Of the 24 places to stay on our Bangladesh list, only nine have a swimming pool, so if a pool matters to your trip, it narrows the choice quickly. This guide brings together those nine places in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Sreemangal, Bandarban and Sajek Valley that do have a pool, and explains what kind of pool each one has. They range from rooftop pools in Sylhet city to infinity pools facing the sea or the hills.
Prices on the cards below are typical ranges, not quotes. Rates change with the season and room type, so always check live prices before you book.
Quick list
- Cox's Bazar: Sayeman Beach Resort (infinity pool facing the sea) and Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa (outdoor pools and a water park, at Inani)
- Sylhet city: Rose View Hotel (heated rooftop pool and a children's pool), Hotel Star Pacific (rooftop pool) and Nirvana Inn (swimming pool)
- Sreemangal: Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf (several outdoor pools, including an infinity pool and a children's pool) and Balishira Resort (private pools in its ground-floor couple villas)
- Bandarban: Sairu Hill Resort (outdoor infinity pool on the Chimbuk road)
- Sajek Valley: Sheari Eco Cottage Sajek (infinity pool included in the owners' package)
Cox's Bazar
In Cox's Bazar, the pools on our list are at two of the larger beach resorts: one in the main hotel zone and one further south at Inani.
Sayeman Beach Resort, Kolatoli
Sayeman's best-known feature is its infinity pool overlooking the sea, which has a separate section for children. The resort is in Kolatoli, the main hotel zone, so restaurants and the beach are close by. It suits travellers who want a sea-view pool without leaving the centre of town.
Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Inani
Sea Pearl is a large five-star resort beside Inani Beach on the Marine Drive coast, roughly 40 minutes by road south of Cox's Bazar town. Its facilities are extensive for the area: outdoor pools, a water park, a private beach for guests, a spa, a gym, a games zone and a 3D cinema. The water park makes it one of the strongest choices for families with children. Inani is quieter than Kolatoli, so plan on taking transport into town.
Sylhet city
Sylhet city's pools are mostly on hotel rooftops, which makes them a good option if you are using the city as a base for day trips to Jaflong, Ratargul and Bholaganj.
Rose View Hotel
Rose View Hotel has a heated rooftop pool and a separate pool for children, along with a Thai spa, a sauna, steam rooms and a gym. It is the only hotel on our list that advertises a heated pool, which makes it the best choice for a swim on cooler winter evenings. It is a good choice for families.
Hotel Star Pacific
Hotel Star Pacific, near the Hazrat Shah Jalal shrine at East Dargah Gate, has a rooftop swimming pool with views over the city, plus a gym and a 24-hour restaurant. It is a central, practical base with a pool at a mid-range price.
Nirvana Inn
Nirvana Inn in Mirzajangal has a swimming pool, a restaurant, rooftop dining and a banquet hall. It is one of the more affordable ways to get a pool in Sylhet city.
Sreemangal
Sreemangal, the tea capital of Bangladesh, has two very different pool options: a large full-service resort and a smaller resort with private pool villas.
Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf
Grand Sultan is a large resort on the Bhanugach road just outside Sreemangal, a short drive from Lawachara National Park. It has several outdoor pools, including an infinity pool and a children's pool, as well as a spa with a sauna and steam room, a gym, a tennis court and a 9-hole golf course. If you want a resort holiday where the pool is part of a full day of activities, this is the obvious choice.
Balishira Resort
Balishira Resort in Radhanagar works differently: its ground-floor couple villas each have their own private pool. That makes it one of the few places in the region where a couple can have a pool to themselves. If a pool matters to you, book one of those villas specifically, as the other room types don't include one.
Bandarban
Sairu Hill Resort
Sairu Hill Resort is on the Chimbuk road at Shualock, in the hills above Bandarban town. It has an outdoor infinity pool, a restaurant, a cultural deck and a children's play area. It is one of the most upmarket places to stay in the district, on a hilltop site looking out over forested valleys and the Sangu River. It is about an hour's uphill drive from town, and most guests arrive by hired car or jeep.
Sajek Valley
Sheari Eco Cottage Sajek
Of the six Sajek stays on our list, Sheari Eco Cottage in Ruilui Para is the only one with a pool: the owners' own package includes bottled water, breakfast, morning tea and use of an infinity pool. Each cottage has a private bathroom and a balcony with a hammock facing the hills.
Which pool suits your trip
- Families with children: Sea Pearl (water park), Grand Sultan (children's pool), Rose View (children's pool) and Sayeman (children's section in the infinity pool).
- Couples: Balishira's private pool villas, or the infinity pools at Sairu and Sheari for the hill views.
- Sea views: Sayeman in Kolatoli.
- Hill views: Sairu in Bandarban and Sheari in Sajek.
- City base on a budget: Nirvana Inn or Hotel Star Pacific in Sylhet.
- Winter swimming: Rose View's heated rooftop pool.
