al Arab, Dubai
This Arabian resort, where rooms start at $1,000 a night, offers a wide menu of pools and an elaborate children's water park. But its spa pools midway up the tower (one for men; one for women) set it apart, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Persian Gulf, the horizon, and absolutely nothing else…unless a yacht sails by.
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Halekulani, Oahu, Hawaii
In the design world, pool mosaics are all the rage, and visitors flying into Oahu can spot this giant orchid mosaic, made of thousands of glass tiles, from the sky. The floral theme carries through poolside at this Waikiki Beach resort, where guests waiting for chaise lounges to be prepped are handed live orchids.
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Park Hyatt, Tokyo
This ultramodern hotel became famous as the setting for the 2003 Bill Murray movie Lost in Translation, but its so-called Sky Pool, on the hotel's 47th floor, is better known locally for its view of Mount Fuji. Lap-swimming starts in earnest at 6:30 a.m.
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El Cid Resort, Mazatlan, Mexico
Pool trends come and go, and swim-up bars are "out" in the U.S. Not so at this Pacific Coast resort, which offers mojitos in waist-high water, along with eight swimming pools dotted with rock gardens and waterfalls. There's a "quiet" pool, an activities pool featuring games and sports, and a children's pool. Lagoons link them so guests can swim for hours without getting bored with the scenery.
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Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles
Lots of L.A. hotels brag about the celebrities that lounge by the pool, but the Roosevelt’s star factor is all wet: A mural by artist David Hockney decorates its Olympic-size pool. A multiyear renovation recently restored the mural and renovated the Roosevelt’s storied ballroom (site of the first Academy Awards) and Tropicana Bar. Montgomery Clift is said to haunt the halls—though not the chaise lounges.
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