Eriro
At the top of the cable car on Ehrwalder Mountain in Tyrol, a 90-minute drive from Innsbruck, this timber hotel sits on the plot of an old inn. Co-owners Amelie and Dominik Posch (also behind LaPosch, a collection of chalets in Biberwier village) and architectural designer Martin Gruber have brought together local stone, spruce and bouclé wool to create a contrasting raw-yet-hand-crafted and cosy feel. In the nine rooms, lime-brushed walls and reclaimed wood ceilings are the backdrop to tree-trunk bathtubs and bedside lights made from rocks collected nearby. There are record players and backgammon boards, and a series of activities such as pottery and meditative walks. Guests can relax in the spa or explore outside, with cross-country skiing in winter and biking and hiking in summer. The zero-waste kitchen is run by chef David Franken, whose inventive producer-driven dinners are another example of how showcasing elements in their simplest form can elevate them. Rooms from £1,315, all inclusive. eriro.at
The Emory
From the discreet entrance off Knightsbridge Road, SWI, to the copper skirting and soft lighting in the corridors, everything about The Emory - the newest addition to the Maybourne group - is understated and cocooning. The interiors of the 61 suites are split between a handful of design heavyweights, including Patricia Urquiola, Pierre-Yves Rochon, André Fu and Champalimaud Design. Yet the spaces remain cleverly cohesive through a shared palette: warm wood and marble, soothing neutral tones and leather seating (those at the front have views of the Household Cavalry in Hyde Park most mornings). Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten combines elements from his New York restaurants at Abc Kitchens; below that, the subterranean Surrenne offers four floors of wellness, including a pool and a Tracy Anderson fitness studio. Perhaps the biggest wow, though, is the Rémi Tessier-designed rooftop bar, where guests can sip cocktails against the twinkling cityscape backdrop. Suites from £2,040. B&B. the-emory.co.uk
The Jaipur House
The 19th-century Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II was an avid photographer, so it is apt that when Dutch interior designer Marie-Anne Oudeians was tasked with the transformation of The Jaipur House - the former royal summer residence he had built in the hill station of Mount Abu, which became a hotel in 2002 - she chose 500 photos from the family's archives for the walls. Known for the interiors of Bar Palladio in Jaipur, Marie-Anne has adapted her trademark maximalist style (bold stripes, chevrons and rich, saturated hues) with a more masculine colour palette of pine, racing green, burgundy and pale blue. Original wooden furniture has been reupholstered, while the bed linen and crockery were made by artisans in Jaipur. There is a tennis court, a new pool, a Rajasthani-style restaurant and, best of all, a polo-club-inspired rooftop lounge bar with a terrace overlooking Nakki Lake (above). Three hours drive from Udaipur, this is a homely city escape for relaxing like royalty. Rooms from 15,000INR (£137), B&B. thejaipurhouse.in ; to book, email gm@thejaipurhouse.in
Palazzo Talia
The Italian film director Luca Guadagnino (of Call Me by Your Name fame) has a reputation for creating lavish, atmospheric sets. Now, at Palazzo Talìa in Rome, his artistic vision has been channelled into a hotel for the first time. Studio Luca Guadagnino designed the public spaces including the spa, plus the Terrace Suite. Housed in a restored 16th-century building that was once the Collegio del Nazareno, a school for sons of the aristocracy, it is a masterful study in old meets new. Ancient busts and original frescoes are paired with specially sourced vintage pieces, such as the 1940s Murano glass chandelier in the entrance (above), custom-made furniture and contemporary craftsmanship - even the railings on the stairs are wrapped in plissé leather. After guests have spent the day exploring the city, intimate Bar della Musa is the spot for a martini, followed by a dinner of Italian classics at Tramae restaurant in the verdant courtyard garden. This is a spectacular reinvention of a Roman landmark. Rooms from €800, B&B. palazzotalia.com
One & Only Kéa Island
Kéa - a quiet and unassuming, largely arid island in the northern tip of the Cyclades, which is within striking distance of Athens - might seem to be an unlikely choice of destination for One&Only's newest luxury hotel, but it does not take long to see exactly how well it fits. Laid out along the natural curve of a rocky peninsula with its own beach, the low-lying, all-villa resort is an architectural feat - and the first of its kind in Greece. Designed by John Heah, the architect behind the look of some of the Aman and Four Seasons hotels, this has an open-air atrium that serves as the artery of the resort. It is exposed to the elements at the top (there is an indoor garden at ground level should there be rain), while floor-to-ceiling glass doors in the bar and restaurant areas can be opened to merge the inside and outside. One&Only Kéa Island is the perfect counterpart to the brand's recent opening in the Greek capital and will be a popular choice for combined stays in the city and on the island - under 30 minutes by private speedboat from the ports of Athens. Rooms from €1,750, B&B. oneandonlyresorts.com
Saltmoore
In one of the most striking spots on the North Yorkshire coast, where heather-clad moors reach almost to the sea, Saltmoore is a 10-minute stroll from the fishing village of Sandsend, and within easy reach of Staithes and Whitby. The hotel is an ideal base from which to explore this relatively undiscovered area of England, which has inspired so many artists. The 72 rooms and suites are split across 19th-century Saltmoore House and more laidback, dog-and-child-friendly The Beach House. There is an impressive spa and the restaurants - overseen by Adam Maddock, former head chef at The Fife Arms - range from fine dining to sandy-footed informality. Throughout, the Sapin Studio interiors draw on the soft hues of the local landscape. Rooms from £290, B&B. saltmoore.co.uk
Palazzo Margherita
Off the main street of Bernalda, in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy, a set of unassuming double doors gives little indication of the stories that lie beyond. In 2004, when film director Francis Ford Coppola travelled to the town to reconnect with his roots (his grandparents emigrated to the US from here), he found that the grand house of the olive-oil-producing Margherita family was for sale and decided to buy it. With the help of designer Jacques Grange, the Coppolas made a home of the palazzo, imprinting their style onto its grand rooms with painted frescoes and custom furniture, and creating exquisite gardens. They subsequently opened it as a small hotel, offering a glimpse into their world. Francis has curated a list of his favourite films for guests to watch in the sitting area-cum-cinema room (above), while the director's old room, now the Francis suite, is a tribute to his grandmother's time in Tunisia. Outside, a pretty pool is a perfect antidote to a day spent exploring. Rooms from €520, B&B. thefamilycoppolahideaways.com
