well I see the benefit of beibng able to get inside and look around good to see if maybe you might like another hotles charm or charachter, more than the one you are currently staying at. Instead of looking at a computer web site to see if it is better. I dont know how much swimming in another pool will tell them......maybe less kids use that pool... ha ha ha ha......you dont want to swim in the pool at the hotel with all the young kids, you dont want to swim in the pool at the hotel with all the old old people either, (same reason) then you dont want to swim in the pool where all the young adults get drunk....maybe you just shouldnt go in any pools... ha ha ha
I bet some hotels ahve events and acivities that are much better than other hotels...you could see that first hand if you could wander around.....
bob