Places to Stay

The Hot List 2012

The Hot List 2012 | The World's Best New Hotels | Cond Nast Traveller
  • This year's Hot List covers 29 countries from Argentina to Vietnam. The 60 hotels in our final selection were chosen...

    Introduction

    This year's Hot List covers 29 countries from Argentina to Vietnam. The 60 hotels in our final selection were chosen from hundreds of suggestions from our correspondents worldwide. Despite the economic climate there were many strong contenders; and the best vary from futuristic towers to ocean-edge villas and revamped grandes dames.

    Start browsing the 60 best new hotels of 2012 here

    Photo (above): Mr C Beverly Hills

  • The Darling, Sydney

    The Darling, Sydney The Darling carries the unmistakable stamp of a metropolitan art gallery: suspended above the entrance is a giant sculpture of a gliding swallow; behind the reception desk is an installation of bronze leaves on a vivid red panel; two enormous Akira Isogawa rugs create intimate spaces within the cathedral-sized lobby. Housed in a 16-storey glass tower, The Darling is attached to The Star casino, a glitzy complex recently renovated at a cost of £590 million. Views from its 171 rooms are of the historic port and city-centre skyline with the famous Harbour Bridge in the middle distance; they are best enjoyed from the Adored, Jewel and Stellar suites on the upper floors. Entry-level Darling rooms are decorated in masculine shades of flax, latte and grey with plum accents on the handmade Venetian glasses, bathrobes, towels, bed linen and cushions; the pillow menu has no fewer than 12 options; there are Delonghi Nespresso machines and iPod docking stations. The spa - Sydney's largest - has 16 treatment rooms and two hammams in a labyrinthine complex of subtly lit corridors adorned with candlelit black granite bowls and heavy bronze sculptures. The hotel's Sokyo restaurant serves A-grade Japanese cuisine from a Nobu-trained chef, and there are also 20 new restaurants, bars and cafés in the casino complex. When to go January for summer and the Sydney Festival; May and June for cooler, drier weather. Room to book Splash out on a Jewel or Adored suite on the harbour side.

    00 61 2 9777 9888; www.thedarling.com.au. Doubles from A$399 (about £270)

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  • MONA Pavilions, Tasmania

    MONA Pavilions, Tasmania

    MONA, an acronym for Museum of Old and New Art, is a one-stop destination for audacious art, edgy architecture, fine food and a king-size bed in a cubist suite. First came the subterranean art gallery built on four levels in an old sandstone quarry. Its £70-million collection includes pieces by Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan, Damien Hirst and Jean-Michel Basquiat and was said by the Financial Times to include 'some of the most provocative and striking artworks of the 21st century'. Next, its founder, the maverick gambling millionaire David Walsh, built four accommodation pavilions and named them after four famous Australian artists, followed by another four dedicated to leading 20th-century architects. Three of the four 'Architect' pavilions are glass cubes sheathed in steel; the fourth (Roy, after Roy Grounds) looks like a sculpted shipping container, but has three levels and two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. The four 'Artist' pavilions, made of wood and steel and with Japanese-style interiors, have cantilevered decks over the river. All eight have fully equipped kitchens. As for the furniture and fittings, the world's leading contemporary designers are represented aplenty, including Philippe Starck, Ron Arad and Filippo Dell'Orto. MONA's Source Restaurant, one of Tasmania's best, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wine tastings are available at the Moorilla Winery Cellar Door and beer from the micro-brewery can be enjoyed at the café/bar.

    When to go For warmer weather and longer days, visit between late October and March.

    Room to book One of the Architect pavilions, such as Walter or Roy, for admirers of cutting-edge modernism; the Artist suites have calmer, softer interiors.

    00 61 3 6277 9900; www.mona.net.au. Pavilions from A$490 (about £330)

  • Wildman Wilderness Lodge, Northern Territories

    Wildman Wilderness Lodge, Northern Territories

    A comfortable two-hour drive from Darwin, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a gateway to the raw, compelling beauty of Australia's tropical north at a reasonable, half-board price. Its mission is to give travellers an insight into the cultures, communities and environment of this ecologically sensitive region, just 12 miles from the World Heritage Site of Kakadu National Park. There is plenty of wildlife (crocodiles, water buffalo, wallabies, monitor lizards, dingoes, flying foxes and prolific birdlife) and the lodge is in a prime spot from which to enjoy the spectacular Mary River wetlands ecosystem. Activities include Aboriginal cultural tours, cruises across the flood plain in air-boats (wet season) or four-wheel-drives (dry season), day tours to Kakadu, scenic helicopter flights and top-of-the-line barramundi fishing. The homestead and cabins may give some visitors a sense of déjà vu: after the recent closure of Wrotham Park Station, its lodge infrastructure was transported 2,800km from the Cairns hinterland to Mary River. The 10 air-conditioned cabins salvaged from Wrotham offer the most luxurious accommodation; there are also 10 double safari tents and five family tents sleeping up to four. All the tents have ceiling fans and en-suite bathrooms. Three-course dinners and full breakfasts are included in the price and are served at the very stylish homestead.

    When to go Wildman is open from 1 March to 30 November. The dry season between May-September is most comfortable, but the wet season is when the flood plains are at their most scenically beautiful.

    Room to book One of the air-conditioned cabins.

    00 61 8 8978 8955; www.wildmanwildernesslodge.com.au. Cabins (sleeping two) from A$630 (about £425); tents (sleeping two) from £330. Prices include breakfast and dinner

  • Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia

    Song Saa Private Island

    Occupying two diminutive isles off the Cambodian coast, Song Saa Private Island enjoys splendid isolation. Your neighbours in the archipelago are a few fishing villages, and the animals of the rainforest. We visited before the official opening (floods in Thailand had delayed construction by three months), but despite initial mishaps, Song Saa looks set to seduce. Its 27 thatched villas are scattered variously over a forest-covered hill, along the water'sedge, and above the water on stilts; they all have secluded terraces and private pools. Original artworks and individual design details add a distinctive touch (such as a glass floor in the lounge area of one villa, with an aquarium view of fish in the sea below). Meals are served at the over-water restaurant, beside the infinity pool (or even in it), in your villa, on the beach - and chef Neil Wager's cuisine is superb. There's a spa, and activities include snorkelling, kayaking, and boat trips to villages on neighbouring islands. This really is getting away from it all, and to add to Song Saa's honeymoon appeal, a tiny temple on a nearby island can be used for civil wedding ceremonies or Buddhist blessings. There's a serious environmental remit, too: a marine reserve extends 200 metres from the outer edge of the coral reefs that fringe both islands, and a highly qualified conservation team can fill you in on projects through which Song Saa is blazing a trail for responsible development in the archipelago.

    When to go The cool part of the dry season: November to February.

    Room to book Villa 22 offers not only a private pool, but its own little stretch of sandy beach-terrace.

    00 855 236 860360; www.songsaa.com. From US$1,902 per villa per night, including transfers from mainland, meals, drinks (house wines, spirits, beers and soft drinks), laundry and use of kayaks, snorkelling gear and other resort equipment

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  • Xixuan Spa Hotel Hangzhou

    Xixuan Spa Hotel, Hangzhou

    Proudly modernistic in its architecture and minimalist in detailing, this 68-room spa hotel overlooking the Xixi National Wetland Park showcases China's emerging resort aesthetic. The property is part of the Westbrook Resort, a kind of bucolic mega-retreat (it also houses Sheraton, Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels) beloved of Chinese developers. The boxy glass and marble exterior evokes a contemporary art museum; the tiled lobby is redolent of a merchant bank; within, the hotel's charm quotient begins to reveal itself. The cream-and-white bedrooms and suites are sparingly styled with wood panelling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows and are equipped with iPod docks and locally sourced Ba Yan Ka La bath products. There is an organic gourmet Chinese restaurant and wine bar and a three-level, 6,000-book library with black-leather banquettes. These elements are mere teasers, however, for the remarkable MetaSpa. Designed by Ho + Hou Studio Architects, this palatial, split-level spa is a movie-set in waiting, with 16 treatment rooms providing sophisticated beauty and spa therapies, using products including Cosmelan, TMT and (exclusively in China) AQS from Switzerland. Framed by dark granite, marble and hardwoods, the stepped private steam pool and Jacuzzi is a 21st-century update of a Central European bathhouse enriched by mod-oriental ambience. Only a 20-minute cab ride from downtown Hangzhou, one of China's most affluent cities, Xixuan Spa Hotel is a refined retreat from the big city - Chinese style.

    When to go Spring (Apr-May) and autumn (Sept-Nov) for the best chance of clear skies.

    Room to book A Spa suite with mini in-room greenhouse garden.

    00 86 571 8500 2888; www.xixuanspahotels.com. Doubles from 1,188 yuan (about £120)

  • Banyan Tree Macau

    Banyan Tree Macau

    There's an old primary-school teachers' trick: if children get rowdy, don't raise your voice - lower it. The kids will instinctively quiet down to listen. The same goes for luxury. It doesn't have to shout. It should whisper. Amid the gaudy lights and round-the-clock madness of the vast new Galaxy Resort in Macau, casino capital of the world, the Banyan Tree is an oasis of serenity. It's the little touches that make it special: the notepaper in your room is not just headed, it's personalised with your name. You're given use of a mobile phone, with a host on 24-hour call. The staff are attentive without being intrusive. But the Banyan Tree can do big-picture, too. Each of the 246 rooms is a suite. Each suite has its own relaxation pool. The design is Zen minimal, right down to the big black Tibetan wooden tub in the bathroom, but also hi-tech: push-button blinds, state-of-the-art TV, a toilet whose heated seat thoughtfully lifts up as you approach. I would have said they'll do everything except wash your backside for you, but there's a button for that, too. Add in a huge spa and a superb top-floor restaurant, the Belon, eccentrically designed to an aquatic theme, and this is - whisper it - probably the finest new hotel in a city full of brasher contenders.

    When to go Macau's Portuguese heritage makes Christmas a special time, as is Chinese New Year.

    Room to book Even the smaller suites offer 100 square metres for just over £200, but the Sky Villa at 160 square metres for £505 gives you that high-roller cachet.

    00 853 8883 8833; www.banyantree.com/en/macau. Doubles from £220

  • Hotel ICON, Hong Kong

    Hotel ICON, Hong Kong

    First things first: discard any thoughts of yet another hotel stuffed into a skyscraper in the vaguely louche environs of Tsim Sha Tsui East. Rather, ICON's architecture suggests a high-rise greenhouse or aquarium, with light flooding a lobby that stretches across the entire ground floor. A 230-square-metre vertical garden provides a delicious trompe-l'œil effect and, as an adjunct to the Polytechnic University, ICON is imbued with a youthful air. All of this contrasts neatly with the veteran designers who helped shape the hotel, of whom Sir Terence Conran and local heroes Rocco Yim, Vivienne Tam and Barney Cheng are probably the best known. Justin Wong is less renowned, but his abstract cartoons do much to brighten the upper floors. And while all the hotel's 262 rooms and suites are excellent examples of a work-and-play ethos, it's the upper floors that make the most sense. The main reason for this is the club lounge, Above & Beyond, which is a sparkling, cosmopolitan salon with the look of permanent cocktail hour. Next door, chef Joseph Tse demonstrates why food is the subject of so many Cantonese conversations. Final plaudits go to the health club, where nine-metre-high windows look over metropolitan views best described as panoramic.

    When to go Hong Kong is a year-round destination, but the weather is (usually) at its dreariest from January to March.

    Room to book Anything facing south or with some sort of angle on the harbour.

    00 852 3400 1000; www.hotel-icon.com. Doubles from HK$2,200 (about £180)

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  • The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

    The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

    To ride the lift up The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is to switch between Lemuel Gulliver's Brobdingnag and Lilliput. One moment you're dwarfed by the city's skyscrapers; swallow a couple of times to equalise the pressure, and 490 metres later, the buildings are looking positively puny. Just as the biggest buffet in the world wouldn't necessarily serve the best food, so the highest hotel in Asia might not be the ideal place to stay. Suffice to say, and skipping obvious puns such as 'scaling the heights', the Ritz-Carlton has aced it. The design theme - a not unsurprising 'East meets West' - is rendered with a fair amount of subtlety, and spiced with elements such as blue palissandro marble, which is used throughout. The 312 rooms and suites are all one might expect from this hotel group, but it would be a very dull guest who found the iPod/Blu-ray DVD player/whatever more intriguing than pressing his or her nose against the window pane and goggling awhile. Naturally, competition for window seats at the Italian and Chinese restaurants on the 102nd floor is intense; strolling through the illuminated wine cellar between the two is incredibly inspiring. The obvious conclusion is OZONE, a winning combination of nightclub, bar and restaurant which would ensure its popularity even if it were not at the top of the highest hotel in Asia.

    When to go The clearest days - when city, harbour and beyond are at their most panoramic - usually fall between September and November.

    Room to book One of the mid-tier suites, either Carlton or Premier Executive, on the 116th floor.

    00 852 2263 2263; www.ritzcarlton.com. Doubles from HK$7,480 (about £615)

  • Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

    Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

    Looking to the future rather than feeling nostalgic for the past, Shanghai's luxury hotels tend towards skytower modernism, but Asia's first Waldorf Astoria adroitly rewinds the stylistic clock. The setting is pure theatre: a colonnaded 1911 mansion on the Huangpu River, which once housed the exclusive Shanghai Club, bathed in cream marble and embellished with neoclassical columns, crystal chandeliers and polished wood furnishings. Added to this, in the manner of its New York cousin, is a new tower. The two buildings are connected by Peacock Alley, a tea lounge dressed with high-backed leather armchairs and banquettes, overlooking the sunken Grand Brasserie. The Bund-front heritage building has 20 suites designed like traditional Shanghainese residences with low ceilings and patterned rugs, but equipped with plasma TVs with internet interface, a 24-hour personal concierge service, touchpad room controls and Hermès bath products. There are photogenic skyline views from the 237 tower rooms and suites. The ancient-contemporary ambience is exemplified by the Club's recreated Long Bar with its 112ft counter, Jacobean-style wood-panelling and oyster bar, and the Salon de Ville, an afternoon tea lounge draped in courtly burgundy satin. The calming ambience would suit any urban centre, but in rocket-fuelled Shanghai, the Waldorf Astoria's evocation of a gentler era has added allure.

    When to go Grey cloud is Shanghai's climatic plague, but spring (April-early June) and autumn (September-mid-November) offer the best chance of blue skies.

    Room to book A 24th-floor suite for superlative skyline views; a Club Suite for a taste of old Shanghai with a 21st-century upgrade.

    00 86 21 6322 9988; www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com. Doubles from 5,750 yuan (about £500)

  • Alila Bangalore

    Alila Bangalore

    South India's first urban resort is in the hi-tech hub of Whitefield, 20km from Bangalore's city centre and home to world-class technology parks, impressive corporate campuses and exclusive residential enclaves to house the multinational workforce. With its South-East Asian design and stylish traditional Indian touches, such as teak planters' chairs on the airy terraces, the new 120-bedroom Alila is a relaxing haven from all the hyperactive commercial bustle of the area. There are distinctive bronze figurines by local sculptor Dimpy Menon outside the doors of the spacious bedrooms and suites; the public spaces make the most of Bangalore's mild climate with shaded courtyards and soothing water features. The Tiffin room has an extensive menu with regional Indian cuisines as well as Asian and European dishes. There's a sun-soaked pool deck on the fifth floor with a 20-metre infinity pool and pretty views over local farms and Varthur Lake in the distance. Spa Alila uses superb organic products from Bali; morning yoga classes are held on the pool deck.

    When to go Bangalore is at its best in the Indian winter months, November to February, when the daytime temperature is in the mid-20˚Cs.

    Room to book The four suites at the rear of the property have soothing views over the fields and across to the lake.

    00 91 80 2854 4446; www.alilahotels.com. Doubles from Rs8,200 (about £105)

  • Grand Hyatt Goa

    Grand Hyatt Goa

    Goa's largest luxury resort can accommodate 2,500 wedding guests and grand processions complete with richly caparisoned elephants. The hotel has already hosted Goa's most prestigious events, including the India Resort Fashion Week and the Goa ThinkFest; together with the superb facilities and service standards, these have established this hotel as one of the best in India. Just 15 minutes' drive from Panjim, Goa's capital, the hotel is set in 28 acres of tropical gardens overlooking Bambolim Bay. All 298 rooms and 16 suites have large terraces; many have splendid views. The buildings were inspired by 17th-century Portuguese architecture but the contemporary interiors have introduced elements of local crafts and sandstone into the design. The main 'palace' houses the reception, restaurants and bars: the Verandah, an elegant seafood restaurant; the Dining Room for multicultural buffets; Chulha for regional Indian cooking (executive chef Mark Hagan handpicked his team from dhabas - road-side eateries - across India to ensure authenticity; Confeitaria serves excellent espressos. The large outdoor pool is surrounded by 200-year-old banyan trees and there is a 25-metre indoor pool in the luxurious Shamana Spa along with 19 treatment suites, an impressive fitness centre and a yoga studio.

    When to go Goa is increasingly a year-round destination, popular even in the June-August monsoon period.

    Room to book The Bay View rooms in Block 7 have wonderful views across a palm grove and the ruins of a 16th-century chapel to the bay beyond. Room 7116 has uninterrupted views.

    00 91 832 301 1504; www.goa.grand.hyatt.com. Doubles from Rs10,200 (about £130)

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  • The Oberoi, Gurgaon

    The Oberoi, Gurgaon

    Welcome to the next level in Indian luxury. Located in the city of Gurgaon, some 30km south of Delhi, the new Oberoi Gurgaon has set a new benchmark for India's urban hotels. Gurgaon is an important commercial hub dominated by cranes and construction workers building corporate headquarters, call centres and a multitude of malls claiming to be 'the largest in Asia'. In stark contrast to this congested, dusty din, the Oberoi is a cool oasis set in nine acres of the most valuable real estate in India. The architecture is sleek; the lofty public spaces bathed in natural light. The somewhat stark interior design is softened by impressive contemporary art, a cobalt-blue reflection pool and a massive 'living wall' planted with almost 3,000 wedelia plants. The bedrooms are among the largest in India (even entry-category rooms are the size of suites in most other high-end hotels) and luxurious touches include a round-the-clock butler service, a 24-hour spa (particularly useful given Delhi's unsociable flight times), suites with heated lap pools, a modern Indian restaurant specialising in fresh seafood (flown in daily) and a cigar humidor room.

    When to go Avoid the scorching hot months of April and May leading up to the monsoon. Delhi's best weather is between October and March, the Indian winter season.

    Room to book The Premier category rooms on the fourth floor have the best views across the reflection pool to the spectacular jewel-box lobby.

    00 91 124 245 1234; www.oberoihotels.com. Doubles from Rs36,800 (about £470)

  • The Park On Holiday Beach, Goa

    The Park On Holiday Beach, Goa

    Right in the heart of the buzzing Calangute strip in North Goa, this new beachfront hotel couldn't be better placed for those wanting to be in the thick of Goa's vibrant holiday scene. It's the latest addition to the Park Hotel group, which now has 10 designer hotels across India. Owner Priya Paul is a passionate art collector and design aficionado and her touch is clearly evident in this new 30-room property. Exclusively commissioned works of art dominate the public spaces, including the spectacular, glass-mosaic fish by acclaimed Goan-based artist Yahel Chirinian which hangs above the reception desk. On the beach directly in front of the hotel is an enormous pink sculpture of a naked, well-rounded woman titled 'Big Mama' by artist Anil Kumar. Each of the all-white bedrooms has a different portrait by fashion photographer Rohit Chawla, and groups of friends and families can be heard swapping rooms as they choose their preferred image. The Park on Holiday Beach is a playground for the Indian Jet Set with two happening venues, the Love restaurant and Peace Bar, both beautifully positioned on the beachfront overlooking the Arabian Sea. The soundtrack begins with chilled sunset music and ramps up to full-on progressive tech music as the night hots up. During the day, the compact pool is lined with colourful cabanas for relaxation and spa treatments.

    When to go The Indian winter, November to February, is the most comfortable season; but Goa is increasingly a year-round destination even in the heavy monsoon months of June, July and August.

    Room to book The two deluxe suites at the front of the property (with balconies) are the only rooms with beach views.

    00 91 832 2267600; www.theparkhotels.com. Doubles from Rs10,363 (about £130)

  • Vivanta by Taj - Bekal, Kerala

    Vivanta by Taj - Bekal, Kerala

    Life's tough at this new, 71-room spa resort in undiscovered north Kerala. Should I order a Mojito or a Mai-tai cocktail? Take a spa treatment, go for a walk on the beach, or a have a gentle kayak on the serene backwaters? Set on 30 acres of land fronted by Kappil Beach, 80km from Mangalore airport, the resort has wonderful views of the Arabian Sea. The 17th-century fort of Bekal, the largest in Kerala, is a 40-minute walk away and guests can also walk or cycle on paths along the pretty backwater, fringed with dense palm groves. The secluded beach is perfect for paddling, but the currents can be dangerous so swimming is restricted to the infinity pool. The distinctive architecture with its sweeping lines and high, vaulted ceilings fashioned from hand-woven bamboo was inspired by kettuvallam, the traditional Keralan boats. The public areas weave around beautiful water gardens and there is an abundance of local stone sculptures in the Hindu tradition as well as Islamic- inspired artworks and lighting. Every room has a mural, some hand-painted by local artists. The spacious Jiva Spa is at the core of the resort with eight suites offering traditional Ayurvedic treatments and a dedicated Ayurvedic dining room and juice bar; there is a separate yoga pavilion. The energetic and passionate chef, Valentine Athaide, produces authentic Keralan cuisine and a fresh seafood menu. The resort's signature Sadya lunch is a delicious banquet served on banana leaves and features homemade pickles and speciality curries.

    When to go The most comfortable time is between December and February, when the skies are clear and the daytime temperatures don't exceed 32˚C.

    Room to book The 10 Premium Indulgence Villas have private plunge pools and outdoor bathrooms. For greater privacy the Deluxe Delight rooms have a similar footprint but have enclosed courtyards. Both are well worth the extra price.

    00 91 467 661 6612; www.vivantabytaj.com. Doubles from Rs15,235 (about £195)

  • The St Regis Bangkok

    The St Regis Bangkok

    What views! From the floor-to-ceiling windows of almost every room of the St Regis you get terrific panoramas over the energetic Thai capital. In the evening a luminescent world of neon stretches out. By day there are outlooks over the Legoland-like Skytrain and bird's-eye views straight on to the golf course of the (very) exclusive Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The epicurean breakfasts at Viu restaurant on the 12th floor tend to be drawn-out as guests gaze on to the green far below, mesmerised by the action. The hotel building is in a prime position, just along from the Grand Hyatt and next door to the Four Seasons. The St Regis has an edge over these rivals thanks to its location right opposite Rajadamri skytrain station. The clever layout allows for two dramatic entrances: one on the second floor, from which a walkway leads to the skytrain; the other at street level, where you step into a huge lobby off which are two restaurants: a franchise Zuma; and Jojo, an upscale Italian trattoria. From there a lift scoots you up to the 12th-floor reception and the 'Drawing Room', a chic bar area that capitalises on those jawdropping views. Above are the 227 rooms (51 of them suites), decorated in variations of soothing cream, taupe and pale blue and furnished with silks and lush carpets. There's a very generous sense of space: corridors are wide; even the standard rooms are exceptionally big; bathrooms accommodate a separate rainforest shower and bath with ease. Facilities include a wine bar, Decanter, devised for serious oenophiles and a 15th-floor leisure complex with gym, outdoor infinity pool and Elemis spa where the relaxation areas are open to all guests whether or not they book treatments.

    When to go November, December and January offer the best weather.

    Room to book A corner Caroline Aster Suite with spectacular views, stylishly comfy sitting room and prodigious bathroom.

    00 800 325 78734; www.stregis.com/bangkok. Doubles from 8,710 baht (about £180)

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  • Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa, Vietnam

    Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa

    The views from the entrance of Anantara's first Vietnam resort embody its Sanskrit name, which means 'without end'. From the raised reception, guests can peer down at the airy L'Anmien restaurant, with its tables and chairs that spill out onto a low deck bordering a lotus pond. A lagoon extends through the centre of the resort until a rocky transition transforms it into a sleek, slate-grey pool flanked by loungers, a swim-up bar and palm trees. Beyond is the chalky sand beach and endless sea, where thùng chai (Vietnam's famous bamboo fishing boats) bob on the waves. At Anantara's seaside restaurant - named in the boats' honour - couples relax in rattan chairs and dine on fresh seafood, sheltered from the wind by glass screens. The 89 rooms, suites, and villas have spacious, slate-tiled showers and baths; the 20 private-pool villas have rain showers set in tropical gardens. All incorporate images of thùng in the decor. Anantara's intimate spa also draws inspiration from the region: the dragonfruit body polish is made from the locally farmed delicacy; vanilla grown in the region is infused into the oil for the four-hand massage. Vanilla is also used in executive chef Alain Nguyen's signature sauce. The Alain Ducasse-trained chef's carefully tailored degustation menu is sensational and guests are invited to choose their dining venue - glass-encased wine cellar, a candle-lit thùng on the beach - in which to sample his French cooking, infused with his Vietnamese heritage and passion for experimentation.

    When to go In the dry season, November to April.

    Room to book The one-bedroom beachfront pool villa for unobstructed sea views from the bed or private pool.

    00 84 62 3741 888; www.anantara.com. Doubles from US$180

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  • Fusion Maia Resort, Da Nang

    Fusion Maia Resort, Da Nang

    Viewed from the stretch of road along China Beach, the Fusion Maia doesn't look like a Hot List hotel. But tucked away behind the tall granite walls there are 87 private-pool suites and villas, all with access to unlimited spa treatments. Each open-plan, L-shaped bedroom has a rain shower, sunken stone bathtub, outdoor courtyard and plunge pool hidden behind an ochre-coloured brick wall and dense bamboo planting. The Maia Spa has 16 treatment rooms, connected by breezy white corridors and set around a verdant tropical garden. Everything on the treatment menu is included in the room rate; even during peak periods, guests are guaranteed a minimum of two treatments a day (although booking well in advance is recommended). Next to the spa is the restaurant, Five, for seafood, and the aptly named Tonic bar, which serves an all-day tapas menu of Asian fusion dishes such as shitake mushroom yakitori and pork dumplings in ginger sauce. There are views from the restaurant of the 27-metre infinity pool, the white-sand beach and South China Sea. The resort can organise hikes in the My Son Hindu ruins from the Champa Kingdom and there is a free shuttle bus into Hoi An, the former trading town with 19th-century colonial architecture and cobblestone alleys.

    When to go Between February and May, when it's hot but not sweltering and the rainy season hasn't settled in

    Room to book The 400-square- metre, two-bedroom deluxe beach villas are by far the most spacious.

    00 84 511 3967 999; www.fusionmaiadanang.com. Pool suites US$330

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  • Mío Buenos Aires

    Mío Buenos Aires

    Wine grower César Catena's 30-bedroom newcomer sits on some of the country's most expensive real estate, a jacaranda-lined street near Recoleta Cemetery, Eva Perón's last resting place. The 12-floor, opaque-glass exterior says little, but Mío Buenos Aires expresses its luxury through its ample spaces within: the cavernous lobby has a two-floor, plate-glass window which lights up the bar, and even standard bedrooms clock in at a cat-swinging 44 square metres. The designer Delfina Rossi has been admirably restrained in the decor for the rooms: the polished wooden floors are made from guayacán, a subtropical tree from Argentina's north; the colour scheme is sand-and-chocolate with windows draped in sensual olive silk; the furniture is made from lustrous wenge wood. Each room has a balcony overlooking the august apartments of Argentina's most patrician families; there are super-king-sized beds, dressed with Frette linen, and statement bathtubs carved from the trunks of natural-fall caldén trees. Public spaces include a sleek, grey-slate spa and 12-metre pool and a spacious lounge where 19th-century editions of Shakespeare and Molière line the bookshelves. Sadly the French-Japanese fusion restaurant Tô, an outpost of the one in the Palermo neighbourhood, closed in November; its replacement hadn't opened at the time of our visit.

    When to go For the best sightseeing weather go in spring (October-December); the Buenos Aires buzz slows noticeably in January's steamy summer heat.

    Room to book Pay extra for a Terrace Suite if you must have both Jacuzzi and bathtub. Mío Suite 602 has an ample sitting room and its own sauna.

    <p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"> 00 54 11 5295 8500; www.miobuenosaires.com. Doubles from £425

  • Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver

    Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver

    When it was built in 1927, the Hotel Georgia was Vancouver's leading hotel, the place to stay for Hollywood and British royalty, to get married in or seal a deal. But by 2005, when the developers arrived, the Georgia had seen better days. The hotel recently reopened after a major refurbishment, its listed façade and Spanish Ballroom (with an ornate minstrel's gallery) once again resplendent. The restored mahogany wall-panelling, brass details and elaborate mouldings in the lobby are now complemented by an impressive modern-art collection, including works by Patrick Hughes and local author Douglas Coupland. The glass-bottomed pool in the spa is a contemporary touch with its colour-changing lights. But the standard of service harks back to an era when hotel staff were professionals, not models. There are 156 bedrooms; all have ultra-luxe bathrooms with heated marble floors. Hawksworth Restaurant, headed by local celebrity chef David Hawksworth, serves French cuisine with an Asian twist and has garnered rave reviews, although its breakfast menu probably isn't worth the calories or cost unless you're hosting a power breakfast. Bathrobes, while hardly flimsy, are not top notch, and some might find the automatic lighting controls more complicated than helpful. But I had to dig deep to come up with any faults: this is a thoughtfully detailed hotel both in renovation, style and service.

    When to go Before or after a Whistler ski trip: it's low season in Vancouver, and easier to get a table at Hawksworth.

    Room to book Room 505 for its wonderful city views.

    <p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"> 00 1 604 682 566; www.rosewoodhotelgeorgia.com. Doubles from C$230 (about £150)

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  • The Singular Patagonia

    The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Bories

    Sleeping in a former abattoir is not to everyone's taste, but this 57-room heritage hotel is in a former frigorífico, a cold-storage plant built in 1915 near Chile's pretty Puerto Natales. Governed by strict conservation rules, local architect Pedro Kovacic has left the original external brickwork intact, installing a funicular to take guests soundlessly down from the hotel entrance (the plant's tannery and herding pens) to a reception area, a glass cube suspended above British-made pulleys, pumps and pipes. Gantries snake past a brace of 1915 Babcock & Wilcox boilers to a bar and restaurant carved from a cavernous chamber, where expertly prepared octopus and king crab are served beneath a corrugated iron roof. Guests can saddle up for horseback forays on neighbouring estancias, bike the blustery coast, or chug up Last Hope Sound in the hotel's 16-passenger motor launch. (The Torres del Paine national park, an hour to the north, is also just accessible.) They return to ample rooms decorated with Edwardian good taste - mahogany writing desks, brass lamps and sepia prints of bleating flocks - where the eye is drawn through a plate-glass window to the oystercatchers and upland geese that wade the Sound's wind-whipped shoreline.

    When to go December and January is peak season; the September/October spring is bracing but more suited to strenuous outdoor activities.

    Room to book Ask for a room close to the lift to avoid a lengthy walk.

    00 56 61 722030; www.thesingular.com. Doubles from US$520

  • Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Chile

    Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Torres del Paine

    The American-Chilean Purcell family, owners of elegant desert lodge Tierra Atacama and the ski resort of Portillo, have added to their empire this 40-room Patagonian lodge with uninterrupted views of the Torres del Paine massif. In its big-sky landscape of sweeping valleys and broad bowls, 90 minutes' drive from Puerto Natales, the low-slung hotel remains almost invisible. Banked with earth and clad in lenga beechwood, it winds along the base of a low bluff, its aerodynamic wing shape barely interrupting the buffeting gales that whip in from Patagonia's Southern Ice Field. The principal public space is as expansive as the skyscape: a wall of plate glass, two storeys high and 40 metres long, draws the eye across Lake Sarmiento's turquoise waters to the serried Paine peaks beyond. The ample bedrooms are smartly outfitted in a soothing, natural palette of wood, wool and leather, and all command views of pampas and peak. Each morning, guests dress for all-day hikes up cerro and down dale or simply tramp off with the hotel's able, affable guides to search for condors and caracaras by deserted lake shores, returning long before dusk, safe once more from the wind, to soothe weary muscles in the excellent spa and to pair Chilean sea bass with a mineral-rich Matetic Chardonnay.

    When to go Open September to April; despite Patagonia's infamous winds, expect piercing sun during the ever-warmer December/January summer.

    Room to book One of the three suites, which sprawl over two floors.

    00 56 2 263 0606; www.tierrapatagonia.com. Doubles from US$1,950 for a three-night minimum stay, including local transfers, meals, open bar and excursions

  • Casa Gangotena, Quito

    Casa Gangotena, Quito

    Casa Gangotena is so much more than a casa. Well located on Quito's famous Plaza San Francisco, right in the heart of the rapidly gentrifying old town, it makes a wonderful base from which to explore the Ecuadorian city. At 9,200ft above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital in the world and the only one (almost) on the Equator; it stretches for 40km along a plateau surrounded by volcanoes. The hotel opened in October after a four-year, US$10-million transformation from 1920s mansion to stylish boutique property with 31 bedrooms. It is surrounded by renovated colonial houses and restaurants and bars set in former palaces, painted a multitude of cheerful colours. The hotel is a tranquil haven, with 45 staff to keep things running smoothly; the bedrooms are light and spacious, all with Wi-Fi, some with views of the plaza from the bathtub. Afternoon tea with humitas (corn bread served in corn-leaves) and wonderful local hot chocolate is served in the internal courtyard; there is a rooftop terrace with spectacular views of the city (for hotel guests only) and the cosy downstairs bar serves great cocktails with delicious local snacks. The restaurant has a global menu, and serves what is probably the best breakfast omelette in town.

    When to go Any time; the country is on the equator.

    Room to book Any of the eight rooms facing Plaza San Francisco (a bit noisy over weekends, but the view makes up for it).

    00 593 2 400 8000; www.casagangotena.com. Doubles from US$457

  • Hôtel Americano, New York

    Hôtel Americano, New York

    The Hôtel Americano entered the New York hotel scene last September and has already made an impression far beyond what its diminutive, 56-bedroom capacity would suggest. The first US property from Mexican luxury-hotel company Grupo Habita is peppy and fun but it takes service very seriously. During Fashion Week the place was jumping, in a grown-up sort of way, with every bedroom and table in the restaurant booked solid. And still the staff smiled and charmed and did that 'nothing is too much trouble' thing without blinking a well-made-up eyelid. The location, on West 27th Street, is slap-bang in Chelsea art-gallery heaven, the High Line park runs right past the hotel and it welcomes the district's Tom Ford-clad creatives to its takeaway café and ground-floor restaurant (with outdoor terrace), basement lounge and rooftop pool. During working hours Hôtel Americano is a great space for meetings fuelled by Intelligentsia coffee and smoothies, but after-hours, when the punched-metal facade lights up and the cocktail waitresses wear little black dresses, it's also very sexy. The food is great (New York strip steaks; lobster; organic chicken) and there's a selection of themed (French, American etc) bento boxes for room service; bedrooms are based on Japanese ryokan inns with platform beds, beanbags and iPads preloaded with music; the bathrooms are slightly too-small glass pods stocked with Aesop products and worryingly short denim bathrobes. There's a fleet of beautiful retro bicycles for guests' use.

    When to go Early summer to make the most of the pool, the bikes and the High Line.

    Room to book The choice is between uptown or downtown views; studios are bigger and have hanging fireplaces.

    00 1 212 216 0000; www.hotel-americano.com. Doubles from $458

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  • Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles

    Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles

    This classic 66-year-old Hollywood hideaway recently underwent a two-year, $100-million renovation. Although the pink-stucco, Spanish-mission-style architecture, resident swans and 12 acres of gardens remain much the same, just about everything else has had a top-to-bottom overhaul. The 103 rooms and suites are all different, but governed by 10 California-inspired design schemes; the newest Canyon View rooms are in earthy colours with sleek wooden furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open on to private patios with jetted tubs. The huge spa bathrooms have limestone floors. All rooms are equipped with the latest hi-tech trappings, including touch-screen telephone room controls and an iPad directory through which you can access the internet and order room service. Two notable additions to the property are the Spa by La Prairie, with its caviar facials, and the Wolfgang Puck restaurant and bar with its beautifully lit outdoor space. For a more casual evening, the bar menu includes excellent char-grilled beef burgers and fanciful cocktails. Fans of the grande dame's previous incarnation needn't fear: the clay-tiled roofs, tranquil fountains and lush botanicals still make for a quiet, intimate charm, and the discreet service is pitch-perfect. It's where celebrities (Ben Affleck and Ashley Judd were spotted on a recent visit) go to feel at home.

    When to go Autumn and spring are the most pleasant.

    Room to book 269, a Canyon View Suite with the largest private patio.

    00 1 310 472 1211; www.hotelbelair.com. Doubles from $565

  • Mondrian SoHo, New York

    Mondrian SoHo, New York

    Mondrian SoHo opened in March 2011 on cobbled Crosby Street and is the tallest building in the 'hood: a 28-floor glass block (literally, it backs onto Lafayette Street), fronted by a glasshouse restaurant and accessed through a glass tunnel covered in ivy. How it got planning permission is anyone's guess, but the building certainly makes the most of its superior height with floor-to-ceiling windows in all 270 rooms and suites. The views from the upper floors are nothing short of flying-with-Superman fabulous; those above the 10th have enormous, non-frosted picture windows in the shower cubicles. The decor in the public spaces is dressing-up-box theatrical, with attention-seeking chairs, fluffy-feather lampshades, oversized chandeliers and a great deal of vivid-blue carpet in the corridors. The bedrooms are pretty white boxes with (yet more) blue carpet, steel desks and white beds topped with blue-and-white, vaguely toile de Jouy cushions; the white-marble bathrooms are very small with no hand basin (it's in the bedroom, on top of the mini-bar). When the restaurant, Imperial Number Nine, opened under handsome TV chef Sam Talbot it was panned by the New York Times and cold-shouldered by The New Yorker, none of which seems to have dented its popularity with the mostly out-of-town crowd who frequented it. Talbot has since left, as has nightclub impresario Armin Amiri, who ran the intimate Mr H lounge bar, which has its own entrance (and door policy). Based on decibel levels and bums-on-seats, both venues appear to be doing very well without them.

    When to go January for the sales in the surrounding SoHo boutiques.

    Room to book One of the corner rooms with wraparound windows, the higher the better. There are two penthouse suites on the 25th floor: 2509 (on south-west corner of building) and 2512 (on the south-east corner of building).

    00 1 212 554 6120; www.mondriansoho.com. Doubles from $395

  • PUBLIC Chicago

    PUBLIC Chicago

    Ian Schrager made his name with a nightclub (Studio 54) and then made his fortune with hotels that thought they were nightclubs (Royalton, Paramount, Hudson etc). As the name suggests, Public takes a more democratic approach to things: less attitude, fewer velvet ropes. The first property in a brand being launched by Schrager, Public stands on a quiet street in the residential Gold Coast neighbourhood, a 10-minute stroll from downtown. Formerly the Ambassador East hotel, it has been deftly spruced up. The 285 bedrooms are comfortable though surprisingly neutral; public spaces are striking. Only the bathrooms disappoint. The bar, staffed by actors and models, can be packed at the weekend but is relaxed and welcoming, and is designed to encourage lounging and conversation. The most dramatic change has been the total renovation of the Pump Room restaurant. A long-time haunt of celebrities from Barrymore and Bacall to Jagger and Newton-John, it was one of the grand old dining spots of the city. It's a footnote in pop history: Phil Collins recorded No Jacket Required after he was turned away for not meeting the dress code. Now the gallery of black-and-white photographs lining the entrance is the only reminder of the starry past and anyone, regardless of attire, is welcome to dine. The restaurant has been brought into the 21st century with an affordable menu devised by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and the cocktails are excellent.

    When to go Early summer, to take advantage of the proximity of North Avenue Beach, one of the city's best, which is just a few blocks away.

    Room to book Any superior king rooms on the ninth floor or above (so you're higher than the neighbours) with a downtown view.

    00 1 312 787 3700; www.publichotels.com. Doubles from US$130

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  • Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago

    Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago

    Chicago is rightfully proud of its architecture and when the Aqua was completed in 2009 it was one of the more dazzling additions to the famous skyline. The façade of glass and contoured concrete gives the illusion that the building - which is the city's 12th tallest, and the world's tallest building designed by a female architect (Jeanne Gang) - is rippling in the breeze from Lake Michigan. North America's first Radisson Blu opened here last year and is a 334-room property occupying the first 18 floors of the tower, catering to everyone from businessmen to bridal parties. The simple elegance of the exterior isn't quite matched by the interior, which overdoes the glitz: from the lobby's gold wall to bar tables that appear to have candles inside them, there's a bit too much sparkling going on. But you can't fault it for facilities - pool, running track, a huge gym shared with private residences in the tower - nor location. In just a couple of minutes you can be shopping on Michigan Avenue, strolling Millennium Park or exploring the collection at the Art Institute. Staff are friendly, and the bar and Italian restaurant, Filini, both generate just the right amount of buzz each evening. When booking, be sure to take the highest room you can. The views of the lake and the city are breathtaking, especially at dusk and dawn.

    When to go This September, when the heat has eased and you can still catch the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Art Institute.

    Room to book Avoid frumpier 'Mansion House' rooms in favour of the 'Naturally Cool'. Rooms ending -04 are corner rooms with balconies.

    00 1 312 565 5258; www.radissonblu.com. Doubles from US$169

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  • St Regis Bal Harbour Resort

    St Regis Bal Harbour Resort

    It may be technically in Miami, but the less-than-one-square-mile community known as Bal Harbour is a world apart from the high-volume bling of South Beach. Best known for its clutch of exclusive shops and restaurants, it now has a truly luxurious hotel to match. The resort and residential complex comprises a trio of towers with the 27-storey hotel set squarely in the middle. Inside its rather austere, dark-glass exterior are some of the most ornate interiors in Florida. The dramatic lobby is dominated by a dark stone floor inlaid with a subtle pattern of God's Flowers and lorded over by ultra-pale, wood-panel walls embedded with mirrors. There are 243 rooms and suites, all with terraces or balconies and decent-to-spectacular sea views, decked out in a creamy palate with mirror-panelled headboards and whimsical, monkey-patterned wallpaper: a nod to the original St Regis in New York City. There are a couple of swimming pools (one adult-only) and a sprawling-yet-serene Remède Spa, plus two well-equipped fitness rooms. The signature J&G Grill is a typical Jean-Georges Vongerichten affair, with a crowd-pleasing menu of seafood and steaks; Atlantico restaurant is fish-focused. The real culinary surprise is breakfast, which honours South Florida's Latin American communities with exotic fruits, spicy egg dishes, smoothies and pan dulces. It makes a welcome respite from ho-hum bacon and eggs and suits the resort's modern, tropical vibe.

    When to go Early December for Miami's annual Art Basel fair; bunk with the event's biggest spenders while avoiding the crowds and chaos.

    Room to book Higher rooms in the centre of the tower have views of both the Atlantic and Intercoastal Waterway.

    00 1 305 993 3300; www.stregisbalharbour.com. Doubles from $565

  • Bella Sky Comwell, Copenhagen

    Bella Sky Comwell, Copenhagen

    A new architectural landmark on the pancake-flat landscape between Copenhagen city centre and the airport, the twin, twisting towers of Bella Sky Comwell lean at 15 degrees, three times the angle of the tower at Pisa. The trapezoidal windows of the 812 bedrooms help create the hotel's pockmarked facade; white and blond wood interiors follow a 'New Nordic Cool' style and are packed with a showroom-like array of the best contemporary furniture brands, including e15, Moroso and Hay. The hotel is adjacent to a conference centre and business travellers will be impressed by the superior quality of the facilities. In one of the towers the 17th floor, 'Bella Donna', is reserved exclusively for female guests, while the loftier Sky Floors (20-23) enjoy even better views. Breakfast is served in the BM Restaurant, which is spacious and bright. Restaurant The Balcony, which overlooks the lobby, is a smart gourmet restaurant; and the ground-floor Library Restaurant is more casual. The sunken lobby-lounge has padded seating around an open fire. This may be the largest hotel in Scandinavia but the overwhelming impression for most guests will be of the friendly service, reflecting a true pride in working at this unique property.

    When to go May, as Copenhagen opens up for the summer season.

    Room to book Ask for a corner room with sloping windows to best experience the lean of the towers.

    00 45 3247 3000; www.bellasky.dk. Doubles from DKr1,090 (about £120)

  • Altapura, Val Thorens

    Altapura, Val Thorens

    The Sibuets, Jocelyne and Jean-Louis, made their name with romantic, Savoyard-style mountain lodges, all carved detailing and exposed beams. The first property, Les Fermes de Marie, opened in 1989 in Megève, the classic French ski resort where Noemie Rothschild and her architect, Henry Jacques le Meme, virtually invented the ski chalet. Megève became the Sibuet power base, with four more lodgings and two restaurants. Then, as the empire spread to Paris, Lyon and Provence, the house style became more catholic, with touches of almost Versace-style decadence. But the latest property, Altapura, which opened in the early-1970s resort of Val Thorens in December, represents a radical departure. The Sibuet Group has become a foursome, with Jocelyne and Jean-Louis' son and daughter now on board; and it is 27-year-old Nicolas who designed Altapura's interiors. His ingenuity in finding decorative uses for plywood is striking: the material is fashioned into standard lamps and 'antler' chandeliers, and used to create a freehand version of clapboard cladding. Other elements include green carpet on the walls, gray wool on the furniture, soft-toy 'hunting trophies' on the walls, stone underfoot, and old skis and poles used to sculptural effect in the reception area. Downstairs is an elemental, sapling-and-stone spa (run by his sister, Marie), and a refreshingly unshowy restaurant. Faults? Apart from the hotel's exterior, they are hard to find.

    When to go The second half of January, when Val Thorens is quiet, or early April, when it's sunny.

    Room to book Any of the west-facing rooms, overlooking the slopes.

    00 33 4 57 74 74 74; www.altapura.fr. Doubles from €314

  • Mandarin Oriental Paris

    Mandarin Oriental Paris

    Whether its the double-height gold-leaf entrance, the glass case of perfect little gâteaux in the Cake Shop, or the spa, where treatments start with the cling of tiny temple bells, the Mandarin Oriental feels the most Hong Kong of the recent wave of Asian hotels to have arrived in Paris. Behind the listed Art Deco façade, gleaming picture windows and balconies overlook a geometrical courtyard garden. But the Hong Kong-meets-Paris tone comes into its own in the bedrooms. Spacious and airy, they are decidely romantic for all their modernity, hung as they are with blown-up sections of Man Ray's shadowy Rayograph (Kiss) over the XXL beds. Soft creams, plums and browns are enlivened with bright cushions and the odd red-china dachshund. Perhaps best of all are the bathrooms: a sort of endless ribbon of dressing room, walk-in shower and bath, combining white glass, white marble and black mosaic. Suites are positively palatial, with dining areas for swanning around as if you lived there. Duplexes pay homage to haute couture and the embroidery house Lesage. The hotel is also a dining destination: international foodies nibble Thierry Marx's space-age food in a cream-coloured fabric cocoon at gastronomic restaurant Sur Mésure, watch chefs performing live at all-day Camélia brasserie, or sip cocktails in the Bar 8 around a massive nine-ton block of brown marble.

    When to go Spring or early summer to make the most of the garden and private balconies.

    Room to book A Deluxe with a balcony is just fine, unless you're a total megalomaniac and want the presidential suite.

    00 33 1 70 98 78 88; www.mandarinoriental.com. Doubles from €945

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  • Saint James Paris

    Saint James Paris

    A miniature château at the end of short but suitably sweeping gravel drive, the Saint James used to be rather staid but it has been reborn with new owners and gloriously over-the-top decor by Franco-American decorator Bambi Sloan. In a style described as 'crazy chic', she has created a unique look somewhere between French château, Scottish manse and gentleman's club, a witty atmosphere helped by staff who skilfully blend deference with a glint of humour. The grand, galleried staircase forms a brilliant black-and-white centrepiece straight out of My Fair Lady; the 48 rooms and suites are fantasy retreats with antler lampstands, cases of butterflies, deep sofas and antique desks - chinoiserie here, tartan walls there. The hotel also serves as a private club, so business meetings are conducted over breakfast and lunch either in the panelled dining room hung with bravura portraits or in the more casual library, with its bookcases and spiral stairs now jazzed up with a leopard-print carpet. The owners have added a softly lit Moorish spa, which specialises in Gemology treatments, and a gym, although this hotel is surely somewhere to relax on velvet loveseats or take lunch in a Montgolfier gazebo in the garden - once the site of an early ballooning airfield.

    When to go In summer for the garden and the nearby Tuileries.

    Room to book Ask for a first-floor or Junior Suite, so you can swan up the grand staircase like Audrey Hepburn.

    00 33 1 44 05 81 81; www.saint-james-paris.com. Doubles from €336

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  • Ballyfin, Ireland

    Ballyfin, County Laois

    One of Ireland's premier neoclassical houses, Ballyfin is the story of an aristocratic family, an order of monks and an American called Fred. As the home of the Coote family, it glittered for a century, but was sold in the 1920s to the Patrician Brothers, a monastic order which ran a school and kept up the mansion in its own way: if one ornate ceiling fell down, they simply moved to another room. Ten years ago, Fred Krehbiel, a Chicago-based electronics magnate with an Irish wife, a fine collection of contemporary Irish art and a love of the Georgian era, set about Ballyfin's meticulous restoration, completing it with ravishing, yet deeply comfortable interiors by Colin Orchard, including the original Coote family portraits. There is so much on which to feast the eye, from the rotunda's exquisite marquetry floor to superb stucco work, antique furniture, porcelain, paintings and chandeliers… but also deep sofas, crackling fires and views over the Pleasure Grounds, Cascade and lake that instantly soothe. The 15 bedrooms of this Relais & Châteaux jewel are both gracious and luxuriously equipped, the food is superb, and the staff, from the Downton-esque knot waiting on the steps as you arrive, to the delightfully loquacious Lionel who will show you the 600-acre estate in his pony and trap, make you feel as if you've come home.

    When to go Spring or summer for the weather, but it's wonderfully evocative at any time of year and, only 90 minutes' drive from Dublin airport, it makes a convenient location for a really grand family celebration.

    Room to book Lady Caroline Coote's former boudoir, for elegant indulgence; the Marquis de Massigny de la Pierre Room, named after her daughter's husband, is smaller but no less charming.

    00 353 5787 55866; www.ballyfin.com. Doubles from €975, including all meals and most on-site activities

  • Armani Hotel Milano

    Armani Hotel Milano

    Giorgio Armani's hotel in his home town occupies the upper floors of the same 1930s rationalist block that houses the fashion designer's Via Manzoni retail superstore. The second from Armani's joint venture with UAE-based Emaar properties group, after Armani Hotel Dubai, this cool, 95-room luxe refuge in the heart of Milan's fashion district has a striking aesthetic, screening out the city (literally, with horizontal louvres that move with the sun) to create an elegantly muted escape from the bustle down below. Up here the living is easy, in a coddled world in which you are ministered to by a dedicated 'lifestyle manager' (a pretentious title, but mine had an impressive inside knowledge of the city). In the decor, clean lines meet opulent details, including the backlit onyx panels behind the seventh-floor bar or the rare green marble that lines parts of the impressive top-floor spa. Rooms, with entrance lobbies and spacious, marble bathrooms, have been designed with privacy in mind; all those on the sixth floor have their own terraces.

    When to go For the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in April.

    Room to book The two-level Signature Suite 211, with its dramatic curved staircase and private screening room.

    00 39 02 8883 8888; www.armanihotels.com. Doubles from €605

  • Palazzo Margherita, Basilicata

    Palazzo Margherita, Basilicata

    The fifth in perfectionist film-maker and vigneron Francis Ford Coppola's portfolio of small but exquisite hotels, this 19th-century mansion in Bernalda, the southern-Italian town from which his grandfather emigrated in 1904, is a lovingly restored retreat with a long-established, luxuriant garden: a place with real character, heritage and a discernable sense of the family that owns it. Its nine palatial guestrooms - six grand apartments on the palazzo's piano nobile and three more modest bedrooms in a former outhouse - have been designed by Jacques Grange and elegantly furnished with a mix of bespoke and antique pieces. Otherwise, though, it's short on facilities for the room rates it charges. There may be a 10-metre pool, but there's no spa or gym (though there are bicycles and massage, yoga and Pilates can be arranged). There's not even a restaurant, at least in the conventional sense. Rather there's a huge communal table in the brick-vaulted kitchen, where two local women produce authentic, unfussy classic Italian meals. Those who prefer to dine privately can eat anywhere: in the courtyard, garden, grand salone/screening room or in either of the two bars, one of which is hung with photographs of actors and filmmakers connected with the Cinecittà studios in Rome. Continuing the cinematic theme, a fascinating library of 100 or so Italian or Italy-set films have been loaded on to the 42-inch TVs in each room. None of Coppola's own, though, for there's no tacky cult of personality; indeed, the only references to him are to be found on the labels of the wines from his Californian vineyards that feature on the wine list, amid a substantial selection of local wines.

    When to go June to September: Bernalda's own attractions are scant, but it's a 15-minute drive from the coast so works well as a base for a beach holiday.

    Room to book Suite 4 - the one favoured by FFC's film-director daughter, Sofia Coppola - is the prettiest and has a large private terrace.

    00 39 0835 549060; www.palazzomargherita.com. Doubles from €360

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  • St Regis Florence

    St Regis Florence

    Last September saw the official opening of The St Regis Florence, a US$25-million revamp of the historic Grand Hotel on the north bank of the Arno, originally a palazzo designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1432. The interiors are certainly opulent, but that doesn't mean this place is stuffy, as is immediately apparent in the sun-filled library with its cool, jazzy soundtrack, chesterfields and shelves full of art books. The splendid Winter Garden, with its soaring stained-glass ceiling, has been cleverly transformed into an inviting space for breakfast, afternoon tea and aperitivi where you can also sample the menu of modern Tuscan dishes on offer at Etichetta Pinchiorri, an offshoot of the city's legendary, three-Michelin-starred restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri. With the exception of the contemporary, shades-of-mushroom Bottega Veneta Suite, the rooms and suites (100 in all, nearly half of which look onto the river) are divided into Renaissance, Florentine and Medici styles: you'll find plenty of velvet and brocades, fine prints and gilded mirrors, coffered ceilings, frescoes and (blissfully comfortable) baldacchino beds. Marble bathrooms have rain-showers, piles of thick white towels and TVs set into mirrors. The top-notch, smiling service includes a St Regis personal butler for all rooms and suites.

    When to go Avoid July and August when the crowds and humidity can be oppressive. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Florence.

    Room to book Don't even think of a room without a river view. Best of all are the corner suites (we particularly liked the third-floor 'Michelangelo') that face upstream, taking in the Ponte Vecchio, San Miniato and Forte di Belvedere to the sweep of olive- and cypress-dotted hills beyond.

    00 39 055 27161; www.stregis.com/florence. Doubles from €365

  • Canal House, Amsterdam

    Canal House, Amsterdam

    Canal House is the latest addition to the Curious Group of Hotels ( Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds; L'Hotel in Paris). Created from three 17th-century townhouses in the historic heart of Amsterdam, it is a quirky space with a labyrinth of vertiginous staircases; after checking in at the mirrored bar, it is necessary to walk through the kitchen on the way to your room. Appropriately, the kitchen is adjacent to the Great Room, an all-day brasserie in a former ballroom, decorated with dark walls beneath a beautiful stucco ceiling. Because it spans three houses, the hotel's garden is unusually large for the fashionable Jordaan neighbourhood. Views of the canal are picture perfect, a snapshot of life in Amsterdam complete with fietsers (cyclists) and canal boats. The bedrooms are categorised Good, Better, Great, Exceptional and one very large Best suite. They offer a comfortably contemporary interpretation of historic charm with original timber beams and fireplaces alongside reworked photographic versions of Flemish Masters such as van Eyck and Rubens. Clever open-plan layouts make the most of the tricky space; all bathrooms have double sinks and the group's signature, handmade Green & Spring toiletries.

    When to go In late March to early April as the 2,000 tulip bulbs in the hotel's garden raise their heads to herald spring.

    Room to book Room 2, a Great Room, has a semi-private terrace in the garden; Room 12, an Exceptional Room, has the best canal views.

  • W St Petersburg

    W St Petersburg

    A short walk from the Winter Palace, the last home of the Russian Tsars and now the State Hermitage Museum, W St Petersburg is a perfect base for exploring the wonderful architecture of the city. W Hotels' first foray into Russia, it is one of very few super-modern hotels in St Petersburg and by far the hippest. The hotel is housed in a 19th-century building, but the interior is decidedly up to date, with disco-ball lamps in the bedrooms inspired by Fabergé eggs. There are 137 rooms, 10 of which are suites, a number with stunning views of St Isaac's cathedral, the biggest church in the city, which took 40 years to build. The ground-floor restaurant by Alain Ducasse produces haute cuisine with locally sourced ingredients, now a growing trend in Russia. A rooftop cocktail terrace with perhaps the best views in the city is open from May to September, as summer sets in and the period known as the White Nights begins. There is a modern gym and a spa with six treatment rooms, a nail lounge, a sauna and a pool. The ground-floor bar has already become a trendy place for young professionals to gather. Part of the appeal of the hotel, in a city where service remains on the frosty side, is the 'Whatever/Whenever' mentality instilled in the staff, who are always enthusiastic and ready to help guests; there is even a pet service with beds and toys provided for visiting family friends.

    When to go During White Nights, when the sun never sets.

    Room to book An E-WOW Suite.

    00 7 812 610 6161; www.wstpetersburg.com. Doubles from 9,440 rubles (about £205)

  • Conservatorium Hotel Amsterdam

    Conservatorium Hotel Amsterdam

    This hotel is a visual feast, with striking, modern architecture by Piero Lissoni inserted into the century-old framework of a former bank turned music school. It is directly opposite the Stedelijk Museum (scheduled to reopen this month with a stunning new extension) and is handy for the upmarket shops on PC Hooftstraat. The hotel lobby is in an internal courtyard enclosed by glass, connected to one of the building's wings by an angular, steel staircase. Fig and olive trees form part of an indoor garden in the all-white basement Akasha spa, where there are six treatment rooms, a hammam, lap pool and Watsu pool (for underwater shiatsu treatments). Almost half of the hotel's 129 bedrooms are duplex, making the most of the original building's huge windows and high ceilings. Lissoni's passion for pared-back design is reflected in the conspicuous use of noble but hard materials such as metal, glass, mirror and stone, softened by sumptuous bed throws, carpets and comfortable furniture. The bar, with a separate mezzanine smoking lounge, is popular with locals and it is advisable to book a table at the adjacent Tunes restaurant, overseen by celebrated Dutch chef Schilo Van Coevorden, when making a room reservation. The gourmet food is excellent; the sommelier knowledgeable and passionate. All-day dining is available in the lobby Conservatorium Brasserie where an extensive breakfast buffet is served from the Ice Table.

    When to go Make the most of the hotel's year-round conservatory with a tourist-free winter visit.

    Room to book Rooms with views of Van Baerlestraat or Paulus Potterstraat are better than those overlooking the courtyard, where you will spend a lot of time anyway.

    00 31 20 570 0000; www.conservatoriumhotel.com. Doubles from €345

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  • Backstage Zermatt

    Backstage Zermatt

    In the shadow of the Matterhorn this glass-and-steel construction - part-Swiss chalet, part-Manhattan loft - is the vision of Heinz and Evelyne Julen, also behind Vernissage, the 20-year-old art and entertainment complex in the basement of the same building. With its buzzing bar, gallery and performance space, this is where young Swiss bands play live gigs. Upstairs, the hotel's 19 rooms are decked out in industrial-style decor incorporating brushed stainless steel, distressed leather and sepia-tinted site plans framed on the walls. Much of the hotel's quirky furniture (including chandeliers constructed from trumpets and saxophones, strands of silver beads and disco balls) can be purchased at the next-door store, a cornucopia of design by the Julen duet. There's also a new lounge-restaurant serving light and locally-grown organic fare, and guests can experience 'cine-dinners' during intervals at the Vernissage movie theatre. A trailblazing new spa has seven treatment 'cubes' representing the seven days of creation including a sauna with a slideshow of images taken from the Hubble Telescope and a flotation chamber playing a soundtrack of whale song. It's everything you might want from a gritty urban bolthole - yet this is in one of Switzerland's loveliest traditional villages, with access to miles of ski slopes and a few steps from the platform of the Glacier Express connecting Zermatt to St Moritz.

    When to go New Year, to combine serious skiing with a proper party.

    Room to book One of the six split-level, cube-shaped lofts designed by Heinz Julen and showcasing his original artworks.

    00 41 27 966 69 70; www.backstagehotel.ch. Doubles from US$286

  • Amanruya

    Amanruya, Bodrum

    No matter if you are coming from East or West, the Amanruya resort on the Bodrum peninsula, on the Aegean, offers the ideal retreat. Just an hour's flight from Istanbul and a 20-minute drive from central Bodrum, the resort is tucked away in a quiet forest of olive trees and coastal pines along Mandalya Bay. Each of the 36 cottages has its own garden and marble pool (some heated). Designed using a mix of Mediterranean and Ottoman architectural styles, the stone cottages are built to complement the trees and grassy plain surrounding them. The 75-square-metre cottages are relaxing and luxurious, and equipped with a traditional Turkish mangal charcoal fireplace for cooler nights. The resort also has an 800-book library, an art gallery, enormous pool (one of the largest in Turkey) and poolside lounge. The restaurant has Turkish, Indonesian, Thai and American menus. Enjoy mouth-watering meals then settle in the lounge with a Turkish or imported wine from the resort's impressive collection. For those wanting to experience the nightlife in Bodrum or visit the surrounding sites, such as the ancient city Ephesus, a fleet of Mercedes sports cars is on hand. Attentive and polite staff complete the experience.

    When to go All year round. Even in December and January one can expect clear blue skies and temperate weather. During the summer temperatures rise into the 30˚Cs.

    Room to book One of the cottages with a sea view.

    00 90 252 311 12 12; www.amanresorts.com. From €945

  • The House Hotel Bosphorus

    The House Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul

    The House Hotel Bosphorus invites you to feel at home - if your idea of home is a five-storey, 19th-century Ottoman mansion at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge. This was once the abode of architect Simon Balian, a member of the Armenian family behind many of Istanbul's landmark imperial buildings, including the Dolmabahçe and Çirağan Palaces. The exterior has been restored and a contemporary interior inserted, featuring marble, brass and walnut, created by acclaimed Turkish firm Autoban. The first four floors are symmetric, housing five bedrooms each; the top floor has three majestic suites that share a wraparound balcony. Of the 23 rooms, 19 have good views: the front of the house has an amazing Bosphorus view, while the side and back overlook Ortaköy - a lively, cobblestoned enclave that is home to one of Istanbul's most feminine mosques (also designed by the Balians), as well as a number of shops, restaurants, cafés and clubs. Guests can relax at the all-day-dining Lounge Bar overlooking the Bosphorus, or head to The House Café, a sister establishment adjacent to the hotel. From May to September, the hotel offers guests use of a private boat for airport transfers and Bosphorus cruises. There is a small gym, and in-room massages. The House Hotel Bosphorus is Istanbul's third House Hotel (the Nişantaşı branch was in the 2011 Hot List). An annexe with a suite, two rooms and a meeting room is under construction.

    When to go Springtime for an romantic urban getaway, or summer for a weekend enjoying Ortaköy's outdoor nightlife.

    Room to book A 24-square-metre Superior Bosphorus room with a private balcony and soaring three-metre ceilings festooned with decorative mouldings and a modern chandelier.

    00 90 212 244 3400; www.thehousehotel.com. Doubles from €159

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  • 45 Park Lane, London

    45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London

    It may be almost 30 years since 45 Park Lane housed the original London Playboy Club, but its latest incarnation - an intimate, 45-room hotel, the newest member of the Dorchester Collection - has retained the masculine feel of a gentlemen's club. And if The Dorchester is about strutting your stuff down the long central 'runway' on the ground floor, 45 Park Lane is more about slipping onto a comfortable leather banquette for a tête-à-tête. The building, originally by Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius, has been transformed into a monument to Art Deco by New York-based designer Thierry Despont, its exterior wrapped in striking metal fins. Inside, a double-height ground floor houses the modern American steak restaurant CUT at 45 Park Lane, by chef Wolfgang Puck. Here, you can choose from the widest range of beef available in London, but the menu is equally strong on seafood. A central staircase leads to the mezzanine Bar 45, an exclusive little pre-dinner cocktail spot. Park-facing bedrooms, some of the largest hotel rooms in the city, are decorated in warm natural tones and furnished with dark woods, suede and leather; walls are hung with works by contemporary British artists. The staff are efficient and genuinely friendly. And The Dorchester is on your doorstep.

    When to go Spring, for a leisurely walk across Hyde Park.

    Room to book One of the decadent Park Lane corner suites on the park: it's like having your own Mayfair crash-pad.

    020 7493 4545; www.45parklane.com. Doubles from £474

    Wimbledon offer: The Media Room Catch Wimbledon in comfort at Dorchester Collection's latest addition to its Mayfair hotel, The Media Room. With space for 12 diners around the magically high-tech 103" Bang & Olufsend 3D BeoVision screen, 45 Park Lane's room is far more appealing than watching from a spot squeezed amongst sweltering crowds, with your head spinning from baseline to baseline. Visitors can order bites from CUT, renowned chef Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. Emma Sudnik
    Price: From £1,000. Open: Until 12 July 2015. Website: www.dorchestercollection.com/en/london

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  • Belgraves - a Thompson Hotel

    Belgraves, Belgravia, London

    London isn't blessed with many boutique business hotels, so the new Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel, with its upbeat American confidence and quietly hip countenance, makes a valuable addition to the capital's stock. Thompson Hotels drafted in British designer Tara Bernerd and EPR Architects to give the former Sheraton hotel a makeover. The external 1970s structure remains, albeit wrapped in 'living walls' of plants and with a new skin of glass around the lower storeys, but the interior was gutted. Bernerd's design is contemporary in a classic way, with expensive lamps and velvet sofas in her trademark rich colours, and walls of books chosen for their neutral-hued spines rather than content (very tasteful, if a little bit chichi). The contemporary art, from Eleven gallery, is more daring. Up a hanging staircase from the lobby is an outdoor cigar terrace and Mark's Bar, dimly lit, where cocktails are served in charming antique glasses or silver goblets. The ground-floor Hix Belgravia restaurant reflects chef Mark Hix's emphasis on British produce, and the old favourites - chops, steaks, oysters - are all here, along with more experimental options such as lobster thermidor mashed into a baked potato. The bedrooms, though not huge, are well thought-out and dressed in sumptuous fabrics (velvet, ponyskin, wool); only a glass wall separates the bedroom and bathroom, with a degree of modesty provided by a metal-bead curtain. Dressed in 400-threadcount sheets, the beds are so comfortable it is tempting to stay in one all morning, alone or otherwise. Luckily, Hix brings breakfast right up to your door.

    When to go Christmas, when you can cosy up by the fire and go shopping in the nearby designer boutiques.

    Room to book Studio King Suite 803, with its skyline views from the fabulous marble bathroom.

    020 7858 0100; www.thompsonhotels.com. Doubles from £239

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  • Corinthia Hotel London

    Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall

    For first-time visitors to the capital, Corinthia Hotel London is in a brilliant location. This belle époque cake-slice of a building was once the Metropole (one of London's original grand hotels, which opened in 1885) and later part of the Ministry of Defence. It is yards from the Thames and close to Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and - if you scoot over Hungerford Bridge at Embankment - the lively South Bank. The hotel is a contemporary evocation of the grandeur of the British Empire under Queen Victoria, with 1,001 Baccarat chandeliers in the double-height, pillared lobby offset by warm parquet floors and a colour scheme of creams, caramels and charcoals with generous splashes of lime-green. The David Collins-designed seafood restaurant, Massimo, under the direction of Italian chef Massimo Riccioli, is excellent. Collins was also responsible for the cool, navy-leather-clad cocktail bar, Bassoon. Breakfast is served in Northall (pictured), a Modern British restaurant which is also a good option for lunch or dinner. Upstairs, the four-level ESPA Life spa oozes sophistication, with 15 treatment 'pods', a marble-and-leather spa lounge, a sauna encased in glass and a steel-lined pool.

    When to go For the Thames Festival, 8-9 September, which this year coincides with the Olympics' closing weekend celebrations.

    Room to book One of the seven duplex turret suites, with fireplaces and private roof terraces.

    020 7930 8181; www.corinthialondon.com. Doubles from £450

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  • St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

    St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, King's Cross, London

    The restoration of the long-closed Midland Grand (AKA that building above St Pancras railway station) has been one of the most avidly awaited redevelopments in London. In the wrong hands it could have been a disaster; but fortunately the developer, the Manhattan Loft Corporation, seems to have got it right. The original hotel, a Victorian Gothic landmark by Sir George Gilbert Scott, had 300 bedrooms and only nine bathrooms (the really rich could order a bath to be brought to their room). The new hotel, designed in an airy, contemporary but never minimalist style, has 245 rooms, thankfully all en-suite: 207 in a new extension, Barlow House, and 38 Chambers suites in the restored building. The latter (decorated in a palette approved by English Heritage) all have individual quirks: vaulted ceilings, soaring windows, or views over the station concourse. The loveliest feature of the hotel is its spectacular, immaculately restored, cantilevered staircase. Next best is the Gothic-windowed Booking Office restaurant, perfect for a hearty breakfast before dashing for a train. The original entrance hall and kidney-shaped coffee shop have become The Gilbert Scott, a grand British brasserie by chef Marcus Wareing.

    When to go From 7 July to 10 September, when there are direct Eurostar services from St Pancras to Avignon, it's a great starting point for a trip to Provence.

    Room to book One of the Chambers suites for a real sense of history.

    020 7841 3540; www.stpancrasrenaissance.com. Doubles (in Barlow House) from £270

  • The Zetter Townhouse

    The Zetter Townhouse, Clerkenwell, London

    The Zetter Townhouse is in two adjoining Georgian houses on cobbled St John's Square, just across from its sister hotel The Zetter. The latest project from Mark Sainsbury and Michael Benyan (the restaurateurs behind Moro), the hotel was designed by Russell Sage, who was inspired by Dickensian London and the gin distilleries for which Clerkenwell was historically known. Guests will be swept up in the drama of the curio-filled reception/cocktail lounge/breakfast room. Furnished with velvet sofas and armchairs, it's a great spot for a Twinkle (a Champagne-and-elderflower cocktail served in a delicate Victorian flute) and a tapas-style taste of chef Bruno Loubet's cuisine (his popular brasserie is in The Zetter). Upstairs, each atmospheric bedroom has been individually decorated in warm, bold colours and furnished with reclaimed and vintage furniture and mahogany four-posters with crisp, fresh linens. There's also a games room in the basement and a private dining room for 14 just off the cocktail lounge. Between Loubet's brasserie and The Modern Pantry restaurant next door (our room had a view down into its kitchens), this is a great choice for foodies looking for a characterful hotel in a charming part of town.

    When to go For Clerkenwell Design Week (22-24 May), which features open studios, pop-up exhibitions, live music and workshops.

    Room to book A spacious Townhouse Deluxe overlooking the square.

    020 7324 4567; www.thezettertownhouse.com. Doubles from £246

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  • Beresheet, Mitspe Ramon

    Beresheet, Mitspe Ramon

    The Negev desert makes up 60 per cent of Israel's landmass, but apart from some Bedouin villages, army bases and the odd geology enthusiast, it's pretty much empty. Until now the dusty 'tourist capital' of Mitspe Ramon, two-and-half hours south of Tel Aviv, has been nothing more than a pit-stop on the road to Eilat. But the much-lauded Chez Eugène restaurant and surrounding boutique wineries and organic farms are giving travellers a reason to stay longer. The new Beresheet hotel might make them want to stay forever. Built on a cliff overlooking the spectacular, 200-million-year-old Ramon Crater, the property was a labour of love for the late British hotelier David Lewis, credited with developing Eilat into Israel's premier resort town. There are 111 bedrooms (39 with private plunge pools) in a series of low-rise buildings, but driving up, the hotel appears to be nothing more than a mass of rocks jutting out from the cliff top. Desert activities include Jeep safaris into the crater, camel treks and picnics with llamas, but most guests (including smart Tel Avivians and French oligarchs) are happy to while away their days in the hammam or lying beside the beautiful infinity pool with its views over the crater. The cuisine is a major attraction, with most ingredients sourced from nearby farms, such as Kornmehl for exquisite organic goat's cheese. Beresheet means 'genesis' in Hebrew and there is a real sense that both the region and hotel's guests are in the process of being reborn.

    When to go August (it's not as hot as you might think) is the best time to see shooting stars rain down over the desert.

    Room to book Many rooms have balconies, but not all overlook the crater: Room 301 has a private pool and crater view; 303 a crater view and balcony.

    00 972 8 659 8000; www.isrotelexclusivecollection.com/beresheet. Doubles from 1,120 shekels (about £190)

  • Ayada Maldives

    Ayada Maldives

    Ayada is in the southern atoll of Gaafu Dhaalu: it's an hour's flight from Malé to Kaadhedhoo, then a further, James Bond-ish hour by speedboat across a screensaver-perfect sea. Once you arrive, fresh coconut in hand, you really do feel as if you're in the middle of nowhere. Divers will be pleased to note the surrounding coral is starting to look a bit perkier post El Niño and, with so few hotels in the area, there are virgin dive-spots just starting to be discovered. The resort is privately owned by a Turkish company, the Aydeniz Group, which is reflected in the staff, who really care that you're having a good time, and in the gently Ottoman-inspired decoration of the 112 villas (50 water villas, 62 seafront villas), the Mediterranean-inspired Magu restaurant, and the potent coffee and shisha pipes at The Ottoman Lounge. The island has seven restaurants, each with it's own vibe, including a Far East option and a wine-and-cheese bar positioned on the overwater walkway: a perfect pause for a late-night snack and star-gazing from seats hollowed out of wooden boats. As well as diving, fishing and other water activities, there's a floodlit tennis court, mini-football pitch, volleyball and badminton courts, ping-pong, a children's club, the AySpa with traditional hammam, and pilates classes. Ayada is big enough to get lost on; which is the key to avoiding island fever.

    When to go Even in the wet season, the Maldives has eight hours of sunshine a day. Peak season is over Christmas and New Year, when the prices are hoiked up.

    Room to book Sunset Lagoon Suite for the best of both worlds; half on the beach, half over the ocean.

    00 960 684 4444; www.ayadamaldives.com. Beach villas from US$1,120

  • Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives

    Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

    This resort is a 55-minute flight from the capital city of Malé, followed by a 15-minute speedboat trip (sometimes accompanied by a welcoming party of playful dolphins). The island itself is tiny: even at the gentlest of strolls you can walk the circumference in less than 10 minutes. But everything else about it is huge. The 38 honey-hued villa suites are massive, from 206 square metres up to a whopping 600. The over-sized theme continues inside: the ceilings are lofty, you could lose your partner in the bathroom and the beds are big enough for a family. The 16 'Ocean Pearls' villas are not just overwater, but completely detached from the main island (there's a speedboat on hand to ferry you across) with their own restaurant, bar with shared swimming pool and spa rooms. All the villas have private pools and butlers. There are three restaurants (including one overwater), but you can eat anywhere: pick a spot on the island, or even on a neighbouring one, and the chef will whip up a lobster picnic or top-grade wagyu beef barbecue. (Even the burgers here are made with wagyu beef.) The prices are hidden away at the back of the menu; but if you're worried about prices, then this place is probably not for you.

    When to go Any time, but the wet season is traditionally from May to November.

    Room to book Island Revive if you want sand between your toes; Ocean Sanctuary if you prefer water, water everywhere.

    00 960 682 8800; www.jumeirah.com. Beach Revive Suites from US$2,120

  • Long Beach, Mauritius

    Long Beach

    Long Beach is not a typical Mauritian resort. Developed by Sun Resorts (Sugar Beach, La Pirogue, Le Tousserok), the hotel opened in April 2011 on the 60-acre footprint of the former Coco Beach on the east coast. Its aim: to bring 'a new vision' of contemporary chic to the island. It takes a moment to adjust to the plain architecture; but once attuned we were converted. The buildings sit unshowily in the landscaped gardens; the rooms are airy and comfortable, with African teak furniture. All have Wi-Fi access (at no extra charge); private patios add to the sense of space. In total, there are two Deluxe Suites and 255 rooms, 140 of which are inter-connecting; this is a family-friendly resort, if an unusually stylish one. The main attraction is the beach, which is long (as claimed) and white and pretty. Swimming off it is a bit disappointing: there's a fringe of stones to negotiate and the water is quite shallow. For cardio exercise, head to the lap-pool at the excellent gym. In the evening, guests migrate to the piazza, to people-watch, shop, drink cocktails, and debate where to eat. There are three restaurants in the 'village': Hasu (smart Japanese), Chopsticks (modern-casual Chinese) and Le Marche (self-service buffet), and two on the beach: Tides (local cuisine) and I Sapori (Italian). The staff are diligent and the Mauritian general manager, Nicholas Blandin de Chalain, is a bundle of energetic charm. 'I want this to be the most addictive resort in the world,' he says. For those in need of a modern-Mauritian fix, Long Beach could become a habit.

    When to go May to early December. January and February, the peak cyclone months, are best avoided.

    Room to book Those nearest the sea, numbered 501-535.

    00 230 401 19 19; www.longbeachmauritius.com. Doubles from €360

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  • Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

    Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

    Marrakech's image as a destination for luxury-loving sun-seekers is on the upswing thanks to a wave of projected new five-star openings. First off the starting blocks was the new Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, which opened last June. The hotel bills itself as an 'urban resort' and, although it lacks the decadent charm of recent Marrakech Hot Listers La Mamounia and Royal Mansour, it is an elegant, understated and well-thought-out place to stay, especially if you prefer suburban peace to medina hubbub. The architecture is Berber-inspired but the bedrooms are pleasingly familiar, with enormous bathrooms, and there is an excellent, laid-back poolside restaurant (from which fresh juice shots and chilled cocktails are sent to sun loungers). The Bleu d'Orange restaurant, atop a tower, is the smarter dining option and the spa is outstanding, with therapists using Natura Bissé, Ilā and local products. There is plenty of family-friendly outdoor space, a separate family pool and two children's clubs. At the time of our visit the standard of service wasn't quite up to the usual Four Seasons standard; training is ongoing and the friendly staff are committed to improvement.

    When to go Avoid the stiflingly hot period from June to August.

    Room to book The Grand Pavilion Suites, for having direct access to the pool and private plunge pools.

    00 800 6488 6488; www.fourseasons.com/marrakech. Doubles from £355

  • White Pearl Resorts, Mozambique

    White Pearl Resorts, Ponta Mamoli

    The new owners have transformed what was an ugly old grub of a hotel into a cool coastal butterfly. Getting here involves an hour's flight from Johannesburg to Maputo, followed by a thrilling 30-minute transfer by private helicopter to Ponta Mamoli, set in a cove at the end of an endless, empty beach. It has been an instant hit with South Africans, who tend to drive the 25km from the Kosi Bay border post in KwaZulu-Natal rather than chopper in, and it will be just as popular with an international crowd looking for a post-safari beach holiday. The resort has 22 cabins built on stilts on a steep hill and connected by wooden walkways. The interiors are polished, with clean lines and contemporary furniture; each cabin has a generous terrace with an outdoor shower and private plunge pool (leaving plenty of room to play in the two public ones). The beach bar delivers music, cocktails and Portuguese-inspired snacks such as peri-peri prawns; the restaurant produces inspired seafood dishes. Underwater explorers are well catered for at the dive centre, and everyone flocks to see humpback whales, whale sharks, manta rays and turtles. Resident dolphins seem to hang around waiting for someone to swim with them and the cherry on the eco-cake is watching loggerhead and leatherback turtles lay their eggs on the beach at night.

    When to go Anytime: it's warm and dry in winter; hot and steamy in summer (November-March); turtle egg-laying is November to February; whale-watching is August to November.

    Room to book Number 6 is the most private on the beach; Number 22, for panoramic views.

    00 27 35 562 8100; www.whitepearlresorts.com. Doubles from R3,900 (about £330)

  • Raffles Praslin Seychelles

    Raffles Praslin Seychelles

    Built into the hillside above Takamaka Bay on the north-east coast of Praslin, Raffles Resort has stunning views across the Indian Ocean towards the nature-reserve island of Curieuse. The sloping metal roofs of the 86 villas are a nod to plantation-style architecture but the restaurants, reception area and bars have a bold metropolitan feel. The villas are sumptuously furnished, and each has its own small plunge-pool and in- and outdoor showers, while the suites have barbecue facilities; everyone gets the 24-hour Raffles butler service. Losean Restaurant is a stylish venue for all-day dining, or there's the Curieuse poolside restaurant which specialises in seafood. The enormous main pool (the largest of any in Seychelles) is a stone's throw from the delightful beach at Anse Takamaka, the gentle arcs of water perfect for doing serious laps or for a relaxing dip. Families and honeymooners are equally well provided for, as are the many clients from the corporate world where the Raffles brand is well known. The spa is key to the Raffles experience, with treatment rooms set in a tranquil garden surrounded by the dramatic granite boulders which make Praslin seem like a natural sculpture park. The Vallée de Mai nature reserve, home to the famed coco de mer palm, is a short drive away.

    When to go The Seychelles are warm all year round, lying just seven degrees south of the equator. Humidity is highest during the north-west monsoon from November to March, but seas are rougher between May and September.

    Room to book One of the 26 Panoramic Villas set high on the hillside overlooking the nearby islands.

    00 248 4296 780; www.raffles.com/praslin. Doubles from £602

  • Queen Victoria Hotel, Cape Town

    Queen Victoria Hotel, Cape Town

    The new, discreet sister property to Cape Town's Dock House is tucked away behind that hotel in a quiet mews away from the bustle of the harbour development. The Queen Victoria is a study in understated elegance throughout, a cocoon of soothing grey and white with just a dash of the most subtle royal purple. People-watching from a deep-purple velvet armchair in the triple-volume atrium, it's obvious this sexy urban sanctuary has proved popular with locals as well as visitors. Dash restaurant (it's named after Queen Victoria's favourite spaniel) is hung with enormous paintings by local artists and the distinctive Gregor Jenkin tables and chairs by Moorgas & Sons showcase the best of local furniture design. Chef Jamie Dempster's menu has been much acclaimed, particularly the chicory, pickled pear stilton and roasted hazelnut salad with sorrel dressing, which is nothing less than artistry on a plate. The Presidential Suite, with superb views from its terrace, is the best-kept secret on the V&A Waterfront. All the shops of the Waterfront are just a five-minute walk away, or you can hop on a hotel bike and explore further; the spa and pool at Dock House are available to guests at the Queen Victoria.

    When to go September to April; February is usually the warmest month.

    Room to book The Presidential Suite or Junior Mountain Suite 1205 with a balcony and mountain view; 1311 is an Executive suite on two floors and 1305 can be linked to the Presidential Suite via a private lobby.

    00 27 21 418 1466; www.newmarkhotels.com. Doubles from R2,995 (about £250)

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  • Baraza Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

    Baraza Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

    With its Middle Eastern arches, carved white-plaster walls, ornate golden mirrors and sparkling brass lamps, Baraza resembles a modern-day Omani palace. The new 30-suite hotel, on Zanzibar's south-west coast, is set in 70 hectares planted with multicoloured bougainvillaea, frangipani and jasmine, overlooking a dazzlingly white, powder-fine beach. There's no shortage of space: each suite (at least 148 square metres) has a private plunge pool and veranda, living room with double daybed curtained with gold silk, four-poster swathed in mosquito net, and a spacious bathroom with a shower and pond-sized bath. Although it's private and romantic enough for honeymoons, it's family-friendly, too, with a big swimming pool, a kids' club packed with games and toys, a watersports centre and bicycles for exploring Bwejuu beach. Meals are served indoors and (preferably) out; the food at this all-inclusive resort is plentiful and varied, if not particularly inspiring, and often accompanied by performances from local Swahili musicians. The highlights are the sea - sparkling in almost unreal shades of brilliant blue - and the spa, which could have been built for a princess. The regal interior, with a secluded pool at its centre, glitters with mirrors, lamps, mosaics and silk-strewn daybeds and it is staffed by skilled therapists from Bali, Thailand and India. The owners are interior designers, and the boutique shop stocks their own tasteful homeware range as well as alluring treats, from Indian silk kaftans to clove-scented Zanzibari soap.

    When to go June to October, when it rarely rains.

    Room to book The two-bedroom Presidential Villa, on the beach, with private pool and gardens.

    00 255 774 440 330; www.baraza-zanzibar.com. Doubles from €685

  • Chem Chem, Tanzania

    Chem Chem, Lake Manyara

    Set within 400 hectares of private palm forest on the shores of Lake Manyara, separated from Tarangire National Park by a slither of grasslands, Chem Chem safari camp is blessed by its situation. In summer the lake is aflutter with thousands of birds, including clouds of pink flamingos; in winter it is so dry that Masaai warriors, toting silver ice buckets and spears, serve sundowners on its sandy bed. There are two game reserves nearby: 20 minutes' drive away, the elephant-filled Tarangire, and two and a half hours' drive up the Rift escarpment, the Ngorongoro Crater. The Chem Chem safari experience doesn't just centre on game, though; it's about enjoying a 'Slow Safari' and appreciating the surroundings: floating in the small bush swimming pool watching zebra and giraffe, being massaged under shaded thatch with ILA organic products, learning to stalk giraffe with Masaai trackers, hanging out in the eight spacious canvas suites drinking tea from silver pots, lazing on a linen chaise-longue flicking through a book or savouring the delicious cuisine. The owners, Nicolas Negre (a passionate French hunter-turned-conservationist) and Fabia Bausch (a Swiss former financier), have created a place in which peace, ancient landscapes, local people and fine wine are highly valued. Service is sweet and attentive - the staff are villagers - and the interiors calm and natural, from the tree-trunk chairs carved by Negre to the chic, monochrome photographs.

    When to go December to February for birds and lush landscapes; June to October for great herds on the Tarangire River.

    Room to book Number 8 for privacy; Number 1 for great views of the waterhole.

    00 255 783 379764; www.chemchemsafari.com. Doubles from US$1,500 all-inclusive

  • Singita Explore, Tanzania

    Singita Explore, Singita Grumeti Reserves

    In 2002, the American financier and philanthropist Paul Tudor Jones leased 350,000 acres of land adjoining the Serengeti to create a private game reserve. In June 2011, onto his three opulent safari camps (Sasakwa, Sabora and Faru Faru) he added a less decadent and more private option: Singita Explore. The camp is theoretically mobile (although it takes two days to set up), so can be pitched in various spots at different times of year. Tents are roomy khaki, chrome and leather constructions, whose elegant design was inspired by classic Land Rovers, with very comfortable proper beds, as well as bucket showers and flush WCs. A cool, Calvin Klein-style mess-tent offers respite from the heat, with fans, linen sofas, a mini-library and a glamorous cocktail bar twinkling with silver shakers and crystal decanters. Because Explore can only be booked by a single group, it's extremely private, with attentive service from the chef (who turns out exquisite dishes, from iced gazpacho to lemon pudding with crème anglais), camp staff (who deliver steaming espressos to hammocks with a smile) and a top-notch guide who will drive guests wherever they fancy, on-road or off-road, day or night. Downsides are the expense and lack of intimacy (the walls are canvas, and tents set close together). The main lodge, Sasakwa, has a spa, pool and tennis court for all Singita guests' use, as well as 18 well-schooled horses for those who fancy getting really up close and personal with the game.

    When to go June to August, when it's cool and dry and the wildebeest migration often passes through.

    Room to book The tent furthest from the mess-tent, for privacy.

    00 27 21 671 6776; www.singita.com. Doubles from US$1,850 all-inclusive

  • Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi

    Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi

    The blue-green, wave-shaped shaft of Sir Rocco Forte's first hotel in the Middle East shimmers proudly in an otherwise low-rise district, just five minutes' drive from the city's private jet airport. Inside, Olga Polizzi's design continues the ocean theme: fish-shaped blown bottles hang, like a frozen shoal, in the lobby; bubbles float in the Perspex room handles. But the attention to detail does not end at the tide line. Forte's focus on quality service rings out loud throughout his Arabian outpost: staff members greet you in the corridor; cocktail-makers shake, slice and pour with more determination than Bond mid-chase; butlers are available to unpack your suitcase and pour a bath. The hotel is a 15-minute drive from the beach and predominantly aimed at business travellers, but local families frolic in the large outdoor pool. The 15-treatment-room spa has another four pools (for him and her), Moroccan hammams, Technogym and classes ranging from soft yoga to capoeira. Take the lift to the left of the lobby for a 30-second tour of some of Rocco's restaurants: Oceana Grill serves breakfast followed by seafood; Rouge is a hip Asian venue serving dishes such as Chinese wagyu; Blue Bar sits on top, a high-ceilinged bar looking out to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The Bournemouth-born hotelier plans further hotels across the region: with Abu Dhabi as his Gulf showroom, the rest should follow in quick succession.

    When to go Anytime between October and mid-May. The searing summer heat drains Abu Dhabi of its appeal (and people) the rest of the year.

    Room to book If possible, a roomy Grand Suite - mainly for its Gordon Gekko-worthy bath TVs.

    00 971 2 617 0000; www.roccofortehotels.com. Doubles from 1,102 dirhams (about £190)

    THE HOT LIST 2012 WAS EDITED BY PETER BROWNE (ONLINE EDITING BY EMMA LUNDIN); REPORTS FROM: Colin Barraclough, Karen Burshtein, Rodney Bolt, Gary Bowerman, Peter Browne, Alice Brudenell-Bruce, Fiona Caulfield, Michelle Jana Chan, Sevil Delin, Guy Dittrich, Mike Dolan, Dook, Fiona Duncan, Tim Ecott, Natasha Edwards, Laura Fowler, Lisa Grainger, David Kaufman, Mia Ljungberg, Becky Lucas, Lee Marshall, Emily Mathieson, Karryn Miller, Harriet O'Brien, Kevin O'Flynn, Ed Peters, Michelle Snadden, Sarah Spankie, Nicky Swallow, Francesca Syz, Bonnie Tsui, Stephen Whitlock, Stephen Wood, Justin Vela, Dominic Wells

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