TPG Lounge Readers Reveal the Points Hotels With the Best Pools
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Here at The Points Guy, we believe it's never too early to start planning your next great trip. A few months ago, we asked the esteemed members of our TPG Lounge to share what they felt were the points hotels with the best beaches in the world. Now, in a similar vein, we've asked our TPG Lounge members to tell us about the points hotels around the world they thought had the best pools. Here’s a look at some of our favorite answers. (Some responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity).
Related: The 7 Best Starter Credit Cards
In the US, Caribbean, Mexico and South America
From the islands of Hawaii to the beaches in Rio, our well-traveled TPG Lounge members definitely have great taste when it comes to points hotels and fabulous pools.
"Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort." — Abby S.
"Grand Wailea and Hilton Waikoloa Village [on the Big Island of Hawaii]." — Florian S.
"Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort And Spa, for 25,000 Hyatt points, is simply outstanding!" — Roksolana G.
"Wailea Beach Resort Marriott Maui's adult infinity pool, especially during whale watching season when they come up close to the shore." — Mark L.
"Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is pretty awesome!" — Mike R.
"Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. My family and I have had wonderful service and the staff are great the times we have been there." — Derek B.
"I usually stay at the Sheraton Waikiki. The unusually great thing about the Sheraton is that I have very often been upgraded to a humongous suite with two balconies showing off Diamond Head and ocean views. They also have a decent club lounge. I previously only considered the Sheraton because I was with SPG. I haven’t been back since the merger." — David A.
"The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida." — Kim S.K.
"The Orlando World Center Marriott." — Anthony R.
"Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek near Disney in Florida." — Don D.
"Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress." — Nathan P.H.
"Marriott Marquis Houston." — Ashley S.
"Hyatt Zilara Cancun." — Alex T.
"The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa in Cancun." — Marina M.
"El Conquistador, A Waldorf Astoria Resort." — Andrew T.
"Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort is fantastic." — Clint F.
"Hyatt Regency Cartagena." — Carolyn G.
"Obviously Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas." — Matthew R.
"The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, but the best part is Flamingo Beach, only accessible by private boat to guests of the hotel." — Melissa P.F.
Epic Points Hotel Pools of Europe
From former bank vaults in Vienna to rooftop swimming spots in Monte Carlo, there was no shortage of cool pools for the folks in our TPG Lounge who'd visited Europe.
"The Puro Beach pool at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona." — Michelle B.
"Fairmont Monte Carlo had a great rooftop pool." — Dave L.
"The Park Hyatt Vienna's pool in the old bank vault." — Noah O.
"Hotel Indigo Madrid, by IHG." — Jason F.
"Hilton Molino Stucky Venice." — Jess S.
"The St. Regis Rome." — Michael N.
"Hilton Malta." — Adam W.
"Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel." — Marc S.
Great Pools in Asia, the Middle East and Oceania
Some TPG Lounge readers spent time at luxurious, beachside pools in Southeast Asia, while others praised swimming pools in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, among other exotic locales.
"Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit." — Radek S.
"Park Hyatt Tokyo." — Meg G.
"Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur has a nice pool." — Lisa P.
"Conrad Bali." — Dan T.
"W Bali." — Adam W.
"The 118th floor at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong." — Timothy B.
"Private pool at Conrad Koh Samui." — Andrew M.
"Grand Hyatt Beijing." — Gary P.
"The JW Marriott in Dubai." — Chris H.
"Conrad Bora Bora Nui and the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort in Vietnam." — Linda V.
"JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa was the best beach resort and it's visa-free for this particular island, which means you only need your passport and hop-on flights to Phu Quoc." — Kyle N.T.
"Hilton Auckland." — Naoyuki S.
"Park Hyatt Sydney." — Jeff H.
"The Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach was great." — Lane L.
"Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa." — Caitlin W.O.
"The tub for two in the Wow suite at the W Hong Kong." — Nicholas C.
Honorable Mentions (Non-Points Hotels)
Some TPG Lounge readers were so excited about this week's topic they accidentally wrote in with some of their favorite non-points hotels. Here's a peek at some of those, since you can technically still book these with your favorite travel rewards credit card and earn plenty of points toward your next free stay.
"The Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai pool looking over the futuristic skyline. Unfortunately, Four Seasons doesn’t have a loyalty program but they do give you special perks if you book through certain concierges or have premium credit cards with programs like Fine Hotels & Resorts (The Platinum Card® from American Express), travel.mastercard.com for World Elite cardholders or with Jade HSBC." — Dave L.
"Four Seasons Resort Bali At Sayan and Marina Bay Sands." — Brandon S.
"Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong." — Duane B.
"The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan." — Garrett W.
"Hotel Royal Princess in Dubrovnik." — Paul L.
"Diamante Cabo San Lucas. The lagoon — I’m not even sure it can still be considered a pool — is massive." — Brandon R.
"A private pool at Banyan Tree Ungasan Bali." — Nalin N.
"The Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona." — Alex V.
"Disney's Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World." — Deanna M.
"Miramar Hotel By Windsor's rooftop pool on Copacabana Beach was fantastic." — Robert W.S.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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.
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.