My Hunt for the Perfect Poolside Stay
Alright, so the other week, the mission was clear: find a hotel, and it absolutely, positively had to have a swimming pool. The family was getting antsy for a break, and a pool was top of the list. Sounds simple, right? Well, using those online booking tools to actually lock down a good pool can sometimes feel like a bit of a treasure hunt.
First thing I always do is fire up one of my usual booking websites. I’m not gonna name names, you probably use the same ones I do. I punch in where we wanna go, the dates, how many of us. That part’s a piece of cake. The real work starts when you try to get specific, like finding that all-important swimming pool.
Digging for Pool Gold
Most of these booking platforms have a filter section. It’s usually called ‘Facilities’ or ‘Amenities’, something like that. That’s my first stop. I scroll through, find ‘Swimming pool’, and give that little box a tick. Now, here’s a bit of hard-won wisdom: don’t just tick that box and assume you’re golden. Seriously. I’ve been caught out before. Booked a place that said it had a pool, turned up, and it was either tiny, or closed for ‘maintenance’ that looked pretty permanent.
So, what’s my next move after I’ve hit that filter? I go straight to the photos. I mean, I really study them. I’m looking for actual, visual proof of this pool.
- Is it a decent size, or is it one of those glorified bathtubs?
- Indoor or outdoor? This makes a big difference depending on when and where you’re going.
- Does it look like anyone’s actually used it this decade? You know, clean, water in it.
After I’ve played detective with the pictures, I dive into the guest reviews. This part is super important. I use the search feature in the reviews and type ‘pool’. I want to see what real people are saying. You find out all sorts:
- “Pool was amazing, kids loved it!” – Bingo.
- “The pool was much smaller than it looked in the photos.” – Good to know.
- “Heads up, the outdoor pool is seasonal and was closed when we visited in October.” – That’s a lifesaver, that kind of comment.
Honestly, what other folks write in reviews is often way more telling than the official hotel blurb. I also keep an eye out for tricky wording in the hotel’s own description, like ‘seasonal pool’. If I’m booking for, say, April, I want to be sure the outdoor pool isn’t going to be shut until May.
The Payoff
It might seem like a lot of clicking around and reading, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty quick. And the reward? Showing up and the pool is actually great. Last time, we found this brilliant place, the pool was a hit, everyone was happy. Job done.
So yeah, that’s basically my system for making sure we actually get a hotel with a decent swimming pool when I’m using those booking tools. A little bit of extra checking always pays off, trust me on that one.
