Amangiri, Utah
The Amangiri sits in astonishing geological drama: deep ravines streaked with purple, stone towers, vertiginous plateaus, great stretches of emptiness that feel like they haven’t changed since the big bang. And yet, incredibly, the most impressive thing about its surroundings is the hotel pool, which curves around an outcrop of sandstone rocks and reflects the colours of the desert in the most pleasing way possible.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
When it comes to pools with a bird’s-eye view of the metropolis below, few match the Marina Bay Sands with its incredible panoramic vista of the Singapore skyline. Perched up on the 57th floor of the hotel, the pool is 479ft long, making it nearly as long as three Olympic swimming pools. With a view like that, it gets busy, obviously, so set your alarm and head up for a breathtaking sunrise over the city.
The Dolli, Athens
Athens is, of course, one of the world’s great open-air museums with its unrivalled antiquities, but it’s also, for much of the year, a hot and sticky city. Imagine, then, if you could immerse yourself in its ancient wonders while also immersing yourself in a glorious rooftop infinity pool with views over to the Acropolis and the princely Parthenon.
Casa Cavada, Panama
Set on an otherwise uninhabited volcanic archipelago in the Gulf of Chiriquí, 20 miles off the coast of Panama, Islas Secas is luxury resort that’s home to what could be Central America’s greatest swimming pool. You’ll need deep pockets to experience it as it’s part of an ultra-luxury super villa called Casa Cavada, but it’s a doozy: a semi-Olympic-size infinity pool that faces west to provide a perfect, uninterrupted view of the sunset on the horizon of the Pacific Ocean.
Perivolas, Santorini
The whitewashed, curving cave walls and poppy-pink and purple fabrics at Perivolas ensure that every room is a peaceful little haven (as does the hotel’s location at the quiet end of Oia), but for total serenity you need to head for the glorious infinity pool. With views across the Aegean to Santorini’s sister islands, Thirasía and Nea Kameni (the latter formed relatively recently by volcanic activity), it is the place to experience one of the best sunsets in the Cyclades.
Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka
Set in 2,000 glorious hectares of almost impossibly verdant tea plantations, the Ceylon Tea Trails is a collection of five separate bungalows in and around Castlereagh reservoir. It is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Nuwara Eliya, which is the half-way point of the world-beating Kandy-Ella train line. The bungalows were once the homes of the plantation managers and have a deeply English sensibility, all G&Ts, immaculate croquet lawns and rose gardens. The views from the pools take in the resplendent Bogawantalawa Valley, where the hills are every shade of green all at the same time.
David Annand is editorial director of Secret Trips
