I rented a stranger's pool with Swimply — and I'd do it again

CNN

2 days ago

I don't have a pool — heck, I don't even have a backyard — but a quick visit to Swimply can change that for a few hours at a time. Consider the platform to be a scaled-down, sun-soaked version of Airbnb rentals. With a few taps in an app on your phone, you can reserve someone's pool all to yourself. It's a shortcut to a private afternoon swim or the pool party your living quarters just can't provide, all without the hassle of buying an above-ground pool or the long-term financial commitment of building an in-ground pool.
Creeped out? I get it. Slipping into your best swimsuit at a stranger's house isn't quite the same as renting out a vacation home for the weekend. Plus, there are more traditional avenues to securing a cooling dip in a pool, such as swim club memberships, joining a fitness center or, you know, traveling for a vacation.
Despite these alternatives, I was still intrigued by Swimply and wanted to see if it could provide the relaxing, accessible getaway it claims to. So, I reserved four hours at a pool about 30 minutes from my cramped apartment. Here's my honest review of the experience, from booking in the app to sipping a cold one while submerged in pristine (albeit rented) waters.
Swimply
Swimply is a platform dedicated to short-term pool rentals. As long as you can get past the idea of swimming at a stranger's house, it's an accessible shortcut to beating the heat for a few hours. Simple booking process
Everything about Swimply works through an app. It's not complicated. Search for hosts in your area via a list or a map, then book their pool for an hourly fee. Where I live, most pools were between $70 and $150 per hour. There were outliers — like this glorified kiddie pool for $35 per hour (which is definitely not 5 feet deep) and this ludicrous backyard lazy river for $215 per hour — but the majority of the options were the kind of backyard setup you'd be jealous of on a hot day.
I ended up booking 'Welcome To Paradise,' an in-ground, saltwater pool in a beautifully landscaped backyard with generous seating, all for $135 per hour. I then added the heated pool amenity for an extra $25 per hour because, although it's hot in the Northeast this time of year, a warm pool is just that much more inviting. Once I selected a time slot on my chosen day, the app requested a few additional details, including a headcount for my group and the reason for our stay. That triggered a message to my host, who answered the next morning and confirmed I was all set.
Welcoming host
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On the day of my reservation, I was running a half hour behind schedule. I let the host know via the in-app messaging system, and he responded in three minutes, assuring me there was no issue. He also let me know where to park at his house, what temperature the pool was and asked if I had any music preferences for the speaker system.
Once my wife and I walked into the backyard, the host came outside to say hello and let us know how to access the restrooms. A door to the house was clearly labeled as such and led directly through a laundry room and into a full bathroom. Heading inside was probably the most awkward aspect of the entire experience, but I didn't mind it. I used the restroom twice and never felt as if I was invading their space or being surveilled.
Beyond that interaction, I didn't hear a peep from the host. It truly felt like I was getting the private reservation I sought.
An oasis as advertised
We've all been through experiences where reality didn't live up to the pictures, and this was probably my biggest fear going into this test. Sure, the images on the listing looked immaculate, but when I showed up, would I be greeted by a pool full of leaves, walkways covered in weeds and nosy neighbors wondering what the heck was going on over the fence? None of that was the case. Everything lived up to the expectations the listing gave me.
The pool was clean too. Its temperature sat at a perfect 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the loungers, hammocks and cabana helped me relax. The towels, made of Turkish cotton, dried quickly and felt cozy. I brought a variety of snacks from home, but if I hadn't, there were a few provided on the poolside table. And though there were neighbors out using their own pools, the property was large and landscaped well enough to provide privacy.
There's no escape from some nuisances
While my Swimply experience gave me a relaxing afternoon I couldn't have achieved in my own home, it might not fit everyone's definition of 'paradise.' Yes, I felt the sun's warmth and heard the birds chirping — but only when the leaf blowers and construction trucks at a nearby renovation died down.
Then there's simply the premise of Swimply: I was swimming in a stranger's pool while they were home. Truthfully, it didn't seem that weird to me. My wife, however, was less enthused. She tagged along to catch some rays (and because she's a good sport), but this wasn't an experience she'd sign up for regularly, which is understandable.
Pricing and availability come with caveats
My Swimply experience would have cost $640 for four hours. That's not cheap at all. To get a little more value out of my next booking, it would have to be for a larger event with more people. Because while $640 for two people to sit by a nice pool for an hour is kind of silly, $640 for me and 15 of my closest friends to have an awesome pool party sounds like a blast.
Unfortunately, Swimply charges more based on how many people are in your group. For the pool I booked, the price skyrockets to $240 per hour for 6 to 10 guests to $350 per hour for 11 to 15 guests and then to $475 per hour for 16 to 20 guests. I can understand a slight increase to account for the added noise and upkeep that extra people come with, but to triple the rate is borderline absurd. Even if you were to sign up for the $20 per month Swimply Premium membership that cuts down on fees and kicks back 10% in app credits for every booking, there are a lot better ways to spend nearly $2,000, including a swim club membership that would last far longer than four hours.
Then there's availability. I'm in the suburbs of New York City, so there are ample options for me to book. But bouncing around the map and checking other parts of my home state of New Jersey revealed fewer options. It's nice to think there's a relaxing getaway right around the corner thanks to Swimply, but that's not going to be the reality for all users.
I sat down to write this review after a couple of weeks of digesting my experience with Swimply, and it just so happened to be during an extreme heat wave on the East Coast. Maybe the temps are getting to me, but I find myself wanting to go back to a pool. It's neat that I have that option just a few taps away on my phone.
If you can get past the mental block of walking into a stranger's backyard, give Swimply a look if only to see what's available around you. There's no cost to download the app. From there, you might just find a mini oasis that's too good to pass up the next time you want to get away, even if just for a few hours.
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The 15 best kiddie pools for babies and toddlers, starting at $12 What is Swimply?
What is Swimply?
Swimply is a short-term rental platform for pools. Think of it like an Airbnb, but instead of booking someone's house while you travel, you get only their backyard and pool while you escape the heat that has hit your home. Swimply also has categories for tennis, pickleball, basketball, pets and indoor spaces. The inventory is smaller for those bookings.
How does Swimply work?
How does Swimply work?
Users create an account on the app, then browse their area for pools to rent. Reservation details include time slots, group sizes and requested amenities. From there, all communication with the host is done in the app.
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with several years of experience testing, researching and recommending products who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss actually reserved a pool via Swimply and spent hours enjoying and analyzing its offerings. Bloss is an experienced product testing writer for CNN Underscored who has often written honestly about his experiences, including that time he attempted to become a 5K runner when he hates running.