For some hotel hoppers, the room comes second, and the pool is the real main event. Whether you swim for leisure, squeeze in a few holiday laps, or simply refuse to leave a hotel without testing the pool, these newly opened stays come with some seriously tempting places to take a dip.

Because if you are going to swim, you may as well do it somewhere worth getting your hair tangled and wet for.

– Featured image credit: Chapter Chianti –

Chapter Chianti

Tuscan countryside charm gets a sharper, more playful edge at Chapter Chianti. Set in Cavriglia, the boutique hotel catches the eye with an art-inspired pool floor washed in different shades of blue, all cocooned by rolling, tree-dotted hills.

When the sun is out, the pool is the place to be. Swim a few laps beneath the Tuscan sky, then reward yourself with a cocktail from Parasole Pool Bar. Quite a convincing way to spend an afternoon.

Romègas Hotel

At Romègas Hotel, the rooftop pool might be the quickest way to forget you had sightseeing plans.

Set atop a restored 16th-century Valletta palazzo, it looks out across the city’s honey-colored rooftops with open sky overhead. Take a few slow laps, stretch out by the water, and give yourself permission to stay put for a while. For a 22-room hotel, Romègas certainly knows how to make its rooftop count.

The Vineta Hotel

The Vineta Hotel may be petite, but its pool scene is anything but an afterthought. Tucked inside this revived Palm Beach beauty, the pool carries just the right amount of old-school glamour with retro design touches, leafy surroundings, and the Pool House close enough for a leisurely lunch or something cold to sip between swims.

The hotel itself dates back to 1926 and now marks Oetker Hotels’ first address in the United States, but we have a feeling plenty of guests will be perfectly happy spending a good chunk of their stay right here by the water.

Reykjaböð Hot Springs

Here is one pool where you go to forget about counting laps. At Reykjaböð Hot Springs in Hveragerði, Iceland, the main event is a sprawling geothermal lagoon made for soaking rather than swimming. Sink into naturally heated water, drift over to the in-water bar, then work up the courage for a cold plunge before retreating straight back into the warmth.

Set at the foot of Reykjadalur Valley, it is the kind of place where staying in the water for far too long feels entirely justified, especially when Icelandic mountains, open sky, and perhaps even the northern lights are part of the view. For those who want to stay nearby, Hot Springs Lodges by The Greenhouse sit just across the road.