The Pool at Mandarin Oriental, New York

"Fitness facilities, including a lap pool, are first class"

"View the entire 2011 Gold List of the world's best places to stay › Also appeared in the Gold List in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 Amenities: Pool, Spa"

"With panoramic Hudson River views, the swimming pool here is one of the city’s best"

"Or one can swim laps in the fitness center's narrow pool"

"It's not an icon like the Plaza or the Pierre -- but so what? The Mandarin Oriental, located across Columbus Circle from Central Park, offers a dizzying array of modern luxuries -- a 75-foot pool, one of the city's best spas, sweeping views from nearly every common area, and superb on-site fine-dining options, to name a few -- even as it upholds traditional values and outstanding service"

"The 14,500-square-foot spa (which includes a Vitality Pool and an Amethyst Crystal steam room) is quite possibly the city's best"

"Among the many features of the two-floor, 14,500-square-foot spa are a body-pummeling Vitality Pool, an aromatherapy steam room and a lap pool with Hudson River vistas"

"Rounding out the experience is a stunning 75-foot lap pool overlooking the Hudson River"

"The property is also home to an excellent five-star, 14,500-square-foot spa (and a 75-foot lap pool), but its most winning feature just may be its sweeping, floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline, the Hudson River, or Central Park across the street"

"The décor is typical of the Mandarin’s modern, Asian-inflected style, the spa is excellent, and there’s a pretty insane 75-foot lap pool"