Santiago Family Hotels with an Indoor Pool

From June to August, Santiago days are short and cool and mornings can drop close to freezing, which rules out outdoor swimming for months. An indoor pool gives children a reliable way to burn energy after a museum visit or a long drive back from the Andes or the coast. It also saves the afternoon when smog or rain make parks less appealing, and it fits easily around nap times.

Santiago's climate is the main reason to look for an indoor pool. Summers from December to February are hot and dry, but winter brings cool days, frosty mornings and early sunsets, and many outdoor hotel pools stay closed or unheated for several months. A heated indoor pool means children can swim whatever the date of your trip. It also gives families a calm hour between outings, which matters in a large city where getting from one district to another can take time in traffic, and where young children tire quickly.

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago is the one hotel we list for this combination, rated 9.2 from more than 500 guest reviews. It offers both an indoor pool and a rooftop swimming pool, so families can switch between them depending on the weather. Family suites give parents and children separate space, and the kids' club offers activities for younger guests. The hotel also has a spa, a fitness centre and a restaurant serving seafood, and air-conditioned rooms with city views, bathrobes and private bathrooms suit longer stays. The two pools give families a choice between a calm indoor swim and open-air views from the roof in warmer months.

An indoor pool fits well with the way families explore Santiago. Mornings can go to the Museo Interactivo Mirador, the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal, the zoo on its slopes or a picnic in Parque Bicentenario, with its lagoons and play areas. After lunch and a rest, a swim back at the hotel resets tired legs before dinner. On days with heavy air pollution, which can happen in winter, swimming indoors is also a sensible alternative to long hours in outdoor parks. Sky Costanera's viewing deck, at the top of South America's tallest building, is another favourite with children on clear days.

Santiago is a natural base for day trips, and an indoor pool makes a welcome finish after them. Families drive up to the ski areas of Farellones and Valle Nevado in winter, visit wineries in the Maipo Valley or head to the Pacific coast at Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, about an hour and a half away. Returning to a warm pool after a cold day in the snow or a windy beach walk is something children often remember, and it helps them sleep well before the next outing. The mountain road is winding, so plan breaks for children prone to car sickness.