PHOTO: Rooftop pool at night overlooking the city at Hard Rock Hotel in Panama.
Some hotels are much more than just a place to lay your head at night. Nonetheless there are few in-room amenities a hotel can offer that trump the allure of the outdoors come summertime.
Whether staying along the crowded oceanfront or nearly secluded in the mountains, there are some special hotel amenities that can transform a vacation.
Here are four unique hotel amenities travelers should be on the lookout for when booking accommodations for their summer travel in 2016.
Oceanfront Theater
The only downside to watching a movie in the summer is having to do so inside. But there are ways around that.
Fortunately, this one-of-a-kind amenity is available at the Pacific Reef Hotel, which recently unveiled its oceanfront theater on Oregon's Gold Beach. Measuring 33 feet wide and 12 feet tall, the massive screen is comprised of smart-glass, meaning guests can see the ocean through it when nothing is playing.
Rooftop Pool
Rooftop pools are much more common than oceanfront theaters, but when the temperature heats up, guests would be hard-pressed to name an amenity more invaluable than the pool.
Whether you're looking for pain-free exercise or simply hoping to cool off and relax in the sun, few summer amenities are as equipped to meet your desires as a rooftop pool. If it has a bar or cabana access, that's just a plus.
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If you're searching for the ultimate rooftop pool this summer, look no further than Australia's Park Hyatt Sydney (pictured above).
Fire Pit
This amenity isn't going to jump out at you but could easily wind up being one of your favorites during the summer.
Once the sun sets, few settings are as relaxing as a fire pit. Gather your friends or make new ones. Roast marshmallows or order a cocktail. The choice is yours around the fire.
READ MORE: 6 Hotel Amenities Everyone Should Try at Least Once
Travelers are guaranteed to find a memorable fire pit experience at the five-star Esperanza, An Auberge Resort (pictured above) in Cabo San Lucas, where both the comfort and views are second-to-none.
Canoes, Kayaks
A hotel offering guests access to water sports undoubtedly has a leg up on the competition come summertime. But since not everyone can surf or paddle board without embarrassing themselves, canoes and kayaks are the ideal waterfront amenity.
Not only are they easy to use, but guests can relax inside a canoe or kayak and take in beautiful views of their destination or get a close-up of wildlife.
Granted, lakefront hotels are ideal for canoeing and kayaking given the calmer waters, there's no shortage of hotels and resorts that offer complimentary access to a relaxing journey on the water.
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