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The best Airbnbs with amazing private pools
There's nothing quite like having your own private pool on holiday. As amenities go, it can be the ultimate gathering place for a big group trip or it can be the perfect place to hideaway and get respite from the busy beach crowds. No longer simply a couch surfing site, Airbnb is now home to splashy infinity pools in grand island villas in the Caribbean and rugged and secluded pools in small historic houses in Puglia. Some come with their own private chefs and childcare, some are situated at the foot of hiking trails, and some are simply surrounded by centuries-old olive trees and delicious local restaurants. No matter the motive, you've got options.
But where should you go? Airbnb has also recently launched a new way of browsing their many rental houses, where you can filter by all sorts of experiential categories, including vineyard stays, historical homes and of course, amazing pools all over the world.
1/14Trevi, Italy
Umbria can be an overlooked location compared to its neighbour, Tuscany, but that just means there are more, better holiday rentals up for grabs than you're likely to find next door. Such as this beautiful four-bedroom villa, whose outdoor and indoor spaces are equally stylish and lustworthy. With its hillside position, the infinity pool is the best place to lounge, keep cool and marvel at the countryside that unfurls before you.
Guests say: “Possibly the most beautiful villa we’ve ever stayed in! We will definitely stay again in the future.”
Sleeps: 8
Price: from £371 per night
2/14Puerto Escondido, Mexico
This Brutalist-style house is quite unlike any other, and really brings the idea of indoor-outdoor living to life via the outdoor living room, tucked under the slanted concrete roof, from where you can catch the best sunsets over the sea. It's a five minute walk from La Punta beach, completely unique and provides the most unforgettable stay on any Mexican trip. You had better be a fan of concrete though.
Guests say: “I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Hezbo and would definitely stay there again. If you don’t like bugs or noises from animals in the middle of the night, this might not be the place for you. With that said, it’s a uniquely designed beautiful home. You can walk to the beach and to all the nearby restaurants and cafes. I considered renting a car but I’m glad I didn’t. Everything I wanted to do was within walking distance. The beach is a five minute walk at the most. If you surf, this beach definitely has some good waves.”
Sleeps: 4
Price: from £312 per night
3/14Malibu, USA
North of Malibu's famous coastline lies this Tuscan-style estate, right in the heart of some of California's renowned wine country. It simply sprawls on and on, with five bedrooms, a double-height, vaulted, airy living room and outdoor space that wraps around almost the entire house. The cherry on the cake is of course the infinity pool, complete with a jacuzzi at one end and enough length to do some proper swimming in, as well as using it as a space to cool off from the California heat. Naturally, there's a helipad for anyone choosing to arrive that way.
Guests say: “Malibu Rocky Oaks is at a perfect location, a very beautiful house, secluded with amazing views. The place is great, very clean, and has everything you need for a fun-filled weekend in Malibu. The pool and hot tub were so relaxing and the music system was amazing.”
Sleeps: 10
Price: from £3,119 per night
4/14Kecamatan Ubud, Bali
This is a classically Balinese villa in style, with airy rooms, lots of lovely dark wood and of course, incredible outdoor space. The infinity pool is a true highlight, overlooking lush jungle beyond. However, it's the way it wraps around behind itself and encloses a sunken seating area in the garden that really takes it to the next level and makes this villa something special.
Guests say: “This was an incredible stay. A wonderful, spacious mansion house with beautiful amenities. Clean, lovely staff and all round a great start to our trip in Bali. The in-house food that the chef made was delicious and an amazing floating breakfast too. We definitely hope to visit again.”
Sleeps: 14
Price: from £497 per night
5/14Koh Samui, Thailand
This house is almost more pool than house, given that the swimming pool starts near the top end and flows down over multi levels until it reaches the (infinity, of course) end that looks out across the sea. At the end, it wraps around to include a shallow area with submerged sun loungers, ideal for tanning and keeping cool in one fell swoop. There's even a swim up bar. Inside, the house is bright and breezy, comprised of various standalone buildings, all designed to take in the views.
Sleeps: 16
Price: from £1,063 per night
6/14Crete, Greece
When it comes to villas in Greece, the dream is of course to have an infinity pool overlooking the Aegean, and that's precisely what you get at this haven near Melampes in Crete. The villa itself sleeps 12 and boasts more than enough space indoor and out for everyone, plus some rather luxe amenities to make the most of–notably the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. It'd be ideal for a big birthday gathering or relaxed hen do, where spa treatments and lazy days taking in the view from the pool are the name of the game.
Guests say: “A breathtaking villa–pictures just don’t do it justice and it has to be seen to be believed. Our host Amalia was amazing too and couldn’t do enough to help us and make sure we were having the best time. We'd go back in a heartbeat.”
Sleeps: 12
Price: from £629 per night
7/14Nouvelle Aquitaine, France
Sometimes, the pool is simply a nice addition to the house itself and that's the case for this château in the Dordogne, where the pool and its surrounding terrace are the cherry on a very tempting cake. Big enough for a cooling dip, and with a child-friendly pool too, they add another reason to book this extraordinary nine-bedroom castle, which features a dream kitchen and lots of regal trappings. The hilltop castle dates to the 17th century and its period charm has been retained throughout. There are roman ruins on the grounds, a wellness centre, waterfall, gym, ample gardens to explore and unparalleled views over the Dordogne valley. All you need is an excuse to book it.
Sleeps: 16
Price: £1,556 per night
8/14Provence, France
For the exhibitionists amongst us, this unique Brutalist villa in Provence might just be the place to go, purely for the pool alone. The reason being that the 28 metre-long pool runs the length of the house (and then some), with windows on each side so that you can be seen underwater by your fellow guests in one of the living rooms or by anyone wandering in the right part of the garden. Kooky, it might be, but it's certainly something. Pool-aside, it's a very architecturally intriguing house–designed by Rudy Ricciotti–and while there may be some questionable decoration in parts, it's certainly got an undeniable style to it.
Guests say: “Claire's villa is stunning and is a short drive from the beautiful Bandol port with its many restaurants, shops and markets. We visited in the first week of July when it wasn't too busy. The villa itself was fantastic, clean, comfortable and very spacious. We were a party of 4 adults with 3 children but I'm sure you could fit another family in if needed. The pool was fantastic. All bedrooms have aircon which was needed during the warm summer nights.”
Sleeps: 15
Price: from £1,079 per night
9/14Marrakesh, Morocco
There are lovely villas and then there are palm-lined Palatial Moroccan villas. This 5-bedroom stay on the northern edge of Marrakesh is part of Airbnb Luxe, the luxury extension of the home-sharing platforms that offers out-of-the-ordinary villas that rivals five-star hotels. Meaning you're going to get your own trip designer on this trip, along with add-on perks like a driver, a cook, concierge, and childcare. Villa Alaya's secluded pool is also as grand as you'd expect, spanning twenty-five-meters in length and dotted with elegant lounges and a colonnaded veranda.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From £4,038 per night
10/14Caicos, Turks & Caicos
If a luxurious island retreat with all of the amenities is what you're looking for, you've found it. This spectacular four-bedroom villa on Turks and Caicos comes with two pools: a grand L-shaped pool and a reflecting pool, plus many, many places to lounge. It's the rooftop oasis that we'd be running to though; the secluded space looks like an ideal place to admire the Caribbean coastline overlooking a jungle canopy. If you can bring yourself to leave the house, you're a two-minute drive from getting up close to dolphins at Princess Alexandra National Park and hop over to the beach.
Guests say: “Everything was perfect. It's very hard to please four couples who all like a king-sized bed and ensuite bathroom. It's a short walk to the private beach area and an easy to walk to a few restaurants for lunch or some cocktails. The owner, Alessandro, was beyond accommodating and didn't miss a thing. The food on the island restaurants is amazing and the private chef that came to the house was beyond great. Highly recommend a snorkelling excursion, you will not be disappointed."
Sleeps: 8
Price: from £2,820 per night
11/14Joshua Tree, USA
For those craving a decked-out desert adventure in Joshua Tree, this two-bedroom midcentury modern house is just what you're looking for. It has an indoor-outdoor feel with large open windows and a large living room overlooking the valley–and a desert picnic area for pre or post hiking. The pool can be heated for an extra $150 and there's also a hot tub and hammocks and a deck with plenty of lounging room.
Guests say: “I didn't want to write a review because I want to keep this a secret spot for myself but this is the most beautiful home. So blissful. The interior is by far the most aesthetically pleasing I’ve seen. So secluded and safe and it has everything you possibly need. It is a little piece of heaven on earth. Please hike up during sunset to see a magical view. "
Sleeps: 4
Price: from £753 per night
12/14Ostuni, Italy
If you're looking to experience Italy's rugged southern coastline, the once-overlooked Italian region of Puglia is fast becoming the new Amalfi Coast. Ostuni in particular is a must-visit and where this historic villa is based. Nicknamed ‘the white city’ for its, well, white buildings, this former fortress town is a charming and photogenic place to stay. The iconic white round buildings here are known as “trulli” and this one in particular dates back to 1780. Take in its history while lounging in the private pool and solarium surrounded by centuries-old olive trees.
Guests say: “This is a truly beautiful traditional house set in exquisite gardens reflecting the general landscape of the area. The pool is lovely, with great sun loungers and shaded areas to chill out in. The area is so quiet and calming, with great night skies.”
Sleeps: 6
Price: from £303 per night
13/14Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Surfing holiday on the cards? Surrounded by lush tropical forest and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this five-bedroom villa is conveniently located right near Tamarindo, home to some of Costa Rica's best waves and prettiest beaches. Though it might be hard to pull yourself away from the house itself where there's an impressive infinity pool, hot tub and a deck with ample room for perfecting your downward-facing dog or sipping cocktails on come sunset.
Guests say: "Casa Blue is just stunning! Picture perfect from all directions. The staff graciously accommodated any request we had and kept the place in tip top shape. We travelled there as a family of nine for a once in a lifetime trip to Costa Rica and every single one of us fell in love. We plan to return soon, not just to Costa Rica but to Casa Blue in particular."
Sleeps: 10
Price: from £846 per night
14/14Holualoa, Hawaii
In the heart of Hawaii's Kona coffee country, this four-bedroom retreat known as ‘Aolani House’ has everything you'd want in a relaxing retreat. Outside, that means everything from the infinity saltwater pool with 180 degree ocean views to a hot tub, fire pit and a Big Green Egg barbecue smoker. Inside, there are king size tempur-pedic mattresses, African mahogany kitchen cabinets, and high-end appliances, including a WOLF range and wine fridge. It's owned and designed by local artist Anna Sweet, who's also arranged the gallery of fine-art display.
Guests say: "This is by far, one of the best homes I've ever stayed in. The moment you walk in, your jaw drops and you say to yourself "wow, now thats a view!" You immediately are greeted with a spacious living room with fresh air, an infinity pool, hot tub, fire pit, and a gorgeous kitchen to prepare all of your meals. The bedrooms are big and full of natural light, the beds are really comfortable and the showers are great. My family and I stayed here for a week and we regret not booking more days!"
Sleeps: 8
Price: from £1,356 per night
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