Advice re hotel pool

[PoolQuandry]

I haven't been in a swimming pool for several decades due to body image issues.

I've recently swam in the sea and want to try swimming in the pool at the hotel I'm currently staying in.

I don't understand hotel pool etiquette. I've never been in one.

Do I need goggles and a swimming cap? Do I go down fully clothed and change in the changing rooms down there?

I could ask reception these questions but I wanted to keep the stupid questions to a minimum if possible. Thanks in advance.

No need for goggles and a swimming cap unless you particularly want to protect your eyes or avoid your hair getting wet. Usually going down to the pool with your swimsuit underneath - like under a kaftan - is completely fine and you just take your towel with you and disrobe by the poolside. Then after the swim the main thing is to avoid trailing water everywhere, so either sit on a lounger until you are dry enough or else change in the changing rooms before going back inside. Enjoy your swim!

Ask the hotel re the swimming hat, most where I am require them to be worn but some don’t.

Most hotels you put on your cozzie and cover it with either a dress or sarong. You then take off the cover before you swim. That's assuming it's an hotel in a hot place with an outdoor pool I've never used an indoor pool in an hotel but suspect it's similar

For an indoor pool, you take your stuff with you and get changed down there. You normally get a locker to put your stuff in, so you might need a pound coin if it’s an old style.

You don’t need to wear goggles or a hat unless you want to. But it’s normal to have a quick shower before you get in the pool (in your costume).

And absolutely nobody will be looking at you, because they’ll all be worried about their own bits.

I'm a fat cow and I don't care who sees me at the pool 😅 I avoid bikinis to protect people's eyes though.

Honestly no one cares and no one will think about you.

Wear a swimming costume underneath a dress and take it off by the pool.

We usually put swimsuits on under clothes, down to the pool and use the changing rooms. This just avoids being in too many public areas with not much on.

You only need goggles if you use them and swimcaps depend on the pool. I swim weekly and I don't use one.

I usually pop to the pool in comfy clothes with my swimsuit underneath (don’t forget to bring your knickers though) leave any valuables in your room just in case they lockers are not very secure. There will usually be lockers with a code or sometimes a coin.
Hotel pools almost always provide towels so no need to bring one from your room, a lot of hotel pools require swim caps, the usually sell them for a few bob but best to bring one along if you have it. Bring a mini shower gel and shampoo for afterwards too! And enjoy your swim ❤️

Depends which country you are in - some will require caps. Take flip flops, goggles optional.

Enjoy 🏊🏻‍♀️

Advice might be different depending where you are - eg if a UK based hotel - maybe go down with swimsuit on and the fluffy robe? (or they may have changing rooms)
If in a European beach resort, throw a beach dress over swimsuit and slip it off poolside.
Sit on a lounger or chair poolside to relax - then you can observe where the pool steps/showers/ access points are - and go in when you have found your confidence and bearings.
Avoid wrapping a towel tightly around your torso and looking uncertain, drape it casually over one shoulder, walk confidently, look nonchalant and confident 😃
Hat and goggles not normally a requirement in UK (can be different in Europe)

In a hotel pool you can generally either go fully clothed and get changed in the changing room they have there (be aware that small hotel pools don't always have individual cubicles but will at least have separate male / female changing rooms), or you can change in your room and wear a robe to / from the pool (my preference unless the pool is in an outbuilding!).
Goggles and hats are usually optional.

Enjoy your swim!

I’m self conscious. I wear a costume under clothes then take off clothes in changing room. Some hotel inside pools have hooks on the pool side, so you can wrap a towel around yourself and hang it up before getting in the pool (also useful, is sometimes there are keys for the lockers, often they have a safety pin on and you can pin it to your towel).

Afterwards I stay in my costume for a shower and wash my hair. If there’s no cubicles to change in then I get dressed in the loo!

The most important thing is, if you wear your costume down to the pool under your clothes, DON’T FORGET YOUR BRA AND KNICKERS!

Thanks a million for all the advice! I really appreciate it. I didn't make it there this morning so I'll try again tomorrow.

Don't forget a hair brush and plastic bag to put wet stuff in. Worth asking if you need a towel as many charge for pool towels, and flip flops are useful.

It depends where you are! In the U.K. at indoor pools mostly they have changing rooms, goggles and hats are optional. Overseas in resorts it's normal to throw a cover up eg sarong or sun dress over your costume and walk down from your room, hats and goggles tend to be optional in outdoor pools BUT it's worth taking a swim hat in your case as I've been in pools in Spain which required them eg spa hotels with indoor pools. I keep my swim hat in my case.

Oh and take flip flops as been to pool which it is compulsory in Spain again indoor pools. The cheap plastic kind, £1 In primark type.

@XelaM

I don't care and wear my bikini ... rolls of flab are apparently a turn on in some places