The world's 10 best most perfect pools, from St Lucia hideaways to Santorini


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You'll want to dive right in to these 10 perfect pools.

From glassy waters under the Pitons in St Lucia to a black-tiled pool offering perfect sunset views on the Uruguayan coast, these are the world's best infinity pools.

Compiled by luxury magazine Alto, the list includes three entries form Europe - in Spain, Greece and France - but is dominated by the Caribbean, which has no shortage of luxury resorts with spectacular pool settings.

Indonesia also has two entries in the top 10 and takes the number one spot for the Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali.

Height of luxury: The infinity pool at Alila Villas Uluwatu, in Bali, is perched 100m above the Indian Ocean

Height of luxury: The infinity pool at Alila Villas Uluwatu, in Bali, is perched 100m above the Indian Ocean

Caribbean charm: The first of St Lucia's two entries into the top 10 is Jad Mountain, with its spectacular views of the Pitons

Caribbean charm: The first of St Lucia's two entries into the top 10 is Jad Mountain, with its spectacular views of the Pitons

Glorious Greece: Santorini is famous for its amazing views and nowhere more than from the turquoise waters of the Grace Santorini

Glorious Greece: Santorini is famous for its amazing views and nowhere more than from the turquoise waters of the Grace Santorini

South American idyll: Uruguay's fashionable beach town of Jose Ignacio is graced by the Playa Vik hotel and it black-tiled infinity pool, which is the perfect spot for sunset

South American idyll: Uruguay's fashionable beach town of Jose Ignacio is graced by the Playa Vik hotel and it black-tiled infinity pool, which is the perfect spot for sunset

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1. Alila Villas Uluwatu - Bali, Indonesia

2. Jade Mountain, St Lucia

3. Grand Hotel Central - Barcelona, Spain

4. Parrot Cay by COMO - Turks and Caicos

5. Boucan by Hotel Chocolat - St. Lucia

6. Playa Vik José Ignacio - Uruguay

7. Grace Santorini - Santorini, Greece

8. Alila Villas Soori - Bali, Indonesia

9. Strawberry Hill - Jamaica

10. Domaine des Andéols - Provence, France

Sitting atop a 100m-high cliff and looking out over the Indian Ocean, the water in the pool appears to drop over the edge and into the sea. The hotel itself it dotted with patios and panoramic windows looking out on the azure waters.

Alila Villas Soori, the second Bali entry trades the height of Uluwatu for the rice terraces on Bali's south west coast - bit still promises those all-important sea views, placing it in eighth place.

The first of St Lucia's two entries makes it into second place, with Jade Mountain, which boasts more sea views, but with the added drama of the soaring Pitons as well.

 

In fifth place, the alternative St Lucia option for a perfect infinity pool is Boucan by Hotel Chocolat. It is set in, appropriately, the island's oldest cocoa estate by founders of chocolate firm Hotel Chocolat Peter Harris and Angus Thirwell, and its pool overlooks surrounding rainforest cloaked peaks.

Europe manages three entries, from France, Greece and Spain.

In France, the pool at the luxurious villa resort of Domaine des Andeols seems to merge with the surrounding lavender fields, while Barcelona's Grand Hotel Central has a pool offering panoramic views of one of Gaudi's glorious city.

At the Grace Santorini on the Greek Island of the same name, the soothing pool has views of the sea-filled crater and lava inlets that are set so high the experience is like looking out while swimming in an aeroplane.

Pools and palm trees: Strawberry Hill in Jamaica was set up by record industry legend Chris Blackwell

Pools and palm trees: Strawberry Hill in Jamaica was set up by record industry legend Chris Blackwell

City views: For a great lookout over Gaudi's glorious metropolis, head tot the Grand Hotel Central Barcelona

City views: For a great lookout over Gaudi's glorious metropolis, head tot the Grand Hotel Central Barcelona

Exclusive address: Parrot Cay by COMO is a luxury resort set on its own private island, with 1,000 unspoilt acres and mile-long beach

Exclusive address: Parrot Cay by COMO is a luxury resort set on its own private island, with 1,000 unspoilt acres and mile-long beach

Indonesian outpost: The second hote in Bali to bag a top spot is another Alila hotel, the spectacular Alila Villas Soori, set among rice terraces but with those all-important sea views

Indonesian outpost: The second hote in Bali to bag a top spot is another Alila hotel, the spectacular Alila Villas Soori, set among rice terraces but with those all-important sea views

Sweet treat: The Boucan by Hotel Chocolat is set in the grounds of St Lucia's oldest cocoa farm

Sweet treat: The Boucan by Hotel Chocolat is set in the grounds of St Lucia's oldest cocoa farm

French fancy: The luxury Provence villa resort Domaine des Andeols is set among colourful lavender fields

French fancy: The luxury Provence villa resort Domaine des Andeols is set among colourful lavender fields

South America has just one hotel in the top 10, but Playa Vik Jose Ignancio, in the celebrity-packed coastal village of Jose Ignacio has a pool where the lucky swimmers can enjoy both stunning sunsets and sunrises over the sea.

But of course, the Caribbean wins overall. Hill resort, in Jamaica's Blue Mountains, set up by record industry legend Chris Blackwell, has seen people like the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, and more recently Lauryn Hill and Naomi Campbell, taking in the whole of Kingston from it's pool.

And Parrot Cay by COMO on Turks and Caicos is a private-island luxury resort with opulent decor and the ultimate exclusive ambiance.




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