Heated swimming pools for the cold season

The Panari Hotel. File 

By Lynet Igadwah

In Summary

• Hotel InterContinental - Sh800 for adults, Sh400 per child.
• Hilton Hotel -Sh75,000 annually, Sh1500 daily.
• Sarova Stanley - Sh160,000 annually.
• Windsor Golf Hotel - Sh750 daily for adults.
• Panari Hotel - Sh1200 per day.
• Other hotels with heated pools include Serena Hotel, the Norfolk, Laico Regency and Safari Park Hotel.

Swimming is not only a cool way to unwind but also a recommended way of keeping fit. Among the benefits of swimming is control of body weight, muscle toning, stress reduction and reduced diabetes risk.

 

Most individuals use swimming pools to beat the heat during the hotter months of the year. However, given the numerous health benefits of swimming, chilly weather like the one we are currently experiencing in Nairobi and other parts of the country, need not be an excuse to keep off the pool.

Heated swimming pools are available at specified spots to shield swimmers from the pain of having to endure chilly water during cold weather. Due to their high maintenance costs, these pools are hardly found in homes, but are quite common at established hotels and selected spas.

Temperatures

Regardless of how much you insulate and shelter the pool, there is always going to be big losses of heat. Heating the swimming pool really is all about replacing the heat that the pool has lost to its surroundings.

Hotel Intercontinental maintains its swimming pool’s temperatures at 29 degrees centigrade. The 34 metres pool gets an average of 15 clients a day and is open to the public.

“The swimming pool is open seven days of the week. For adults we charge Sh800 while for children, it’s Sh400 per day,” says Peter Olale, the Sales and Marketing representative at the hotel.

At Hilton Hotel, temperatures at the swimming pool are maintained at 28 degrees centigrade. There is the option of accessing the pool as a member of their fitness club or just as a walk-in client.

Their membership fees cover use of the heated swimming pool during cold weather alongside personal training services, group classes, gymnasium, steam bath, sauna and basement parking while you exercise. Members of the public could opt to pay for swimming only annually at Sh75,000 or pay a monthly of Sh12,000 or daily fee of Sh1,500 for adults and Sh800 for children under 12 years.

At Sarova Stanley, you have to be a member of their Health Club to access the heated swimming pool. Members of the public are not allowed at the pool whose temperature is maintained at 32 degrees centigrade. Individual membership rates are Sh160,000 annually and Sh85,000 for half a year. Annual rates for couples are Sh200,000 and Sh140,000 for corporates.

At Windsor Golf Hotel, the 20 metre length outdoor pool is kept at controlled temperatures. Charges for adults is Sh750 per day while for children it’s Sh500.

Membership

Alternatively, you can subscribe for monthly membership at Sh8,000 for adults and Sh6,000 for children. The location of the hotel is most ideal for city residents from Garden Estate, Runda, Thome and Ruaraka areas.

At Panari Hotel on Mombasa Road, the 18 metre length indoor pool is kept at controlled temperatures. Charges are Sh1200 per day for both adults and children. For extremely cold weather, this is probably the best pool right now since there’s no wind or chill but usually, one would enjoy the fresh air that comes with an open pool even more.

Other spots where you can find heated swimming pools include Serena Hotel, the Norfolk, Laico Regency and Safari Park Hotel.