By Colleen Lanin, The Travel Mama
Especially when the weather is frightful, an indoor hotel pool provides a fabulous retreat from rain, wind, snow and cold. It doesn’t have to be winter, however, to enjoy these spectacular indoor watery havens. Grab your bathing suit and dive in to this list of the best indoor hotel pools for kids.
Best Indoor Lazy River
Coco Key Water Resort
Waterbury, Connecticut
Families who visit the Coco Key Water Resort can enjoy an indoor water park where it’s always a sunny 84 degree day. With over 50,000 square feet of indoor adventure, families can float along the Adventure River, play water basketball in the activity pool, or zip down three 40-foot body and raft slides.
Best Indoor Pool with a View
The Peninsula Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
The Peninsula Chicago’s coveted indoor pool offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline through 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. Recently named by Fodor’s as one of the 10 great hotel pools for snow-day staycations, the Peninsula’s pool is a popular and luxurious attraction for all ages.
Best Indoor Water Play Structure
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Coeur d' Alene
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The water play structure at Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho will delight children for hours of play. Jessica Bowers of the Suitcases and Sippycups blog loves this hotel pool because, “Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark is a 25,000-square-foot facility that features a wave pool and children’s lagoon with a two-story play structure complete with slides, water guns and a tipping bucket. Guests can lean back and relax in the indoor/outdoor hot tub or ride one of the three amazing slides.”
Best Indoor-Outdoor Hotel Pool
Hotel Mont Cervin Palace
Zermatt, Switzerland
The best indoor-outdoor hotel pool is located at the Hotel Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt, Switzerland, according to Ciao Bambino’s Amie O’Shaughnessy. She said, “Many indoor pools are small, claustrophobic, and humid, but Mont Cervin’s pool is glorious in a massive light-filled room with an extensive lounge zone and a dedicated toddler pool filled with toys. The main pool is part indoor and part outdoor; swimming in a snow storm is something we’ll never forgot!”
Best Atrium-style Pool
Royal Sonesta Boston
Cambridge, Massachusetts
This gorgeous atrium-style swimming pool at Royal Sonesta Boston, with a retractable roof and sliding glass walls, is one of the largest pools in the Boston and Cambridge area. The pool offers three swimming lanes and a larger area for less strenuous pursuits, and overlooks the seasonal sun-deck. This pool is “chemical chlorine free” and is sanitized using an Electrolytic System and salt—offering a higher level of cleanliness without the harsh effects of chemical chlorine, which is great for kids’ sensitive skin.
Best Hotel Pool for Indoor Surfing
Wilderness at the Smokies Water Park Resort
Sevierville, Tennessee
The indoor Wild Waterdome Wilderness at the Smokies Water Park Resort is kept at a comfy 86 degrees year-round. It features a wave pool, waterslides, and splash areas for children. The best part? Indoor surfing! You can grab a boogie board and catch a wave at this resort in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Best Indoor Tropical Oasis
Grand Cascades Lodge
Hamburg, New Jersey
When you think of New Jersey, you’re probably not thinking of a year-round tropical oasis. Think again. Located at the Grand Cascades Lodge, the Tropical Biosphere Pool is the first structure of its kind in the U.S. to incorporate advanced German Foiltec roofing material, allowing nearly 100% light transmission for year-round tanning. The Biosphere’s freeform pools are surrounded by lush tropical landscaping. The Biosphere Pool Complex features a heated indoor freeform pool, incredible views of the surrounding mountains, a 140-foot water slide, a grotto-like Jacuzzi, cave-themed steam room and sauna, and even an underground aquarium.
Best Indoor Pool for Swimming Laps
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Chicago, Illinois
While many of these pools are fun for splashing and playing, the junior Olympic pool at Chicago’s historic InterContinental Hotel is a true swimmer’s pool. Located directly above the Grand Ballroom, the pool was considered an engineering feat when it was built-in 1929 because it was above ground. It has had many famous visitors, including Olympic gold medalist and Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller. If this pool’s ornate architecture doesn’t inspire you to swim off those extra vacation calories, I don’t know what will!
Most Fun Indoor Hotel Pool
Great Wolf Lodge
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Dr. Jessie Voigts of Wandering Educators recommends the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. She said, “There’s an enormous wave pool, a plethora of slides, a lazy river, a hot tub, small kids’ play areas, bigger kids’ play areas, and always a dumping water bucket. Great Wolf Lodge is very concerned with safety, and has plenty of life jackets and attentive life guards on duty. It’s a very friendly place, and very welcoming to families.”
Highest Indoor Hotel Pool for Families
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China
Located on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, this indoor pool allows you to float on water way above the city below. According to Katie Dillon in her review on LaJollaMom.com, “With LCD screens playing scenes of swaying palm trees and swimming fish on the wall as well as moving clouds on the ceiling, this pool is cool. Really cool. Hang out toward the window for panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and then some.”
