7 Great US Hotel Pools to Redeem Points for

Summertime is here, and brings sunshine, fresh watermelon, laughter, grilling, and hopefully a swimming pool or two.

No time to go overseas this summer? Here’s a look at 7 hotels in the US that you can redeem those hard-earned points for, and relax in front of a pool.

7. Enchantment Resort, Sedona AZ. Choice Hotels Partner Preferred Hotel Group. Cost = 60,000 Choice Privileges points. $29 daily resort fee. Booking link.

Their indoor pool is heated, with a cozy wood-burning fireplace. Some suites come with private pools. But when the weather turns warm, the outdoor pool becomes the focal point. It is surrounded by soaring cliffs, and you can while away the day watching the clouds drift overhead. There’s also a whirlpool spa and a cafe serving three meals a day.

6. Hyatt Regency Hill Country – San Antonio TX . Hyatt property. Cost =  20,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points. Booking link. $26 daily resort fee, reduced to $21 if Diamond member. Flowrider has additional one time cost of $15, then $35 per hour.

This hotel has two swimming pools (one shaped like Texas!), two outdoor spas, a 950 foot lazy river, and a waterfall. Four acres are dedicated to water volleyball, water basketball, a wading pool with manmade beach, a 22 foot tower water slide, and their pride and joy – a wave machine called the Flowrider. Water entertainment hours are 8am to midnight.

5. Andaz West Hollywood – West Hollywood CA – Category 5 Hyatt property.  Booking link. Cost = 20,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points. No resort fee.

When you need a break from LA action, the Andaz boasts a classy rooftop pool and bar. There are sweeping views of West Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills on one side, and downtown Los Angeles on the other. Cocktails and light food are offered poolside. If you are thinking of staying this property, you can find my hotel review here.

4. Westin Diplomat – Fort Lauderdale FL – Starwood property. Category 5. Cost = 12,000 – 16,000 Starpoints. Booking link. No resort fee.

The Westin Diplomat has a 120 foot saline water infinity pool with a see-through circle in the middle to allow peering into the 240 foot lagoon pool below. There are two waterfalls, and there’s a beach view from the pool area. You can swim in the pool, walk a few feet, take a swim in the ocean, rinse, and repeat. Pool or beach cabanas and casitas are available from 9am-6pm for an extra fee, which varies. There’s a poolside restaurant, beach loungers, and umbrellas. Plus, see View from the Wing’s post on the good upgrades for those who have Platinum status.

3. Mandalay Bay – Las Vegas NV –Mlife property. Category 6. Cost = 25,000 Hyatt Gold passport points. Booking link. $28 daily resort fee.

Who needs an ocean? After you’re done gambling (or maybe just taking a break), the Mandalay Bay has 11 acres of sandy beach, and a 1.6 million gallon wave pool with swells up to 6 feet. There is a lazy river, Jacuzzis, and you can event rent a villa on the lazy river island for a day. There are 100 luxury cabanas, day beds, bungalows and villas for rent.

2. Gaylord Texan – Grapevine TX – Marriott property. Category 6. Cost = 30,000 Marriott Rewards points. Booking link. $18 resort fee per person, which includes 2 bottles of water, and free shuttle (on a loop) to the onsite water resort (100 feet away from hotel’s entrance).

There’s a 6,000 square foot lagoon to explore. If you have never been zip lining before, they have a water zip line. There is also water basketball, an indoor pool, and another outdoor pool with water slide.  A restaurant is onsite with food for purchase. Cabanas can be rented for an extra fee.

1. Grand Wailea, Maui – $25 resort fee. Waldorf Astoria Resort. Cost = 70,000 Hilton Honors points. Booking link. $25 resort fee.

I could have done a whole series on Hawaii hotel pools alone, but if only choosing one, the Grand Wailea is the granddaddy of swimming fun. One of their “activity areas” has 9 pools, covering a total of 26,000 square feet. They are all interconnected by a river that includes easy floating and whitewater rapids. There are four jungle pools, 5 slides, six waterfalls, an adults-only pool, three Jacuzzis, and an infant pool. They have a sandy beach, caves, a swim-up bar, and a water elevator. There’s even a tarzan rope swing into the pool, and Fishpipe, the world’s first rotating barrel water ride.  Cabanas and casabellas can be reserved for a fee.

What hotel pool will you find yourself at this summer?