My friend just spent 20,000 on a hot tub in January. I think she said they have used it 5 times.

I do not live in a part of the country where we would get much use of a swimming pool. We have long cold winters. However, we have had an outdoor hot tub since 2006 and absolutely love it. We use it at least 4 evenings a week, especially in the winter. Our home is very secluded, with heavy bush. On a cold, still, clear winter night the Northern Lights are beautiful!
I love swimming but an outdoor pool at my home would not be worth it.

It all depends on whether or not you have kids. With kids, the pool would be the better option. My kids are older so I would rather have a hot tub. Much less upkeep.

we bought a vacation home with a outdoor pool and indoor hot tub and sauna. the pool we love, the hot tub and sauna are gone. this is RI where you have one month of swimming, 2 months of looking at a chilly pool, and 9 months of 'nice pool cover'. but we still think its worth it.

Up north, hot tub, down south, pool.

Swimming pool. Great for exercising.

If I HAD to choose it would be a hot tub but, realistically, neither! We live in a cold climate so a pool would be useless for more than two or three months of the year. As much as hot tub would be nice, neither my husband nor I are the least bit interested in maintaining one.

In Houston, it's often not cool enough for a hot tub!