Trevor
Los Angeles
Sure it's important to immerse yourself in culture when you travel, but sometimes you just want to immerse yourself in an amazing pool! I'm doing some day dreaming and thinking about my travel bucket list...what are the most incredible/beautiful/impressive pools that you know of (or have been to)?
I'm still wondering how my best friend and I managed to weasel our way in to this luxury hotel without getting caught, but we somehow got away with it.
If you ever make it to Greece, the Cavo Tagoo hotel and spa had one of the coolest pools I have ever been in. We had a view looking out over all of Mykonos Island and far into those deep blue mediterranean waters.
Marina Bay Sands infinity pool has the fame but many other man-made and natural pools are much more impressive, just have a look:
This is just a short list and I prefer natural ones, but hey the best hidden spots are yet to be discovered...
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If you like the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool but think it's too crowed, then here are a few private pools that you'll love :)
- overlooking the ricefields: Villa Melati in Ubud
- overlooking the Indian Ocean: Villa Bidadari
And these are just 2 off the top of my head...
If you have a 4x4 vehicle and don't mind a steep 20 minute hike to the top of a waterfall, Gunlom Plunge Pools in Kakadu National Park in Australia are awesome! It's one of the few crocodile free places to swim in the park.There are lots of gorges with waterfalls and swimming holes along the Gibb River Rd in the Kimberley of Western Australia. One that I liked a lot is Lennard River Gorge. It requires a 4x4 and a short hike.
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My favorite experience was at the Conrad Koh Samui. The main pool is OK, but each villa has it's own infinity pool looking out on the Gulf of Thailand with fantastic views and sunsets.
My favorite pools?
The Devil's pool, right on the edge of Victoria Falls. You can swim there only when the water level is low. Look over the edge -- 100 meters straight down! http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/devilspool.asp
Saline Valley Hot Springs now part of Death Valley National Park. Don't even think about going there on your own -- you will never find it. You have to have a friend who can take you there. Here are some photos -- http://leler.com/gallery/v/desert07/P3095103.JPG.html
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The spa pool Little Dix Bay
May not be quite as breathtaking as the others, but for an au natural pool, Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve pool in Austin, Tx is quite a sight!
Saltwater pool at Eden Roc Miami Beach in North Miami beach. There is a lap pool and a underwater bar looking into the pool.
I love the pools at Pamukkale, Turkey, too! Magical waters there. My other 2 favorite pools in the world are the 3-tiered pools at Amankila in Manggis, Bali and the Aquatonic pool at the AYANA Resort and Spa in Jimbaran, Bali. Both pools have spectacular sea views.I've never seen any Aquatonic pool as large as the Ayana one - it's a must visit when in Bali for the best water massage therapy. Tip: time the spa visit to coincide with sunset for even more breathtaking view. Photos don't do justice - must be there to experience.
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The first one that comes to mind is the gilded pool at Hearst Castle. There is more than one now that I think of it, one outdoors with ornate statues and one indoors that has fantastic tiles and is underneath the tennis courts with skylights to the pool below.
Papallacta is a hot spring in the heart of the Andes, you can watch from your personal pool the Volcano Antisana in the day or a sky full of stars in the night if you are lucky. It is no far from Quito and it is in the way to the amazonian region!
The Pools at Pools at Ohe'o aka The Seven Sacred Pools, part of Haleakalā National Park on Maui. Back in the '70's we visited it with my in-laws. When we got to the area, my father-in-law asked the Park Ranger where the Seven Sacred Pools were. The Ranger said, "There are about 15 of them, Pick any Seven." If the weather is good and it isn't over-run by tourists, it's a wonderful spot. Make sure there aren't any flash floods before taking the long drive there. The photos are from that visit, so the quality is not very good..
Hands down the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands. Still haven't been, but just look at it! It's on the 57th floor of a hotel in a gorgeous city. Definitely urban chic and up high on my bucket list :)
There is a rather secret swimming pool on top of the Changi Airport Singapore. I got to take a swim while some sort of gigantic monsoon fell on top of our heads. Probably not the most impressive pool, but it certainly was intersting!
Almost anything in Iceland. The only two I went to: Hofsós and the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths. But you could seriously just drive around the country visiting hot springs and other geothermal heated pools.
I recently went to Berlin and my friends took me to this pool in the river: Badeschiff
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/11/badeschiff-floating-swimming-pool-in.html
Was really cool!
Here is from far my favorite pool: le Lac Noir at Plateau d'Emparis. Cool water, stunning view and free fish massages. Not to mention tranquility :)
There are impressive hot spring pools in India, which has medicinal values and natural .
Manikaran is one which you will find in Himachal Pradesh which is 45 KM from Kullu, it is equally a religious place to visit.
Another at Vashist within 5 km from Manali, the water is reserved you can enjoy a hot water medicinal bath.
Tattapani within a distance of 51 KM from Shimla has similar natural hot water springs.
Similar hotsprings you will find in Ladakh.
Google The worlds deepest swimming pool. I only came across a video of it on facebook recently but it looked amazing but a little intimidating.