Best SPG Pool Complexes in the United States
As I explained here
, I have fully embraced that at this moment in our family's journey, destination resorts are the best type of trip for us (in addition to trips to see family). This won't always remain true, but with two young kids and two tired parents, somewhere with room service, on-site restaurants, on-site kid's clubs, and enough on-site or walking distance entertainment for a long weekend is the perfect combination. Bonus points if the flight to get there is within about 2.5 hours or so of Houston.
All that brings me to where I am currently in the search for the "perfect" summer long weekend trip, this time to a SPG resort property. In thinking over what would be best I am targeting a SPG property within the lower 48 that has a great pool complex for kids. Not only would my six year old love that sort of trip, but it will (hopefully) be of value to those of you who travel with pool loving kids, too!
I am ruling out Hawaii because it is just too far to drag our littlest one to for a short two or three night stay, but do know that many SPG properties there have fantastic pool complexes and beachfronts. I'm also ruling out the Caribbean and Mexico for this trip even though there are great SPG properties and pool/beach combos there.
In my search for the best pool complex for families at a SPG resort in the United States, I so far have a few contenders that range from Category 4 properties such as the Sheraton Wild Horse in Arizona to the Category 7 St. Regis Bal Harbour outside Miami...
Best SPG Pool Complexes in the United States:
The Phoenician, Luxury Collection in Scottsdale, Arizona
This property is in Scottsdale and has a stunning nine pools including the iconic mother-of-pearl tiled pool, a kid's splash play area, and a 165-foot twisting waterslide. We stayed here last year and loved it - in fact I dedicate a post just to their pool area. Our suite upgrade was also very reasonable on top of our award stay!
Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas in Orlando, Florida
This Orlando area resort has complimentary pool cabanas, water cannons, water slides, an interactive pirate ship pool, zero-entry shallow pool area, and tons more for kids and families.
Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort
This Orlando area resort has a 79-foot water slide, a zero-entry pool with submerged umbrellas and lounges, a Beach Pool with water jets, basketball nets in the pool, a youth wet deck and in-pool water sprays. Cabana rentals are also pretty affordable at just $40 - $75/day for SPG members compared to several hundred dollars per day at some of the luxury resorts.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
These hotel resorts are on Disney property in Orlando and feature a pretty large pool area with water falls, a grotto, water slide, kiddie pool, and more. It is also on it's own lake/beach area, but of course the Disney location is a huge family friendly draw all on its own! You can read our recent review of the Swan here.
This resort is touting a new pool area opening this year that will include an Ocean Pool facing directly towards the Pacific Ocean, 150 additional lounge chairs and new cabanas. There will be two new infinity edge pools and the kid-friendly Lagoon Pool will also be enhanced with a graduated entry and new cabanas around the perimeter.
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa
This property is just outside Phoenix and it has a waterslide, shallow kiddie pool, and more. There is also an equestrian center, river rides, kid club, and more at this Native American owned resort that sounds pretty unique.
Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
This Scottsdale resort looks to be very family friendly and has a big pool complex including a 900-foot lazy river ride and a 110-foot waterslide. There are also poolside cabanas, an adult pool, a children's play area and shallow pool, and a FlowRider!
This resort outside of Miami may not have quite the same level of kid-friendly pool attractions as some of the others mentioned, but it does have a nice beachfront location, kid's club, and of course the high level of service you can expect at a St. Regis so it is on my list of contenders.
For our own purposes I really don't want another Orlando trip so soon after our last one. I would also prefer not to fly all the way to California for a weekend when there are solid closer-to-home options in Florida or Arizona. Realistically I think I have zeroed in on either the Westin Kierland or Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Arizona with their great pool complexes and hopefully affordable upgrades to suites, or a weekend of luxury at the St. Regis Bal Harbour outside of Miami even though the pool complex itself doesn't look amazing since the ocean may make up for it. We have already visited and reviewed The Phoenician or that would likely be at the top of the list as it checks all the boxes!
All of our top contenders have kids clubs and on-site dining, are short two-ish hour flights from Houston, are within 30 minutes of the airport, and look like they could meet our criteria for a fun and easy weekend. However, I'm still torn and open to other suggestions that you love or would like to see reviewed!
What is your favorite SPG pool complexes in the United States for kids and families?
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.