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Original poster

Saltwater pools

29 replies

eternalopt · 19/04/2023 06:55

Switching this year from usual camping in france to a package holiday. Most of the hotels we are looking at seem to have salt water pools which we've never encountered before. What are these like? I'm imagining water as salty as the sea dumped in a pool? Bit worried as last year, my youngest got a nasty heat rash that would sting if he went in the sea so he spent the whole holiday in the pool instead and that'll be no good if the pool is just as salty.

OP posts:
Icequeen01 · 19/04/2023 07:15

We had a salt pool in a lovely hotel we stayed in on Skiathos a few years ago. I have to say I didn't like it as I hate the feel of dried salt on my skin (which is why I rarely go into the sea). I hardly swam that year to be honest because of this.

My DH and DS who was a preteen at the time didn't seem too bothered by it. I'm not sure if the water came from the sea. It had a green hue to it and was not the lovely blue colour you normally expect to see in a pool.

Original poster
eternalopt · 19/04/2023 12:08

Hmm. Pools look blue in pics

OP posts:
StampOnTheGround · 19/04/2023 12:17

I can't stand them, but there are usually plenty of options not saltwater, I just close the tab as soon as I read that 😂

Original poster
eternalopt · 19/04/2023 12:46

A lot of Majorcan ones seem to be salt. What is it that you hated?

OP posts:
PieonaBarm · 19/04/2023 13:09

They're not like the saltiness of the sea. They're only vaguely salty. Most hotels over the world have them now, I only figured it out after about ten days when I licked my lips and it was a bit salty and I'd not eaten anything salty and DH said the pool was salt water.

DH gets terrible rashes from heat/sun cream/everything, he had an awful time as a child with eczema, and he's fine in them.

Sidge · 19/04/2023 15:15

I stayed at a hotel in Lanzarote with a saltwater pool - I didn't even realise at first, just wondered why there were SO many showers around the pool area!

It was fine, less salty than the sea. Just rinse after swimming.

HydrangeaFairy · 19/04/2023 16:54

We once had a holiday in Fuertaventura where there were salt water pools. MY DC were used to spending the best part of their 2 week holiday in the pool. They jumped in on the first day and absolutely hated it and wouldn't go in after one try. It ruined the holiday and I was very careful never to book a hotel with them again. DC now grown up.
It didn't bother me but then I only do a few lengths and get out. With the DC they were under water, diving etc.

StarsOnAMat · 19/04/2023 17:05

We had a saltwater pool in Tenerife last week. The kids didn’t mind and it was very clear but it felt a bit sticky afterwards so everyone def needed a shower. It was also a bit minging to taste when topping up the air in the inflatables.

QuickNameChangeForMeToday · 19/04/2023 17:09

I really dislike a saltwater pool and only swam twice in baking 40 degree heat on holiday to Greece a few years ago when I discovered it was saltwater.

Purplepepsi · 19/04/2023 19:35

Just make sure their skin is well moisturised before the holiday and when they are there so it doesn't sting. It was definitely better for my sons eczema than chlorine.

Nickinoo30 · 20/04/2023 07:35

First thing I check when looking. If its salt water its a no from me. My children (and me!) do not like it at all.

TruffleShuffles · 20/04/2023 07:40

A hotel I had previously visited changed their pool to saltwater and I was worried I would hate it. I didn’t notice a difference at all, it’s nothing like as salty as the sea.

00100001 · 20/04/2023 07:45

I can only presume it cheaper than chlorine in terms of maintenance, it seems to be more common now. Maybe the companies aren't storing and handling the horrible chemicals etc

We have a salt water toddler pool near us, it's strange at first, but fine really.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 20/04/2023 07:59

I have a saltwater pool (I am not in the UK). I much prefer it as it doesn't sting my eyes so much. Its nowhere near as salty as the sea, and I am surprised at people on here objecting, as most people I know prefer them! As for how it looks, its exactly the same turquoise blue as my neighbours chlorinated pool.

OoohWhatDoesThisButtonDo · 20/04/2023 08:03

Interesting that so many people dislike them! I actually prefer saltwater pools and so do my DC, as they can swim without goggles (unlike chlorine pools which sting their eyes). Like a PP, my DC's eczema is much better with salt water than chlorine as well.

Sidge · 20/04/2023 08:39

Yes I found my skin so much better with a saltwater pool than a chlorinated one. And less stingy eyes.

I really wouldn’t write off a decent hotel just because it’s got a saltwater pool. It’s nothing like swimming in the sea!

00100001 · 20/04/2023 15:23

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 20/04/2023 07:59

I have a saltwater pool (I am not in the UK). I much prefer it as it doesn't sting my eyes so much. Its nowhere near as salty as the sea, and I am surprised at people on here objecting, as most people I know prefer them! As for how it looks, its exactly the same turquoise blue as my neighbours chlorinated pool.

I think it's because they have 20+ years of chlorine experience so think it's "wrong"

Poppins2016 · 20/04/2023 15:29

I don't mind saltwater pools at all and actually prefer them (no chemical smell)!

blueangel1971 · 20/04/2023 15:31

We had a mix last year at our hotel. Adults enjoyed floating in the saltwater reading books but kids loved swimming underwater so preferred the chlorine pools. We assumed it was environmentally friendly and less faff having saltwater ones?

Easterbunnywashere · 20/04/2023 15:44

Salt is much healthier than chlorine so I prefer it. I am not sure why so many people dislike it.

LaViajera · 20/04/2023 15:59

The place we always go switched over and I thought I'd hate it but... it's makes the eyes less stingy than the chlorine and I don't really notice the saltiness.

Also, for eczema, once you can get past the stinging, it's actually really really good to help with the healing of outbreaks. Moisturise lots in the run up and especially once away and hopefully you'll be ok.

And they're not as salty as the sea.

SophiaElizabethGrace · 20/04/2023 16:03

I really do not like them and would actively avoid them to be honest.

KickboxingWanker · 20/04/2023 21:20

The hotel we just visited had a salt water pool - much preferred it as no headaches from chlorine.
its was no way near as salty as the sea.

Snugglemonkey · 20/04/2023 22:06

HydrangeaFairy · 19/04/2023 16:54

We once had a holiday in Fuertaventura where there were salt water pools. MY DC were used to spending the best part of their 2 week holiday in the pool. They jumped in on the first day and absolutely hated it and wouldn't go in after one try. It ruined the holiday and I was very careful never to book a hotel with them again. DC now grown up.
It didn't bother me but then I only do a few lengths and get out. With the DC they were under water, diving etc.

This happened to us last year. My son usually lives being in the water, but just would not get into the pool after the first time. Then was hot and crabby. It was not a good holiday and I would never go to another hotel with saltwater again.

Dibblydoodahdah · 20/04/2023 22:11

It depends on the hotel. We had a saltwater pool in Tererife last year and you couldn’t notice the difference. We had one in Malta the year before and it was awful. Made my skin really sore and my eyes sting. Think it was actually filled with sea water! Luckily there was also a freshwater one so we used that for the rest of the holiday.

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