Most travelers have an amenity that either makes or breaks a hotel reservation. For me, it’s the pool.
Each year, I spend about 60 nights in hotel rooms — but I’ll only book a stay after I’ve scanned a property’s website and socials to confirm it has a pool that looks like the epitome of relaxation.
Honestly, I care about having a pool more than I do a great view from my room or a rainfall shower. I love swimming, and I’m even happir when I can enjoy comfy lounge chairs and poolside service between dips.
Such lounging is exactly what I anticipated as I wheeled my carry-on past the pool during a late-night check-in at The Royal Sonesta Kaua’i resort in Lihue after a long travel day from the Midwest.
Per its website, this Royal Sonesta is home to Hawaii’s largest single-level outdoor pool. I couldn’t wait to take a dip and lounge poolside with a book the next day.
Much to my surprise, I kept skipping the pool
From above, the resort’s massive pool is shaped like a flower with lounge chairs and palm trees in the above-ground center that guests can swim (or walk a narrow path) to get to.
Surrounded by cabanas, hundreds of chaise lounge chairs, and massive stone creatures spouting water, it was picture-perfect.
The next morning, as I walked to breakfast, I was already calculating when I’d dive into that splendid pool a flight below me. Then, I found myself walking in the opposite direction, toward other parts of the resort.
Its lush tropical foliage, amazing upper-level coffee bar with gazebos overlooking the pool, and direct access to the nearby Kalapaki Beach lured me in.
The uncrowded beachfront with a quiet cove was just a five-minute walk from my room.
For the first two days of my stay, I nearly forgot about the pool I’d been so excited about.
Finally, on day three, I changed into my bathing suit and headed to the pool. I dropped my stuff off on a lounge chair and stepped into the water.
After 30 minutes, I got out — I was itching to enjoy more of the property and swim in the ocean right nearby. This was the last time I went in the pool during my four-night stay at the resort.
Throughout my trip, I had a blast on the property and other spots nearby, including the beach.
I swam in the ocean and lounged on the mostly empty, peaceful sands. I enjoyed tasty meals at Duke’s Kauai, just minutes away. The restaurant’s ice-cream-cake-like concoction, Hula Pie, was incredible.
Honestly, I had more fun watching koi fish in the property’s pond and the island’s famous chickens outside my patio door than I ever have at a pool.
Still, it looked nice — and I did order Mai Tais at the bar overlooking the pool.
I didn’t care much about the pool because I found so much to enjoy on and near the property
From now on, I may pay more attention if a resort has ocean (or even lake) access rather than focusing on whether it has a pool.
Swimming in an ocean can be superior to a man-made pool, especially if the surrounding area isn’t busy or is exclusively reserved for nearby hotel guests.
I still love private resort pools — and they can be a great way to dodge crowds at public beaches. However, there’s far more space to spread out in an ocean, the water feels less artificial, and nothing beats the experience of waves massaging your body and salt water exfoliating your skin.
So, yes, it turns out that what drew me to the resort in the first place ended up not being my favorite amenity.
Travel is supposed to be full of surprises, right? I sure learned that lesson at this hotel because I’d take another bite of that Hula Cake over a pool dip.
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