It's true, it was 79 degrees in Manhattan yesterday...a few degrees more and we'll need a beach. Or a pool. How about a hotel pool?
The Gansevoort's rooftop pool sounds fantastic, with its views and situation, but what is one to do when just a swim is in order, not a stylish scene? Plus we just want our water to sound like water, instead of music piped into the pool, which the Times Square's Hotel QT boasts as one of its aquatic perks.
The kicker is these hotel pools are off-limits -- both are restricted to guests, so muster the stamina to try and sneak in, and steel yourself to be booted before you ever hit the water.
A guaranteed option of hotel and water in Manhattan is The Marriott at The Financial Center. They offer an all-day fee of $25 to use their pool, fitness center, and as many towels as you can wrap around your waist. Children get in for $15.
A reservationist at the hotel reveals that they also offer annual pool passes for $650. This actually beats the prices on yearly dues for some of the more affordable health clubs. That's pretty darn smart.
Hint to hoteliers: It would be great if more hotels opened their doors to non-guests to use their season-friendly facilities; pools are an excellent place to begin.
Want to doze off in a swing cabana? Want to be welcomed to your hotel in Mayan? Want a red parrot to come when you call it?
Try Cancun's new Aqua Hotel & Resort which opened in February to pretty much instant acclaim.
It's outfitted with eight pools, three restaurants, and three kinds of cabanas (beach, pool, and swing). It's got a rockin' spa with all various offerings of massages, jacuzzis, sauna, and hydrotherapy. Still need to coddle your bod? there's a gym and yoga classes on the beach.
The Four Seasons Nevis has never really wowed us when we're considering Caribbean destinations, and guest reviews are really split too, between super luxury resort and expensive, poor service. So we're still not sure what to think, but something new might tip us into positive territory.
Four Seasons Nevis now has "ultra-exclusive" beach cabanas to rent during the day. There are four of them, each 200 square foot in area, and they're located on the beach next to the Garden Pool (pictured). They're suitable for couples or a family of up to five people, and you can rent them from sunrise to sunset if you're planning a hang-out day near the water.
Check their package deals to find one to suit--they look like they're always better value, as standard rates start at US$490 per night and packages with all kinds of extra start from $540. Let us know if you try out the cabanas and we'll know whether to get excited or not.
The pools at the Palazzo Las Vegas have just opened in time for the warm weather and we've got the scoop on what's involved.
The pool area is anchored by a giant Olympic-sized plus swimming pool which has wading lounge chairs at each end. This is probably one of our favorite things about the Venetian pool area and we were happy to see the Palazzo put even more of these chairs in here.
There's two quieter pool areas on each side of the main pool and the entire area is surrounded by VIP cabanas. We even heard that there is a set of rooms being built above the pool area for major VIPs, thus giving them direct access to the pool area.
A Wolfgang Puck poolside restaurant is expected soon and the Canyon Ranch spa will be offering massages and other treatments in cabanas as well.
And good news for guests of the Venetian, you can use these pools. Palazzo guests can also head over to the Venetian's pool area, although we would prefer to just hunker our butt down in a wading chair here with a good book.
Headed to Las Vegas anytime soon? While it may not be warm enough to don a bathing suit where you live, it's getting hotter in Sin City and the hotels are opening their pools up for the summer seaons.
This here is a rendering of the new pool at the MGM Grand called Wet Republic, which is bringing a party poolside during the daytime. The pool has already soft-opened but the official grand opening will take place this Friday, April 25th.
More Vegas pools to check out:
· Excalibur: The Excalibur is more known for its gaudy medieval facade but the place has doubled its pool area, adding two pools and 17 cabanas. Maybe a guy or two from Thunder from Down Under will hang out there.
· Mandalay Bay: Don't want to go swimming or sweat it out in the Vegas heat? The Beachside Casino encourages beach attire. There's also a restaurant, The Beachside Bar & Grill, and of course air-conditioning.
· The Mirage: If you miss your days of topless tanning on the French Riviera, then go bare at Bare. The adult, European-style sunbathing pool can also turn into a nighttime rendezvous by adding a clear platform over the pool. The only downside? California Pizza Kitchen caters the food here.
· The Palazzo: The Palazzo has just opened its pool deck for its inaugural season. There are three pools, each with sections for your lounge chairs so you can lay-out half in the water and half out. Also, we hear an entire set of rooms is being built overlooking the pool area for VIPs only.
The Viceroy Santa Monica has been bringing out the cool gimmicks for ages. They once had a video game coach back in 2005 although we're sad to report that job no longer exists. Yet now with summer coming, the hotel is bringing out a few more tricks to keep us interested.
This time it's a pool concierge who's going to provide "special poolside amenities" from the Memorial Day weekend all the way through to Labor Day. These include waterproof games to play when you're resting poolside and the pool concierge will also help you coordinate trips to the beach by providing sunscreen, towels and a beach picnic. But if it's a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, get back from the beach by 2.00pm, because there's a surprise snack or drink, like a glass of champagne or a homemade popsicle.
If you feel like you've been out in the sun too long, you'll also be able to climb into a couple of the poolside cabanas which will be converted into mini movie-theaters. While you watch they'll bring you popcorn and kids will get drink choices like chocolate milk and fresh lemonade from a special menu. We hope that adults will be allowed a glass of chocolate milk, too.
At the top is the Hotel Fasano in Rio de Janeiro (pictured above), followed by the Murano Oriental Resort in Marrakesh. After that, the Beverly Hills Hotel makes the list, along with the Amuleto in Zihuatanejo.
Interestingly, the Gansevoort South has only been opened for just over a week but its already made the list for its rooftop pool.
Thanks to this list, it's clear now that should you pop into any of these hotels and plan to lounge by their pools, only the finest in swim-wear couture will be accepted and don't even think about getting that suit wet.
Then again, if you can afford a night at one of these places (where room rates easily cost $500 a night) you can afford to have your swimsuit dry-cleaned.
In Las Vegas, having one pool just won't do. In fact, having two pools won't do either. Nowadays, the trend seems to be a main pool, a quiet pool and a party pool. Think Tao Beach at the Venetian, the Rehab parties at the Hard Rock. And if it's a more "upscale" property, throw in a topless, European-style pool too.
True to its name, water is the leitmotif at WET REPUBLIC with eight separate pools and spas totaling more than 7,600 square feet of cool blue indulgence. At its centerpiece, WET REPUBLIC will feature two spectacular saltwater pools - the only on the Las Vegas Strip - measuring 2,500 and 3,500 square feet, respectively. Six cascading waterfalls will accent the vast poolscape and create the illusion of a never-ending flow of water.
Wet Republic will also feature a monster sundeck located between the lounge and the saltwater pools that will transform into a stage for celebrity appearances and entertainers.
And of course, no pool scene is complete without VIP cabanas and Wet Republic has upped the ante with VIP bungalows that have a king-sized daybed, giant flat screens, video game consoles (Guitar Hero?), and complimentary WiFi. Non-VIP pool-goers but still high-rollers can hit up one of the 10 party cabanas that line the pool. The rest of you plebes will have to fight for a chair.
Wet Republic is not open yet but the hotel reps promise it will open this month. When it does, the hours are from 10am to 6pm daily.
