Added the beloved day of February 16, 2009

One of our favorite things to do is to lounge by the pool and bask in the glorious sun with cerulean twinkling ripples at our feet and sparkling cosmopolitans at our fingertips. Ah, if only it weren't winter. Although we post all of our prettiments from our Pretty Patrol headquarters in La La, it has been so chilly and damp as of late that we've caught ourselves playdreaming of jaunts to all the fabulous pools in the world. And here we have our most prettious of posts on the prettiest swimming pools on the planet...

San Alfonso del Mar
Algarrobo, Chile

Of course, we can't cover them all, and we're sure there are countless other refreshing jewels out there, but we'll start with the largest swimming pool on Mother Earth, the pool of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile (pictured above). It's at the top of our must-see list, and for several mega-fabulous reasons, not least of which is that it's the largest expanse of our favorite shade of blue in the world. The swimming pool is so vast it practically has its own horizon, and it is perfectly clear of slimy, fishy swimming things and sharks. Ah, we imagine ourselves just drifting away into a daydream here with no worries about crowds or the mirky body soup they can create on hot summer days. San Alfonso del Mar is just simply too fantabulously spacious for words. And did we mention the resort is right on the coast with a beach, too? It's a twofer, only 90km from Santiago, too.

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The Palace of the Lost City
Sun City, South Africa

Last year we read a fabulous travel piece about this exceptionally fanciful and veritably palatial resort in South Africa, and we immediately jotted it down on our lifetime to-do list. Even just the one picture above conjures a fairytale in our minds, with princesses and treasures and gorgeous coteries of bejeweled attendants at your beck and call. Then the pool... The mere sight of the palace and lush environs from your poolside lounge must seem like you've transported yourself into a fantasyland. You must go to their site and look at all the photos, interiors and exteriors. It seems a delight we wish would exist in the States. For more info, we conveniently inserted a very compelling ditty from their website that should pique your curiosity well beyond mere piqueness:

"Nestled In the rolling hills of the Pilanesberg, one of South Africa's most scenic locations, Sun City is a world unto itself and has earned its reputation as Africa's Kingdom of Pleasure. Whatever you want, you'll find it at Sun City, from sizzling entertainment, world-class casinos and restaurants to cater for all tastes, to more relaxed poolside venues, quiet places, lush gardens and extensive sporting facilities including two world class golf courses. These are just some of the elements that make Sun City unique to the world's entertainment resorts. The Palace The Palace of the Lost City, fabled to be the royal residence of an ancient king, is truly the most extraordinary hotel in the world. The Palace lavishes its guests with 5 star service, and is luxurious in every facet of its fabulous architecture. The Palace is adorned with exquisite mosaics, frescoes, hand-painted ceilings - works of art you would find nowhere else in the world. The Palace has 338 rooms inclusive of four deluxe suites."

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Hotel Riu Palace
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

On our past tour of Cabo, our favorite pool was this one, primarily for the palatial feel (living up to the name) and the tile work in the infinity end of the pool with the amazing view. If you love a little classically influenced elegance in a resort, Riu Palace Los Cabos should delight you. With beautiful pools that make you feel like you're visiting a billionaire's estate, it's our choice for the most grand and all-around pretty resort within the pretty zone of Cabo San Lucas.

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The Spa Village at Pangkor Laut
Pangkor Laut Island, Malaysia

We haven't yet been fortunate to go to Malaysia, but Pangkor Laut is definitely on our list. The resort's fabulous pool overlooks the shores of the Strait of Malacca, which flows between Malaysia and Sumatra, and the spa specializes in Malay, Chinese, Indian and a number of exotic spa treatments. One of favorite touches to the resort is the floating of enormously gorgeous flowers in some of the pools -- they just look so pretty! Another pretty bonus is the peaceful absence of children, so you can sunbathe and self-gloriate without getting splashed or disturbed by little romper monsters.

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Hotel Caruso
Revello, Italy

Another destination on our lifetime to-do list is the Hotel Caruso, which is perched in an amazingly cinematic strata with historic homes and winding walkways. How divine. Oh, if escaping to the Amalfi coast of Italy didn't sound pretty enough, slipping into an infinity pool with perhaps one of the most gorgeous views in Europe just makes our troubles melt away. Don't even get us started on the Italian men and the amazing food... What a dream.

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Singita Sasakwa Lodge
Singita Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania

We've always wanted to go on a safari, and we've found our perfect place to launch our adventure, on the edge of untouched African wilderness. Before or after your tour of the wild, you can relax in a pool with a magnificent view of the plains of the Singita Grumeti Reserve in the Serengeti and just absorb the nature around you. The lodge is also exceptionally private with only nine cottages and a villa, and the price... well... ouch. You could stay here a week or buy a car. You chose. However, it's definitely worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

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Hilton Waikoloa Village
Waikoloa, Hawaii, United States

We've been to the Hilton Waikoloa a couple of times on the Big Island, and the several pools are the selling point for us, as the shoreline in Waikoloa is rocky coral along the resort's coast (although the sandy "A Bay" is accessible via a long trail). What we love most is the sheer size of the falls in the main pool. You can swim under and around them, and it's just fab -- plus, the sound of the falling water is so relaxing. We also seriously heart the special pool where you can swim with the dolphins... and the enormous lagoon where you paddleboat or kayak... and the view of the ocean of the main pool deck... and the... well, the fact you're in Hawaii! Although the Hilton Waikoloa is enormous, and is often considered the Disneyland of Hawaiian resorts (after all, it's so large it actually has a tram), it's also surprisingly quiet. You can stay in a bubble at the resort, adventure out to the rest of the island during the day and return at night without a worry.

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Banyan Tree Seychelles
Takemaka, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Did you know some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are in the Seychelles? Oh, we do, and we'll be saving up for years to make the journey half way around the globe to nestle our toes in its glorious sands. When we get there, we hope to afford the Banyan Tree, which has renowned eco-friendly and sustainable resorts, and relax in the fabulous pool overlooking the tropical vista. Then we plan to island hop around the island chain, which stretches 1,000 miles north of Madagascar, and explore all the famously beautiful strands.

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La Casa Que Canta
Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Ooh, another celebrity hot spot in Mexico. Who knew? We won't tell you who we saw here, but he was a hot-hot-hotty! La Casa Que Canta is known for its cozy, private pools that seem to merge with Zihuatanejo Bay below. You won't be pestered by obnoxious tourists here. Plus, the petite resort's architecture makes it an absolute Mexican charmer, and its location on the western Mexico coast is a nice change from the overdeveloped resort areas like Acapulco, which is about a four hour down the coast.

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Villa d'Este
Cernobbio, Italy

How about a luxurious estate that's more than 450 years old? The Villa d'Este is an Italian jewel that once was a royal residence until became a hotel in 1873. In the summer months, exploring the Renaissance gardens is like stepping into a movie, and we're sure many films have been shot here. Another brilliant touch is the floating pool deck which jutts out into Lake Como. Although the unique pool itself isn't chic and megafabulous in its own right, its simplicity accentuates the most amazing view of serene waters and the mountains in the distance.

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Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, United States

Ah, our all-time favorite fall-back pool destination in Vegas. Fortunately, we're only a short flight or four-hour drive away. The Mandalay Bay is renowned for its enormous wave pool, circling river and fabulous Moorea Beach club pool. We heart the cabanas to escape the insanely hot desert sun and the somewhat overburdernsome crowds. However, it's the perfect spot to play midweek hookie. If you're looking for the hottest party crowd however, you ought to head over to the Hard Rock pool. Woo! The boys there are simply gorgeous.