Come for the beach, but you’ll love the pool, too BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Beaches in the Caribbean are justifiably famous, but sometimes a refreshing dip in a resort pool is just what vacationers are after. These pools, in some of the most desirable destinations in the islands, run the gamut from rooftops with awesome vistas to artistically sculpted infinity varieties with edges that seem to disappear into the ocean or the sky.
ANGUILLA
We can’t guarantee you’ll share pool space with big-name athletes, but with the NBA regulation courts at the swanky Viceroy Anguilla, basketball superstar LeBron James has been spotted as a guest at the Sunset Infinity pool. And that’s just one of 200 pools at the largest resort on the small island, including pools just for kids and others reserved for grown-ups who enjoy a sip and a snack at the water’s edge. Servers roam poolside delivering cold towels, sunscreen and fruity cocktails festooned with skewers of red cherries.
SAINT MARTIN
Boasting views on a clear day all the way to Anguilla, the brand-new pool at the Grand Case Beach Club took six months and a big budget to build. High above the beach and sea, the giant bathtub is curvy, with lights circling a clear glass railing. The 50-footer is the latest addition to the serene seaside resort close to the foodie town of Grand Case. The pool was designed with a gradual sloped entry safe for novice swimmers and offers a spacious deck frequented by sunset spotters.
ANTIGUA
The Mediterranean Village Pool at Sandals Grande Antigua is the longest freshwater pool on the island, but it’s just one of six large pools and a gaggle of smaller pools at the all-inclusive resort fronting Dickenson Bay. The biggest pool at the 373-suite resort features a lively swim-up bar and half a dozen whirlpools. For privacy-seekers, villas come with plunge pools, whirlpools and butlers. Should you be staying elsewhere on the island, a day pass — $100 per person — buys unlimited pool time and all you can eat and drink at seven bars and 11 restaurants.
TRINIDAD
You can lounge all day on the roof at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, where views from the mirror-smooth infinity pool are mesmerizing. Overlooking the Gulf of Paria and a steady parade of clunky oil barges making their way to Venezuela, the pool is a world away from the busy capital city of Port-of- Spain, just a short walk from the high-rise hotel. Guests also enjoy a sun deck with comfy chaises draped with extra-large wrap-around towels and a bar with a menu of local snacks.
JAMAICA
Many make the trek up the Blue Mountains to the Strawberry Hill Hotel for the sumptuous Sunday brunch, while others come for the views of Kingston 3,000 feet below. But the spectacular infinity pool built into the hilltop is worth the trip on its own. With panoramic views from every angle, the mountaintop pool sits pretty in front of the bar and dining veranda, where you can enjoy a slice of warm bread pudding and a cup of Blue Mountain coffee. Serenely secluded with just a dozen cottages spread out on 26 acres, the coffee-plantation-turned-resort is owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and was frequented by Bob Marley. It is a trifecta of pool pleasure at Oil Nut Bay on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda, third-largest of the British Virgin Islands. The eco-friendly pool trio at the Beach Club are made of recycled glass and divided for multi-generations of swimmers; one pool for children, one for teenagers and one with a swim-up bar for those old enough to order a cocktail. Its views are open to the bay, and amenities include easy access to the beach, a deck with oversize loungers, and a waterfall and grotto with in-water bar seating.
ARUBA
The best part of the trilevel pool complex at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort is floating over to the terracotta-tiled Balashi Bar and snagging one of the inthe-water bar stools. On the Palm Beach strip, there’s plenty of slippery fun on the two-story slide, with cascading waterfalls and decks made for soaking up the sunshine. For early risers, the towel hut opens at 7 a.m.
PUERTO RICO
In the Convention Center district across the San Juan Bay from the Pan American Cruise Terminal, the rooftop pool at Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel is the prime perch for sightings of the floating citysize ships as they chug along the bay. A coconut-throw from Old San Juan, the enormous pool clocks in at 57,000 square feet. Pool partyers flock to the Pool Bar & Grille for fish tacos and cocktails crafted with island-distilled Bacardi rum.
TURKS AND CAICOS
The showstopper pool in the center of the chi-chi Gansevoort Turks and Caicos in Providenciales has an immaculately manicured infinity edge and platforms that appear to float on the water. Ideal for daytime sunning and romantic candlelit dining at sunset, the wooden decks are the most popular perches at the resort. The Caribbean cousin of its Manhattan namesake, the 91-room resort also has a high-end spa and restaurants.