5 breathtaking stays with private pools

For anyone looking for a relaxing holiday, there aren’t many better ways to wind down than by booking a stay where you can dip in and lounge beside your own private pool. From in-suite swimming to romantic, panoramic plunge pools just outside of your window, we've found the best villas, hotels and cottages around the world with magical private pools.

Templation Hotel is pure serenity and seclusion, set within palm-fringed gardens just outside of Siem Reap (the northwestern Cambodian town that’s known as the gateway to the mystical ruins of Angkor Wat). The hotel’s villas boast private swimming pools and gardens, and are all designed in keeping with the natural surroundings – clad in the finest dark wood and cool, grey stone. Opt for a swim here after a day spent biking around ancient Siem Reap, or simply to refresh amid the balmy tropical temperatures . Finish the day in the hotel’s world-class spa, with the popular and signature spicy body wrap wellness treatment.

A former military fortress turned luxury accommodation on the island of Mallorca, Cap Rocat is a golden, palatial citadel of its own. Carved into the coastal cliffside, the hotel has cave suites where you’ll find private infinity pools that stretch out above the waves below. It’s gloriously discreet and beautifully thought-through, and a stay here will have you feeling close to Mallorcan nature – just with a host of world-class amenities and opportunities to dine cliffside or poolside.

When you choose the ‘Deluxe’ suite at Hunter’s Country House in South Africa's Western Cape for a holiday, you’ll be invited into a world you may never want to leave – and the private pool won’t make this any easier. The property’s thatched-roof cottages play host to grand four poster beds, with a lovely family room that houses a patch of blue pool, straddled by loungers and pinstriped-wicker chairs. There’s also the Deluxe Suite, where you'll find a turquoise plunge pool; an equally enticing and luxurious affair. Following an afternoon of lazy swims interspersed with naps in the sun, head to the lantern-lit garden for a romantic, gourmet dinner. And put your faith in the staff when it comes to drink recommendations – they’ll source you something special or craft their own concoction to suit your fancy.

Clinging to Mykonos' stunning coast, the Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort provides guests with unblemished Aegean views. The hotel is designed in the classic style of the Cyclades islands – think cube-shaped buildings, cerulean-blue details and white-washed walls – but ups the luxury stakes with its private poolside rooms. These oases, the ‘Grand’ and ‘Deluxe’ suites, come equipped with their own infinity pools. Make your way out onto the sun-baked terrace, dip into the water or linger and stare at the sea and cliffs that back Ayios Yiannis beach. Follow a swim with a fresh seafood meal by the private pool or hit the hotel gym.

Known for its regular celebrity visitors, yacht-studded marinas and rows of upscale boutiques, Saint Tropez knows luxury. And MUSE hotel showcases this Côte d’Azur glamour in an understated way. Sat amid the hills above Saint Tropez (a short drive from town), it’s a heavenly place for a holiday to regroup and relax – in your own private pool. Opt for the ‘Elegance Suite’ or the larger ‘Luxury’ room and you’ll be greeted with an eggshell-coloured boudoir that opens onto a garden with a sliver of blue that is your own pool. Roll out of bed straight into the water ahead of a poolside breakfast, lounging on the bespoke garden furniture.