Know what's better than drifting along a lazy river in an idyllic vacation destination? Nothing, that's what! As a hotel pool fanatic, I'm always seeking new pools to add to my family's must-swim list. I asked some discerning, globetrotting travel bloggers to share their picks for the best hotels with lazy rivers. Of course, I included a few of my favorites as well. Float along with me as we explore, in no particular order, the 13 best hotels with lazy rivers!
The lazy river at Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World is so fabulous, your kids may opt to float rather than visit the Disney parks (Photo credit: Eric Stoen)
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1. Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World – Orlando, Florida
The Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World is one of my family's favorite hotels in the world, and it has our favorite lazy river anywhere. In fact the hotel/pool/kids club/lazy river setup is so great that we’ve been there three times and we still haven’t made it over to the nearby Disney parks! The lazy river itself is never crowded, and the setting is gorgeous as you float around the hotel grounds. I usually try to avoid the waterfalls and people squirting water from above, but my kids love those elements. And even when I’m at the hotel without my kids, I love sitting on a tube and relaxing as the current sends me around, loop after loop. I definitely prefer it to the adult pool that doesn’t go anywhere!
~ Eric Stoen, Travel Babbo
Glide around the whole state in an inner tube in the Texas-shaped lazy river at Marriott Marquis Houston (Photo credit: Claudia Laroye)
2. Marriott Marquis Houston – Houston, Texas
Waikolohe Stream meanders through Aulani's impressive pool area (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)
3. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa – Oahu, Hawaii
Waikolohe Stream, Aulani's lazy river, winds its way through palm trees and sweet-scented tropical plants like plumeria, pikake, and ginger. Playful fountains spray water at riders. (These can be avoided if you choose.) My favorite part is riding through a tunnel in a manmade volcano structure. Bubbles flow up from the river's floor in this volcanic cave, surprising riders on their first float. Once Hawaii was chosen as the location for the first Disney hotel not adjacent to a theme park, Disney CEO Bob Iger told his staff, “Let's build the greatest pool in the Hawaiian islands.” He may well have succeeded. Aulani boasts not only an impressive lazy river, but also two splash play zones, two waterslides, four whirlpool spas, a massive zero entry pool, and even a manmade snorkeling lagoon.
~ Colleen Lanin, Travel Mamas
Rio Selva is an actual river at Hacienda Tres Ríos (Photo credit: Green Global Travel)
4. Hacienda Tres Ríos – Playa del Carmen, Mexico
When is a hotel's lazy river more than just another hotel's lazy river? When it's an ACTUAL river. The Rio Selva connects the brilliant blue waters of Cenote Aguila to the Caribbean Sea. It's part of the Tres Ríos Nature Park at Hacienda Tres Ríos, a surprisingly sustainable all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. And trust us when we tell you that it's amazing! Imagine floating in cool, crystal clear waters through a lush mangrove forest, with schools of fish swimming below you and birds in the trees around you. It's a gorgeous, tranquil place, and during our float we didn't see a single other soul. Bliss!
~ Bret Love and Mary Gabbett, Green Global Travel
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point's lazy river is so relaxing, you may never want to leave (Photo credit: Hyatt)
5. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa – Naples, Florida
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge's pool complex and lazy river are sure to wow your family (Photo credit: JW Marriott Desert Ridge)
6. JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa – Phoenix, Arizona
Float into the past at the retro Cabana Bay Beach Resort (Photo credit: Universal Orlando)
7. Universal Orlando's Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Orlando, Florida
Beaches Negril's lazy river is just one fabulous part of their on-site waterpark (Photo credit: Beaches Negril)
8. Beaches Negril – Negril, Jamaica
The all-inclusive Beaches Negril will tickle your pool-loving soul. Their oceanfront Pirate's Island Waterpark includes a toddler splash area, two large and winding waterslides, a huge whirlpool, and three pools. Of course, you will want to spend lots of time on this resort's 650-foot-long lazy river, along which colorful faux animals squirt water at rafters. Leave your inner tube for a while and swim up to the smoothie bar where kiddies can drink their fill of concoctions with names like Chocolate Monkey and Pink Boots. What a refreshing way to vacation! (Read my full Beaches Negril review now!)
~ Colleen Lanin, Travel Mamas
Sail on over to the neighboring hotel via the Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah Resort's lazy river (Photo credit: Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah)
9. Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa – Muscat, Oman
Turquoise Place is a great choice for families who love lazy rivers and who want to stay at a condominium-style resort (Photo credit: Spectrum Resorts)
10. Turquoise Place – Orange Beach, Alabama
Grand Hyatt Kauai's lazy river is lazy indeed (Photo credit: Sara Wellensiek)
11. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa – Kauai, Hawaii
The Grand Hyatt Kauai is one of the best hotels in Hawaii. The multi-level pools — with salt water lagoon, 150-foot waterslide, and lazy river — are where this property really shines. You can relax the day away floating around the black lava rock-lined lazy river, complete with waterfalls, caves, and seating nooks. While the river doesn't really flow like many lazy rivers do, there's ample area to float around and explore. Plus, the views and atmosphere are pure paradise. Pro tip: If you want to forgo paying the fee to rent or buy an inner tube at the resort, make a quick stop at the store to pick up your own before heading to the hotel.
~ Sara Wellensiek, Mom Endeavors
Warm up in the lazy river at Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia (Photo credit: Omni Homestead Resort)
12. The Omni Homestead Resort – Hot Springs, Virginia
History mixed with modern amenities — that’s what families experience when they check into the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. This timeless hotel is a tranquil oasis with natural mineral springs filling its pools. The pool area, called Alleghany Springs, is a two-acre water park with a leisurely 400-foot lazy river, two 100-foot thrilling water slides, a kids water-play zone and sandy beach. The pool is surrounded by gorgeous views of the Allegheny mountains. Even in the summer, temperatures can be chilly, but the pool is heated for those crisp days. The lazy river and water slides are open daily from 10am to 6pm.
~ Leigh Hines, HinesSiteBlog
Take your pick of two rivers at Atlantis Paradise Island – one lazy and one thrilling (Photo credit: Atlantis Paradise Island)
13. Atlantis Paradise Island – Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island boasts not one, but two lazy rivers for your floating pleasure. Choose the Lazy River Ride for a relaxing journey along a quarter-mile river. More adventurous resort goers will want to experience The Current — a mile-long inner tube ride that includes water escalators, rolling waves and extreme rapids. Water is the main attraction at Atlantis, with more than 18 waterslides and 11 distinct swimming pools. The fun doesn't stop there, though. Read about the top 20 things to do at Atlantis Paradise Island.
~Colleen Lanin, Travel Mamas
Save this list of best hotels with lazy rivers
If you love lazy rivers as much as I do (and I think you do!), then you will want to save this list of the best hotels with lazy rivers. Go ahead and pin the image above for future travel planning!
For additional swoon-worthy hotel pools, take a look at the best hotel pools for kids in the USA or this round-up of incredible hotel spa pools.
Which of these hotels with lazy rivers looks most dreamy to you? Let us know in the comments below!
What an amazing list! Any of these would be a family fun vacation destination.
Agreed – you really can’t go wrong with any of these family-friendly hotels!
Thanks Colleen!!!!
You’re most welcome!
Who wouldn’t love to spend a weekend (or more!) at one of these fabulous places? The Resort and Spa in Hawaii caught my eye!
Oh yes, that pool at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa does look especially dreamy!
Hands up I love a good lazy river, I mean who doesn’t just love relaxing and gently bobbing along. These all sound like some amazing places to go and stay and relax.
I may need to spend some time at a water park now…I’m getting lazy river fever! 🙂
I am not much for pools, but I can be in a lazy river all day long! I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity to stay at any of these hotels!
I can’t think of a better way to while away a day than on a sweet lazy river!
I could lazy river it for days on end. All these resorts look so inviting!
Seriously…a lazy river at a fab hotel is my happy place!
This is a great list! Awesome suggestions! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for this list! I love lazy river rides! I have to make it to one of these hotels/resorts this summer. OMG, my inner mermaid is screaming to get out and have some fun!
Let the inner mermaid free! 🙂
OMG! I gotta hide this list from our son. He LOVES hotels/resorts with great pools & lazy rivers. If he sees this he’ll flip!
LOL! Don’t hide the lazy rivers…plan a trip with your son! #momoftheyear
I love hotels that have Lazy Rivers! I’ve been to one in Palm Springs and loved it. This looks like a great list.
Palm Springs really has some incredible hotel pools!
These hotels looks so amazing!
Hacienda Tres Rios sounds amazing. I would love to float down an actual river and relax!
Doesn’t that sound amazing?! Love unique experiences like that!
Great list, however Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon should be on it, imo. Although it isn’t directly attached to a hotel, there are plenty in area to chose from.
Hi Kel – I bet Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is amazing! This list is all about lazy rivers at hotels, though. Thanks for the input!
Arizona Grand in Phoenix has a wonderful lazy river as well!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! There really are so many fabulous hotel pools in Phoenix and Scottsdale!
Hey, can you say which hotel is the most exclusive? I just took the family to the Gaylord Palms in Orlando and it was absolutely swamped with a lot of things we didn’t really want to experience…like super revealing bathing suits and beer guzzling….:( don’t mind paying more to stay away from that, thanks!
Hi Eli – I would say that most of these hotels would fit the bill. In particular, Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa – Muscat in Oman is a good choice if you want to avoid lots of alcohol consumption since alcohol is limited in that country and public drunkenness is highly frowned upon even at hotels. Other good options include the high-end Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World and family-focused Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Oahu, Hawaii. I hope you find a great fit and have a fabulous time floating on their lazy river!