A floating pool skimmer (1) that randomly travels across the surface of a pool to ensure that the entire surface of the water in the pool is cleaned. The floating pool skimmer has an elongated hose (3) that attaches to a conventional fixed pool skimmer, a vacuum inlet and/or a vacuum hose (6) connecting an automatic pool vacuum (2) to a pool pump and filter. A basket (26) held within a main housing (8) strains water and traps debris which is held in the basket by suction from the pool filter while the pool filter is operational.