Summer’s here and if you don’t want to get sunburned or sweat all over your clothes, then you should consider taking a dip in one of Hong Kong’s many pools. It’s not only a fun activity to do with your friends, family or loved ones, but it also has numerous health benefits. Not only is swimming a low-impact workout, but it can also help with weight loss and even stress reduction.
But with the city’s pandemic still in full swing, public and government-run swimming pools may be overcrowded and not all are clean. Thankfully, there are plenty of hotels in the city that offer their guests the perfect pool staycation. From infinity pools overlooking Victoria Harbour to kid-friendly water zones, here are some of the best hotel pools you can visit this summer.
With a teaching pool, leisure pool and a special pool designed for toddlers, this is the perfect pool for families. But that’s not all, as it also has a large water slide that will keep older kids and teenagers entertained. This is a great place to bring the whole family, and you can even grab a bite to eat from the hotel’s pool bar while relaxing in the water.
Located on the 21st floor of the Harbour Grand Kowloon, this is a rooftop pool that provides sweeping views of Victoria Harbour. It has comfortable chaise lounges together with a whirlpool and bar, which makes it the ideal spot to relax after a long day in the city. Plus, you can enjoy a variety of food and drinks from the pool bar, including Alaskan king crab rolls and strawberry mirlitons.
The pool is only open to those staying at the hotel, but it’s worth the trip up to the top of the city for this beautiful pool. Not only does it have a stunning view, but it also has top-notch facilities, such as an infinity pool and an outdoor jacuzzi. Guests can also take advantage of a number of dining options, such as the burger bar and the cosy cocktail lounge.
The union said it was able to hire 14 lifeguards on Thursday, but around 20 public pools would only partially open this summer due to a shortage of staff. It added that private pools in residential buildings and hotels were offering much higher wages, with salaries often starting at HK$24,000 a month for both full-time and temporary lifeguards. It urged the department to make more efforts to recruit members of ethnic minorities to join its team. It also pledged to improve pay and sponsor lifeguards’ exam fees to attract more people to apply for the job. The union warned that if the government failed to find enough lifeguards, some pools might be forced to close this summer. Some secondary pools, such as those for training and diving, were particularly vulnerable to closures if there was no lifeguard available on the day.
