Asia’s most incredible hotel pools are becoming destinations in their own right, blending bold design with dramatic settings. From sky-high infinity pools to jungle-fringed lagoons, these swimming experiences redefine luxury travel across the region.
Meliá’s New Pool Takes Shape in Pattaya
Meliá Pattaya Hotel’s outdoor pool area stands as its centerpiece, flanked by seven private cabanas with curtains and blue candy-cane striped sunbeds. The tiling pattern, buoyed by cyan and aqua hues, references nearby waves of Pattaya Beach on the eastern Gulf of Thailand.
Intimate lighting, an adjacent function lawn, and the semi-open Lula Pool Bar enhance the ambiance. Staff serve snacks and imaginative cocktails to pool-goers. The hotel debuted on February 14, 2025, on Second Road, near Pattaya Sai Song.
Chiang Mai’s Cultural Tiles Shine
Meliá Chiang Mai’s swimming pool features tiles in a striking textile pattern referencing local “teen jok” designs. These patterns also appear on the hotel’s exterior facade visible from the pool area, which includes a shallow kids’ section with two water slides, a rain curtain, and water fountains.
The large outdoor pool on the second floor anchors Tien Pool Bar, whose red brickwork pays tribute to Chiang Mai’s Tha Phae Gate landmark. The design connects guests to local heritage while offering modern amenities.
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit brings Ibiza vibes to the 34th floor with a sky-high transparent infinity pool. The Giant Swing Pool Bar anchors an expansive rooftop terrace dotted with lounges and sunbeds, evoking Mediterranean nightlife.
At night, the pool bar extends the 33rd floor LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar experience. Guests peer into the infinity pool’s bottom while dining—a unique spectacle in Bangkok’s skyline.
The Anam Cam Ranh‘s infinity pool blends seamlessly into the ocean and horizon from certain angles. Gray slate tiling sourced from Vietnam’s north reflects the brilliant blue waters and spectacular natural surroundings.
Its sister property in Mui Ne features a 266-square-meter saltwater infinity pool overlooking the East Sea, adjacent to Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar. Both resorts showcase Indochine-era inspired design meeting contemporary luxury.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh earned Cambodia’s best pool honor at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific. Framed by tropical gardens and the hotel’s 90-year-old heritage exterior, it represents timeless elegance.
Related Post: Westin to open first Gold Coast hotel
The sister property, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, stretches 35 meters end-to-end—one of Cambodia’s longest pools. Its design mirrors the Royal Baths at Angkor, connecting guests to centuries of Khmer architecture.
Kamalaya on Koh Samui offers a leisure pool designed for slowing down. Set beside Amrita Café, it winds through lotus ponds where koi and turtles drift past marble steps carved with Buddhist motifs and elephant sculptures.
For more active guests, a 25-meter lap pool provides open views toward nearby islands. A post-swim ritual includes fresh water, fruit, steam, cold plunge, and gym facilities. The resort balances wellness with indulgence.
The seaside pool joins two other pool areas: one among tropical gardens, another in a mirrored courtyard. Its sister property in Hue overlooks the Perfume River, offering another magical setting.
Fusion Original Saigon Centre places its sixth-floor pool above Ho Chi Minh City’s dynamic streets. The haven overlooks the ever-changing skyline, perfect for relaxing, sunbathing, or a refreshing dip in sun-speckled waters.
TIA Wellness Resort ensures every villa includes a private pool, but its dramatic infinity pool reaches toward the ocean. Early visitors enjoy smooth waters and sunrise views accompanied by natural wave sounds.
Palace Hotel Tokyo‘s indoor pool spans 20 meters on the fifth floor. Wall-to-wall windows frame Tokyo’s metropolitan expanse alongside the Imperial Palace Gardens, offering rare dual views of urban energy and verdant calm.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi‘s garden courtyard pool evokes timeless sophistication. Comfortable sun loungers and stylish parasols complement the poolside Bamboo Bar with its thatched roof and wooden floor. Guests sip the signature Graham Greene Martini from the poolside perch.
Azerai La Residence in Hue overlooks the Perfume River from its own sweeping pool setting.
