Best Hotels with a Pool in Alice Springs
A pool matters more in Alice Springs than in most places, because the desert days are hot and the town is a base for outings rather than a beach resort. Four properties here have an outdoor pool: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, with a heated pool and a spa bath, DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs, with two tennis courts, Alice On Todd Apartments, with self-catering apartments, and Quest Alice Springs, with an alfresco barbecue area. I would choose by what else you want around the pool: a casino, sports, a kitchen or a barbecue.
Alice Springs is a desert town in the middle of Australia, with long hot days, the MacDonnell Ranges on the horizon and the Todd River running through it. It is small and easygoing, and most visitors use it as a base for the Outback. In that climate a pool is more than an extra: it is where the afternoon goes, between a morning outing and a cool evening.
Four Pools in Alice Springs Compared
In Alice Springs a pool is the place to be in the middle of the day, when it is too hot to be outside for long, so it is worth choosing a hotel where it is a proper feature. All four properties below have an outdoor pool, and they add different things around it. I would pick by the rest of the stay, not by the pool alone, since the pools themselves are described only briefly.
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters lists a heated pool and a spa bath, which makes it the best choice here if warm water matters, with a 24-hour fitness centre and an on-site casino. It is at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges, and rooms have a balcony or patio. The hotel is next to the Alice Springs Convention Centre and Golf Course, and the Desert Park is a short drive away. It rates 8.3 from more than 2,000 reviews, so the score rests on a large sample. I would pick it for a full-service hotel with a pool that works at any time of year.
DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs has an outdoor pool, two tennis courts and a fitness centre, with a golf course next door. It is described as a family-friendly hotel in central Australia, with renovated rooms and suites, within walking distance of town and 15 km from the airport. It rates 8.4 from nearly 1,300 reviews, the highest in this group. I would choose it for families and active travellers who want a pool together with tennis, and who like being able to walk into town for dinner after a day in the sun.
Alice On Todd Apartments offers self-catering accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, ideal for families and pet owners. Each apartment has a kitchenette or kitchen, laundry facilities and a private balcony or patio, and the property is a minute's walk from the Todd River and a short drive from the town centre and the golf course. It rates 8.2 from 337 reviews and is a three-star property. I would choose it for a longer stay with children or a pet, when a pool plus a kitchen and laundry is more useful than hotel services.
Quest Alice Springs has modern serviced studios and apartments with free WiFi and free parking, an outdoor swimming pool and an alfresco barbecue area. It is very close to the CBD, the Convention Centre and Lasseters Casino, and it rates 8.2 from 321 reviews. The description calls it ideal for families or couples exploring the Outback. I would pick it for a compact central base where the pool and the barbecue area make an easy evening, particularly if you are driving yourself and want free parking at your door. Its description mentions no spa or children's pool, so I would not expect either, and I would treat the pool and barbecue area as the main attractions.
A traveler's takeI would choose Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters if the pool is the main point, since it lists a heated pool and a spa bath, and it sits at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges. For a family with active children, I would pick DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs for its pool and two tennis courts. For a kitchen next to the pool, I would book Alice On Todd Apartments.
PoolDoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
★4.2Family hotel with a pool and tennis, next to the golf course and close to town
Why guests love itDoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs suits families who want to stay active. There is an outdoor pool, two tennis courts and a 24-hour fitness centre, with a golf course next door and the town within walking distance. Almost 1,300 guests rate it 8.4. Our editorial advice: plan MacDonnell Ranges outings for the cooler morning hours and keep afternoons for the pool and the courts.
PoolCrowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters by IHG
★4.2Outback comfort with a heated pool, spa, and casino at the MacDonnell Ranges' foot
Why guests love itCrowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters sits at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges, with rooms that have a balcony or patio. There is a heated pool, a spa bath, a 24-hour fitness centre and an on-site casino, and the Convention Centre and golf course are next door. The Desert Park is a short drive away. More than 2,000 guests rate it 8.3. My advice: ask for a balcony room facing the ranges.
PoolAlice On Todd Apartments
★4.1Self-catering apartments with a pool, pet-friendly, near Todd River
Why guests love itAlice On Todd Apartments is a self-catering stay in Alice Springs that suits families and pet owners. Each apartment has a kitchenette or kitchen, laundry facilities and a private balcony or patio, and there is an outdoor swimming pool to cool off in. It is a minute's walk from the Todd River and a short drive from the town centre and golf course. I would choose it for self-sufficient space and a pool, with a car to reach the centre.
PoolQuest Alice Springs
★4.1Modern serviced apartments with a pool, close to Alice Springs CBD
Why guests love itQuest Alice Springs offers modern serviced studios and apartments very close to the CBD, a handy starting point for families heading into the Outback. The outdoor swimming pool is welcome after a dusty day, and the alfresco barbecue area makes for simple dinners under the desert sky. WiFi and parking are free. More than 320 guests rate it 8.2. My advice: choose an apartment over a studio with children, and start day trips early to beat the heat.
Local tips
- 1Use the pool in the heat of the day and keep outings for the morning and late afternoon.
- 2Choose Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters if you want a heated pool and a spa bath, as both are listed.
- 3Pick DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs if you want tennis courts as well as a pool, as it has two.
- 4Book Alice On Todd Apartments if you want a kitchen and laundry beside the pool, or if you are travelling with a pet.
- 5Use the barbecue area at Quest Alice Springs for an easy evening after a day of outings.
- 6Check recent reviews for the smaller properties, as Alice On Todd and Quest each have fewer than 350 reviews.