You Want Swank? These 27+ Hotels with Private Pool Suites are Wow!

“What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed at?” As professional travel writers, we get asked that question a lot.

It’s a tough one to answer – because we’ve been fortunate to stay at places where the “wow” factor jumps off the charts. How do you compare some of the most romantic hotels in Europe with dreamy overwater bungalows in Bora Bora?

We can tell you, however, that resorts and hotels with private pools in-room tend to be some of the most deluxe.

(And, here’s the best part. You don’t have to venture half way around the globe to treat yourself to a luxurious private pool suite. There are some stunning hotels with pools in the room right in the USA!)

Anyway, here’s our list of fabulous villa resorts and hotels with private pool suites around the world, most of which we’ve personally splashed out in. (Who said “work” is no fun?)

27+ Ultra-gorgeous hotels with private pools in-room

Small heads up: Most of the time, the pools are not actually in the room, but outside on the deck or terrace. When we say “in-room,” it’s a short-hand way of saying your room or villa comes with a private pool.

1) Thompson – Zihuatanejo

A cool suite with your own private plunge pool? And you’re mere steps away from one of the most stunning white sand beaches in Mexico?

Say hello to the Thompson Zihuatanejo!

It hugs Playa La Ropa, one of Zihuatanejo’s finest beaches. (“Zihua” is a laid-back beach town near Ixtapa).

The renovated private pool hotel features oh-so-sophisticated rooms plus one- and two-bedroom suites.

Decorated in muted tones of coffee, they’re kitted out with exposed wood ceiling beams, Oaxacan clay lights, contemporary Mexican artworks and pebble stone floors.

All suites in the 56-room property have private pools. In the premier suites, rather than a plunge pool, you have your own private infinity pool.

Confession: We actually didn’t spend any time in our own private pool because the public spaces were so nice! The resort has a trio of outdoor pools (two for adults).

Plus, La Ropa beach is just so darn alluring!

What’s especially appealing is that there’s so much space at the resort’s beach area. No lounge chairs cheek-to-jowl here.

Instead, super-comfy teak beach beds are spread out under palm trees and umbrellas – and it never feels crowded.

2) La Casa Que Canta – Zihuatanejo

Like the Thompson resort with private pools (in #1 above), La Casa Que Canta is also in Zihuatanejo, with easy access to Playa La Ropa.

La Casa Que Canta means “the house that sings.” And this boutique hotel is as beautiful as its name. (See our review of La Casa Que Canta.)

Of the 25 oceanfront suites, 11 have private plunge pools.

As well, the hotel has two fabulous four-bedroom private villas. Each comes with its own infinity pool and a private chef.

3) Grand Velas Riviera Maya – Playa del Carmen

Sip a margarita as you lounge in your own private plunge pool, soaking in splendid sea views.

All of the 90 spacious suites in the Grand Class section of the Grand Velas Riviera Maya have oceanfront balconies with private plunge pools. Recently updated, they’re light, bright and furnished with sleek modern pieces.

You can expect a king bed, free Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service too.

The resort is also one of the best places if you’re a foodie. We guarantee you’ll be as impressed with the food (which is amazing!) as we were!

The Grand Velas Riviera Maya restaurants undid any thoughts we had of dieting.

Mind you, try to venture out from the resort, at least for a tiny bit.

There are many fun things to do in the Riviera Maya – from taking a refreshing dip in cool cenotes to exploring the ruins of Tulum.

And it would be a shame to miss out on these adventures.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya: Check rates and reviews

4) The Beach Tulum

Ahhh, boho-chic Tulum! It offers plenty of inviting inviting accommodations.

As the name suggests, this 5-star adults-only hotel is all about beachfront bliss, offering direct access to Tulum’s famous powdery sands and turquoise waters.

Ground-floor rooms and suites each come with their own open-air plunge pools on the deck, perfectly positioned to soak up those breathtaking sea views. You have your own assigned queen-size beach bed on the hotel’s exclusive white sand beach too.

Greece hotels with private pools in-room

Yes, include lots of ruins, boat rides and island hopping in your Greece trip plans!

But when you need some downtime, plenty of hotels are ready to make your bed-to-private-pool dream a reality. Here are two that we especially love.

5) St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas – Crete

The cure for overdosing on ancient Greek temples and ruins? An escape to St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas on the island of Crete.

Throw in a private beach cove, a spa with a private seawater cave for couples, an authentic Greek taverna and oh-so-soothing views of the Aegean Sea – and you’ll be set right in no time.

Yes, Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, is one of the classiest hotels (and a celeb favorite) on Santorini.

At Vedema, we stayed in a Dorian Suite – which was lovely even without a private pool. (See our Vedema Resort review.)

But the one-bedroom Olympian Villas have private pools, as does the Presidential Villa, naturally!

Each villa also has an outdoor jacuzzi plus a giant flat-screen TV with satellite channels (because you never know when you might want to snuggle up and watch a movie).

Fiji and Bora Bora hotels with private pools

You’d think that with beautiful South Pacific waters to swim in, there’d be no need for beach resorts with private pools. Not true.

Sometimes you don’t want to get salty. And sometimes you just want a quick dip without walking those 20 steps from your deck to the beach. You can never be too spoiled, right?

The following Fiji and Bora Bora resorts with private plunge pools are two of the best.

7) Likuliku Lagoon Resort – Fiji

Sure, it’s nice to snorkel right from your deck of the overwater bungalows at Likuliku Lagoon Resort.

It’s the first resort with overwater bungalows in Fiji – and dare we say, it has the best over-the-water Fijian bures?

But a string of 18 other ultra-luxe beachfront suites at this 5-star Fiji resort have private plunge pools, outdoor stone showers and huge shaded day beds. Also very nice!

Plus, there’s the huge main pool you can use too.

Sailing and kayaking are complimentary. And its spa offers blissful warm stone massage treatments too.

8) Four Seasons Bora Bora – French Polynesia

Now, an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora is dreamy enough, right?

But to really crank up the wow factor, you can book an overwater bungalow at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora that has a plunge pool on your deck too.

Perfect for rinsing off after snorkeling in Bora Bora’s popsicle blue lagoon!

Luxurious amenities include pillow menus, organic Panpuri bath products, perfectly-operating air conditioning and lots of bottled water.

The glass panel in the living room floor is pretty cool too – is that a cute baby shark in the water below?

If you prefer to keep your toes on the sand, the resort recently unveiled stunning beachfront pool villas, each with their own infinity pool and private beach. Ranging from one to five bedrooms in size, they’re ideal for families.

Thailand hotel rooms with private pools

Luxury travelers often look to Southeast Asia for its top-notch resorts, where service reigns supreme.

Thailand is one such spot.

The following two Thai hotels with a private pool showcase the best of the country through their secluded natural surroundings and unique architecture.

9) Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Krabi

We were captivated by Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, Thailand. It’s one of our all-time favorite hotels with private pool villas.

Each of the 54 opulent villas at this villa resort has butler service.

Sinful confession: Overlooking a karst-studded bay, the main outdoor swimming pool with its curtained daybeds and complimentary coconut juice service was so alluring that we hardly used our own private pool.

10) Six Senses Yao Noi – Phang Nga Bay

A 45-minute speedboat ride from Phuket – but a world away – is the Six Senses Yao Noi.

We yearned for a romantic getaway. And we found it here at this intimate hideaway on the ultra-peaceful island of Koh Yao Noi.

Rooms are thatched-roof villas (that feel like treehouses), with breezy indoor/outdoor bathrooms and huge terraces with private pools.

Inside, the eco-chic décor is equally seductive, with mosquito netting suspended above huge king beds.

We’d spend days bicycling quiet country roads, lazing about by the beach and napping on a daybed by our pool.

No doubt about it – the Six Senses Yao Noi is one of the best private pool resorts in Thailand (indeed, all of Asia).

Bali resorts with private pools

Bali is brimming with beautiful accommodations – we’ve bedded down in many of them. See our guide on the most romantic retreats on Bali.  

Here are a few of our top picks for luxury villa resorts with private pools.

11) Alila Villas Uluwatu – Bukit Peninsula

When it comes to luxury clout, Alila Villas Uluwatu is probably the most luxurious Bali resort with plunge pools.

For one thing, its one-bedroom villas are ginormous – larger than 3,000 square feet in size – with window walls that open up completely.

We loved that we could almost roll from our living room daybed into our pool.

The ocean views from the resort’s cliffside perch are also stupendous.

Sri Lanka hotels with in-room pool suites

14) Ulagalla – Anuradhapura

Any good Sri Lanka itinerary will have you visiting what’s known as the Cultural Triangle.

To visit Sri Lanka’s incredible UNESCO sites within the Cultural Triangle, base yourself at Ulagalla. With romantic pool suites, it’s one of the loveliest hotels we’ve stayed at!

Keep an eye out for monkeys! They can often be seen swinging about in the treetops.

Then when the sun sets, dine by candlelight on delicious local curries and organic salads in the eco-resort’s historic mansion restaurant.

Costa Rica hotels with private pools

Yes, you want to see monkeys, sloths and colorful macaws, toucans and other birds in Costa Rica.

But when it comes time for relaxation, it’s a pleasure to kick back by your own private pool.

18) Papagayo Luxury Villas – Guanacaste

Spread out in your own luxury vacation condo or private villa on Costa Rica’s exclusive Papagayo Peninsula.

Now, we’re Four Seasons fans, and the Papagayo Peninsula is home to the Four Seasons Costa Rica, which has hotel rooms with a private pool.

But there are more accommodation options in the Papagayo Luxury Villas collection.

It consists of more than a dozen gorgeous properties with pools, all expertly managed by Jane Moore. (We stayed in Vista Hermosa.)

Celebrating a honeymoon or special occasion?

Made for romance, this 27-room, adults-only boutique hotel near wildlife-rich Manuel Antonio National Park is the perfect place for such an escape.

Upgrade to a villa at Makanda by the Sea for your own private pool in the rainforest.

20) Blue Waters Resort – Antigua    

Blue Waters is a lovely British colonial-style resort on Antigua, a Caribbean island boasting 365 beautiful beaches (one for every day of the year, they say).

It has three super luxurious villas: Pelican House, Turtle Cottage and Rock Cottage. They feature private swimming pools overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

No doubt Prince Harry bunked down in one of these spacious villas. (He’s a past guest of the hotel.)

What’s cool is that the hotel also has Cove Suites and Penthouses in separate buildings offering exclusive access to several infinity pools reserved just for guests in these suites.

True, you can’t go skinny dipping.

But these secluded pools are quiet – and they feel almost private (but without the price tag of the villas).

21) Jade Mountain Resort – St. Lucia

And then there’s Jade Mountain Resort.

Like Ladera, one wall is completely open to the views, bringing the outdoors in.

For an ultra-special splurge, book a Galaxy pool suite – enjoy 2,000 square feet of grand space with a 900 sq. ft. infinity pool.

The slightly smaller Sun, Moon and Star pool suites are just as gorgeous, however.

We promise you’ll swoon over both the Ladera and Jade Mountain resorts.

Jade Mountain: Check rates and reviews

Romantic getaways with private pools in Africa

Africa may be a world away. But in terms of luxury, its safari and beach resorts can leave you gobsmacked.

The following are just some of the best hotels with private pools in Africa.

22) Baraza Resort & Spa – Zanzibar

As soon as you see the Swahili arches, gauzy gold curtains and beautiful antiques, you get an inkling your stay at Baraza Resort & Spa is going to be pretty special.

Then when you’re sipping the resort’s signature Dawa cocktails (made from vodka, lime and honey) on their pure white beach, you know you’ve checked into one of the best resorts in Zanzibar.

By the way, the beach – Bwejuu Beach – has been ranked among the world’s top 30 beaches by Conde Nast Traveler.

We also think it’s one of the prettiest beaches in the world.

The resort gets particularly high marks for its ever-changing 5-course dinners.

Memorable moment: Bathing with clove-scented soap in our egg-shaped stone tub…

You can’t beat the leopard and lion sightings at Simbambili Game Lodge. It’s located in the wildlife-rich Sabi Sand Game Reserve, part of world-famous Kruger National Park.

Your deck faces a water hole in the distance, where you may see a parade of elephants, buffalo, antelope, kudu and other animals coming to drink.

Wildly luxurious. Overlooking the Luangwa River. Just six, recently refurbished, bush-chic tented villas with their own pools. That’s Chinzombo, one of Zambia’s best safari camps.

You don’t even have to go on game drives to see wildlife. While floating in your pool, you see elephants and other animals.

Hotels with private plunge pools in USA

We mentioned at the beginning that you don’t have to travel far afield for a deluxe escape.

We bet you’ll agree when you check out the following Utah, Maui and Scottsdale hotels with private pool rooms, right in the U.S.

25) Amangiri Utah

Explore Utah’s remote canyons from this ultra-deluxe (and wallet-breaking) Aman resort.

Several rooms and canvas-roofed pavilions have spacious plunge pools plus star-gazing terraces.

A Navajo-inspired spa, yoga classes, fire pits, a gorgeous main swimming pool and epic outdoor experiences (like a via ferrata) round out a stay at Amangiri.

26) Fairmont Kea Lani – Maui

If staying on the island of Maui is in your Hawaii plans, we can highly recommend this beautiful beachfront property in Wailea.

Each modern villa is spread over two stories and comes with its own private pool. Imagine lounging by the plunge pool in your courtyard patio, overlooking Polo Beach and its swaying palm trees.

Inside, you’ll find spacious master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen (plus a BBQ on your patio) and a dining area. With 1,800 to 2,200 square feet of space, everyone can stretch out comfortably.

27) Four Seasons Scottsdale

Nestled in the Sonoran Desert in the far reaches of North Scottsdale is the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.

Guest rooms are housed in separate casita buildings; book a main floor casita room for an outdoor fireplace on your private patio.

You may feel no need for your own pool because the main pool is so gorgeous.

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Photo credits: 23, 28, 30, 47 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 2 St. Nicolas Bay Resort & Villas | Remaining photos courtesy of the respective private pool resorts

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