One Happo
Not feeling up to a typical luxury ski resort? One Happo offers all the amenities of a five-star accommodation with one major missing ingredient: the people. This private chalet offers five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, and room for up to 10 spread across three floors. Up top you'll find the gourmet kitchen, stunning glass wine room, a heated deck with grill, a bar, and a lounge with a Bang and Olufsen TV. The second floor is home to all five bedrooms — including two with mountain views — while the first floor houses a gym, boxing dojo, spa, dry room, and laundry room. Of course, we've left out the best part, which is the direct access to the main Happo resort gondola and Olympic slopes, making this one of the most desirable ski accommodations in the world.
Bay of Many Coves
The name sounds adventurous, and there's plenty of it to enjoy at the Bay of Many Coves — but with its 5-star accommodations, you don't have to get any more adventurous than you want. Set on the Marlborough Sounds, this luxury resort offers one- two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a high-end restaurant, an all-day lounge, a cafe, a day spa, a heated outdoor pool, a six-person cedar hot tub, and, of course, swimming at the Coves' private beaches.
The Opposite House
There's no shortage of upscale accommodations in China's capital, but if you're looking for an ideal mix of old and new, The Opposite House is the place to go. Located in Sanlitun, a former red-light district that's now home to many upscale shops and restaurants, this striking building features an emerald glass exterior inspired by traditional Chinese wood lattice, a large atrium, a stainless steel swimming pool and state of the art gym, and 98 studios and a Penthouse, all featuring clean furniture, underfloor heating, and spa-inspired bathrooms with rain-style showers. And while the streets outside offer plenty of eating and drinking options, the House itself is home to two restaurants — the Chinese spot Bei and the Mediterranean eatery Sureño — as well as the low-key Mesh lounge.
Villa Kalyana
Resort getaways are all well and good, but sometimes a retreat calls for a little more privacy — and it's hard to get more private than Villa Kalyana. And not just you, either. This spacious private estate sits on a private bay, and features 10 bedrooms, giving it space for up to 18 adults and several kids. Hand-carved wood, modern furnishings, and architecture designed to blend into the lush jungle-like surroundings provide a terrific backdrop for the massive chemical-free pool, gardens, movie room, game room, and beachside seating. And don't worry about having to go it alone — a full staff is on hand to cater to your every need, including housekeeping, maintenance, and cooking. All you have to do is lay back and relax.
Endémico
The rooms at Endémico — or Encuentro Guadalupe, as it's now called — may be small, but once you get an eyeful of the views they provide, their size simply won't matter. Set on a hill overlooking the Valle de Guadalupe wine region, this unique luxury hotel features 20 luxury cabins, each of which provides unobstructed views of the valley. The hotel is somewhat remote, but thanks to an on-site pool, restaurant, and bar, there's little reason to leave — and since it's just 90 minutes from San Diego, you won't have far to go when you do decide to leave.
Adara Hotel
Seaside getaways are all well and good, but if you prefer shredding slopes to catching waves, the Adara Hotel is an ideal destination. Located just a five minute walk from lift access — as well as shopping, dining, and nightlife — this alpine retreat offers 41 guest suites ranging from basic double queen rooms to two bedroom lofts, each offering in-room PS3s, fridges, microwaves, and walk-in rain-style showers. Other features include an outdoor pool and hot tub, free Wi-Fi, a lobby lounge serving coffee, tea, breakfast bars, and cookies, and complimentary ski, golf, bike, and luggage storage. But just like with a beach resort, the real draw is what's outside your door.
Louis Hotel
The building itself is 100 years old, but you'd never know it after stepping inside the Louis Hotel. Located on the lively Viktualienmarkt, this 72-room hotel is just a short walk from the city's most desirable destinations. Each of its rooms is individually designed, offering features like custom-made furniture, oiled oak floors, bathrooms with Stella fittings and heated floors, and even balconies in select rooms. The hotel is also home to the excellent, Japanese-inspired Emiko restaurant and bar, as well as a fully-equipped gym and a rooftop terrace that offers excellent views of the city.
Villa San Michele
Don't be surprised if you wake up feeling a little spiritual after spending the night at Villa San Michele — the place used to be a monastery, after all. But where monks once roamed, a luxury hotel has taken root, allowing common folk to enjoy the fantastic views of the city below. The hotel offers a full range of double rooms, junior and standard suites, and the Limonaia Suite and Villa, which is housed in the former orangery in the Italian gardens. The hotel is also home to a pool with adjoining restaurant and bar, a cooking school, a fitness center, and a bar housed in a former cloister. Oh, and as for unexplained feelings, you might feel a bit of deja vu when sitting down at the San Michele's signature La Loggia restaurant, but that's only because it was used as a filming location for one of the final scenes in The Dark Knight Rises, a fact that we can only imagine has boosted the bar's sales of Fernet Branca.
Saffire Freycinet
If all you know of Tasmania is its location in the South Pacific and the Looney Tunes character inspired by its indigenous marsupial, it's time you experienced it for yourself. And a stay at Saffire Freycinet is a great place to start. Situated on a hillside overlooking Oyster Bay and the Hazard Mountains, this ultra-luxe resort features 20 suites arranged as to recall the breaking waves beyond, an impressively modern main lodge, an excellent restaurant and lounge, both boasting outstanding views, a full-service spa, outstanding service, and access to some of the best beaches in the world.
Hotel Casablanca
Puerto Rico might not be the first place you'd expect to find a Moroccan-themed hotel, but trust us, Hotel Casablanca works all the same. Located in the vibrant old town, this 35-room hotel offers carved wood furniture, canopy beds, an ornate lobby, a rooftop terrace with stone bathtubs, a cafe serving up delicious breakfast, plenty of nearby restaurants, shopping, attractions, and nightlife, reasonable rates, and the beach just a short 5 minute walk away.
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
For most tourists, the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu are a single-day trip: go up the mountain, sightsee, head back down. But for the lucky few who book a stay at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the ruins are just part of the package. Located adjacent to the ancient Inca Citadel, this unique hotel features 29 rooms and two suites, offering either patio or mountain views, as well as a terrific restaurant serving both Peruvian and international dishes, a spa offering massages and hot stone treatments for bodies sore from exploring the mountainous terrain, and a cozy bar for unwinding after an eventful day.
Hotel de Windketel
You're not going to hosting any grand parties there — the entire place is a total of 48 square meters — but if you're looking for interesting, intimate accommodations for you and your traveling partner, the Hotel de Windketel should be on your list. Originally built as part of the Municipal Water Company complex, this smallest of the buildings has been converted into a three-story, two-person room with a kitchen on the ground floor, a living room on the second floor, and a bedroom/bathroom at the top beneath the wooden roof timbers.
