The first time I fully reaped the benefits of a private plunge pool, I was in Costa Mujeres, Mexico. I'd gone out exploring in the unforgiving sun, and when I came home, I was sweaty, my feet ached, and my mouth was parched. The last thing I wanted was to hustle down to the crowded hotel pool and search for a lounge chair.
Instead, I ordered up some cocktails and enjoyed the ocean view from my own private one. Private plunge pools are all the rage in the Caribbean and Central America, but in the United States, they're still less common.
Luckily, their popularity is growing, especially in regions that tend to scorch, where a private plunge pool has become one of the most sought-after upgrades. It makes sense: it transforms a room into a retreat. Below are five hotels that make the upgrade worth it.
In this article
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona
I've gotten lost a few times at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. The historic property—popular with day passes—spans 125 acres and 453 pueblo-style casitas and suites, linked by winding paths. The upside was that when asking directions I struck up a conversation with the resort's falcon wrangler making for a surprise mini safari.
The sprawl has purpose. Every room at this resort (it’s the former Marriott CEO's own vacation pick) feels private, while still delivering resort amenities. That includes a $25 million spa renovation, which brought bookable wellness villas and outdoor hydrotherapy pools. There’s also the supersized Jackrabbit Pool Complex, which has an adults-only oasis.
Though, even better, perhaps, is your own pool. That’s a major perk of the pool suites, which come with pool-equipped patios framed by mountain views and scattered saguaro. The hotel has several bedroom configurations, plus options for large groups like the Southwestern-style Jackrabbit Suite, which, with sweeping views, feels like a welcome haven after a day spent exploring nearby trails, or just wandering around those walking paths.
Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has the reputation of a spiritual Disneyland, with truth-seekers drawn to its vortexes: hotspots of psychic energy. I've personally felt a vortex pull; whether I imagined it or not, the juniper trees were twisted by a force too strong to deny.
Sedona also holds deep Indigenous heritage and is home to the Yavapai-Apache Nation, who believe Boynton Canyon to be powerfully sacred as the birthplace of the First Woman, and their people. Tucked at the base of that canyon, nearly blending into the red rocks, sits Enchantment Resort.
Activities at the resort honor the natural setting, including mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and stargazing. All 218 casita guest rooms and suites face the canyon. But for something truly special, book a Pool Suite or Spa Pool Suite, which each come with a private viewing deck and its own pool or spa pool. It's the perfect spot to test the resort's meditative pull for yourself.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada
Vegas can be overwhelming. In the desert, it can also get extremely hot. You know what fixes both problems? Your very own personal plunge pool. If you're the high-rolling type and need some downtime (or respite from the casino floor altogether) book a Lanai Suite at the Cosmopolitan.
Styled after an island beach house, the Restore Lanai Suite retreat is 800 square feet of indoor-outdoor space, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a lofted bedroom accessed from a winding staircase, and your own plunge pool. Even better, nearly all 11 suites also provide direct access to the Chelsea Pool from their terraces, should you want a pool that’s also a bar.
The hotel is also popular thanks to its prime location on the Strip and restaurants like José Andrés's China Poblano, Momofuku, and a personal fave, the circus-themed Superfrico serving “Italian Psychedelic” fare, with performers roaming the aisles with circus tricks.
Bardessono Hotel and Spa in Yountville, California
You come to Napa for the food and wine, and the refined two-Michelin-Key Bardessono knows it, right down to the on-theme “cocktail pools.” These are a style of shallow lounging pool, found in the Flint, Jasper, Maple Grove, and Quartole Villas.
Dating to 1926, five of the property's original 20 acres remain, and it's one of only seven LEED-Platinum-certified hotels in the country. On the grounds are zen gardens, rooftop pool, wooden footpaths, and gallery-quality sculptures from a partnership with San Francisco's Andrea Schwartz Gallery: check out Brian Mock's scrap-metal dog, “Stella.”
Yountville itself is a culinary playground, anchored by restaurants like Thomas Keller's The French Laundry. Wineries are an easy walk from Bardessono, and complimentary bicycles are on hand for exploring. Then retreat to your villa for a poolside glass of wine.
Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah
Amangiri is the kind of escape you've probably already dreamed about, thanks to how often it turns up on your Instagram feed.
The name means “peaceful mountain” in Sanskrit, and the draw is the setting: 600 acres built directly into the landscape, surrounded by 165-million-year-old sandstone mesas. It sits near Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, an official International Dark Sky Park.
Amenities include an outdoor pool wrapped around ancient rock, a floatation therapy chamber and watsu pool, steam and sauna rooms, spa, and art gallery. There are more than 12 miles of hiking trails; a favorite is the three-slot canyon tour with a Navajo guide.
The airy, sleek design of the 34 suites and one six-bedroom villa echoes the natural stone. If private pools are non-negotiable, you're in luck: the villa and several suites have them.
The Amangiri Suite has a private lap pool on its terrace, while the Girijaala Suite's feels like it's built right into the terrain. The Mesa and Desert Pool Suites are more enclosed, though the dark sky nights above are just as starry.
The Shortcut
One of the great pleasures of life is a night swim under the stars. While public hotel pools usually have set hours, a private pool means you can take a dip whenever it suits you, including at sunrise or midnight.
Having a pool is a wellness amenity; some pool suites offer extra enhancements. At The Cosmopolitan, the Restore by MGM upgrade includes a vitamin c-infused shower, aromatherapy diffuser, and in-room purification to support rest and renewal.
A private pool is a smart splurge for a special occasion like a honeymoon, anniversary, or romantic getaway, to deliver the exclusivity and intimacy that a crowded hotel pool just can't match.
