12 of the dreamiest pool villas on the planet

Discerning travellers are becoming increasingly hard to impress; impeccable service, fancy bathroom toiletries and spacious rooms are all taken for granted when you stay at a 5-star hotel. But there’s one room type that even the most hard-to-please globetrotters still get excited about: the pool villa. There’s something about staying somewhere with your very own private pool that can’t help but feel gloriously indulgent… below we’ve handpicked a few that we suggest you plunge into… Hillside Pool Suite at Hermitage Bay, Antigua Located on an secluded section of Antigua’s western coastline, this hip hideaway masters the concept of understated luxury. There are suites on the beach, although the short trek (or golf buggy ride) up the hill to the Hillside Pool Suites is totally worth it; you’re rewarded with unforgettable views of the bay. Shrouded in vegetation and positioned for maximum privacy, the suites are stylishly decorated with a Balinese feel. Fold away the wooden shutters that make up the fourth wall to reveal the large outdoor terrace with private pool and oversized loungers; the perfect place for sundowners. Sarojin Spa Suite at Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand Many of us struggle to switch off from work whilst on holiday; if this sounds familiar, a stay in the Sarojin Spa Suite is the perfect antidote. Within minutes of stepping over the gently trickling stream to enter your suite and slipping into pool, you’ll be admiring the impressive tropical plant life and forgetting all about the emails coming through on your iPhone… The Sun Suite at Jade Mountain, St Lucia The Galaxy Pool Sanctuary is the largest at Jade Mountain, and comes complete with infinity pool and flabbergasting views of St Lucia’s famed Pitons. Unusually, all the suites at Jade Mountain are open-air; with no fourth wall or window to get in the way, it’s the best view you’ll ever have from a hotel room. Set into the side of a hill, you can gorge on the in-escapable vistas as they change throughout the day. But what if it rains? Take it from me, there’s something very life-affirming about waking up to the sound of a tropical rain shower hitting the water in your very own infinity pool… Sunset Water Villa with Infinity Pool at JA Manafaru, Maldives A stay in any Maldivian pool villa is heavenly, but this one is particularly special. Can you imagine anything more relaxing than dipping your toes in the infinity pool, mojito in hand, watching the sun gently kiss the ocean as the stars begin to twinkle in the sky? Aside from the 180° uninterrupted views, there’s a well-designed interior space with separate living area. The bathroom opens out to the deck, allowing you to bathe in unobstructed views from the supersized tub. Pool Villa at The Naka, Phuket, Thailand Cantilevering impressively out of the mountain side with floor to ceiling glass windows, you feel on cloud nine in this ‘levitating’ villa. The design of the rooms couldn’t be better – every detail is really well thought through by one of Thailand’s top architects. Request a room higher up for superior views and proximity to amenities (the gym is worth a visit… even if only to admire the views). Ocean View Suite with 28′ Pool at The Crane, Barbados Home to one of the best beaches in the world (as declared by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, no less), The Crane is located on the quieter, Eastern side of the Barbados. The pool suites benefit from the less crowded setting, with huge pools on the ground floor overlooking the beautiful Atlantic ocean. Over Water Villa at Anantara The Palm, Dubai Whilst ‘water villas’ may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Dubai, the Thai aesthetic somehow really works here. Temperature controlled turquoise pools are everywhere you look – staff even use little Thai boats to get around the resort! Some of the villas have a glass panel in the floor for spying on the sea life below, something you won’t find anywhere else in the UAE. One Bedroom Villa with Private Pool at Daios Cove, Crete, Greece With such a short flight time, you could be dipping your toes in this heated private pool in less than 4 hours! Situated on one of the best bits of Crete’s North-Eastern coastline, the resort boasts a gorgeous private sandy bay with calm waters. A relatively new hotel, it’s stylishly furnished and all the facilities are state-of-the-art (the spa is outstanding). One of the few hotels that’s also welcomes dogs if you’re staying in a villa, which is good news for Rex. Zighy Spa Pool Villa Suite at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman ‘Rustic’ and ‘dreamy pool villa’ rarely go hand-in-hand, but at Zighy Bay, they really pull off the remote-luxe vibe. Forget taxi transfers – arrive in style by paragliding into the resort (optional!). If that all sounds a bit too exciting, you can always calm down with a blissful massage in your suites own private treatment room. The stone-walled Zighy Spa Pool Villa Suites have two floors, with dining areas and balconies plus two outdoor showers (with high stone walls, so you’re not overlooked!) Presidential Villa at LUX* South Ari Atoll, Maldives The kind of place where you forget about brushing your hair or wearing shoes… every moment is better spent enjoying the simple pleasures of this exotic destination. The Presidential Villa covers a whopping 360m2, and features a rather lovely glass floor in the living room – this over-water villa really has the ‘wow factor’. Family Villa 105 at Rayavadee, Krabi, Thailand At Rayavadee, they take tropical indulgence to the next level in the Family Villa 105. For a start, there’s the size. Inside there are two floors, with oh-so-comfy beds (the size of 2 normal beds combined!). Outside, they really make the most of the expansive setting. The private pool is huge, with ample room to swim. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens (where care has been taken to preserve established plants and trees), you feel comfortably away-from-it-all in your very own jungle paradise. Panoramic Pool Villa at Raffles Praslin, Seychelles The most luxurious resort on Praslin, a stay here is truly sublime. All the villas are set in the hillside and offer unbeatable views across the island. The Panoramic Pool Villa is the crème de la crème, sitting atop the highest point of the resort. Spencer Groves is Commercial Director at letsgo2. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.