On the banks of the River Maigue, this American-owned imposing Tudor Gothic mansion was home for the earls of Dunraven; the atmosphere still feels familial, albeit a family long on history and wealth. The iconic property maintains the 19th century's fascination with the medieval, with stone arches, heavy wood and decorated ceilings; the centerpiece is the "Minstrels Gallery," a 132-feet-long room (Ireland's second largest). Outside, the 840 acres provide plenty of distraction, especially in the beautiful huge gardens and the little namesake village nearby, one of Ireland's most picturesque. Sights like the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher are close enough for day trips.READ REVIEW »
Although only 35 minutes' drive from Victoria, the Aerie Resort, set on the lush slopes of the Chowican Valley, with sweeping ocean views, feels as remote as a monastery. Established on vacant farmland as a simple bed and breakfast in 1991, it's now an opulent Relais & Chateaux. Three separate buildings fuse Mediterranean and contemporary West Coast styles in 85 acres of forested gardens decorated with Italianate statues. The perfect place to nurture your spiritual side, the Aerie offers daily yoga classes, organic meals and fall mushroom-foraging expeditions led by a Benedictine monk.READ REVIEW »
During the Roaring ‘20s several wealthy Argentines endeavored to create South America's finest hotel. No expense would be spared -- everything from marble columns to delicate etched-glass windows would be imported from Europe. Construction cost millions and took more than a decade, but the investors achieved their goal: a place fit for kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, as well as an instant symbol that Buenos Aires had "arrived" as one of the world's great cities. Eighty years later the Alvear Palace still sparkles, a hotel of exquisite taste and exemplary service that makes every guest feel regal. The grandiloquent architecture is what blows most people away -- the cathedral-like lobby and a dining room modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The clientele is also precious: well-heeled Argentines, jet-setting Europeans and an increasing number of Americans who don't have to ask the price. And even the location can't be beat -- the swish Recoleta district in the heart of BA and right up the road from the cemetery where Eva Perón (and many other Argentine luminaries) sleep peacefully.READ REVIEW »
Set on a former maharaja campground two hours from Jaipur -- amid date palms and centuries-old mango trees and still sporting its scent of newness -- this lushly landscaped desert oasis incorporates traditional haveli design in its thoroughly modern construction and detailing, hand-rendered in finely hewn marble and pale pink sandstone. Designed by Aman-vet Ed Tuttle, Amanbagh takes the mod maharaja palace concept -- originated elsewhere in Rajasthan -- to elegant and chic new levels.READ REVIEW »
When it opened in 1989, the Amandari was a pioneering small luxury property that in terms of design was as harmonious and magical as the island of Bali itself. Built on the edge of a dramatic river gorge and inspired by the layout of a traditional Balinese village, with river-stone walkways, graceful thatched public spaces and high stone walls, architect Peter Muller's unique hotel drew magazine photographers and celebrities alike. Since then, Bali has seen its share of new and glamorous resorts, but the Amandari still reigns as one of the island's landmark destinations.READ REVIEW »
The world woke up to Marrakech's chic makeover in 2000 when Amanresorts opened its first -- and so far only -- African property, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. This serene collection of arched ocher pavilions in an oasis of palms and olive groves is set around a huge reflecting irrigation water basin. And with its swimming pool, spa, three restaurants, golf course, and typically Zenlike designer-dressed staff, you'll feel as pampered as Berber royalty. The frenetic souks and squares of the Medina are only 15 minutes away, but they may as well be another world. READ REVIEW »
Inspired by nearby Borobudur, the magnificent 8th-century Buddhist stupa, the Amanjiwo presents architecture as chakra -- a resort in which every detail is perfectly aligned to achieve both visual and metaphysical harmony. The bell-shaped rotunda (which houses the lobby and dining room) verily hovers over the south Java plains, a foil to the wooded slopes and smoldering volcanoes that loom behind. Villas flow in flowerlike crescents from the main building, reached via stone walkways through verdant tropical vegetation. And with just 35 suites, it's one of the quietist places on earth. Walk through, and you won't even hear your breath being taken away.READ REVIEW »
The mood is set from the start: As guests arrive into the cantilevered porte cochere in their chauffered SUVs, a throng of children in royal dress greet them with a dance choreographed to the echoes of a gamelan. From there, Asian austerity is juxtaposed with Western indulgence, everywhere from the three-tiered pool overlooking the sea to the thatched bales hidden up in the hills for secret picnics.READ REVIEW »
There are lots of options for beachfront luxury in Phuket, but Amanpuri always manages to top the list. Perhaps guests' undying devotion can be attributed to the authentically Thai villas, sprinkled throughout a mature coconut plantation. Or maybe it's the dramatic views of the teal-blue Andaman Sea from every room. It could easily be the service with a smile, or perhaps the fleet of yachts and spectacular diving. With the opening of the Aman brand's first full-service spa, there's yet another reason to stay at Amanpuri. The trick is finding a way to leave.READ REVIEW »
In 1962, Cambodia's hipster prince, and future king, Norodom Sihanouk, tapped French architect Laurent Mondet to design a paean to mid-century modern on the edge of the ancient temple city Angkor Wat. Looking as if it might have been lifted out of swinging Southern California, the one-story Villa Princièr welcomed everyone from Jackie O to Peter O'Toole before falling into disrepair under the Khmer Rouge. Restored and rechristened by the Amanresort group in 2002, this contemporary design gem is once again an elegantly modern perch from which to explore one of the world's ancient wonders. Perfumed with jasmine and ornamented with stylish objets, the Amansara is among a handful of truly luxe Cambodian properties, but with its breezy Zen decor and intimate vibe it feels more like a private guesthouse than a hotel.READ REVIEW »
Bali's Jimbaran Bay is no stranger to luxury resorts; Bulgari recently joined the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Karma Resorts on the island's southernmost tip. But the timeless design of the Amanusa -- a complex of stone buildings resembling sleek Mayan temples, surrounded by manicured lawns, blossoming trees and reflecting pools -- keeps the 15-year-old property on par with the competition. The now-legendary Aman chain actually has three resorts on the island: Amandari in Ubud for culture seekers and Amankila for honeymooners; Amanusa is prized by the golfing set. The resort looks over the Bali Golf and Country Club, ranked by Fortune magazine as one of Asia's top five courses.READ REVIEW »
Never has a former boardinghouse for factory workers socially climbed so far, so fast and so seamlessly. Credit its good bones. The Kohler bath-fixture bosses provided rooms for their immigrant factory hands in their progressive American Club, a 1918 Tudor-style manse complete with peaks and dormers roofed in slate tile. A 1981 renovation embraced the "club" in its name, creating perhaps the Midwest's best destination golf resort, with four Pete Dye courses, four restaurants and an aptly water-focused spa. For most travelers it is indeed a destination; once you reach the grounds, located midway up the Lake Michigan shore between Milwaukee and Green Bay, you're here to stay.READ REVIEW »
Phoenix's grande dame has grown into a massive resort that somehow manages to remain true to its original spirit. Designed by an acolyte of Frank Lloyd Wright, who oversaw the creation, the 1929 resort is distinguished by its "Biltmore Blocks," variations on the molded cement blocks Wright used in his Mayan-inspired houses. Gold leafing makes for some inconsistencies with the Craftsman furniture, but there's no other hotel in the world like this one (Wright's only hotel, the Imperial in Tokyo, was torn down decades ago). Staying here is an experience somewhere between architectural heaven and a sprawling alternate universe where you can feel the presence of old Hollywood stars. Something about the distinctive architecture provides for an intensely personal experience of this resort, which never seems to be as overwhelmingly large as it really is.READ REVIEW »
From the minute the ferryman takes your car keys, you know you are arriving somewhere special. Located on its own 310-acre private island, complete with 18-hole golf course, this 15th-century ivy-clad castle with turrets and gargoyles cannot fail to impress those who like the more quirky, lived-in decor that is its hallmark. Step through the front door into the vast, surprisingly light and airy hall -- you won’t find designer-boutique style here, but rather a space bedecked with tapestries and stag heads and dominated by a huge stone fireplace.READ REVIEW »
When it opened more than two decades ago, Auberge du Soleil helped launch the wine country's luxury revolution with its Mediterranean-style rooms, suites and private maisons spread over 33 acres of Tuscan-like hillside 90 minutes north of San Francisco. The Auberge began as a Provençal-style restaurant with prime vineyard views and an equally eye-catching menu. Eventually, terra-cotta-colored rooms and annexes were added, as was the grand tiled pool shrouded in olive trees, and more recently a sculpture gallery with 110 earthen pieces -- all positioned to maximize the surrounding vineyards and redwoods. Auberge du Soleil means "Inn of the Sun" in French, and this now trailblazing retreat continues to shine bright despite a plethora of ambitious upstarts.READ REVIEW »
Set on 78 beachfront acres in Santa Barbara, Bacara opened in 2000, a sprawling resort of whitewashed, red-tiled Spanish Colonial buildings. Its remote location (no shops or restaurants nearby) and meandering layout make it feel like a seaside village, perfect for families who like lots of activities under one roof. Everything is on a grand scale here, from the traditionally furnished, high-ceilinged Lobby Lounge to the three-story spa. But the grandest is not even on site: Bacara has its own 1,000-acre ranch, for hotel guests to experience hiking, gardening and the occasional bobcat sighting.READ REVIEW »
Ballymaloe, 20 miles east of Cork on the road to Ballycotton, is the original Irish country-house hotel, set on more than 400 acres of gorgeous rolling countryside. It has been featured in the ultrareliable British and Irish Good Hotel Guide ever since the first edition of that book was published back in 1977. The veteran Myrtle Allen, now in her 80s, is still a presiding presence, and the family helps manage the place, making it affable and comfortable. Indeed, the ivy-clad Georgian house still feels like a cultured private home. The surroundings are gorgeous, with an outdoor pool, ponds with ducks and geese, fascinating sculptures, a curious croquet lawn and a wacky six-hole golf course, kept cropped by grazing sheep.READ REVIEW »
An Edwardian grand hotel, The Balmoral nevertheless is infused with a modern flair by its Rocco Forte takeover and Olga Polizzi makeover in 1997. The brown sandstone exterior sits solidly on Edinburgh’s main drag, Princes Street, right above the Waverley Train Station, with the hotel’s landmark clock tower letting travelers know how much time they have to catch their train. Inside, the lobby’s marble floors reflect the hotel’s imposing nature, but just off the lobby, the Drawing Room’s up-to-date sofas and chairs show that the modern flair is never far behind.READ REVIEW »
It's easy to see why the Banyan Tree is popular with the Thai Royal family: Stretched over 21 acres of manicured paths and ponds, it's the most luxurious of the five properties forming the 988-acre Laguna Phuket development. But the complex of individually sized and shaped walled villas also comes with one of Thailand's top spas, making it perfect for hard-core spa-seekers as well. And with its high level of privacy and top-notch recreation amenities such as numerous swimming pools and an on-site par 71 golf course, the resort is perhaps Phuket's only real competitor to the venerable Amanpuri.READ REVIEW »
This buzzing landmark hotel with a modern edge is one of the last great Venice establishments still in private hands, its strict, utilitarian facade and subdued interiors providing a refreshing antidote to all the gilded and baroque excesses of the city. Refurbished to the tune of $38 million in 1999, it represents an exemplary marriage between cutting-edge technology and good old-fashioned craftsmanship. Behind all the trappings of expensive luxury -- local Murano glasswork, rich Rubelli furnishings and Carrara marble floors -- it's a high-tech wonderland, with wireless connections in every room, flat-screen TVs and the very first solar- powered vaporetto in the city, for quiet, ecologically sound, water-bound transfers.READ REVIEW »
The Baur au Lac is as synonymous with Zurich as Claridge's is with London and the Ritz is with Paris. But unlike those two, the property -- named for Johannes Baur, who founded it in 1844 -- is still family-owned, 162 years later. This rarefied provenance imbues the hotel with character and property, from 18th-century tapestries to Persian carpets and Jugendstil glass. The hotel's main draw, however, remains its outstanding location, set amid rosebushes and Japanese cherry trees in its own private garden at the end of tony Bahnhofstrasse, within eyeshot of Lake Zurich and adjacent to the Schanzengraben River.READ REVIEW »
The pale yellow buildings that comprise almost a block of downtown Munich look more like a prestigious embassy than a hotel. And in a way, the five-star Bayerischer Hof is both. Since 1841, the hotel's many public venues -- from the formal Kamin Lounge to the famous Falk's Bar -- have hosted visiting dignitaries, movie stars and the European elite. The Volkhardt family has owned this Munich institution since 1897, and over the last few decades has painstakingly renovated the hotel piece by piece. As a result, the Bayerischer Hof may give the sense of a continual work-in-progress; the elevators are a little temperamental, and the enormous lobby can sometimes feel like an awkward patchwork of several hotels in one. The adjoining Palais Montgelas drips with baronial splendor, while the newly renovated VIP sixth floor of the main building could be a hip Miami boutique.READ REVIEW »
The Beau-Rivage Palace is every inch a grande dame, reigning supreme over all other hotels in the Lake Geneva region. The stately neoclassical property sits pretty on 10 manicured lakeside acres and enjoys what are perhaps the area's best views of the Alps. And while Old World features come standard in Switzerland, of course, here the expected wall murals, stained glass and brocade fabrics are truly grand. Still, the hotel isn't caught up in the past: A recent $91 million renovation brought Wi-Fi and other modern twists, as well as a sleek top-ranked spa.READ REVIEW »
Spread over 20 acres of rain forest outside Ubud, Begawan Giri is more akin to a tropical estate than a hotel. Each of the five residences that comprise the property is based around a single theme: Fire, Water, Wind, Forest and Earth. One of them floats above the jungle like a five-star tree house, while another features a Japanese water garden and private waterfall. And they couldn't fit in better with the surrounding gardens -- flowering trees, lush ferns and wild vines cascading down the side of a river gorge -- which took the former owner eight years to sculpt.READ REVIEW »
The Bellagio's entrance still packs the same punch it did when the hotel opened in 1998: A driveway skirts an 8.5-acre artificial lake with 1,200 fountains that go into a "dance" with a pyrotechnical light show, then reaches a grand cobblestoned glass portico. To add to the wow factor, a giant Dale Chihuly glass sculpture of flowers hangs 18 feet over the lobby, there's an interior garden and the resort's administrative offices are behind the facade of a two-story Tuscan villa. In a world where pirate ships fire on one another and the Sphinx competes with the Eiffel Tower, the Bellagio's artifice is refinement -- an art gallery and two highly rated restaurants, Le Cirque and Picasso (and, of course, 100,000 square feet of gaming).READ REVIEW »
First, in 1990, came the winery--founded in Carmel Valley, 15 ever-sunnier miles east of Carmel proper, by Dutch wine importer Bernardus "Ben" Pon. Then, in 1999, came the resort: then, as now, a collection of one- and two-story stucco buildings grouped around a croquet lawn and buffered from the road by vineyards and fields of lavender. Although the Monterey peninsula is famous for its golfing, guests (a mix of honeymooners and wine buffs) come inland to Bernardus for three things: eating, drinking and a good night's sleep.READ REVIEW »
Located on legendary Sunset Boulevard in the country's most celebrated Zip code, 90210, near major movie studios and the famed shops of Rodeo Drive, the equally renowned Beverly Hills Hotel continues to hold its own with the film world's elite, even wooing a new generation of admirers. Ever since it opened in 1912, the Pink Palace has seen Hollywood's movers and shakers consummating deals in the Polo Lounge and affairs in the private bungalows. Today, even its trademark cursive logo and palatial pink look haven't gone out of style -- the hotel remains a City of Angels icon.READ REVIEW »
Located right at the foot of the designer shops of Rodeo Drive and the Golden Triangle, the Beverly Wilshire, part of the Four Seasons, has a long tradition as one of the premier places to stay in Los Angeles, although in recent years its faintly stuffy air had sent many to its newer, younger sister hotel, the Four Seasons Los Angeles. But now the landmark Mediterranean-style hotel (with a modern high-rise at its rear) is once again the place to stay. It’s dropped the Regent and returned to its original 1928 name, but that’s all that’s old about the place: Inside you’ll find newly renovated rooms, new restaurants, a bar and an of-the-moment spa that looks like a cross between Philippe Starck and a Zen retreat. READ REVIEW »
When Tom Tusher, the former CEO of Levi Strauss, and his wife, Pauline, bought this piece of secluded wilderness several decades ago, the last thing they intended was to build a hotel. But as their plans became more ambitious, they decided to open it to outside guests -- a lucky stroke for the rest of us. This is where to come for adventure: hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, fishing -- they're all just moments away. Granted, the stone-and-timber lodge, with its 30-feet-high Great Room, looks like it belongs more in the Rocky Mountains than the Southern Alps (as New Zealand's South Island mountains are known), but it's such a beauty that no one's going to quibble about local design. Plus, the surrounding scenery (the location for the Lord of the Rings saga) is so staggering in its jagged-mountain and glassy-lake drama that you're grateful for the tall windows to take it all in.READ REVIEW »
The epitome of the grand country-house hotel, ivy-covered Blantyre, set on 100 acres of prime Lenox territory, transports you to the glory days of the Gilded Age. It certainly feels like a regal experience: Like many of its neighboring manses in the verdant Berkshires, the resort began life in the early 1900s as a private summer home for a wealthy Englishman, Robert Paterson. And though the attitude may not be stuffy, you still feel all the formality that befits a Tudor castle, complete with turrets, leaded-glass windows and manicured croquet lawns. You may even sense the gargoyles frowning if you put your feet up on the furniture.READ REVIEW »
Physically and psychologically set apart from the cluster of five-star resorts around Scottsdale's Camelback Mountain, the Boulders, 25 minutes north, seems to organically grow out of the surrounding rocks. In fact, everything about this resort seems organic: The adobe buildings are the color of the earth and the massive granite boulders for which the hotel is named, the two golf courses are composed of native grasses that require less water, and bugs are banished with jalapeño pepper spray, not chemicals. A stay here can be a private, serene escape, actively athletic, or completely sybaritic via the Golden Door Spa -- though the best is some combination of all three.READ REVIEW »
To experience the natural beauty of the British Isles without making a trip to remote Scotland, pay a visit to this superb hotel in Dartmoor National Park. Rolling moorlands surround this spectacular Edwardian mock-Tudor mansion on a hilltop. Built in 1906, it evolved into one of the grandest country estates in Britain during the '20s and '30s before being neglected. Brought back to life in 2004, it's a place that today is especially recommended for golfers (the course was designed in the '20s to rival Gleneagle and Turnberry) and hikers. But with the '20s' heyday cued by a collection of vintage cars parked out front, it's also ideal for anyone who loves old-fashioned elegance à la the Orient Express.READ REVIEW »
For more than a century, this Italian Renaissance-style property that sits on 140 manicured beachfront acres has set the standard by which every other Palm Beach hotel is measured. Once inside, it'll take your eyes a moment to adjust to the lobby's cool, marble interior -- but what a feast for the senses when they do: hand-painted ceilings, Venetian chandeliers and 15th-century Flemish tapestries. Don't let the ornate surroundings fool you, however. This is still a place of quiet good taste, where Lilly and Lacoste reign. For those whose wardrobes lack the requisite pink-and-green color palette, the shops of Worth Avenue are less than a mile away.READ REVIEW »
Since the 1870s -- long before Americans turned spa into a verb -- travelers from around the world have been checking into stately Brenner's Park in the ur-spa city of Baden-Baden to relax and rejuvenate. While you could be very comfortable just staying in the hotel, the real point of a visit is taking part in the spa. And spa-ing is done a bit differently here: Forget about an herb wrap and starvation. Instead, the spa experience is all about indulgence: a wonderful meal, fine wine, a lovely room, a stroll through the park and a night at the casino.READ REVIEW »
European grandeur and Western touches are a quirky mix. When Spencer Penrose built his resort in 1918, he may have constructed a pink stucco building with chimes that ring from a tower every quarter hour, but he also had the good sense to put it at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Today, these grand touches still exist: beams painted with motifs from classical mythology, a marble staircase, ornate chandeliers, ceiling frescoes by European artists. And of course there's the view of the Rockies. It's a formula the Broadmoor has used to maintain its appeal, even as it has added guest-room buildings that continue the European elegance with a more contemporary style.READ REVIEW »
Soaring to 1,053 feet, the Burj Al Arab is covered in eye-catching, reflective Teflon and is all about design superlatives: the world's tallest hotel, the world's largest atrium -- nearly 590 feet high -- and the world's first (self-described) seven-star hotel. Sure, this is technically hyperbole (though the hotel certainly demands seven-star rates), but the Burj certainly goes to extremes -- which are often ridiculous for most travelers -- to please its über-wealthy clientele. Still, set nearly 900 feet out in the Persian Gulf on a man-made island, this sail-shaped icon has come to signify Dubai's tourism ascent since it opened in 1999, following five years of construction. Reached via a private land-bridge, it has a mere 202 suites, but more than 20,000 square feet of real gold leaf was used throughout the $650 million property, linked together via high-speed elevators.READ REVIEW »
Located in the middle of Knightsbridge's ultrafashionable Sloane Street (called "the new Bond Street" these days) is this historic hotel with the feel of an Edwardian townhouse. Indeed, the property originally opened its doors back in 1887, and in its early years it had a certain notoriety: Actress Lillie Langtry, "close friend" of King Edward VII, used to stay here, and Oscar Wilde was arrested in room 118 in 1895 (and all three have suites named after them). Today it's within a few minutes' walking distance of many of the capital's chicest designer boutiques. The interior is somewhat schizophrenic: Its blend of period Edwardian and relatively contemporary styles tends to clash, though it certainly makes for an eclectic environment.READ REVIEW »
This contemporary-meets-classical European hotel, ideally set in the "Luxury Corridor" of La Recoleta, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2007, but its elegant interiors and old-world service suggest it's been around a lot longer. Set directly opposite the boutiques of Patio Bullrich and a short walk from the Alvear Palace Hotel and the Four Seasons, it manages to combine the refined elegance of the former with the contemporary chic of the latter, the only drawback being the lack of decent views from its lower-floor rooms. That said, it surprises with touches like a boutique wine shop in the lobby and a secret garden out back that you would never know existed from the entrance.READ REVIEW »
Half a block off Union Square (the city's answer to Fifth Avenue) and away from the panhandler-ridden Theater District, this boutique hotel caters to the fashion/retail industries. But not the junior buyers; instead, you'll find their bosses. Or, more likely, their bosses. (And Oscar de la Renta, when he's in town.) If you're young and trendy, try the Clift. But if you usually travel by corporate jet, you'll feel at home here: The atmosphere is hushed, the decor a range of Armani taupes and the service friendly but not overbearing.READ REVIEW »
Caneel Bay has the manners of a well-bred country club, yet with a rustic soul and, of course, Caribbean breezes. Spread over some 170 acres folded into the protected grounds of the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park, this Laurance Rockefeller legacy began its life offering luxury camping. That green mentality continues today, its buildings blending into the park landscape, with no phones or TVs in the rooms; the underlying philosophy is a complete disconnect from the jangle of urban life. Assisting in that effort are the resort’s seven separate beaches.READ REVIEW »
Canoe Bay is nothing short of a find in Wisconsin's north woods. That is, both literally a find -- there are no roadside signs announcing the retreat, which guards its privacy like treasure -- and figuratively, as a stand-alone sophisticate. In a region better known for rustic fishing camps, Canoe Bay is a refined camper, with 17 cedar and stone buildings designed in Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie style on 280 acres shared by three private lakes. For maximum bonding with your mate and the natural surroundings, the resort bans children, pets, smoking and hard liquor (BYO or rely on the award-winning wine list), and cell phone service is blessedly spotty at this tranquil getaway.READ REVIEW »
The white-on-white Moroccan fantasy of Cap Juluca curves along a sparkling white spit of sand that forms a gentle bay, dissolving like sugar into turquoise water. Why Moroccan? At this point, 18 years since the resort was conceived, who cares? It works, and has been widely imitated across Anguilla, where hoteliers have let loose their Mediterranean fantasies with only the rare nod toward traditional Caribbean architecture. Today, the resort's 12 two-story room-buildings and six villas are marked by arches and domes that are playfully romantic. And at night, from each balcony or terrace, lights from the other villas can be seen illuminating the nearly mile-long bay.READ REVIEW »
The Cape Grace is universally regarded as one of the top hotels in Africa. But it won't hit you right away as to why. There's no sprawling atrium in the lobby, no Old World charm, no hip minimalism. In fact, you may stop by the modest, antique desk that serves as check-in counter, get comfortable in your room and head to the sunlit library, with shelf after shelf of rare books -- with everyone in between suddenly knowing your name -- before it hits you: Everything about this hotel feels easy. Still, there is one thing dramatic about this hotel, set on a private quay along the Atlantic's Table Bay: its full-on views of Table Mountain.READ REVIEW »
Ever since the Roman Emperors built their summer palaces high on this rocky outcrop above the emerald waters of the Bay of Naples, Capri has been a haven for the rich and powerful. Today's celebrities (Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Naomi Campbell), however, escape to Anacapri, the quieter side of the island, taking refuge in the exclusive oasis that is the Capri Palace. Several generations of hoteliers have welcomed guests to this spot for more than 100 years, but the Capri Palace is a new building, conceived in classic Mediterranean style. The taste of cosmopolitan wealth and privilege is immediately tangible; in the lobby the acres of blond marble, white linen and gold leaf stand out against a framework of columns, soaring arches and vaulted ceilings. This is the hub of the hotel, where beautiful people in shades linger and surreptitiously check each other out. If glamour is what you’re after, this is the place to be.READ REVIEW »
It’s a rocky road from the airport, but once inside the property’s 15 beach-bound acres, it’s all about clean lines and minimalist chic. In this sister property of London’s One Aldwych, Gordon Campbell Gray brings his contemporary aesthetic to the Caribbean and turns traditional island design upside down. You’ll cross a Japanese bridge, where carp play in the waters below, to a vast entrance area, then inhale the scent of orchids artistically placed by the grand piano. Continue to the tropical gardens, where you’ll find a leather-seated movie screening room and a cool library with Internet stations. Here, even the curved beach takes on a sleek look of its own.READ REVIEW »
The Carlyle, an unabashedly Upper East Side establishment on Manhattan's Madison Avenue, appeals to those looking for a white glove type of property in a world where luxury has become dominated by corporate five stars or boutique brands. With its history and reputation for discretion, it is a magnet for royalty, heads of state and old money; not surprisingly, the old-school vibe slips into just plain stuffy. However, the hotel sits in perfect proximity to Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum and the shops of Madison and Fifth Avenues.READ REVIEW »
Everywhere you turn in San Miguel de Allende there's a hidden fountain or a gorgeous architectural detail, but the Casa de Sierra Nevada is the crown jewel of this charming colonial city. Spread throughout six ornate mansions, the hotel is a mere two blocks from the central square El Jardin, and within walking distance of world-class artisan shopping. Orient-Express took over the hotel in February 2006, and has plans for a $5 million renovation and the addition of a spa.READ REVIEW »
If you've ever had that fantasy about spending the night in a museum, here's your chance: This luxury hotel doubles as an archaeological museum in the heart of Guatemala's most historic city. Located on the eastern edge of Antigua, the sprawling compound started life as a 16th-century Dominican church and convent that was destroyed by an earthquake, then reinvented as a 1980s hotel. Today, its rough-hewn walls, cobblestone hallways and heavy wood-beam ceilings proudly speak to the history here. And this history is why you stay -- expansive rooms and stellar service are terms that haven't yet been invented here.READ REVIEW »
The only thing remotely Neanderthal about The Caves is the burly security at the front gate, whose task it is to keep the paparazzi and hoi polloi at bay. Despite its prehistoric moniker, this ritzy Jamaican resort is all about postmodern pampering of the type that attracts a steady stream of devotees from music, movies and modeling. Secreted behind high walls and set on limestone cliffs at Negril's western extreme, the resort often feels like an island unto itself -- secluded, serene and wildly romantic. Despite continuous upgrades, The Caves retains much of the hippie chic that first made Negril a household name among jet-setters in the 1970s.READ REVIEW »
Just a few miles off the coast of northeastern Belize is the kind of exclusive lair where guests live out their recluse fantasies. The five villas in this four-acre private island resort are positioned for privacy, and since all meals and spa treatments are brought to you, you may never see another guest. Because of its extreme intimacy, your personal butler can cater to your every whim, be it a couple's massage on your private dock or -- should the idea of leaving your villa occur to you -- a gourmet picnic on a nearby deserted island. In fact, you set the entire schedule: Meals come whenever and wherever you'd like and are created based on a pre-arrival preference survey.READ REVIEW »
The gracious grandeur of Charleston Place is evident immediately upon stepping into its marble lobby: a magnificent Georgian open-arm staircase practically reaches out to hug you, while a 12-foot-tall crystal chandelier sparkles over a display of flowers of equal grandeur. Even Tara was never like this. And this hotel, located in the dead center of the historic district, fits seamlessly into the city of Charleston -- one of America's most gracious. It's a place where women are called ladies and afternoon tea is de rigueur, served in the formal elegance of the Thoroughbred Club.READ REVIEW »
Away from the crowds but only a few blocks from Edgartown harbor, tucked away on a quiet street lined with linden and chestnut trees, this inn is truly a throwback to a more gracious time. Every furnishing within the whitewashed 19th-century former whaling merchant's mansion that serves as the main house and the four other houses of the complex is an impressive, carefully chosen antique -- from the grandfather clocks and the mahogany Scottish barrister's desk (on which you write your registration details in the old-style ledger), to the gilt-framed oil paintings and silver dressing-table sets. It's like staying in a museum -- but a cozy, lively one, without the guards or "don't touch" signs. READ REVIEW »
A magical mystery of moats, drawbridges and lavender-scented formal gardens, this is in essence a grand home rather than a hotel of any category. The château itself dates to the 13th century, but was gorgeously restored beginning in 1987. Today it’s a part of the Rocco Forte portfolio, so not only is it expertly managed, but it’s imbued with history everywhere you turn. Then step outside and you’re surrounded by vineyards, forests and hills -- and deep in the heart of Beaujolais country.READ REVIEW »
Step into the stone-walled lobby of the Château de la Chèvre d'Or, and you feel like you're a resident of the medieval village of Eze, with its artsy boutiques, charming cafés, narrow streets and commanding view from the crest of a rocky pinnacle overlooking the Riviera. Eze is wonderfully wrapped in the past, by design, with its steep, car-free village pathways, and some rooms of the Château open right onto those paths, while many feature a balcony or terrace that takes in the breathtaking sweep of the Côte d'Azur far below.READ REVIEW »
If you want to visit Yosemite but want to do so in style, your options are limited to the Ahwah-nee -- in the park itself but with disappointingly Marriott-like guestrooms -- and the Chateau du Sureau, a romantic re-creation of a Teutonic schloss located conveniently just south of the park. Built by the owners of Erna's Elderberry House -- a restaurant that, despite its down-home name, has long been known for extraordinary food -- at the rear of their piney hillside property, the ten-room stucco and stone house is filled with European antiques, giving it the air of a B&B fit for a king. (By the way, sureau is French for "elderberry.")READ REVIEW »
First and foremost, the Château is a sublime Michelin two-star restaurant, and this feature (justifiably) dominates the spotlight. But it turns out the chefs know a thing or two about running a hotel as well, and giving your entire night to this intimate property is replete with rewards. Walk through the colonnaded front porch and you instantly feel like a distinguished member of the Pommery champagne dynasty, which built the château in a 17-acre park in the early 1900s.READ REVIEW »
Although it may be mere steps from its better-known neighbor Amanpuri and suffered serious damage during 2004’s tsunami, the stylish, modernist Chedi easily stands on its own among the luxe Phuket resort crowd. Designed, like Amanpuri, by noted American architect Ed Tuttle, the Chedi is a mixture of traditional Thai designs and modern functionality, focusing on geometric forms that follow the natural, organic shapes of native palms, bushes, shrubs and rocks. Sprawling down a coconut tree-filled hillside and pouring onto cerulean Pansea Beach, the Chedi is the archetypal tropical-luxe hideaway -- only reasonably priced and without all of the attitude.READ REVIEW »
A standard-setter since it opened in 1966, this country-house hotel is set in the New Forest, the red brick manse and its sun-streaked public rooms stuffed with deep downy chintz furnishings and English antiques, along with just enough contemporary touches to please the antitraditionalist. This exquisite property is more of a retreat than a full-service resort: Its spa, nine-hole par-3 golf course, rolling expanse of lawn and English country pursuits make it popular with weekending Londoners and wealthy Europeans on holiday, but some über-active Americans might grow restless.READ REVIEW »
If it's predators you're after, this classical yet modish bush camp -- one of only two lodges on remote Chief's Island in the Moremi concession of Botswana's Okavango Delta -- is for you. It consists of a dozen luxe thatched pavilions set on raised wooden platforms under canopies of jackalberry trees, and the surrounding bush is home to scores of wild dog, lion, cheetah and leopard. Yet unlike some remote bush lodges, you don't have to make many concessions luxury-wise to stay here. Striking rooms, a communal restaurant and a bar area fronted by a pool deck lined with sexy daybeds offer a taste of South Beach chic in the African wild.READ REVIEW »
Chiva-Som isn't just another beach getaway: With 80 rigorously trained therapists and world-renowned experts in well-being, this is the place to renovate your lifestyle. Sure, there's the waterfront tai chi and spa cuisine for health junkies, but this resort goes far beyond, with in-depth consulting on health and wellness. The beach town's Chiva-Som resort pioneered the Western-friendly health retreat in Asia when it opened seven years ago, and it continues to innovate. Of course, its location is a huge incentive to get healthy: Situated on seven acres on the Gulf of Thailand, the lush landscape fits into the same goal of soothing and renewal.READ REVIEW »
Anyone who's ever felt as if they deserved to live in a palace will feel well-rewarded at the Ciragan Palace. As its name suggests, this waterfront property served as the home of Turkey's last sultan, and includes massive gardens and Bosporus-front promenades of monarchic proportions. Anchored squarely in the center on the city's European side, the hotel is close to both the business of Taksim, and the tourist delights of Dolmabahce palace and the old town of Sultanhamet. Best of all, the waterside setting means views of the city's villa-filled Asian side from every glance.READ REVIEW »
When it opened five years ago, the slim, compact City Club brought a much-welcome dose of 21st-century glamour to slightly staid West 44th Street. Almost hidden among higher-wattage and more historic hotels -- from the Algonquin to the Royalton -- the City Club's chic conversion from a 1904 gentleman's club into a sleek boutique proved that New York truly is the city of reinvention. Overseen by charming owner Jeff Klein -- and his Paul Smith–clad staff -- and decked out in the subdued interiors of fashion-world designer Jeffery Bilhuber, the City Club is the antithesis of the grand Gotham hotel. There's no real reception per se, or barely a sign gracing its front door. This is a hotel where the rooms, the service, an exquisite restaurant and cozy lounge more than speak for themselves.READ REVIEW »
Claridge's is a one-off, managing to be both a bastion of British traditionalism as well as a bold trendsetter, exuding a sense of charisma and timeless style. Never resting on its laurels, it stays ahead of the game by constantly reinventing itself -- first spotting the trend for celebrity chefs, for instance, and securing Gordon Ramsay and with him a Michelin star. At the same time, it's a temple to 1930s Art Deco chic, with the marble checkerboard hall, the exuberant sweeping staircase, Lalique glass panels, ornate ironwork and banisters, mirror paneling and signature emerald-striped china. At Claridge's, for all its newfound popularity with a young and fashionable crowd, the grandeur remains undimmed.READ REVIEW »
Built by the legendary architect Addison Mizner – best known for designing half of Palm Beach -- the Mediterranean-esque Cloister is one of the last, true American resort grande dames. Located on Sea Island -- a sliver of land off the Georgia coast near St. Simon Island -- the Cloister has served as a retreat for America's East Coast elite since it opened in 1928. Fresh from a massive $350 million makeover -- including a new 65,000-square-feet spa -- the Cloister today is the best of Sea Island's numerous resorts, polished enough to host the world's most powerful leaders during the 2004 G8 Summit. Formal enough that men are required to wear jackets at dinner, but still comfortably welcoming children, the Cloister offers accessible grandeur for the entire family.READ REVIEW »
There is an actual, if not metaphoric, whiff of beeswax and brass polish at the prestigious Connaught. In fact, with its wood paneling, majestic mahogany staircase and leather fenders, it has the quintessentially English atmosphere and style of a gentleman's club. However, having managed to keep the outside world at arm's length, the hotel has had to make certain concessions to a more egalitarian age. Women in trouser suits for instance, or mini bars in the bedrooms, once considered improper, are now the norm here. When the hotel closes for six months in mid-2007 to create 35 additional rooms in a fresher contemporary style, as well as an indoor swimming pool and health club, it will be brought firmly into the 21st century. Even so, many regulars no doubt will continue to prefer to get things done the old-fashioned way, summoning their floor butlers to mix them a gin and tonic or unpack their bags; it is this kind of service, after all, for which the Connaught is justly famed.READ REVIEW »
Make no mistake: The Conrad Brussels is a business hotel through and through, but one that's hidden behind the elegant facade of a fin de siècle mansion. And while the hotel offers fairly cookie-cutter luxury and its guests are largely Eurocrats (beware of when the EU is in session as rooms become incredibly scarce), it's still the city's preeminent property. You'll find a breadth of amenities, a classic decor and above all, a top-notch location: at the corner of Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo, the city's upscale boutique axis, within eyeshot of the Palace of Justice and the grandeur of Grand-Place.READ REVIEW »
As iconic as the swirling mosaic promenade of Rio's most famous beach, on which it stands, this gorgeous white stucco building's storied guest list reads like a mid-20th-century Hollywood who's who: Errol Flynn, Bing Crosby, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Orson Welles, Carmen Miranda and Jayne Mansfield were only a few of its devotees. And the hotel still keeps a "Golden Book" for luminaries to sign. But celebrities alone don't make a hotel. The Copa fell into disrepair in the 1970s and was restored in the late '80s, but upkeep waxes and wanes (sofas and linens have looked a bit lovingly worn at times in the past). Now the Copa is on an upswing, fresh off a Rolling Stones concert outside its doors and about to open a new spa in December 2006.READ REVIEW »
Cotton House is a compound of 11 separate buildings on 13 acres that flow seamlessly into the rest of the island. It was designed by the late British theatrical designer Oliver Messel, who drew on his flair for elegance, understated and stated. Today, the centerpiece is the Great Room inside an 18th-century warehouse. It’s a study in interpreted British Colonial rule, with a massive brass-edged traveler’s trunk as a centerpiece, scattered sofas, sink-into chairs and groupings of fresh flowers. Of course, celebrities have been coming here for ages, but don’t look too hard; they often stick to their very private properties.READ REVIEW »
The country club in this case refers to the historic golf course across the street rather than the hotel itself. But this old abode in Lima's swank San Isidro neighborhood does have a clubby sort of atmosphere. Step inside and the bumper-to-bumper traffic, unrelenting noise and pollution that plague the Peruvian capital quickly fade away. The Country Club is too large to be termed a boutique hotel, but in the same breath it exudes an intimacy lacking in Lima's larger (mostly Western chain) hotels. Its trump card is stunning architecture: The vintage 1927 mansion blends Spanish colonial icons like red-tile roofs and whitewashed walls with genuine antiques and artwork as well as European neoclassical touches like the stately glass-domed lobby.READ REVIEW »
This ancient labyrinth of four buildings in the heart of Lyon is infused with history, evidenced in the ornately carved interior staircases, statuary and archways that open onto welcoming lounges and the reception area. An ancient passageway leads into an interior courtyard covered with a glass dome that keeps out the rain but lets in the light. Eight other courtyards lie scattered around the four buildings that the Duke of Burgundy plus various merchants, bankers and Jesuits called home from the 1300s to the 1600s. Still, it wasn't until 2000 that these magnificent buildings were restored and fused to form the Cour des Loges, so despite the historic backdrop and a smattering of antique pieces, the decor veers sharply into the 21st century -- an effect that some find jarring.READ REVIEW »
Intimate and idiosyncratic, the former hospital that is now the Covent Garden Hotel is a bijou hideaway that captures the spirit of the neighborhood after which it is named. In an area known for its colorful traffic-free side streets filled with cafés and one-off boutiques, the hotel's fun and eclectic style attracts a bohemian crowd of actors and film stars. The entrance hall is suitably dramatic, with a curtain stretched across the proscenium arch, like a stage set in the theater. To one side is lively Max's brasserie with a striking zinc-topped bar; step on by and the theatrical fantasy continues in the 53-seat cinema, outrageously kitted out in chic Poltrona Frau leather armchairs.READ REVIEW »
Perhaps it is this estate that inspired Lewis Carroll (he was a frequent guest) to pen Alice in Wonderland. There's something very Mad Hatter about its über-contemporary landscape -- perhaps it's the lime-green couches, cowhide chairs and Hemphill fabrics that make it feel wild and otherworldly. But there's still a regal, refined sensibility. Few hotels outside of London have managed to be both provincial and urbane, but Cowley succeeds, with its Italianate main house, world-class spa and quirky touches. Until you step out into the 55-acre expanse, in fact, you'd think you were in a hip city hotel.READ REVIEW »
One of the pioneers of Caribbean pampering, Curtain Bluff has been around since the days when Kennedy was president, Elvis was king and The Beverly Hillbillies ruled the airwaves. Yet this upscale all-inclusive seems as fresh today as in 1962, when it was the only thing on Antigua's southwest coast. There still aren't very many neighbors, the seclusion assured by Curtain Bluff's location on a private peninsula. True to its name, the resort sprawls like a great muslin cloth along a golden beach and the adjoining rocky heights. Longtime owner Howard Hulford works hard to cultivate a chummy atmosphere for guests, partly by inviting them to his bluff-top home for a weekly cocktail fling. Hulford is also proud of the resort's copious cigar selection and a wine reserve that runs 25,000 bottles strong -- best cellar in the entire region.READ REVIEW »
There are a handful of five-star resorts on the island of Langkawi -- the up-and-coming destination off the west coast of Malaysia -- but for its one-of-a-kind location and the best service around, the Datai wins hands down. Hidden away in virgin rain forest, the resort's main focus is the natural world; the walk to the beach, five minutes away, is along tree-lined paths surrounded by birds and monkeys -- an unspoiled stretch of property that leads to a white-sand crescent bay on the crystal waters of the Andaman Sea.READ REVIEW »
The Dorchester, in recent years, has benefited not so much from a face-lift as from serious reconstructive surgery. Injected with new life after a 2003 multimillion-dollar renovation, with new spa, new restaurants and new suites, the place positively hums with energy. The endless lobby is now a veritable orgy of gleaming gold and marble, filled morning to midnight with a constant flow of models and maiden aunts, Asian businessmen and Savile Row suits. Shot through with a strong, sometimes campy sense of theater, the Dorchester is all about escapism; you can indulge your Highland fantasies at the Scottish-themed Grill with its outlandish Braveheart-style murals and tartan upholstery, or imagine yourself in decadent 1930s China in the elegant China Tang bar.READ REVIEW »
It's the Irish castle that you've always imagined -- complete with 40 shades of rolling green, romantic turrets and suits of armor. There's also, unfortunately, a dash of trite, but Dromoland remains a perennial favorite. It's easy to see why. Set on 375 gorgeous acres of lush Irish countryside, the 16th-century ancestral seat of the Earl of Thumomd (who still lives in a gatehouse on the property) offers history combined with plenty of outdoor activities. And, just 10 minutes from Shannon Airport, it's an ideal way to begin or end an Irish getaway and an excellent base from which to explore the west of Ireland.READ REVIEW »
Set beside Green Park in a quiet cul de sac in the heart of Mayfair, this traditional townhouse is perhaps one of the most quiet and peaceful of urban hotels. Turn-of-the-century gas lamps at the entrance set the sedate Victorian tone. Inside this mini-grand, interiors are restful and unostentatious, making it perfect for romantic (and secret) assignations, especially in the conservatory and rose-scented central courtyard with its small fountain. The covert sense of suppressed sinfulness continues to the moody paneled bar, which draws Londoners along with hotel guests for its excellent dry martini cocktail and list of rare cognacs.READ REVIEW »
The Dylan is Amsterdam's answer to New York's Mercer or Miami's Delano; lanky international couples sporting designer sunglasses would never stay anywhere else. Formerly Blake's, the hotel received new management and a stylish makeover in 2005. The designers lightened up the loftlike modern spaces with a white and champagne palette, but otherwise this renovated 17th-century landmark remains the same, from the lacquered reception room filled with scented candles, to the Anoushka Hempel–designed rooms.READ REVIEW »
With its enviable location on the shores of Lake Zurich, this neo-Baroque hotel dates to the early 1900s and still has the scent of rich history about it. From the outside, it looks like an imposing Swiss grande dame, but don’t be fooled. The Eden has been managed by the same family since the 1960s, and with just 50 rooms, the ambience and experience are intimate and familiar. And the views are what staying in a Swiss hotel is all about.READ REVIEW »
This glorious British colonial home with salmon-pink walls, wide verandas and lush lawns on a high bluff overlooking the Atlantic was built for cruise-shipping tycoon Sir John Ellerman in the early 1900s. It's now Cape Town's most treasured boutique hotel, an all-inclusive property with 11 individually designed rooms decorated with vintage and original Cape furniture and an extensive collection of South African art. In 2005, an angular Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired villa opened on the grounds, adding a Hollywood-esque glamour, but without even a reception area, the overall feeling is one of a laid-back private home. It's a short walk to the beaches of Clifton and a 10-minute drive with the in-house car service to central Cape Town, but feel free to just wander the grounds in your dressing gown.READ REVIEW »
Orchards and lush greenery worked for Adam and Eve, but the ancestors of the Yavapai preferred their Garden of Eden dry and rocky. Step into Boynton Canyon, home of the Enchantment Resort, and you'll concur with the Native Americans. Soaring in-your-face red rock formations mesmerize those who enter this box canyon, while its energy rising from the earth promises to strengthen one's inner being. New Age spirit rules in Sedona, and the Enchantment embraces this lifestyle as it caters to honeymooners, families and adventure seekers.READ REVIEW »
Nha Trang may be best known for its budget backpacker digs, but the Ana Mandara has become a must-stop on Vietnam's luxury trail, a calm fiefdom in a fishing town that at times can seem more chaotic than charming. Set out like a traditional village along its own stretch of private beach, the resort has water views on one side and tropical gardens on the other; the serene landscaping is essential as the entrance is on the city's busiest thoroughfare and almost directly across from the airport. But once inside you feel like you are miles away -- except on the occasion that a flight takes off overhead.READ REVIEW »
A feng shui masterpiece set into a hillside overlooking Thailand's Andaman Sea, Evason Phuket Resort proves that environmental consciousness is next to godliness. Every aspect of the property works in concert with the natural surroundings, from its location on Phuket's sheltered southern tip to its open-walled architecture and locally influenced decor. However, this is not the most lavish of the Evason resorts -- those looking for ostentatious dazzle should look elsewhere. Instead, it seduces the senses gently, with birdsong, warm tropical breezes and lush greenery.READ REVIEW »
Sometimes you're better off sticking to the classics -- especially in Europe. Cologne's awe-inspiring Gothic Dom cathedral is an obvious example. And directly opposite the cathedral lies another case in point, the Excelsior Hotel Ernst. This 140-year-old landmark hotel harks back to another era, featuring Louis XIV-style furniture, a crisply attired staff and a classical French dining room. The Ernst isn't modern or hip, but that's exactly what returning guests like about it.READ REVIEW »
Getting here takes a bit of effort: a two-hour flight from Santiago and 90 minutes by road straight through the Atacama. Once here, though, you'll find the Hotel de Larache an oasis of hip design and comfortable living on the edge of the Andes Mountains and the desert. Cobbled together from 20 small farming plots, it draws inspiration from the traditional estancias of northern Chile; rooms are arranged around large patios and several inviting outdoor pools, where you can gawk at snow-capped volcanoes while floating on your back with cocktail in hand. It normally takes a couple of days to adjust to the altitude (10,000 feet), but once the heart and lungs are acclimatized, guests can dig into several dozen adventures that Explora undertakes in the area, including biking through the eerie Valle de la Luna, horseback riding through the Atacama dunes and flamingo-watching along the edge of local salt lakes.READ REVIEW »
It would be difficult to find a more dramatic location -- the shore of a tranquil alpine lake, overlooking a colossal waterfall, at the foot of one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges -- than the Torres del Paine at the southern end of the Andes. Originally conceived as a base camp for serious mountain expeditions, the all-inclusive Salto Chico has evolved into an oasis of soft adventure where guests choose from a menu of daily excursions by foot, horse, boat and four-wheel-drive into the Patagonian wilderness. At a distance, the stark white structure resembles a factory or warehouse, but the offbeat design is actually a modern take on the utilitarian architecture common in Patagonia for nearly 100 years. The ambience is totally laid-back: It's the kind of place where you sit around in the late afternoon sipping sundowners while you plan the following day's excursions with your Chilean guides. Salto Chico is warm and comfy, but don't expect five-star service and amenities this far out in the sticks -- a four-hour flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas followed by a three-hour road journey through one of the most remote parts of South America.READ REVIEW »
Designed way back in the 1930s by a New York architect, Bruce Price, renowned for his late Victorian château-inspired lines, this hotel opened for the first time for winter some 40 years later to capture the expanding ski market. The hotel, set in the middle of dramatic wilderness, looks on first sight like Hogwarts meets a Disney castle, with a touch of Scottish baronial. You get a plan of the hotel when you check in so that you don’t get lost (though it’s no guarantee), but you may just want to wander, since it’s so impressive: endless staircases, vaulted ceilings, towering stone columns -- and the $2.3 million renovation in 2003 only made it more so. Still, this is a place about recreation and the outdoors -- and drinking in the clean air of the Canadian Rockies.READ REVIEW »
Surrounded by Banff National Park and sitting directly on the banks of a peacock-colored lake that stretches to the base of jagged Canadian Rockies peaks, the Fairmont Lake Louise is all about location. The peach-colored, crescent-shaped, turreted 12-story hotel leans toward generic, with myriad renovations and additions having diluted the original 1911 feel. But it does attempt to hark back to those glory days with deep wood accents, huge framed windows, and an Old World graciousness in its service. Despite the busloads of nonguests who crowd in to gawk at the view (mainly in summer), the place still feels mostly untouched.READ REVIEW »
Opened in 1989, the 550-room Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a modern take on the grand Canadian Pacific Railroad hotel. In keeping with the tradition of CPR properties, the popular resort, which is perfectly positioned for ski-in, ski-out access at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia, is a scenic year-round destination in its own right. In 1997, Fairmont invested in a massive expansion from which the resort gained 221 new guest rooms. And size will matter when it comes time for Vancouver/Whistler to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.READ REVIEW »
Design takes center stage in this pet project by Rogerio Fasano, scion of the Fasano gastronomic family. Retro-chic furniture from the 1930s and '40s -- suede sofas, teak side tables and Eames lounge -- give this boutique city hotel a refined finish in keeping with its location (set among the city's flashiest shops). Even locals and visitors who aren't lucky enough to have secured one of the 64 rooms cozy up in the basement bar, the city's hippest late-night hangout.READ REVIEW »
In a city with plenty of stodgy hotels, the XV Beacon, housed in a 1903 Beaux Arts landmark building in Beacon Hill, provides a fresh, hip boutique alternative. Think private club meets stylish townhouse. Interiors blend contemporary amenities with traditional dark woods, and it's a mix that carries over into the hotel's ability to balance the needs of business travelers with those just in town for the weekend.READ REVIEW »
Inside this modern Greek Revival behemoth you'll find nothing but Southern charm, from the grand staircase leading down to the lobby to the attendant staff who are there with your chilled towel before you've even had a chance to sweat in the fitness center. Set in the heart of Midtown, the hotel is an ideal base camp for families, art enthusiasts and, of course, anyone in town to visit CNN or Coke. Compared with the city’s other luxe hotels, the Four Seasons wins for style as well as for understated but doting service.READ REVIEW »
Austin's Four Seasons manages to encapsulate what everyone loves about the city: a cool urban sophistication in a laid-back rural setting. Set on the banks of Town Lake, its backyard is a lush landscaped garden rolling down to the water. It's also on the edge of downtown, just a short walk to the lively business and nightlife district. Since opening in 1985, the Four Seasons has been the hotel of choice for political bigwigs and visiting music and movie stars, yet it still maintains an easygoing Southwestern style and charm.READ REVIEW »
Known as the Regent until 2004, this business-traveler favorite was given a multimillion-dollar face-lift following its rebranding. Since the hotel dates to the early '80s and the high-end competition in Bangkok is famously fierce, the changes were necessary and welcome. Today, this lavish, palacelike hotel may be located in the heart of Bangkok's business and shopping district, but with 10 acres of verdant tropical gardens and rooms that feel like villas in the countryside, the Four Seasons has been transformed into a place perfect for anyone needing a break from Bangkok's legendary smog and nonstop traffic jams.READ REVIEW »
Having just completed a three-year, $43 million makeover, the Four Seasons Boston looks as fresh -- if not fresher -- than it did at its 1985 opening. Set directly on Boston's bucolic Public Gardens and facing gold-capped Beacon Hill, with a new spa and chef de cuisine -- not to mention the best hotel pool in the city -- the red-brick hotel is as suitable for a weekend getaway as it is for a week of closing deals.READ REVIEW »
Comprising a 12-story main tower and an elegant 1920s Belle Epoque–era mansion with seven lavish period suites, the Four Seasons became an instant hit with local elites and visiting celebrities -- among them Madonna and the Stones -- when it opened in 2001, eclipsing the more famous 1931-built Alvear Palace down the road. Handily located in upscale La Recoleta, just minutes' walk from the boutique Patio Bullrich shopping center and Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita is buried, a contemporary refurbishment in 2005 jazzed up the interiors, but sophisticated service and a certain old-world charm remain.READ REVIEW »
Set on the Giza side of the Nile -- with the majestic pyramids sprawling in the distance -- the Four Seasons at First Residence is, true to its name, in a residential district, hardly in the thick of bustling Cairo. That can be a good thing if you need a break from the madness, but perhaps not the best introduction to Cairo. While the hotel features amazing views of some of the world's most iconic places, the hotel is also linked directly to a shopping mall (albeit the city's highest-end mall). It's not the most Egyptian of locales, but its swanky setting is as luxurious as one would expect a Four Seasons to be.READ REVIEW »
Anglophiles seeking rarefied pomp and circumstance will find it here with the Four Seasons' grand public spaces, huge flower arrangements and Italian-marble lobby fireplace. But this is no English garden. Set on top of the 900 North Michigan building, the hotel stretches to the 46th floor and cuts off on the 30th to 46th, meaning that mall shoppers scurry about right downstairs. Nevertheless, the hotel feels like its own little universe, especially with sweeping city and lakeside views not visible from inside the lower-level boutiques.READ REVIEW »
When it opened in 2001, the Irish had to warm to this American-style hotel that seemed disproportionately large for the red brick mansions and embassies of Dublin's leafy Ballsbridge. But now they're mad for it, and the property's become a favorite venue for private parties and glitzy premieres, creating a lively backdrop for the leisure traveler. It's not in the heart of Dublin's city center (you're 10 minutes away by taxi), but the neighborhood is cosmopolitan with excellent local restaurants. And come bedtime, you'll appreciate the quiet locale, well out of earshot of Dublin's increasingly raucous nightlife.READ REVIEW »
One step inside the marble lobby, with its 17th-century tapestries, Savonnerie carpets and spectacular flower arrangements, and it's clear that despite being popular with fashionistas, this is not the hotel for fans of cutting-edge minimalism. But traditionalists will feel right at home in this restored 1928 property in the heart of the Golden Triangle. It's truly the place to have Paris at your feet, with private terraces that command views of the Eiffel Tower and the dazzling lights of the city. But of course that experience doesn't come without a price tag -- you'll only find it in the highest rooms of this very high-end hotel.READ REVIEW »
Palace, indeed: This Art Nouveau jewel is located so centrally that you could imagine the famous Chain Bridge over the Danube was installed just to lead up to its door. Originally built in 1904, the building was fully refurbished and reopened as a Four Seasons in 2003, bringing life back to a decrepit building caked with soot. Today, the facade is a gleaming white, and the lobby is adorned with decorative tiling, gorgeous stained glass and wrought-iron gates bearing images of peacocks. By preserving and emphasizing historical details (Art Nouveau corridor carpets, for instance), the hotel retained its essential Hungarian character without making the place feel like a museum piece.READ REVIEW »
Thanks to its infamous past, the Four Seasons Istanbul is the type of hotel people know about even before their first check-in. Located within praying distance of both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, it's set in the former Sultanhamet prison -- once filled with antigovernment intellectuals -- whose neoclassical facade, airy courtyard and heavy stone walls now house visitors of a decidedly more well-heeled variety. Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the bijoux Four Seasons may lack prime Bosporus views, but its pristine Old City location oozes with Ottoman-era atmosphere. This is the only luxury hotel in Sultanhamet, a storied alternative to the five-star palaces just 20 minutes by taxi to Istanbul's commercial core.READ REVIEW »
A Las Vegas resort without gambling or slot machines sounds like an oxymoron, but that is exactly the idea behind the Four Seasons, a retreat from all of the typical Sin City excesses. Located on the Strip's southern edges, the Four Seasons may be big by Four Seasons standards, but the resort is actually one of the city's few true hotel gems. Perched on the top five floors of the much larger Mandalay Bay resort -- but with its own entrance, check-in, reception, elevators, pool, spa, health club and serenely elegant vibe -- the Four Seasons could not be more different that its 30-story neighbor just a few floors below. Of course the Four Seasons is directly connected to the Mandalay, just in case you feel the need for a late-night rendezvous with the luck of the draw.READ REVIEW »
A rather unprepossessing building belies the graceful interior that you encounter as you pass through the revolving doors. Sit at one of the two elegant desks to complete the check-in formalities and admire the beautiful white flowers before heading to your room. This is not a hotel to excite -- but the well-oiled Four Seasons machinery will ensure that everything runs smoothly. Indeed, the place is hard to fault, just don’t expect it to be big on wow factor.READ REVIEW »
Technically in the area known as “Beverly Hills Adjacent,” the Four Seasons rises above the neighborhood’s apartments and condos, offering panoramic views of the city and the hills. The rectangular straw-yellow building dotted with white balconies seems more residence than hotel, since high-rise hotels so rarely feature windows that open, let along alone French doors that open