Best Hotel Destinations

from exclusive beachside resorts to villas with their own private pools, here are some of the best luxurious hotels in the world.

1. One&Only Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll, Maldives.

With its 53 private riads decorated in mosaic tiles, thick carpets, artisan furniture, a roomy outdoor pool, fragrant gardens, and Michelin-starred dining, this 12-acre spread functions almost like a town unto itself—the hotel sited inside the storied walls of the town's vibrant medina.

2. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Maldives.

From the Malé airport, a 45-minute yacht ride will take you to this island paradise. The resort's 119 villas offer everything a traveller could want from a Maldivian getaway, including picture-perfect ocean views, private plunge pools, and devoted butlers who deliver what one reader referred to as "the ultimate customised treatment."

3. Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino, Italy.

With its centuries-old property encompassed by rolling vineyards and towering pine trees, Rosewood has plenty of room to create a remarkable tourist experience on its 5,000 acres of breathtaking Tuscany. While there are Old World attractions wherever you look, Castiglion del Bosco offers modern enhancements and services that cater to all visitors, creating a holistic experience. There is a Brunello di Montalcino winery, a cooking school, tennis courts, a spa with relaxation therapies, and even a tiny church with terra-cotta roofs. A new complex of 19 opulent suites had been added to the property. No need to draw the drapes in this location; instead, wake up to stunning views of the Montalcino Hills and the UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia Natural Park.

4. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santorini, Greece.

This recently redesigned 20-room hotel is ideal for quiet, intimate moments, whether for meditative mornings gazing out at the blue waters of the Aegean or afternoons soaking in the cliffside infinity pool. It's located on the more sedate side of Santorini, where the Grace Hotel may observe the same iconic whitewashed structure and lovely sunsets without the crowds.

5. Rosewood Villa Magna, Madrid.

This 154-room refuge nestled on the opulent Paseo de la Castellana is one of the leading hotels in the Spanish city, which is undergoing a hospitality rebirth. From Tarde to the tasteful décor, the hotel exudes an air of extreme discretion. It's a hot cocktail bar, I'll tell you.

6. Pickering House Inn, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

The Spanish city is experiencing a resurgence in hospitality, and this 154-room haven, nestled at the chic Paseo de Los Angeles Castellana, is among its leaders. Everything about the resort, including Tarde and the attractive interiors, exudes an air of extreme secrecy. Oh, the cocktail bar is sexy.