TAKE A DIP IN THE BIG APPLE
Visitors to New York City can beat the heat in pools at city hotels

Water lovers covet precious pool time, so it’s no wonder that a number of notable New York City hotels are making quite a splash with guests. Here’s where to check in when you’re in the mood for a swim in the Big Apple:

Look forward to lots of laps at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan (1605 Broadway, 212/977-4000, www.crowneplaza.com), home to a 50-foot indoor pool. On the 15th floor, this attractive amenity provides the perfect spot for stress relief. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 6am-10pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, and Sunday 8am-6pm. The pool is complimentary for Priority Club members, $10 for hotel guests, and $25 for non-guests.

In Brooklyn, the Golden Gate Motor Inn (3867 Shore Parkway, 718/743-3000, www.goldengateinn.com) offers an outdoor pool ideal for Marco Polo and other diversions. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the hours of operation are 10am-6pm, seven days a week. Access is also available to nonguests for $15 per day for adults and $7 for children under 12.

After settling in at the stylish Hotel Gansevoort (18 Ninth Ave., 212/206-6700, www.hotelgansevoort.com), take the elevator straight to the top floor, where a 45-foot heated outdoor, glass-enclosed pool features underwater music and beams of colorful light. In between swims and people watching, don’t forget to check out the amazing views of the city. Open 7am-11pm, 365 days a year.

The lobby pool with underwater music, terraced lounge seating, and adjacent bar at the Hotel QT (125 W. 45th St., 212/354-2323, www.hotelqt.com), the brand new Andre Balazs property in Times Square, is for guest-use only. Open 24 hours.

Unwind at Le Parker Meridien (118 W. 57th St., 212/245/5000, www.parkermeridien.com), where a penthouse pool provides the perfect retreat for relaxation and a sundeck offers scenic views of Central Park. The pool is available for use by hotel guests; others may purchase a $50 all-day pass, good access to its state-of-the-art workout facility and classes like yoga and cardio kickboxing. Pool hours are Monday-Friday 7am-10:45pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-7:45pm.

On the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental New York (80 Columbus Circle at 60th St., 212/805-8800, www.mandarinoriental.com), floor-to-ceiling windows light up an inviting 75-foot indoor lap pool. For those who want to enjoy a light workout, water weights, kickboards, and inflatable balls are available. Pool hours are Monday-Friday 6am-9pm, Saturday 7am-9pm and Sundays 7am-7pm. The pool is accessible for handicapped people, with an automated chair installed pool-side.

Linger longer at The Melrose Hotel (140 E. 63rd St., 212/838-5700, www.melrosehotel.com), as guests 18 years and older have access to an on-site Equinox Fitness Center and Spa and its adjoining 18-meter lap pool. Classes include Brazilian Body Surf, which combines cardiovascular and muscle conditioning drills taught using water resistance, and Swim Training for all levels. Open Monday 5:30am-10:30pm, Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am-7:30 pm. An all-day pass is $18.

Take a dip downtown at the Millenium Hilton (55 Church St., 212/693-2001, www.newyorkmillenium.hilton.com), the site of a 40-foot glass-enclosed indoor pool. For a day of total wellness, work out at the connecting fitness center and top it off with a few minutes in the sauna. Open Monday-Saturday 5:30am-10pm and Sunday 7am-10pm.

On the 27th floor of the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York (One United Nations Plaza, 44th St., 212/758-1234, www.millenniumhotels.com) there’s an urban oasis with a heated, 44-foot indoor pool, which is part of the on-site health club. Hours of operation are 7am-10pm, seven days a week. The pool is open to guests and members of the health club. The city’s only indoor hotel tennis court is also on property.

The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (333 Adams St., Brooklyn, 718/246- 7000, www.brooklynmarriott.com) is within the Renaissance Plaza, adjacent to the Metro Tech Center, and features a 12,000-square-foot health club with a lap swimming pool that is open Monday-Friday 6am-10pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am-7pm. Its Manhattan sister property, the New York Marriott at the Financial Center (85 West St., 212-385-4900, www.marriott.com) promotes family fun with both an indoor pool and children’s pool. Both are open Monday-Friday 6am-9pm, and Saturday-Sunday 8am-9pm. The pool is complimentary for hotel guests and $20 for non-guests.

Not only can water enthusiasts practice their backstroke in the pool at The Peninsula New York (700 Fifth Ave., 212/956-2888, www.peninsula.com), a Beaux Arts luxury hotel, they can enjoy a healthy spa cuisine lunch poolside, a relaxing whirlpool, or take a swimming lesson or invigorating class like Aqua Run or Aqua Kick Aerobics. Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-9:30pm and Saturday-Sunday 8:45am-6:30pm.

Guests and members of the on-site health club at the Sheraton Manhattan (790 Seventh Ave., 212-581-3300, www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton) can enjoy a swim in the 50-foot heated indoor pool, which is open Monday-Friday 6am-10pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-8pm. Water aerobics classes are available.

At the West Side’s Skyline Hotel (725 Tenth Ave., 212/586-3400, www.skylinehotelny.com), guests can head to the heated indoor pool on the penthouse floor of the west wing. Open Monday 6pm-10pm, Tuesday-Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday 1pm-6pm, and Sunday 9am-6pm.

Combine business with pleasure at the Trump International Hotel and Tower (One Central Park West, 888/448-7867, www.trumpintl.com) where a 55-foot lap pool provides the perfect boardroom break. Open 6:30am-9:30pm and Saturday-Sunday 8am-8pm.

Public Pools

In addition to hotels with pools, New York City has public pools including city pools (www.nycgovparks.org) and pools at health clubs and there’s also swimming at NYC’s public beaches. Some of the 18 branches of the YMCA of Greater New York (www.ymcanyc.org) have pools as does Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex (23rd St. and the Hudson River, 212/336-6800, www.chelseapiers.com; $50 day pass for nonmembers includes variety of sports).