|  | | San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, Chile |
| 16 Incredible Hotel Pools
You have to see to believe | | |
| On a family holiday – what kid doesn’t love the pool? We have rounded up the best the world has to offer. | | |
| Slide past sharks
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Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
With an unofficial six-star rating, it is
no surprise that Atlantis, The Palm goes
above and beyond when it comes to its
pool amenities. The Aquaventure Waterpark
features Atlantis-themed temples, The Tower
of Neptune slide that zips you through the
Shark Lagoon, a wonderland of different
pools, river rides, the Splasher’s Children’s
Play Area, Shark Safaris... You’ll need to stay
a whole week in order to explore it all! Should
the adrenaline hit become too overwhelming,
there’s also 700 metres of private beach to
enjoy and cabanas where you can enjoy a
peaceful rest in the shade.
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Aquaventure Water Park. Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
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| Sail a yacht in a pool
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San Alfonso del Mar
Algarrobo, Chile
Deemed the biggest pool on earth by
Guinness World Records, San Alfonso del
Mar’s pool is an undeniably impressive feat:
one kilometre long, three metres at its deepest
and eight hectares of excitement. As if that’s
not enough, it’s bordered by white sands and
dazzling blue ocean. With that much space,
your family is able to enjoy nearly anything and
everything – from diving, sailing and swimming
lessons, to windsurfing and kayaking – and
there’s always the option to simply take a
leisurely dip! Attached to the glistening waters
you’ll also find countless other gems including
a giant slide, water currents and cascades,
Jacuzzis and even Chile’s largest aquarium,
filled with more than 42 species of marine life. | | |
|  | | San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, Chile |
| Swim in the clouds
| | Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Want to swim on top of the world?
The closest it gets is the infinity pool that sits
57 storeys above ground atop the towers of
Marina Bay Sands. Stretching 150 metres, it’s
the biggest rooftop pool in the world, boasting
some truly impressive views over Singapore.
It is located in the Sands SkyPark – which is
open to the general public – however, to be
allowed in the pool you do need to be a guest
of the five-star hotel. While not great for those
with vertigo, it’s a truly memorable experience.
Be sure to take some happy snaps; the kids
will want some for show and tell.
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|  | | Sands SkyPark, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore |
| Ride the world's first 'water elevator'
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Grand Wailea Resort, Maui, Hawaii
The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is
made up of nine pools on six different levels
and the floors connect via weaving slides,
rapids, rope swings and even the world’s first
‘water elevator’. Yep, this pool will have your
inner (and outer) child running rampant like a
bull in a china store – with waterfalls, caves,
Jacuzzis, slides, a swim-up bar and more. If
that’s not enough to get you excited, the hotel
is also the first in Hawaii to offer the Fishpipe:
a unique water ride that puts up to three people
in a rotating barrel. One ride on the Fishpipe is
like going down a 1.5km waterslide! | | |
|  | | Grand Wailea Resort, Maui, Hawaii |
| Get slimed | |
Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA
Who better to create a world full of fun when
it comes to family poolside lounging than
kid-favourite Nickelodeon? The Lagoon Pool complex at this sunny resort will have kids
sliding and splashing while surrounded by
familiar faces such as SpongeBob, Dora
and Diego – plus so much more.
Mums and dads may opt to relax in poolside
cabanas with lounge chairs and flat-screen
TVs, but kids are sure to make a beeline for the
interactive four-storey water tower that houses
climbing nets, water jets, whirlpools, seven
slides and more. However, they better beware
the trademark 400-gallon (that’s 1514 litres)
slime dump that happens daily at 4.45pm!
Adding to the mix of entertainment on offer
is Nick Live Poolside where the enthusiastic
resort staff host a range of interactive games
suitable for all ages to enjoy. The only sure
thing is that someone (or many people) are
going to get messy.
For a slightly more relaxed swimming
experience, the Olympic-style Oasis Pool is a
fun sanctuary with a kids’ play area with both
wet and dry options and a bar serving up
frozen drinks and snacks. | | |
|  | |  | | Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA |
| Swim inside an airship hangar | | Tropical Islands
Resort, Spreewald, Germany
Europeans do ‘tropical’ a little different from
the rest of us – as you’ll immediately find out
when you visit the one-of-a-kind Tropical Islands, just 60km south of Berlin, known
as Europe’s largest ‘tropical holiday world’.
It’s found inside a former airship hangar –
one of the world’s largest free-standing halls –
and you’re able to set up your family’s base in
accommodation that ranges from teepees to
lodges. No matter where you sleep, you’ll
awake in prime position for watery adventures.
The complex is jam-packed with features
including a kids’ pool packed with water games
and play areas, tonnes of slides, man-made
beaches and lagoons – not to mention
extensive spa and sauna facilities for
chaperoning grown-ups.
Whether you’re braving Germany’s tallest
waterslide tower or letting your imagination
leave the country in the balmy Balinese-style
Lagoon, it’s bound to be an experience your
family holds onto for many years to come. | | |
|  | | Tropical Islands Resort, Spreewald, Germany |
| | | Watch the wildlife | | Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti, Tanzania
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge embraces its location, culture and surroundings in a way few others manage to do. If your kids are into African animals, then the Four Seasons, Tanzania is not to be missed. You’ll relax pool-side surrounded by African-themed comforts, in beautifully clear water – while elephants and other animals of the Serengeti wander around only a few metres away. | | |
|  | | Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti, Tanzania |
| | | Float in a lazy river | | Beaches Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
This resort has been named the #1
Family Hotel in the Caribbean in this
year’s TripAdvisor awards – and it’s clear
to see why from its water park alone. Here,
across 4180sqm, your kids will unlock aquatic
heaven. Pirates Island water park is one of
the largest, and most thrilling, in the region,
boasting three gigantic waterslides, a number
of smaller slides, a lazy river meandering
nearly 200 metres and the only SurfStream®
surf simulator in all the Caribbean.
Young guests are made to feel extra
special with their own kids-only swim-up
bar (plus more for adults), and they’ll be
constantly on the hunt for water cannons,
splashtastic geysers and whirlpools to
enhance their watery encounter. The Kids’
Camp also offers a plethora of ageappropriate
fun, frequently water based... But
be sure that all the action doesn’t stop you
from checking out the bordering 19km beach
with its soft sand and translucent blue water.
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| | Beaches Turks & Caicos, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean |
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