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Everyone does Top 10 lists, but let's be honest, there aren't always 10 things that deserve to make the cut—or there could be more. Hideaways isn't like everyone else, we're unique and discerning (like you) and we believe in staying flexible, especially when it comes to travel.
And so we present to you our Top 8 Pools with a View & a Twist. So, what's the twist? Instead of presenting you with a predictable selection of pools that overlook beautiful beaches (yawn), we challenged ourselves to find modern swimming holes that will delight you with unexpected experiences that make a big splash. Here are our Top 8 such experiences.
#1 (Top Land-Locked Pool)
 Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa, Patagonia, Argentina. In a word: "Wow!" The spectacular Patagonian landscape surrounding this hideaway is enough to take your breath away, and the four seasons' worth of recreational activities are a real bonus, along with the resort's legendary dining and professional yet welcoming service. About the experience: Some say traveling to Patagonia is a trip to the end of the world, but here, floating in an elegant indoor/outdoor heated pool—with its goose-bump views of two glacial lakes and three Andean mountains—you get the feeling this is where the world actually begins.
#2 (Top Spa Pool)
 Blancaneaux Lodge, Cayo District, Belize. Tucked right in the middle of some of the most remarkable tropical forests north of the Amazon, this secluded one-of-a-kind retreat—owned by director Francis Ford Coppola—is rustic yet far from primitive, with luxurious touches like a Japanese bath in each cabana and villa. About the experience: Every ounce of stress just melted away thanks to a masterful massage; you didn't think it could get any better, but now you find yourself in a soothing hot pool—heated solely by hydro-electricity—that overlooks cascading jungle waterfalls and fills you with an overwhelming sense of calm.
#3 (Top Pool Pavilion)
 The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand. This contemporary Asian oasis borders five national parks of spectacular primary rain forest, idyllic lagoons, and natural mangroves, and shares a nearly seven-mile-long stretch of golden-sand beach on the deep-turquoise Andaman Sea. About the experience: A warm breeze tickles your skin and there's a smile on your face, only no one can see it, which is part of the pleasure, of course, as you're happily ensconced in one of the Sarojin's private pool-island pavilions that seem to float in the water—talk about an oasis within as oasis!
#4 (Top Outdoor City Pool)
 Hotel Majestic, Barcelona, Spain. Despite its grand size and swanky vibe, this city-center hotel conveys a serene, relaxing atmosphere and spoils guests with its inviting nature and more than 1,000 contemporary works of art. About the experience: Let the tourists head to Las Ramblas—you'll have Paseo de Gracia all to yourself! And after a deliciously exhausting day shopping in Barcelona, you find refuge not up in your hotel room but up in your hotel's rooftop pool, where a strikingly colorful cubist mural by Philip Stanton crowning the space energizes your swim and your soul.
#5 (Top Indoor City Pool)
 The Observatory, Sydney, Australia. In one of the city's best-preserved and trendiest historic neighborhoods—just beyond the famed Opera House—this hotel is ideally situated for observing and experiencing the best Sydney has to offer. About the experience: You slip into the warm water and close your eyes as you lean back and begin to float. Then, just when you think this is the very definition of a heavenly experience, you open your eyes and find yourself gazing up at the twinkling constellations overhead, a fiber-optic recreation of the southern-hemisphere sky. Even Galileo would be star-struck.
#6 (Top Cruise Pool)
 Celebrity Cruises, Solstice-class ships. Celebrity's four Solstice-class ships broke new ground with innovations like the half-acre Lawn Club, with real grass for lawn games, and spa-inspired Aqua-ClassTM staterooms complete with a Spa Concierge. About the experience: It's late, and you and that special someone want some grown-up time, so you choose the adults-only Solarium pool. This indoor lap pool has a towering trellis of vibrant bougainvillea and its own dancing fountain with changing colors that turn it into a magical light show at night—so you'll feel relaxed and energized, all at the same time.
#7 (Top Dolce-View Pool)
 L'Andana, Tuscany, Italy. An undiscovered corner of Tuscany? Indeed—but only until word of this hideaway's superb, ever-changing menu and ongoing refinements gets out. About the experience: You're in Tuscany, and you want to experience this beloved region in every way you can, in every bite, in every sip, and in every scent. As you sink into the cooling embrace of L'Andana's pool, you realize you also can experience Tuscany in every view, for this pool looks out over an ancient Italian village. Bellisima!
#8 (Top Number of Gorgeous Pools)
 Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Crete, Greece. In ancient times, the Minoan kings ruled in splendor from their palace in Knossos; these days, visitors seeking hedonistic pleasures find the royal treatment just a few miles away at Blue Palace, on Crete's rocky northern coast. About the experience: You have your own seductive pool, as mesmerizingly blue and breathtaking as the sky above and the Mediterranean just beyond. You don't want to leave. So don't. And don't worry about getting bored! With 147 pools (3 main swimming pools, 2 children's pools, and 142 private guest pools), you could literally stay here for five months and swim in a different pool every day.
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