This Luxurious Resort Is Home To One Of The World's Largest Circular Pools

Newport Beach, California, is where the wealthy live and play. There, you'll find The Resort at Pelican Hill, a 5-star destination located minutes from Crystal Cove State Park, less than 20 minutes from Balboa Island, and just a short ferry ride from Balboa Peninsula. Pelican Hill, which opened in 2008, consists of 504 acres. The resort was designed to resemble the work of Andrea Palladio, a Renaissance-era Italian architect. Likewise, its lush landscape was inspired by the Mediterranean. Saying that Pelican Hill is stunning is an understatement.

One of the resort's defining features is its circular, three-foot-deep Coliseum Pool, designed to pay homage to the Coliseum in Rome. Needless to say, the Coliseum Pool is no ordinary structure. It's said to be one of the largest of its kind, and, per a 2021 article from Architectural Digest, it's also one of the biggest hotel pools in the country. That said, the pool is 136 feet in diameter and is filled with 380,000 gallons of salt water. Additionally, the bottom of the pool is ornamented with more than a million glass tiles that reportedly took five months to install (via The Resort at Pelican Hill) and provide the pool with a blue hue.

If that isn't opulent enough, the pool features oceanside views and 18 private cabanas with speakers and a flat-screen TV, among other amenities. However, if you want to take a dip in the pool or lounge in the cabanas, you must book a pricey stay at Pelican Hill.

The Resort at Pelican Hill is a great spot for a beachside couples trip or family vacation. Interestingly, the Italian-style resort does not have hotel rooms per se. Instead, there are 128 villas and 204 bungalows. The former can be described as fully-furnished homes with two, three, or four bedrooms. Besides access to the Coliseum Pool, those staying at the villas enjoy a clubhouse with a villa pool that's exclusive to villa guests. The bungalows (seen in the TikTok above), on the other hand, are smaller. They feature your choice of one king or two queen-sized beds and come with a terrace and fireplace. Larger-sized bungalow suites are also available.

So, how much will staying at Pelican Hill set you back? At the time of this writing, prices vary, but you can expect to pay over $2,000 a night for a two-bedroom villa and over $800 for a bungalow, not including taxes and fees. Note that the villas have an additional $105 resort fee, while the bungalows charge an $85 resort fee. This provides guests access to the Coliseum Pool, the spa, Pelican Hill's 36-hole golf course, and various other amenities such as Wi-Fi. One deluxe offering included in the resort fee is daily classes, such as yoga and meditation. The Spa at Pelican Hill, which features steam rooms and a soaking pool, offers everything from a manicure to a lymphatic massage, providing numerous health benefits.

Even if you can't stay at The Resort at Pelican Hill, you can still enjoy a view of the Coliseum Pool — and the ocean to boot. Non-resort guests can dine at the top-rated Coliseum Pool & Grill, which serves American and Italian fare. The restaurant overlooks the pool and the resort's gorgeous landscape, raved about by reviewers on OpenTable. Menu dinner items include rigatoni bolognese, miso-glazed Chilean sea bass, and wagyu ribeye filet. At the time of this publication, prices on the menu range from $10 to $89. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch are also available. The Coliseum Pool & Grill is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations can be made online at OpenTable.

Another resort dining option includes the Pelican Grill. Although not located poolside, it has ocean views. The menu offerings are similar in price and options to that of the Coliseum Pool & Grill. They include a $36 lobster roll for lunch and $75 grilled ribeye for dinner. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.