75 Great Hotels in the US and Around the World

From St. Barths to Boston and from fancy to affordable, these are some of the notable hotels worth checking out around the world and in the US, many of them with an emphasis on design and repurposed historic spaces.

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By: Meredith Rosenberg, Felicia Feaster, Allison Tibaldi, and Shannon Phillips

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The Hotels Will Make You Want to Stay Awhile

Whether your taste runs toward grand, historic hotels that have weathered the centuries and attracted celebrities, or industrial-chic spaces housed in converted factories or train stations, we have a hotel that will make your stay memorable. Read on for some of our favorite hotels in the US and around the world, at a variety of price points.

Atlanta: Nobu Hotel

The glamorous Nobu Hotel in the swanky Buckhead section of Atlanta is defined by elegant, understated Asian aesthetics including a welcoming, beautifully designed lobby. Inviting guest rooms feature idiosyncratic touches like wooden floors, black-and-white slippers and traditional Japanese robes to make the experience feel elevated and bespoke. Currently in the works: a mini bar highlighting local shops and Atlanta breweries including a Japanese lager. The property is part of the 56-location restaurant (and 16-hotel) Nobu empire founded by Japanese star chef Nobu Matsuhisa alongside partner and actor Robert De Niro. Nobu's first world-class sushi restaurant opened in New York City in 1994, and this Nobu hotel and restaurant combo continues the traditon of incredibly fresh seafood and South American influences at Nobu Atlanta restaurant. The Nobu Atlanta Hotel is conveniently attached to the city's designer-centric Phipps Plaza shopping center (featuring Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Celine, Gucci and Balmain among other high-end boutiques) and the Citizens Market food hall, a great spot for casual dining that shares a convivial common green space with the shopping center and Nobu.

Preah Sihanouk , Cambodia: Koh Russey Resort

Cambodia’s beaches have escaped the attention of Western tourists, but that’s slowly changing. More high-end resorts are popping up along what’s been dubbed the Cambodian Riviera, like the Koh Russey Resort. There are 50 modern pavilions and 13 villas on the property and the entire design combines sustainability with Khmer culture, resulting in clean-lined, low-lying structures that blend into the surrounding jungle. Rooms are designed with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, while the overall architecture is inspired by the geometric pattern of local Krama cloth. The minimalist indoor-outdoor setting is a perfect backdrop for languidly enjoying the peaceful island, but don’t worry about being bored. There are yoga classes, movie nights on the beach (during dry season), and swimming and watersports are always an option, as well as day trips to a pepper plantation in the Kampot region or Ream Pagoda for a temple blessing.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Caribe Hilton

Following a $150 million renovation, the iconic Caribe Hilton resort in San Juan is a wonderful destination. The original opened in 1946 and its Caribar became known as one of two spots claiming to have invented the piña colada. (The other is nearby Barrachina in Old San Juan.) The legendary Caribar serves both the original, coconut cream-based piña colada along with a newer coconut water-based version. All of the property's 652 rooms and suites offer a light and airy color scheme and floor-to-ceiling doors that slide open onto a terrace or balcony.

Miami: The St. Regis Bal Harbour

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort offers luxurious trappings close to the water in Miami and close access to high-end shopping. Even if you aren't lucky enough to stay at the St. Regis Bal Harbour (and it's recommended you do), you may want to just people watch in the stunning lobby or check out the supercars pulling up to the entrance. And right across the street, is the equally unmissable high-end retail therapy of Bal Harbour Shops. Designed by Toronto-based high-end hospitality and retail design firm Yabu Pushelberg, the St. Regis Bal Harbour is a paean to '60s-era luxury featuring meticulously manicured grounds with two pools, beach bikes and green space that make its outdoors as stunning as its indoors. Food-forward Greek cuisine served in a room saturated in the seaside-evocative shades of white and blue that define that country make Atlantikos a required Miami restaurant bucket list item for lovers of seafood and healthy, innovative Mediterranean cuisine.

Zihuatanejo, Mexico: Thompson Zihuatanejo

If you haven’t heard of Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific coast, that’s probably because it’s overshadowed by neighboring Ixtapa, a popular resort area known for its beaches and high-rise hotels. Though not a total secret, Zihuatanejo offers the same smooth, sandy beaches and calm waters, but minus the crowds. It also maintains more connection to its past life as a fishing village. It’s here that Thompson Zihuatanejo opened along Playa La Ropa beach. The hotel is a high-end, Instagram-ready destination with 56 rooms and suites, three outdoor pools and a spa. Two dining options differ from resort norm: besides an all-day menu, Hao holds a beach party every Friday night with freshly grilled meat and seafood, while Saturdays bring all manner of lobster and octopus tacos in handmade tortillas. For something more special, Ceniza serves up locally sourced dinners underneath an open-air palapa. Rooms are equally pleasing, combining Thompson Hotels’ signature midcentury modern design with Mexican decor. Arguably the most desirable rooms offer private plunge pools and direct access to an adults-only pool.

Surfside, Florida: Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club

Vintage splendor defines the welcoming hallway that greets guests of the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. Infused with warmth and glamor, the hallway features vintage black-and-white photos of the Surf Club in its heyday, including lavish parties created by a Hollywood set designer. The Peacock Alley entryway of the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in the quiet, sophisticated town of Surfside typifies the vintage elegance of the original 1930 getaway for celebrities like Gary Cooper and Elizabeth Taylor. In 2017 The Surf Club was ushered into the 21st century with a stunning Richard Meier expansion.

Athens, Greece: Four Seasons Astir Palace

Although just a half hour from Athens International Airport and the heart of the city, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens feels far more removed. Known as the Athens Riviera, this sandy peninsula started attracting international celebrities in the '60s after the original Astir Beach opened, and continued to do so until its closure in 2016. The hotel has since undergone a $123 million renovation to reopen as a Four Seasons. The 303 rooms have been overhauled in neutral tones with pops of blue, while balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows maximize ocean views in many. Some of the suites and bungalows even come equipped with a private pool. Three private beaches connected by a boardwalk tempt guests from rooms, as do three pools and a spa with an aroma steam grotto and hammam. Meanwhile, six dining options span from Greek to Italian, while an old-school cigar bar nods to the original hotel. Insider's tip: Ask ahead if you'd like to end a perfect day on a sunset sail.

Detroit: Detroit Foundation Hotel

Located in the original Detroit Fire Department headquarters, a circa-1929 Neoclassical building, the Detroit Foundation Hotel opened in 2017. Authentic firehouse features, such as the iconic red arched doors where the fire engines would pass, have been maintained. Original glazed brick tiles seamlessly mesh with modern lighting fixtures by Incite Design. Guest rooms at the Detroit Foundation Hotel include nods to Detroit’s automotive industry legacy with a color palette punctuated with metallics, reminiscent of the paint colors of 1960-era cars. Headboards are made with repurposed wood from Architectural Salvage Warehouse Detroit, adding homegrown craftsmanship and nostalgia.

London: The Rosewood London

Every detail at this exquisite, eccentric Rosewood London has been thought out, from the gorgeous Edwardian courtyard to the dozens of boxwood planters that set the tone for this hotel centered on high-design, cheeky British wit (winking art fills the lobby and the valets wear Harris tweed coats and jaunty caps that would not be out of place on a Wes Anderson set) and an appreciation for all things bespoke and exotic, like bird cages in the lobby featuring finches and budgies. Stop into this incomparably stylish hotel for a romantic rendezvous and don't forget to check out the hotel's romantic, glorious flower arrangements (the hotel's signature white hydrangeas are featured in every room) from the brand McQueens, designer for the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party and high society London events.

San Antonio, Texas: Hotel Emma

Housed in a former brewery, Hotel Emma is a stylish jumble of industrial-meets- refined. The lobby, which was once the engine room, has conscientiously retained the original exhaust fans used to ventilate, the turbine-like ammonia compressor and the king valves, which controlled the flow of ammonia.

Tokyo: Park Hyatt Tokyo

Located in the bustling Shinjuku district, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is a primary setting for Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation. Grab a drink at the New York Bar on the hotel’s top floor (where Bill Murray’s Bob Harris spends most of his evenings) and enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the city and Mount Fuji.

Kruger National Park, South Africa: Singita Boulders Lodge

Singita Boulders Lodge enjoys a prime location in South Africa’s private Sabi Sands Game Reserve next to Kruger National Park, with plentiful opportunities for Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo) viewing. Solo guests can stay here without paying the single supplement commonly charged at other safari camps, and there’s a no-children-under-10 policy. Enjoy a communal environment since there are only 12 suites, and get to know the other guests during days filled with game drives and guided safari walks. Alternatively, enjoy quiet downtime at the pool, fitness center or spa. But what’s most likely to occupy your free time is the dedicated photo area, where you can edit photos in Lightroom or Photoshop on a 27-inch iMac with Retina display, then transfer photos to a provided flash drive with 8GB of memory. It’s even possible to book private post-production sessions for an extra fee. Also extra, but Singita rents professional-grade cameras and lenses (Canon and Nikon), a major plus for anyone familiar with how cumbersome it is to lug a telephoto lens on vacation.

Hopkins, Belize: Belizean Dreams Resort

Belizean Dreams Resort works if you prefer a less corporate, more low-key resort experience, with days spent drinking on the beach and optional off-site activities. While all-inclusive isn’t mandatory here, it’s a popular option. All packages include meals and drinks (only local alcohol) at the restaurant and beach bar, along with bikes, kayaks and snorkeling gear. Spa services and dive trips are available for a fee.

Islas Secas, Panama: Islas Secas

Reaching exclusive Islas Secas isn’t easy, nor does it offer 10 restaurants and synchronized water acrobatics. But keep reading if the idea of two flights and an hour-long boat ride in order to reach an archipelago that’s 20 miles from anywhere is appealing. Because what this property lacks in splashy amenities it makes up for in thoughtful surroundings that accommodate a maximum of 18 guests. Each of its nine casitas possess an abundance of privacy, plus plunge pools, decks and glamping-level decor. In a departure from a typical private island, Islas Secas actually owns 14 islands, meaning that you can spend your barefoot days boating around the chain. Paddleboarding along the coast or snorkeling reefs for parrotfish are other watersport options. For better or worse, this isn’t a true Castaway experience, as fresh, locally-sourced meals (seafood paella, lobster) are provided in an open-air pavilion. And ask and you shall receive beach picnics or barbecues. In keeping with a low-key, high-end beach escape, Islas Secas is committed to sustainability efforts that include recycling all food waste, relying entirely on solar-powered energy and leaving 75 percent of the archipelago undeveloped.

Valldalen, Norway: Juvet Landscape Hotel

The Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldalen, Norway is a stay unlike any other. Designed to blend in with the environment, the hotel’s rooms feature natural materials and floor-to-ceiling windows. This stunning hotel was also the setting for the 2015 sci-fi thriller Ex Machina.

Asbury Park, New Jersey: The Asbury Park Hotel

The Asbury Park Hotel on the New Jersey Shore was once the local Salvation Army. Today, it’s a hip beach retreat that has preserved functional elements of its past. The lobby, which doubles as a greenhouse, has conserved the original brick and pillars while adding colorful new furnishings including the inviting pit sofa with a blue velvet base and playful hand-sewn cushions, custom designed by Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture. The practical gray oak coffee table is from Restoration Hardware.

Covington, Kentucky: Hotel Covington

Hotel Covington was initially a high-end department store. The interior offers a peek into its fashionable past with towering ceilings, concrete columns and a traditional Covington home color palette of aubergine, sage and navy. In homage to Kentucky’s bourbon legacy, local woodworking studio Grainwell has created a spirited large-scale installation using bourbon barrels.

Portland, Maine: The Press Hotel

Maine’s Press Hotel is located in what was once the printing plant of the Portland Press Herald newspaper. The hotel maintains a connection to its journalistic roots in numerous ways. In guestroom corridors, actual headlines from the Press Herald were used to create newsprint-inspired wall coverings from Koroseal. The headline letters spill from the walls onto custom corridor carpeting from Innovative Carpets.

New York City: Paper Factory Hotel

Commemorating its paper past, the lobby of New York's Paper Factory Hotel showcases a dramatic spiral staircase with a central column sheathed in hundreds of hardcover books, emanating sculptural appeal. The Paper Factory Hotel has been a catalyst transforming this Queens neighborhood from industrial to industrial chic. The property is located in — naturally — an adaptively re-used paper factory. Soaring ceilings, polished concrete floors and exposed brick fuse with eclectic finds from thrift shops, including an old-fashioned British phone booth to give this spot it unique appeal.

Offenburg, Germany: Hotel Liberty

In Germany’s Black Forest, a former jail has been revamped, opening as the Hotel Liberty in 2017. With a challenging starting point of crude brickwork and angular beams, the design team at Knoblauch added inviting touches. The delicate glass cube, spanning what was once the prison yard, now houses the light-filled lobby.

Durham, North Carolina: The Durham

The Durham is a downtown boutique hotel located in what was once a Home Savings Bank branch. The hotel’s design team, Commune, has maintained the structure’s midcentury modern architectural integrity, preserving the original exterior façade.

Cape Town, South Africa: The Silo Hotel

Once the tallest building in Sub-Saharan Africa, a grain silo has been converted into The Silo Hotel, a 28-room luxury property opened in 2017. It’s a daring mix of existing infrastructure and whimsical design that mingle with ease.

Denver: The Crawford Hotel

The Crawford Hotel inside the still-active Denver Union Station, is an 1881 rail station and a registered National Historic Landmark. The hotel retains the building's rich history while embracing a modern lodging aesthetic. The impressive Beaux Arts-style Great Hall serves as both the hotel’s lobby and the place where travelers wait for the train. This grand and bustling space includes Martini side tables from Restoration Hardware. The clocks are original while the dazzling chandeliers are impeccable recreations.

Nashville: The Hermitage

Under the helm of the young, glamorous managing director Dee Patel and owners Robert and Molly Hardie, who are far from risk-averse, Nashville's historic Beaux-Arts jewel, the Hermitage Hotel, has undergone a Southern luxe style makeover. Fresh details like staff uniforms from Reese Witherspoon's lifestyle brand Draper James, the hotel's canary-yellow and black graphics and its gorgeous ForrestPerkins' redesigned lobby bring a lighter and brighter — and cooler — twist on its previous jewel-toned, clubby and masculine vibe. Leaning into the hotel's history as a definitive site for organizers, opponents and activists during the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Hermitage has embraced opulence with grace notes of femininity. Craft cocktails in the rooms and an ultra-Gen Z pink-themed in-house coffee shop, the Pink Hermit Cafe, make this downtown landmark elegant with an edgy twist that will appeal to a new generation without alienating the traditional historical hotel crowd.

Dublin: The Merrion Hotel

Tucked into the heart of the city and all it has to offer, but with the feel of a tranquil escape a million miles away, The Merrion Hotel offers Old World, understated luxury in a converted row of 18th century Georgian townhouses across from the prime minister's office. The hotel has the feel of an incredibly comfortable and well-appointed private home. Discreet, warm and efficient service only add to the cozy surroundings. The plush, beautifully designed rooms feature crisp Egyptian cotton linens and pretty Irish fabrics and an incomparably comfy bed along with marble baths with heated towel bars and every imaginable amenity you'd expect from a five-star hotel, along with additional, unexpected touches like Merrion cord fasteners to keep your charging cords organized and a lovely linen cloth placed bedside for slippers. The hotel is home to Ireland's only two-star Michelin restaurant, Patrick Guilbaud, an additional in-house restaurant when you feel like staying put and a fabulous bar with roaring fireplace and overstuffed chairs to wile away an hour or two. Adding to the sense of well-appointed elegance is the hotel's impressive collection of 19th and 20th century art, considered one of the largest private collections in the country, which hangs throughout the hotel. Guests can enjoy a free audio tour of the collection while staying at the Merrion.

Cong, Ireland: Ashford Castle

Once owned by Ireland's beer dynasty, the Guinness family, as a vacation home, the circa 1228 Anglo-Norman Ashford Castle on Cong's stunning Loch Corrib may be as close as you can get to spending the night at Downton Abbey. The property is epic in its many appointments, including the 350-acre grounds featuring an Instagram-ready formal garden and a variety of American tree specimens imported by the hotel owners. The warm and welcoming ruby lobby with fireplace and second level balcony library is stocked with lovely hardbound books from local antiquarian bookshop Rare & Recent Books where you can sit in window seats overlooking the grounds and read or just daydream. The hotel underwent a $75 million renovation in 2015 and Red Carnation Hotel owners Stanley and Beatrice Tollman have spared no expense to make sure guests feel nestled in the lap of luxury. For active, outdoorsy types, the options are endless from trout and salmon fishing to horseback riding, and deliciously aristocratic pursuits like falconry and archery. Foodies can stage a private dinner or tasting in the dramatic wine cellar or watch a film in the plush red velvet and vintage-film poster-appointed screening room where the free popcorn and candy flows. The hotel owners have gone to great efforts to make their hotel feel not just grand but fun and approachable. Staff is never haughty and there is fun built into many of the offerings, whether it involves cocktails and billiards in the man cave Billiards Room or the retro time warp of an American-style diner with a soda fountain where you can dine on Elvis's favorite sammie. Visiting in the post-summer off season means prices for a stay decrease significantly, and there is much to recommend scraping together your dollars or pounds for even one magical night at this one-of-a-kind property.

Nashville: 1 Hotel

It’s not until you stay in a hotel with such warm, human-scale design that you realize what you've been missing. The 1 Hotel brand is an eco-conscious hotel chain from the Starwood brand that opened in Nashville in summer 2022 and bills itself as offering both luxury and sustainability. Carbon neutrality and LEED building certification are two pillars of the hotel brand's sustainability efforts, but there are plenty of show outs to less-waste and environmental-awareness throughout 1 Hotel Nashville including its striking green facade which reduces heat and generates oxygen.

London: The Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard

Feel like you own the skyline in this ultra-glamorous skyscraper hotel in a Renzo Piano-designed building that puts a premium on impeccable service and jet-set calibre luxury. Beautiful flower arrangements are swapped out regularly in the common areas and hundreds of couples have proposed in the Shangrai-La's sumptuous rooms since it opened in 2014. Nab a window table at the exquisitely appointed Ting restaurant or enjoy a craft cocktail at the highest cocktail bar in London, the Gong Bar, on the 52nd floor. At either spot you can savor a view of the Thames and all of London spread out before you as exquisite as any beach or mountain range.

New York City: Hotel 50 Bowery

Located in an incredibly convenient (and increasingly hip cultural hub often referred to as Dimes Square) section of lower Manhattan that straddles the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Little Italy, Hotel 50 Bowery is in the center of all the action on the city's oldest street. The hotel may be an anomaly among mid-priced Manhattan hotels with an exceptionally friendly and accommodating staff and surprisingly spacious rooms, many with great views of the Manhattan Bridge and a rooftop bar for even more inspiring city views.

New York City: Lotte New York Palace

This grand dame of New York Society started out as a Gilded Age residence called Villard Mansion. Famed architecture firm McKim, Mead & White built the neo-Italian Renaissance palace, and books could be written about its landmark preservation (and its prior life as The Helmsley Palace). But in a nutshell, every historic aspect of Lotte New York Palace has been faithfully restored, meaning even floorboards were replaced in their original spots. The Gold Room, the epitome of Gilded Age style, is gilt-covered from the walls to ceiling. It also possesses a musical motif as it was initially intended to be a music room. Meanwhile, the jaw-dropping Madison Room maintains its original green marble walls and columns, larger-than-life murals and chandeliers and stained glass windows — making for the ultimate wedding venue.

Amalfi Coast, Italy: Monastero Santa Rosa

You can throw a rock and hit a historic hotel building in Italy. But Monastero Santa Rosa has an especially fascinating history as a 17th-century, pastry-making convent. The nuns were known for baking sfogliatelle, a cream-filled pastry shaped like a shell, which were called Santa Rosa. (Today’s hotel guests get to savor this tradition at breakfast, which is served on an outdoor terrace that makes the most of Mediterranean views.) Plenty of architectural features have been preserved as well: soaring vaulted ceilings, from the spa to guest rooms; an original 17th-century church that’s still in use; and the confessional, where guests can either jot down their sins, or, more likely, use their cell phone because of the location’s excellent reception.

London: The Ned

The Ned is one of London’s buzziest new openings, a five-star hotel located in the former Midland Bank. It’s named after the noted architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, or Ned, who built it in 1924 — back when bank lobbies rivaled luxury hotels. Many of the original opulent features were fortunately preserved during a multi-year restoration: vaulted ceilings, walnut-paneled counters and 92 green African verdite columns. But you’ll have to hunt to find some of the best-preserved details. These include an Instagram-ready spiral staircase; large cupboards next to The Tapestry Room that once stored top hats and canes; and even a private elevator that once carried the chairman to board meetings and private lunches. But the true showstopper is the former bank vault-turned-lounge, which you access through the original 25-ton, floor-to-ceiling vault door. If it looks familiar, that’s because it inspired the vault in the1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger.

Zacatecas, Mexico: Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas

Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas in Mexico may just be the only bullfighting ring-turned-hotel in the world. It’s built around an ornate 19th-century bullfighting ring that once featured famous matadors, but closed in 1975. The hotel opened in 1989, and you can easily channel the past while walking through the ancient brick corridors. In fact, linger over drinks at the Botarel Bar, set within the arched tunnels and illuminated by candlelight, as this was the former bullpen. Though not part of the ring, there’s even an ancient aqueduct on-site too.

Florence, Italy: Il Salviatino Hotel

A walk down history lane suggests that a Roman fortress initially stood on the site of Il Salviatino, a restored palazzo that can be traced back to the 14th century. Its name is derived from the Salviati family, who owned and renovated it in the 16th century. Since then it’s changed many hands (even belonging to Stanford University at one point), and undergone more renovations, with the latest completed in 2010 when it debuted as a hotel. Among the preserved details is the 19th-century fresco by Augusto Bruschi (reserve the Affresco Suite to sleep underneath the gold, angelic painting). The wood-paneled, 19th-century library has also been restored to its heyday, when it played host to high society figures like Salvador Dali. Other historic features include the grand entrance stairs, now blanketed in red carpet; the marble floors near the library; and the magnificent terraced gardens dotted with fountains and manicured shrubbery.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: The Pulitzer Hotel

The five star The Pulitzer Hotel is comprised of 25 meticulously restored canal homes — all dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The canal homes, part of a UNESCO site, completed a major renovation in 2016, keeping the historic aspects intact. For example, the Saxenburg House, now used to host weddings and special events, once was home to a wealthy dye salesman. The Italian marble floors, grand staircase and ornate 18th century fireplace mantel are among the original features. Meanwhile, you can find original wooden beams in the rooms that used to be part of warehouses, and ornate plaster ceilings in the rooms that were part of homes. And hints remain of a former apothecary that used to occupy the entrance to the restaurant Jansz, with shelves of vintage glasses connecting the past to the present.

Boston: The Liberty Hotel

It’s a safe bet that the former residents of the Charles Street Jail would have preferred its current iteration as the ironically named Liberty Hotel. Although, when it opened in 1851, prison reform methods greatly influenced the jail’s design, explaining, for example, its 30 windows that are each 33 feet high. However, the expression, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," proved true in this case, as overcrowding and poor living conditions eventually led to its closure in 1990. Now enjoying its best life as a four-star hotel, signs of its past are on full display as soon as you enter, like the preserved 90-foot central atrium and catwalk railings encircling it. Head to Clink restaurant to dine in former jail cells that are far cozier now, or visit Alibi bar (a former drunk tank, of course), to imbibe prison-themed cocktails and snap selfies in the original holding cells.

Jaipur, India: Alila Fort Bishangarh

Luckily you don’t have to be an invader to stay at the former Fort Bishangarh in Jaipur, a 230-year-old palace fortress that recently completed a nearly decade-long overhaul. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the ruined fort is now the Alila Fort Bishangarh, but, as a heritage conservation project, the hotel is still faithful to the original. For example, everything from the turrets to the wavy arched windows were either restored or recreated in keeping with Jaipur Gharana architecture. Careful consideration was even given to the walls, using a modern twist on an ancient plastering technique. Elsewhere, the main restaurant, Amarsar, is located in the former royal quarters, while the former dungeon now delivers spa treatments instead of torture. Another fun fact is the turret that now houses a cigar and cognac bar features original musket openings that were used to pour boiling oil on intruders. (They now mainly serve as natural air-conditioning.)

Los Angeles: Ace Hotel

Legendary actors Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin were among the famous founders behind the United Artists studio, housed in the United Artists Building that opened in 1927. And the United Artists Theatre (pictured) that anchors the building exemplified Hollywood’s Golden Age of glamour. Many iterations later, the building is now home to the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, a cutting-edge boutique that opened in 2014. As the focal point, the 1,600-seat, three-story theater has been restored to its heyday, best described as a cathedral paying homage to the movie gods. The Spanish gothic interior overwhelms with gothic-style chandeliers and restored murals (of movie stars and execs, of course), while the arched ceiling sparkles with an infinite number of tiny mirrors encircled by a ceiling-length golden sunburst. The theater once again screens movies, although performances dominate the calendar. Either way, it’s a challenge to pull your eyes off the venue.

The Maldives: Reethi Rah

On a man-made island in the Indian Ocean, Reethi Rah boasts 130 private villas, each with its own personal stretch of coastline. The bamboo ceilings and open architecture beautifully blend the indoors with the outdoors. Receive an Indian Ayurvedic Healing treatment in one of two over-water spa suites.

Dubai, United Arabs Emirates: The Atlantis Palm

Inspired by the legend of the lost city of Atlantis, The Atlantis Palm is a $2.5 billion mega-complex composed of a hotel, waterpark and aquarium. Book a night at the Bridge Suite, one of the most grand rooms in all of Dubai. Some of the most famous people in the world have stayed there — Oprah, Michael Jordan, Celine Dion and Bill Gates — for $35,000 a night.

Bali, Indonesia: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

You'll be greeted by a lotus pond at the UFO-looking Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. You can choose from one of 18 1,000-square-foot suites or 42 private open-air villas with their own plunge pools. Rent a bike or scooter and hit the Balinese country roads for some breathtaking views.

Sicily, Italy: San Domenico Palace, Taormina

The San Domenico is a former monastery founded in 1384, transformed into a luxury hotel. There are 104 rooms and suites divided between the hotel's two wings. The monastery side has spacious suites with their own private terrace with stunning views. In the grand hotel wing there is a suite where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once stayed. And the hotel is also the setting for the second season of the HBO hit The White Lotus.

Learn More: Love 'The White Lotus'? Then You'll Want to See HGTV's Design Peek Into the Hit HBO Series

The Bahamas: The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort

This 1940s resort is as high-class and upper-crust as it gets. Every fountain, marble slab and statue in the Ocean Club's Versailles-inspired gardens was imported from France. The resort regularly attracts celebrities like Cindy Crawford, who was married at the outdoor seaside chapel.

Amman, Jordan: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

Just outside of Amman lies one of the most over-the-top resorts in the world, the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. The 117 villas all have views of the Dead Sea. Catch rays on the deck, lounge by one of the nine huge pools, or enjoy a drink on your private roof deck. Plan your trip (way) ahead of time — this place books up five years in advance.

Hot Springs, Colorado: Dunton Hot Springs

Surrounded by 14,000-foot-high peaks in the Colorado Rockies, Dunton Hot Springs is a rustic village that's part wild west, part ghost town and all top-notch comfort. Grab a drink at the Saloon and look for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's names carved into the old countertop. Legend has it they hid out here in 1889 after robbing the Telluride Bank.

London: Claridge's

A prestigious hotel with an art deco twist, Claridge's has a royal pedigree. When Queen Victoria stayed at Claridge's in 1860, it unofficially became known as Buckingham Palace Annex. The hotel's high tea offers more than 40 varieties and its signature scones with Cornish clotted cream. Claridge's is also home to a restaurant run by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

London: One Aldwych Hotel

You’ll know you’ve made the right lodging decision the second you walk into the buzzing, glam lobby of the One Aldwych Hotel, hip five-star London hotel in the Covent Garden theater district. Be sure and grab a curated cocktail in the scene-y Lobby Bar frequented by everyone who’s anyone from BBC journalists to glamorous fashionistas. Rooms are a great blend of coziness and high-end swankiness. Don’t miss a trip to the spa and the sexy swimming pool with your significant other. The pool is one of the most unique in the city with underwater music and a screen featuring changing views of clouds, sea life and other visual delights. Whether or not you book a room at this luxury hotel (we think you should) in the center of London, you'll have to stop by the jaw-dropping Lobby Bar of the One Aldwych Hotel. In-house floral designer Mark Siredzuk creates unbelievable arrangements throughout the property but his epic designs in the Lobby Bar are something to behold. Enjoy them while sipping a bespoke cocktail featuring an array of exotic botanical and floral elements.

London: St. Erwin's Hotel

From the moment you pass beneath the foliage-covered arch of the Autograph Collection St. Ermin's Hotel, you know that you're in a special place. This historic London hotel in the heart of the city features a beekeeping program, beekeeping classes and an exquisite garden that welcomes visitors to the hotel.

Atlanta: Hotel Clermont

The historic Clermont Hotel, situated on Atlanta's busy Ponce de Leon Avenue, had seen better days. But it had a lot going for it including the very popular terrace level Clermont Lounge, a one-of-a-kind strip club where celebrities including Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson and Robert De Niro have stopped by when filming in town. The historic preservation experts at Oliver Hospitality, based in Nashville, have made revitalizing beautiful old buildings and smart design part of their mantra. Hotels and restaurants have all been resuscitated by the group, in cities from Atlanta to Nashville to Knoxville. Leaving the beloved local dive the Clermont Lounge intact, but re-doing the Hotel Clermont with an emphasis on retro style, has transformed this space into a hipster locus.

Kruger Park, South Africa: Singita Lebombo

The No. 1 safari destination in South Africa, the Singita Lebombo is located in Kruger National Park, home to 127 species of large mammals and more than 90,000 animals. Its 15 luxury suites have floor-to-ceiling glass windows, giving you a front-row seat to the wildlife. You can even sleep outside on protected beds for striking views of the plains.

Capri, Italy: Capri Palace

Off the Italian mainland on the island of Capri, you'll find the Capri Palace high in the hills. The lobby features an eccentric mix of Louis the XVI chairs, Venetian lamps and 3D pop art. The wine cellar at the Capri Palace has almost 10,000 bottles to choose from. Talk about la dolce vita!

Kiruna, Sweden: The Ice Hotel

Eight hundred miles from Stockholm, in the town of Kiruna, the Ice Hotel provides one-of-a-kind accommodations: The entire building and all of its furniture are made of ice. Each December, artists carve every detail of the hotel by hand. Even the beds are frozen rock solid and topped with a thermal sleeping bag and reindeer skins to keep you warm.

The Maldives: Soneva Fushi Resort

The Soneva Fushi’s 65 open-air villas are held up with teakwood posts, and each has its own private stretch of beach and saltwater swimming pool. Nestled in the beachfront jungle, its Six Senses spa also has an extensive list of rejuvenating treatments. In addition to offering several healthy dining options, the entire island is completely organic.

Bruges, Belgium: Hotel de Tuilerieën

Down by the banks of the Dijver Canal is the Hotel de Tuelerieën. This 15th-century building used to be a nobleman’s private residence. Everything’s been renovated except for the Murano crystal windows, which cast a pinkish glow inside. It’s a favorite among newlyweds, who can reserve the intimate pool for themselves and drink in views of the charming city from their canopy bed.

New York City: The Bryant Park Hotel

Inside the landmark American Radiator Building is the modern, minimalist Bryant Park Hotel. Towering at nearly 350 feet, the hotel offers a prime view of the Empire State Building. Head to the hotel's basement to the cellar bar for an after-hours cocktail and to catch a glimpse of the star clientele, especially during Fashion Week.

Boise, Idaho: The Inn at 500 Capitol

The Inn at 500 Capitol in Boise, Idaho, opened earlier this year with delightfully bright accents both inside and outside the hotel, like the bold red flower boxes hanging from the balcony of each room. All floors feature a huge mural that welcomes guests as the elevator doors open. Many of the murals reflect the history and culture of Idaho's state capital. Guest rooms enchant with pops of yellow, orange and magenta. The hotel even boasts a Boise State University-themed room all decked out in blues and oranges of the hometown team.

Huntington Beach, California: Pasea Hotel & Spa

One step inside the posh Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach and you'll feel as though you're on the beach thanks to the cool seaside hues throughout the hotel, a nod to the luxury property's oceanfront location. As guests enter the hotel, they are treated to a vibrant mural bursting with blues, oranges and greens, reflective of the sea, sand and palm trees just outside the doors. Guest rooms feature teals and aquamarines, even ocean wave prints that connect guests with the laid-back culture of Surf City USA.

Chattanooga, Tennessee: The Dwell Hotel

The Dwell Hotel is a colorful boutique property set in the charming Southern town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally Fort James, this former Civil War fortification was transformed into a hotel in 1909, changing styles and names over the years. Today, this reimagined space bursts with life and color. Exposed brick walls, geometric statement wallpapers and brightly hued artwork give The Dwell Hotel a playful personality and a look that's far from cookie-cutter. Bright marigold yellows and cyans, even deep magentas and millennial pinks, give this hotel allure.

Knoxville, Tennessee: The Oliver Hotel

Housed in the former 1876 Peter Kern Bakery, Knoxville's Oliver Hotel located on downtown's Market Square is at the center of a bustling revitalized urban city center. Eventually converted to the Hotel St. Oliver, the hotel once played host to distinguished guests like movie star Patricia Neal. In 2011 Oliver Hospitality purchased the property and converted it to its present iteration, a stylish boutique hotel that maintains a connection to history.

Bloomington, Minnesota: Radisson Blu Mall of America

One step inside the stylish Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington and guests will be treated to a black-and-white color palette accented with a deep, vibrant blue. An executive lounge boasts chic modern furnishings, chrome accents, geometric design work and brilliant orange and electric blue accents throughout the space. Guest rooms welcome visitors with iconic artwork and bold pops of vibrant colors, like bright reds and turquoises. Even meeting spaces are energized thanks to red furnishings, sophisticated accents and inspired wall art.

Tempe, Arizona: Graduate Tempe

Situated just a few blocks from the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Arizona, Graduate Tempe boasts a colorful Southwest-inspired style throughout this well-designed boutique hotel. One of seven Graduate Hotels, Graduate Tempe caters to those eager for a getaway in a college town, like Tempe, but not keen to stay in an uninspired chain hotel. One step inside the hotel and guests are welcomed by colorful artwork, bright geometric patterns and funky lobby furnishings. Guest rooms boast accents of bright primary colors, even American flag-themed throw blankets.

Lexington, Kentucky: 21c Museum Hotel

Opened in 2016 by contemporary art collectors, Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, the 21c Museum Hotel in Lexington, Kentucky, is a boutique hotel, an art museum and a place to house a portion of their more than 2,000-piece art collection. A former Fayette National Bank building, the 21c Museum Hotel pops with vibrant colors around every corner, even the guest rooms, where it’s not uncommon to find fuchsia, lime and azure colored sofas, even light fixtures. Explore curated art exhibits that are displayed across more than 7,000 square feet of museum space.

Boston: Aloft Boston Seaport

Located in the heart of Boston's popular Seaport District, Aloft Boston Seaport is a hip and sophisticated hotel minutes from everywhere you want to be in Boston. From the moment you arrive at the hotel, you're treated to explosions of color, from the teal green Adirondack chairs on the lawn to the electric blue lighted indoor pool. Even the WXYZ bar stimulates the senses with fuchsia-colored lighting and throw pillows. Guest rooms are accented with brightly-hued carpets, curtains and wall art in all types of geometric patterns.

Washington, DC: Hotel Monaco

As guests walk through the doors of Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC, they are treated to a green lobby so brilliant, they’ll think they’ve stepped into Oz’s Emerald City. While the hotel has been refreshed several times over the last 15 years, the bold jewel-toned lobby has remained, much to the delight of guests. Dark blues, burnt oranges and golds complement common spaces, while rich plums, champagnes and royal blues brighten guest rooms at this historic hotel that is both grand and charming at the same time.

St. Louis, Missouri: The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza

Dating back to 1922, the Chase Park Plaza is an art deco hotel boasting one of the most colorful and beautiful spaces in all of St. Louis so impressive that the likes of Jimmy Carter and Frank Sinatra have stayed at this historic, luxury hotel. Grab a cocktail in the classically styled (and very cerulean) Chase Club or delight in the intricate stained-glass ceiling at The Tenderloin Room, a top-rated restaurant inside the hotel. Make a stop at the spa, which pops with cheery, bright yellows.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica: GoldenEye Hotel

In Oracabessa Bay is GoldenEye, the former home of Ian Fleming, the spy-turned-novelist who created James Bond. He lived at GoldenEye for almost 20 years and wrote 13 of his 007 books here. Today, it's a resort with f our on 18 acres. GoldenEye's Fleming Villa has its own pool and a private beach dotted with hidden coves where you can read, gaze at the sea or have a romantic, dinner, Bond-style.

Taha'a, French Polynesia: Le Taha'a

Le Taha'a Island Resort has 48 stilted bungalows, each with private access to the lagoon. About 100 feet below the spa, the lagoon showcases abundant marine life in crystal clear, 80-degree waters. One of the most magical things about this resort is how it smells — like vanilla. About 75% of all Polynesian vanilla comes from this island, and the resort uses it at its three restaurants and spa.

Mexico City: St. Regis Hotel

The 189–room skyscraper that houses the St. Regis offers stunning city views and a location at the center of all the action in one of Central America’s most vibrant, fun-packed cities.

The hotel offers a little bit of two worlds, both luxurious and dynamic. The hotel's location is close to some of Mexico City’s most interesting neighborhoods and the staff rightly describes this soothing, service-centric oasis as a resort within the city. With an in-house Remede spa and one floor given over to an array of health club offerings, including a juice bar, weight room, swimming pool and Kinesis and Pilates studios, this is the kind of amenity-rich location to hole up in like a pampered rock-star-in-recovery and soothe mind and body with some amazing food and spa treatments.

You’ll also be in good company at the St. Regis Mexico City: Bono, Madonna, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci, Daniel Craig, Gerard Butler, Sofia Vergara and Colin Farrell have all stayed at the hotel.

Florence, Italy: Villa San Michele

Five miles up the hillside is Villa San Michele. The former Franciscan monastery was founded in the 15th century — and experts think the hotel's stucco facade was designed by Michelangelo. In addition to having one of the best gardens in all of Florence, it also hosts a school where you get hands-on lessons in classic Tuscan cooking.

St. Barths: The Carl Gustaf Hotel

The Carl Gustaf Hotel, the most glamorous hotel in Gustravia, dominates the port here and boasts a celebrity guest list since it opened in the 1990s. All of the one- and two-bedroom suites have a living room, private terrace and swimming pool. The hotel has its own 52-foot yacht that you can book for excursions.

Bordeaux, France: Les Sources de Caudalie

Les Sources de Caudalie is a first-class spa and boutique hotel hidden in the middle of the grape fields of the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Vineyard. The thermal room at the spa is where you can soak in natural mineral spring water piped in from 1,700-feet underneath the resort.

Turks and Caicos: COMO the Parrot Cay Hotel

You can only get to Como Parrot Cay by boat. It even limits the number of planes that can fly overhead to keep the prying eyes of paparazzi off celeb guests like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who got married here. If you want to venture out of seclusion, take a dip in one of the largest freshwater swimming pools in the Caribbean.

St. Barths: Rosewood Le Guanahani

A 16-acre resort,Le Guanahani opened in 1986 and was one of the first luxury hotels in St. Barths. Its 71 bungalows are traditional Creole-style, with private decks and pools. Guanahani's beachside restaurant, Indigo, serves up delicious food anytime you’re hungry, and the fresh menu is constantly changing, depending on what's in season.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, Australia: Longitude 131

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is home to Longitude 131. At the center of this resort is the Dune House, a restaurant, lobby and lounge all rolled into one. There are also 15 luxury, tented suites, raised on stilts above the sand dunes offering optimal views of Ayers Rock. Guides can take you out to view the monolith every day at dawn when it is at its most spectacular.

Berlin, Germany: The Adlon Hotel

Steps from the Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's premier five-star hotel, The Adlon. Built in 1907, Kaiser Wilhelm, the country's emperor, was the hotel's very first guest. The 2,000-square-foot Presidential Suite has its own butler on-call 24 hours a day and the best view of the square. In fact, it's where US presidents stay when they're in Berlin.