Abac Barcelona
Most hotels build their rooms and then find someone to run their restaurant(s). Abac Barcelona took the opposite approach — with fantastic results. Helmed by Chef Jordi Cruz, the restaurant has earned two Michelin starts thanks to creative dishes that are as pleasing to look at as they are to devour. As for the hotel's 15 rooms, they range in size from 26 square meter standard rooms to the massive 70 square meter Abac Suite; no matter which one you choose, you'll find a totally soundproof space, with Bang & Olufsen televisions and sound systems, remote control light and blind systems, a Nespresso coffee machine, Wi-Fi, a rainfall shower, a Jacuzzi with chromo therapy functionality, and Hermés welcoming amenities. Add in a high-class spa and stunning lounge/bar, and you've got all the elements needed for a first-class stay.
Lake Placid Lodge
Some hotels are best during the summer. Others during the winter, and still more during the fall. The Lake Placid Lodge is a solid choice no matter the season. The only hotel on the lake, this upscale hotel offers 30 guest rooms placed throughout the property, each just steps from the water and featuring hand-built beds, large windows with views of Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondacks, and stone fireplaces. On-site, you'll also find two restaurants with both indoor and outdoor tables, a wine cellar, and plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy any time of year.
Patmos Aktis Suites and Spa
Looking for an ideal beach getaway? Sure, you could head to Hawaii, or Bali, or Fiji, or the Bahamas, or some other super-obvious destination. Or you could book a stay at the Patmos Aktis Suites and Spa. Located on the Greek island of Patmos, this luxury resort offers deluxe rooms and suites, poolside suites, suites just steps from the Aegean Sea, and townhouse-like maisonettes offering room for up to 5 people. As the name suggests, there's also a spa on-site, as well as an excellent restaurant and a waterside bar. In other words, everything you need. [via]
Costa Verde 727 Fuselage Suite
Sleeping on a plane is one thing. Sleeping in one is something quite different — and you cna do so in the Costa Verde 727 Fuselage Suite. Located less than half a mile from the beach, this completely restored 1965 Boeing 727 airframe houses two air-conditioned bedrooms — each with a private bath — a kitchenette, TV, dining area, foyer, a dramatic entrance up a spiral rock staircase, and a huge hardwood deck built atop the former right wing that provides dramatic ocean views. Also on the grounds are three restaurants, one of which shares an aviation theme — it's built from a converted C-123 Fairchild.
Ace Hotel London Shoreditch
Joining outposts in such celebrated cities as New York, Palm Springs, Portland, and Seattle, Ace has set its sights across the pond. The result is the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch. This new 265-room hotel offers a range of rooms from a standard double all the way up to a king suite with separate living space, with free Wi-Fi, custom quilts from A.P.C., and exclusive Farmers' bath products. And while select rooms entice you to stay in with turntables and radios, you'll want to venture out to see the on-site flower shop, restaurant and bar by David Waddington and Pablo Flack of Bistrotheque, a lobby cafe from Square Mile Coffee Roasters, and finally, when you're ready to head out into the city, a fleet of bikes from tokyobike.
Nira Alpina
Some people use the winter season as an excuse to skip out on the cold and head to the tropics. Others embrace it. If you're among the latter, booking your winter getaway at Nira Alpina is a good idea. Set at the base of Mt. Corvatsch just minutes from St. Moritz, this upscale hotel offers rooms ranging from 20 square meter Mountain View affairs to the 50 square meter Alpine Junior Suite, all of which offer a large terrace or balcony, panoramic windows overlooking the Engadin mountains, a modern granite bathroom with a deep bath and waterfall shower, and free Wi-Fi. Also on-site is a spa, three restaurants, a rooftop bar, and a bakery, but it's the outdoor activities — skiing and snowboarding in the winter, with direct access to the Corvatsch cable car station, and hiking, sailing, swimming or windsurfing in the summer — that truly set it apart.
CastleMartyr Resort
It can be difficult to breathe within the walls of some stodgy, high class, five star hotels. But when you visit CastleMartyr Resort in Cork County, Ireland, the fresh air is plentiful. The resort consists of a striking 17th century country manor house that sits adjacent to the ruins of an 800-year-old-castle. Hit the spa to relax, play golf on their Ron Kirby-designed course, or just stroll the grounds and take in the expansive, beautiful surroundings. They even encourage you to take their Irish Setters, who welcome you upon arrival, for a walk around the hotel acreage.
Sentosa Seminyak
Get all the privacy of a residence with all the benefits of a resort at Sentosa Seminyak. Located on the southwest coast of Bali within walking distance of tons of high-end shopping and dining options — and more importantly the beach — this all-villa resort features 43 three-, four-, and five-bedroom villas, making it an ideal spot for families or groups of friends. Each villa offers open-air spaces, a gourmet kitchen, and its own private pool, while you'll also find the brand new Salt tapas restaurant helmed by Chef Luke Mangan, a gym, a spa, a bar, and Wi-Fi on site — so while there's plenty to do right outside your door, you don't really need to go anywhere at all.
Yosemite A Frame Cabin
Sometimes when you want to get away, a hotel just doesn't cut it — you need a private residence. And this Yosemite A Frame Cabin is an ideal option. Set in a scenic spot off the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway in Yosemite National Park, 7,000 feet above the sea and fourteen miles from Bass Lake, this property offers two separate lofts each with its own twin bed, a modern bathroom, a twin futon for a fifth person (if necessary, and a full kitchen). Oh, and if you just can't leave work behind, it has Internet access, as well — but we'd way rather be unplugged, enjoying the nearby swimming holes, meadows, and hiking trails.
The Ellis Hotel
Downtown Atlanta's hotel scene is dominated by chains — highly-regarded chains, for sure, but chains nonetheless. If you're looking for something a little less corporate, consider The Ellis Hotel. Located downtown not far from the Convention Center and loads of shopping, drinking, and eating options, it's an ideal base camp for those visiting for business or pleasure. The rooms range from standard rooms with double beds to a large suite with a King-size bed, private parlor, and wetbar, but no matter which room you choose, you still get access to the Terrace Bistro, fitness center, lobby bar, and the hotel's famously excellent service.
Stayokay Dordrecht Ecolodge
There are plenty of places to stay if you just want to get close to nature. But if you'd rather stay in nature, you need a place like the Stayokay Dordrecht Ecolodge. Located on the Biesbosch — the largest freshwater tidal area of Europe — the Ecolodge sits literally on the water, and offers a stunning, modern design that incorporates up to three beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, a toilet, sink, and a private watchtower that provides 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. Just make sure you've got your sea legs before you book your stay, as the walkway/dock doesn't look so comfortable.
Michelberger Hotel
Started by a group of friends looking for a way to live together in the same building, the Michelberger Hotel is one of the more unique stays in the German capital. Boasting over 100 rooms of various sizes and shapes — options range from the king size bed-and-shower Cozy to multi-bed spaces like the Band, The Big One, and The Very Big Chalet, the latter two of which offer sleeping space for up to 6 people. The unconventional attitude extends to the decor, which reminds one of a modern antique shop, the restaurant, which is outfitted with different, mis-matched wooden chairs, and the main cafe/bar/hangout that's home to more reading material than you'd have time to read, even if you did live there.
