City-side with not a speck of sand in sight? Don’t fret, pet! You may be a million miles from the sweeping shorelines of the glittering Andaman, but a mere sandal’s toss from an urban lagoon.
So if you like your flop with a side of H2O, look no further than these inner-city dippers perched atop and within some of our fave Asian metropolitan digs from Singapore to Seoul. No one likes a sweaty Betty!
Fullerton Bay, Singapore
Looking to get your paws wet in the Lion City? You’ll find ‘kini-clad kittens prowling at the swank Fullerton Bay rooftop pool, nestled within the claws of the hotel’s lush tropical plantation. If time’s on your side, turn your dip into sip at sunset as the terrace transforms into a sceney bar with plush outdoor furny. Plus, it’s perfectly posi’d for supreme sundown vistas. Rawr!
Fullerton Bay, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore. +65 6333 8388, fullertonbayhotel.com
Tajmasago, Ho Chi Minh City
Feeling about as dried up as Uncle Ho’s embalmed corpse? Then surrender boiling bods at the helms of Tajmasago’s baby blues. This nouveau-riche retreat, reminiscent of ancient Indian Maharaja palaces, flaunts checkerboard pool tiles and underwater symphonies so you can escape the pulsating soundtrack of downtown.
Tajmasago, 6 Phan Van Chuong, Phu My Hung, District 7, HCMC. +84 8 5411 6789, tajmasago.com
Four Seasons & W Hotel, Hong Kong
An overly Fragrant Harbour and lock-licking humidity are enough to send any sane Sally into a mid-city meltdown, and while scenic Sai Kung is only an hour’s commute from central Hong Kong, the Four Seasons’ dazzly infinity pool overlooking Victoria Harbour is but a zippy taxi ride away. Or, if you’ve got your hotpants on, make your way across the river to the W Hotel for a top notch party-plunge with Art Deco backdrop and LED-lit skyline.
Four Seasons, 8 Finance St, Central, Hong Kong. +852 3196 8888, fourseasons.com
W Hotel, 1 Austin Rd West, Kowloon, Hong Kong. +852 3717 2222, w-hongkong.com
The Peninsula, Bangkok
Unlike her sea-nic sister Phuket, Bangkok’s winding streets offer little respite from the city’s thronging heat and round-the-clock chaos. So where better to make a splash than The Peninsula Hotel, situ’d smack bang on the Chao Phraya River? You’ll feel miles from the hustle and bustle while perched on one of the terrace’s canopied sun loungers, or wading through the emerald blue lap pool.
The Peninsula, 333 Charoennakorn Rd, Klongsan, Bangkok. +66 2 020 2888, bangkok.peninsula.com
Villa Samadhi, Kuala Lumpur
Hot n’ humid temps reigns supreme year-round in Asia’s youngest capital, so have your sarong on speed-dial and a cush at ultra-chic zen den Villa Samadhi on the ready, Eddy! This unique urban oasis dedicated to the art of meditation stars a tranquil lagoon sitting pretty at the centre, circled by a series of thatched villas, so a quick dip is never more than a shimmy away from your chambre.
Villa Samadhi, 8 Pesiaran Madge, Kuala Lumpur. +60 3 9212 0372, villasamadhi.com.my
Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi
Too much tuk tuk got you in a tizzy? Silence humming horns at heritage haven Sofitel Legend Metropole where old-world charm takes centre stage. Swan across her outdoor terrace and into her delightful urban dipper, thankfully with sweet Bamboo Bar and Le Spa within arms reach.
Sofitel Legend Metropole, 15 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. +84 4 3826 6919, sofitel.com
The Grand Hyatt & W Seoul Walkerhill, Seoul
The Korean capital can put you in a smartphone-induced daze, but the easiest way to find respite stat is at The Grand Hyatt’s outdoor sanctuary and sprawling outdoor pool overlooking the cityscape. Alternatively, check into the W Seoul Walkerhill for AWAY Spa’s mega indoor pond with mod floating lounges and rainbow neon-lit hot pools. Not the most relaxing, but certainly entertaining…
Grand Hyatt, 322 Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. +82 2 797 1234, seoul.grand.hyatt.com
W Seoul Walkerhill, 177 Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. +82 2 465 2222, starwoodhotels.com
Four Seasons, Chiang Mai
Though you’re rather spoilt for choice among the former Lanna Kingdom capital’s resplendent plains and lush greenery, there’s one star dip-portunity away from the antique-hungry hordes. Whip on your cos at Four Seasons’ privé pool, so you can perfect your breaststroke surrounded by endless vibrant green rice paddies. Suit on, Ton!
Four Seasons, 502 Moo 1, Mae Rim-Samoeng Old Rd, Chiang Mai. +66 5 329 8181, fourseasons.com
The Plantation, Phnom Penh
When temple-itis sets in, you may find yourself tempted to dip toes into the unknown depths of the misty Mekong. Please do refrain, and point your peepers instead towards The Plantation, where green queens can refresh in a leafy emerald lagoon hidden amid the grandeur of the modish colonial castle.
The Plantation, 28 St. 184, Phnom Penh. +85 5 023 215 151, theplantation.asia
The PuLi Hotel & Spa, Shanghai
In this city of perma-smog, you’d be hard pressed to find any relief bobbing about in a plunge pool atop one of Shanghai’s soaring ‘scrapers. Instead sashay into chic retreat PuLi Hotel & Spa, where a heated indoor infinity pool will nurse you back to vitality sans gas mask.
The Puli Hotel & Spa, 1 Changde Lu, Jing’an, Shanghai. +86 21 3203 9999, thepuli.com
