11 Best Hotel Pools In Tampa

Tampa, on the western coast of Florida, has transformed into one stylish city. Think of a revitalized Riverwalk, green spaces, contemporary architecture, and a sizzling nightclub scene. Moreover, Tampa also has close to 250 sun-kissed days, which means a pool is quite welcome at the end of a long day of exploration. The best hotel pools in Tampa Fl are all about cool dips, cocktails, sea views, and the Floridian breeze in your hair. Since the more luxurious places can be quite an expensive gambit, there are tons of pools offering day passes as well.

What’s more, there’s so much to see and explore in the city. These include lush gardens, aquariums, theme parks, zoos, museums, and the long, pristine, and sparkling coastline. It’s also home to the Big Cat Rescue Animal Reserve, which was recently in the limelight for the Netflix series Tiger King. Moreover, Tampa makes a great base for exploring the surrounding region. For instance, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, one of the best U.S. winter vacation spots, is less than an hour and a half north. You can even make a quick day trip to explore the famed Universal Orlando, one of the top tourist attractions in the U.S. It’s also less than two hours away.

So, do pack a swimsuit if you’re headed to Tampa and laze in a pool at the end of an exciting day. To that end, there are the 11 best hotel pools in Tampa, Fl.

Tahitian Inn Boutique Hotel

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Best boutique. The pool at the Tahitian Inn Boutique Hotel is one of the best hotel pools in Tampa. The stunning pool at the boutique hotel is long enough to swim laps. But it feels so languorous that all you want to do is sprawl on the resort-like lounge chairs and couches. They sit beneath thatched-roof seating areas, sheltering you from the Floridian sun. The pool is served by the poolside Torch bar, which has a happy hour from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays. It also has offers like $1 off domestic beer and $3 well drinks. It even dishes out daily drink specials, so you could actually lounge poolside all day. What’s more, it even has live music on some days and serves light bites like sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and burgers. This resort is popular with families during summer, so it can get crowded with children.

The best part? If you buy drinks and food, then you’re welcome at the pool even if you aren’t staying here. Plus, it allows you free access to a lounge chair and a beach towel. The hotel was founded in 1952 and has a gym and saunas, in case you’re planning to stay here. Plus, the rooms are really nice and spacious and decked out with all mod-cons possible.

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The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas Tampa

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The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas Tampa pool is one of the hotel pools in Tampa, FL. Overlooking Old Tampa Bay, the pool offers stunning views of the Tampa Bay areas across the water. The stunning kidney-shaped heated pool is perfect for a dip, after which you can retire to the decadent-looking grey and white loungers. What’s more, you even have a bunch of furnished cabanas to choose from if you want to splash. You can order cocktails and food from the WTR Pool Grill, which has an unending roster of pool events. While it’s free to use during weekdays, even for those not staying here, there’s a nominal charge on weekends. Usually, there are charity events on Friday nights, and they have cover charges on Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, it’s $10; on Sundays, it’s $20 for men and $10 for women.

Staying at Godfrey has a different charm, with all the views and the perfect location over Tampa Way. The rooms are also excellent and modern, as are the rest of the facilities. The pool is the main attraction, and it’s easy to see why.

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Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel 

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Best waterfront pool. Downtown Tampa location? Check. Right on the Riverwalk? Check. A pool? Double-check! Welcome to the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel, which has one of the best hotel pools in Tampa. The stunning, turquoise, freeform pool directly overlooks the Riverwalk and is one of the most picturesque places in the city to cool down. The poolside is fringed with foliage, lending the place a cozy and inviting look. After enjoying a dip, retire to one of the daybeds with million-dollar views. Although there’s no poolside service, the poolside grill and bar are right there. So, after a lounge, you can head a few steps over, sit at one of the tables underneath the umbrellas, and enjoy a cozy meal.

The Sheraton makes for one value Downtown Tampa stay. Most of the city’s best sights are close by, and the Riverwalk is a great place to enjoy morning and evening walks. The hotel itself also has a free area shuttle, a tour desk, a fitness center, and a business center. Moreover, the rooms are contemporary with all modern offerings.

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Aloft Tampa Downtown

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There’s nothing you won’t like about the sensational pool area at Aloft Tampa Downtown. One of the best hotel pools in Tampa, FL, the pool area overlooks the Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River. It’s one of the prettiest settings ever, with the cute plunge pool taking center stage. You can order drinks from the pulsating glass-cubed WXYZ Lounge next door as you lounge on the bright orange loungers after a swim. You can even order small bites from the 24-hour Re:fuel snack bar or even the hotel’s dine-in restaurant. The best part is that the pool is open only to those staying here throughout the year.

The Aloft brand is known for its contemporary design, which extends from the lobby to the restaurant to the rooms. Free Wi-Fi aside, the hotel also boasts a business center, a fitness center, and a shared lounge. The rooms have incredible views out of floor-to-ceiling windows. In fact, some of the select suites even have excellent balconies with views of the river.

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The Hollander

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Best value for money. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel with a pool, then the charming Hollander has one of the best hotel pools in Tampa. Located actually in Downtown St. Petersburg, the Hollander Hotel is perfect for your Sunday afternoon poolside lazing. Even if you aren’t staying here, you can use the pool for free between 2 and 5 p.m. But did you know that you can even rent a cabana? While the cabana rent is $100 on weekdays and $150 on weekends, anything you spend on drinks and food from the Tap House Grill and Bar goes against the rental fee, making it totally worth it. The pool is itself one great place for a dip and is fringed by cushy loungers and potted plants, lending it a warm vibe.

You will love this place if you stay here even for one day. Besides the pool, it also has a coffee shop and the most decadent spa. After a long day of exploring the Tampa Bay area, we cannot think of anything better. Moreover, the rooms are amazing with all modern creature comforts, so staying here is one comfortable experience.

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The Don CeSar Beach Hotel

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Best pool scene. A visit to Tampa is incomplete without a pool experience at the Don CeSar Beach Hotel, which is famous as Florida’s “pink palace.” The Barbie-colored beach hotel has one of the hottest hotel pool scenes in Tampa, FL, and you can spend time here even if you aren’t staying here. After an invigorating dip in the pool’s cool waters, retire to one of the lounge beds and look out to the ocean. While perched here, you can even order drinks from the Beachcomber Bar and Grill by the pool. The day pass costs $50 and will get you access to both the poolside and the fitness center, as well as the hotel’s signature white and blue towels. That said, the hotel offers the day pass only when they aren’t operating at full capacity, so make sure to call the Don Club first.

Besides the pool scene, there’s more than one reason this hotel is so popular. The hotel boasts a fancy spa where a massage or treatment takes away all your stress. Moreover, the hotel has a boatload of facilities, including high-end shops, an ice cream parlor, a restaurant, and a stunning Gulf of Mexico view. If that wasn’t enough, it also happens to be one of the best gay friendly hotels in St. Petersburg‘s vicinity.

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Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection

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The Epicurean Hotel boasts one of the best hotel pools in Tampa. The lovely, cyan-colored plunge pool is set in a lush, tranquil backyard surrounded by Tampa Bay foliage. White loungers sit underneath pretty red parasols and offer the perfect place to unwind right in the heart of Tampa. Although the hotel doesn’t offer day passes, you can get pool access by booking any service at the Evangeline spa. That’ll get you access to both the pool and the fitness center. The best part is that there’s a poolside service available from the lobby bar. Moreover, the pool is heated and so can be used throughout the year.

Apart from the stunning pool, the Epicurean Hotel is also one of the best hotels in Tampa, FL. The property features an Epicurean theater where chefs showcase wine pairing, cooking techniques, and mad mixology skills. The hotel also has a concierge service, a business and fitness center, and a coffee house and restaurant on-site. The rooms are luxurious spaces, to say the least, complete with minibars, huge windows, and plush bathrooms

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Postcard Inn On The Beach

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Best day use. The pool at the Postcard Inn On The Beach is one of the hippest hotel pools in Tampa, FL. It also has one of the most versatile pool policies around. So, to use the pool, you need to have a room here. However, you don’t need to necessarily stay the night as the inn offers even day rates between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.! That said, the availability dips during tourist season, and rates vary, so call and book ahead.

That said, the pool area is as heavenly as it gets, with a long, languid-looking pool as the epicenter. Canary-yellow daybeds sit beneath white parasols to shield you from the Floridan sun. A mix of 80s and indie tunes plat at the pool, which even has a selection of poolside mattresses for a mid-morning siesta. The cherry on top is that you can order drinks from the PCI Beach Bar, which is a rage for its cocktails.

Overall, the kitschy, retro hotel is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a thriving, pulsating scene. Activities from billiards to volleyball to board games make this a great place to visit with friends.

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Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa

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The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa also has what is one of the best hotel pools in Tampa. The huge, pink-hued hotel, not unlike Don Cesar, is the centerpiece of Clearwater Beach’s BeachWalk promenade. The eight-floor, long plunge pool at the Hyatt is nothing short of a beachside paradise and sits on a large deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. You need to be staying here to enjoy a dip and sprawl on the comfy loungers, but the hotel also sells day passes for $30 for adults. It’ll get you access to the pool and allow you to order drinks from the poolside bar. It’ll also get you the Hyatt-issued white and blue striped towel, which is a must if you’re at the poolside. If you want to splash, go for the heavenly, climate-controlled cabana.

Staying at the hotel has its own set of perks. You can pamper yourself at the Sandava Spa or work out any time you want at the 24-hour fitness center. Besides the poolside restaurant, the hotel also has three other restaurants and a kids’ club. The rooms and suites are equally swish with all modern creature comforts.

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Tradewinds Resort

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You cannot go wrong with the pool, or rather pools, at the Tradewinds Resort, which has one of the most indulgent hotel pools in Tampa, FL. The main kidney-shaped pool boasts one of the most gorgeous vistas you’ll ever see in your life. White sands stretch out in front, with the cerulean Gulf of Mexico just beyond to as far as your eye can see. Enjoy a plunge in the cool waters before retiring to the pool deck fringed with palm trees. The other pool has a superb pool bar from which you can order a litany of cocktails befitting a Floridian vacation. Moreover, the day pass that costs $45 is the best money you’ll spend in your life. It includes access to both outdoor pools plus the kids’ pool with water slides and whatnot.

The resort is the true-blue version of an all-inclusive and laid-back Floridian holiday. The place features five drinking and dining options, a heavenly spa, two tennis courts, and two hot tubs. And, of course, there’s an endless roster of water and beach activities on the offer right out front. Even the rooms and suites here are grand, spacious, modern, and even with spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico.

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Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

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The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino pool is hands down the best hotel pool in Tampa. The long, narrow, walk-in pool is as sexy as it gets, complete with a brand-new pool deck. The place is sprinkled with daybeds and cabana-style chickees where you can relax and order drinks and cocktails from the dazzling bar. The thatched-roof chickees were originally used by Seminole Indians for shelter, hence the name. the best part is that each has lounge chairs, couches, mini-fridges, and a TV, and it is the ultimate in poolside decadence. If you have deep pockets, want to splurge, or are traveling with friends, then the chickees are the way to go. The standard ones are available for $125 between Monday and Thursday and $200 on weekends. What’s more, the hotel even hands out a day pass for pool access if you aren’t staying here.

If you’re on an out-and-out beachside vacation in Florida, then there’s no place better to stay than here. The resort features a casino, a concert venue, 20 bars, and 13 restaurants, apart from a spa and excellent accommodations.

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Our Verdict!

While all the hotels on this list are amazing, some are better than the rest. We bring these amazing hotels together in this specialily curated list based on their best attributes:

• Best value for money: The Hollander
• Best day use pool: Postcard Inn On The Beach
• Best boutique: Tahitian Inn Boutique Hotel
• Best waterfront pool: Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel
• Best pool scene: The Don CeSar Beach Hotel

Where to Stay in Tampa?

Tampa is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated destinations in Florida. It has so much to see, right from a well-preserved history and diverse culture to top-notch museums and a thriving restaurant scene. So, choosing what neighborhood you want to live in before zeroing in on a hotel is important. To begin with, you have Downtown, which is ideal for first-time visitors and culture vultures. The well-connected neighborhood sits at the heart of the city and is its central business district. What’s more, it’s also home to a bunch of incredible sights, restaurants, and cultural institutions. Secondly, there’s Tampa Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tampa. It’s tucked between North Tampa and Downtown and is a great base for exploring Ybor City. If you’re a budget-conscious traveler, then this is where you should stay.

Then again, we have revamped the historic district of Ybor City, which lies right next to Downtown Tampa. The 1880s-founded neighborhood is the hub for the city’s nightlife and also has a smattering of its best galleries and museums. Hyde Park, on the other hand, is trendy, upscale, and one of the coolest districts in Tampa. It’s also one of the six historic districts in the city and is the perfect place for fans of architecture and heritage structures. Finally, there’s North Tampa, home to a cluster of exciting attractions. Its centerpiece is the sprawling 335-acre Busch Gardens.

If you’re exploring the surrounding region to the east, then check out the best hotels in Kissimmee and even the best hotels in Downtown Orlando. If you’re headed east towards the Gulf of Mexico coast, then you might want to look up the best hotels in Clearwater, a charming coastal town less than half an hour away.

Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Tampa:

• Oxford Exchange: This amazing place is part restaurant, part bookstore, and completely magical! For an quintessentially English experience, book the Sunday brunch with scones, sandwiches, tea, and desserts served in a traditional British manor. The best bit? Breakfast is served all day, every day! So, you can indulge in their signature warm cinnamon rolls loaded with fresh strawerries and cream cheese glaze even at 3 pm.
• Council Oak Steaks and Seafood: This restaurant which sits within the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa is all about good meat dishes. The steaks at this luxe restaurant are dry-aged on-site in rooms that are outfitted with pink Himalayan salt walls. It might sound like a spa for precious steaks, but it’s true! Your meal even has table-side caviar service.
• Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber – This 1948-established restaurant is something of an institution in Tampa. Dinner begins with a relish tray (unique to this place) before you can get started on crab cakes, baked potatoes, and fries, before moving on to dry-aged prime steaks. There’s even a piano player holding court, making it the perfect place to sip on the Beachcomber classic martini, complete with a sidecar.

Recommended Activities In Tampa:

• Tampa Guided City Tour in Deluxe Street Golf Cart: The city of Tampa was established way back in 1855, and you’ll learn all about that and more on this guided city tour. Board a deluxe street golf cart and see the sights of Tampa in a fun and eco-friendly way. These include its best neighborhoods, including Ybor City, Hyde Park, and Bayshore Boulevard, as well as sights such as the Florida Aquarium, Tampa’s oldest restaurant, as well as the world’s largest Spanish restaurant.
• St. Petersburg Sunset Cruise with Sunshine Skyway Bridge: What better way to wrap up the day in Tampa than watch a Floridian sunset on a cruise? This St. Petersburg cruise sails around Tampa Bay and drifts under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, affording mesmerizing views of the city skyline. Catch dolphins jumping over the waves and listen to the sounds of the ocean as you sip and snack on food and beverages.