A big part of planning a vacation is choosing the right hotel. The quickest way to ruin your dream vacation is by booking a hotel that’s more like a motel…in a straight-to-crackle horror movie—but let me be clear: booking a hotel that doesn’t have a swim-up pool is just as bad. We’ve all been in those predicaments where we want to go swimming but don’t feel like having to pack the world’s largest beach bag to bring the bare necessities—suntan lotion, a beach towel, a book, snacks (and the list only gets longer, especially if you’re traveling with family).
Swim-up pools alleviate all that—all you’ll need to do once you’re ready to go swimming is take three steps outside your hotel room. The pool is part of your room, and while it isn’t necessarily private, it is accessible, allowing you to be peak lazy.
Here is a list of 12 luxury hotels with swim-up pools that I wouldn’t think twice about booking:
- 1 Finest Playa Mujeres
- TripAdvisor
- 5,894 reviews tripadvisor.com
- $463.00
- BUY NOW
Set among the remarkable white powder sands of Playa Mujeres, Mexico, Finest Playa Mujeres is the place to go if you need some relaxation. The turquoise waters will surely leave you mesmerized, and after a trip to their spa, you’ll feel zen and completely centered.
- 2 Excellence El Carmen
- TripAdvisor
- 4,285 reviews tripadvisor.com
- $654.00
- BUY NOW
Newly married? Or looking to escape the kids? Excellence El Carmen is an all-adult resort on the east coast of the Dominican Republic on a beach that looks straight out of a dream. Bonus: The hotel has beautifully inspired Caribbean-style architecture.
- 3 El Dorado Casitas Royale by Karisma
- TripAdvisor
- $647.00
- BUY NOW
With a AAA four-diamond rating, this hotel is the perfect romantic getaway. This adult-only resort is the destination for seaside weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries.
- 4 Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun
- travel advisor
- $462.00
- SHOP NOW
With 435 spacious suites, Azul Beach Resort Riviera can accommodate anyone. There is something for everyone—activities for the children to keep them occupied, an adult pool for some ‘alone time,’ a tennis court, and a spa.
- 5 Sensatori Resort Punta Cana
- TripAdvisor
- $468.00
- BUY NOW
Prepare yourself for their designer interiors and the view from Uvero Alto Beach. With daybeds on the beach, a theatre, and a sports complex—there’s no way you won’t be left wishing you could extend your stay.
- 6 Platinum Yucatan Princess All Suites & Spa Resort
- TripAdvisor
- $196.00
- BUY NOW
The name says it all; this place is made for a princess. This adult-only resort is in the heart of Rivera Maya, where the Caribbean waters are crystal clear. If you want to ‘unplug’ and practice mindfulness, this is the resort for you.
- 7 The Bandha Hotel & Suites
- TripAdvisor
- $254.00
- BUY NOW
Located only a 25-minute drive from the airport and a hop, skip, and jump from the famous Kuta and Legian beaches—this resort will not disappoint. TripAdvisor says the hotel is “meticulously designed to indulge the mind, body, and soul of couples and honeymooners.”
- 8 Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar
- TripAdvisor
- $397.00
- BUY NOW
The Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar is ideal for people who have never been to the Dominican Republic. It has an outdoor Jacuzzi spa, tennis courts (yes, they have more than one), and—my personal favorite—a shopping mall filled with local stores.
- 9 Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla
- TripAdvisor
- $224.00
- BUY NOW
Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla is truly a paradise. You’ll find a bathrobe and slippers waiting for you when you enter the hotel room. Marble floors and a rainfall shower. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be overjoyed that they have 14 restaurants—endless options!
- 10 TRS Turquesa Hotel Resort
- TripAdvisor
- $295.00
- BUY NOW
In need of some VIP treatment? This hotel is an exclusive VIP area within the Grand Palladium Resort in Punta Cana. Stay in your room and enjoy the swim-up pool, or lay on a sunbed by the beach—whatever your heart desires.
