It’s one of the ultimate luxuries in a Caribbean resort — having your own private plunge pool.
It’s secluded, it’s private and it’s endlessly indulgent. When your room comes with a pool, it’s more than just a room; it’s a mini villa, a sanctuary.
And amid the current challenges of travel, social distancing is no problem when you have a pool and deck all to yourself.
Here are a dozen-plus Caribbean resorts where you can swim and sun without ever having to leave your own room.
Baoase Luxury Resort, Curaçao
Twelve of the 23 Bali-inspired suites and villas at this rare luxury resort in Curacao have plunge pools set in tropical gardens. For the ultimate in privacy, guests can also book Isla Kiniw, a four-bedroom villa on an island in Spanish Waters Bay that has both a private infinity pool and a private beach.
Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
The remarkable views of St. Lucia’s paired mountains, known as the Pitons, are best views from the infinity edge of the swimming pools built into the Sanctuary suites at the Jade Mountain resort. Inlaid with shimmering blue-green tile, these pools are big enough to swim laps in and extend from the shelter of the living room of the suites to bring of the high-elevation building, offering unobstructed and unforgettable views.
Ladera, Saint Lucia
Located on the crown of a saddle between two mountains and overlooking a cerulean bay, the Ladera resort has open-wall suites that take full advantage of the amazing vistas, each with its own heated, private plunge pool. All have views of the mighty Pitons, but if I had to choose I’d book the Hilltop Dream Suite with its swing chair for two over the pool.
Hammock Cove, Antigua At Hammock Cove, the newest resort on the scene in Antigua, every single room comes with its own private plunge pool and private deck with spectacular views of the sea.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, Saint Lucia
The beachfront bungalows at Sugar Beach has private courtyards with jacuzzi tubs, but if you want a little more room to splash around then book one of the resort’s luxury cottages, which have plunge pools on enclosed terraces. Either way, you’ll get a whole different perspective on the Pitons from beach level, looking up.
Serenity at Coconut Bay, Saint Lucia
All 36 of the luxury suites at this St. Lucia resort have private plunge pools, part of their 1,200 to 1,900 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space that also includes other watery fun like oversized soaking tubs and rain showers. Poolside cocktails? No problem thanks to the resort’s on-demand butler service.
Le Sereno, St Barth
This exclusive resort on St. Barths has private hillside suites (dubbed Suite Piscine) with 30-foot private pools built off expansive wooden decks. The one-bedroom suites can be combined with adjoining bungalows to create two-bedroom villas so that families can share the pool while still enjoying plenty of privacy.
Hermitage Bay, Antigua
The dark-wood decor and lofty locale of the Hillside Suites at the Hermitage Bay resort give them the feel of a luxury treehouse — but you won’t find many treehouses with private, infinity-edge pools with unimpeded views of the Caribbean. Poolside relaxation is enhanced by outdoor showers, a stocked minibar, and sun loungers, double day beds and plantation chairs on the pool deck.
Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic The leading luxury resort in Cap Cana has 65 rooms in all, with a collection set right above the beach and the rest a portfolio of pool suites, ranging from junior suites to a two-bedroom private villa.
Cocobay, Antigua
Some resorts offer a single room category with private pools — Cocobay has three. This high-end Antigua resort has a hillside full of cottages overlooking the Caribbean Sea, including the oceanfront Azure Private Pool Suites and Premium Waterfront Pool Suites, and Deluxe Pool Cottages with a view from higher up the hill.
Secret Bay, Dominica
This Relais & Chateaux boutique resort in the Dominica rainforest has secluded, open-air villas with private plunge pools and views of the ocean and Morne Diablotin mountain. The original Zabuco Villa remains one of the best rooms at the resort with its clifftop location between two rugged coves.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands
Seven One-Bedroom Pool Suites are located on the west side of this 500-acre Virgin Gorda resort, with plunge pools and patios overlooking the resort’s namesake bay. The recent addition of these new rooms just makes one of the best resorts in the Caribbean that much better.
Sandals Resorts’ Luxury Included concept extends to offering rooms with private swimming and plunge pools at several of its all-inclusive properties. You can actually swim a couple of strokes in the Private Pool Suites at Sandals resorts in Jamaica (Negril, Royal Caribbean), the Sandals Royal Barbados, Sandals Grande Antigua, and two of the Sandals resorts in Saint Lucia — the Sandals Grande St. Lucian and the Sandals Regency Le Toc. At the Barbados resorts, guests can also lounge in luxury in Sandals’ Skypool Suites — upper-floor, infinity-edge plunge pools with spectacular ocean views. And then there are the brand’s newest suites, the swim-up Rondoval Suites that combine swim-up settings with private plunge pools (photo above).