Jane Rumi, Marrakech
Dotted with more than 150 century-old palm, olive and pistachio trees, as well as an outdoor pool, the oasis-like gardens at this villa in La Palmeraie, a short drive from Marrakech's medina, are what first drew its owners, the Dutch art lawyer Gert-Jan van den Bergh and his wife Corinne, here. Designed in the 1960s by the respected Tunisian-born, Moroccan-raised architect Charles Boccara (also behind the Theatre Royal in Marrakech) and now sensitively restored, the 11-bedroom retreat harmoniously blends traditional decorative elements, such as arched recesses, tiled floors and carved wooden doors, with bold splashes of plum and egg-yolk yellow on the walls.
Handmade rugs by female weavers were commissioned by Studio Mina Abouzahra, which was in charge of the interiors. Interesting contemporary artwork also features throughout, with a rotating collection curated by Marrakech-based painter and sculptor Samy Snoussi. This includes: minimalist line murals by Roberto Ruspoli in the hammam; street-art photography by Casablanca-based Hind Lahrichi in the main hallway; and a khayamiya (appliqué textile) by Louis Barthélemy in the lounge. Chef Karin Gaasterland, whose most recent residency was at El Fenn riad, oversees the Moroccan-meets-modern-French cuisine, and the cultural programme comprises inspiring in-house talks and tours that showcase the city's more progressive edge.
Rooms from £500, B\\\&B; prices for exclusive hire of the villa are available on request. jnanerumi.com
Le Mas Candille, Provence
In the village of Mougins, where Pablo Picasso spent his final years, it is easy to imagine leading a charmed life in this corner of France, around half an hour's drive from both Cannes and Nice. Surrounded by pine trees, palms and cicadas, the rustic yellow exterior of Le Mas Candille glows in the sunlight, punctuated by green shutters, while the interiors of the 46 bedrooms and two restaurants surprise with a kind of old-world glamour. The hotel's design was dreamed up by Paris-based architect Hugo Toro and feels something between a traditional Provençal farmhouse and a Californian villa. There are two pools (one heated), a spa by Clarins (one of the owners is from the family) and a kids' club during summer - though the hotel is open year-round. Red parasols with fringed ochre trims set the scene around the main pool and the outdoor dining areas. In the Le Tigrr restaurant, floral prints were chosen for the wallcoverings and for the upholstery on the banquettes in shades of yellow. Much of the furniture was custom-made for the space, and paired with flea market and vintage finds. It is no surprise that Man Ray, Jean Cocteau and Christian Dior all shared Picasso's love for this beautiful area.
Rooms from €490, B&B. mascandille.com
Amandari, Bali
Set on the edge of a valley, among rice paddies that cascade down towards the Ayung River, Amandari is one of the original Aman hotels and exudes the distinctive sense of serenity beloved of the brand's ‘Amanjunkies’ - loyal followers who travel the world to stay at its hotels. Opened in 1989, it was designed by the Australian architect Peter Muller to resemble a Balinese village, with a series of buildings and salas or pavilions containing villas and suites, and an open-air restaurant with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Much of the architecture harks back to Balinese traditions: an indoor-outdoor approach; alang-alang thatched roofs; stone walls gradually aged over time; a liberal use of teak and coconut wood for the bespoke furniture; and intricate wood carvings by local craftspeople. Afternoon tea is served daily under a shaded sala, while meandering through the manicured gardens along cobbled paths is a delight in itself, with each turn revealing a new bloom. A swift complimentary shuttle takes guests between the hotel and the centre of Ubud is busy spiritual capital, which is a must-visit pocket of the island, with craftwork, temples, restaurants, bars and scenic walks in abundance.
Rooms from £930, B&B. aman.com
Hotel Humano
Oaxaca's surf paradise Puerto Escondido sees a stylish opening from Mexico's coolest hotel outfit, Grupo Habita. Adding to the group's Escondido Oaxaca and Terrestre hotels further up the coast, Hotel Humano is on a pedestrian street on Zicatela Beach, just south of Puerto. Sharing a similar contemporary and cubic local vernacular with its sister hotels, as well as others that have recently opened in the area, Human is based round a central courtyard. A stunning L-shaped swimming pool is sheltered by permeable latticed façades, which bridge the gap between hotel and life beyond. Zicatela has been a bohemian hotspot in Mexico since the 1960s, when surfers from the US and Australia would come to catch some of the best waves in the world. This laidback attitude has remained, making it a refreshing alternative to the cookie-cutter resorts in other stretches of the Mexican coastline, such as Cancún and Puerto Vallarta.
Designed by architect Jorge Hernandez de la Garza and with interiors by Plantea Estudio - based in Mexico City and Madrid respectively - Humano's series of buildings is largely made from concrete, with tiles adding an accent of colour on feature walls in both the rooms and the communal areas. The use of bricks and tropical wood complements textiles in dark oranges and rich wine colours that add warmth. Modular features, such as freestanding walls and curtains that separate the sleeping and seating areas across the 39 rooms, create a sense of openness. On top of the concrete structures are rooftop gardens with a pool and sunloungers. The restaurant, bar and outdoor spa are also on the rooftop above the courtyard, with sweeping views over the sea and lush, tropical greenery.
Rooms from $195. hotel-humano.com
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort
Already a favourite, particularly with families, Anantara Layan is now also an exceptional wellness destination with the launch of its Layan Life centre. This is not just about massages and pampering sessions (although those can be arranged): the three-to-10-day programmes start with a full-body scan and consultations with practitioners and doctors to establish your goals and devise a tailored itinerary. The essence of its approach is traditional Thai medicine, working with the elements of earth, water, wind and fire. Take the pao ya treatment, where a blend of herbs is heated by fire and placed on the abdomen to relax the gut and balance the lom (wind element). Another focus is pain management, which might be addressed with heat and shockwaves using a Winback machine. Also on the agenda are IVs, body contouring and cryotherapy. After a day at Layan Life, you can retreat to your own space, be it a suite or an expansive residence, or relax by the beach. There is always a vibe by the pool, from breakfast to cocktails at day-to-night restaurant Breeze. The culinary highlight, though, is Dara, where chef Supakarn Lienpanich offers a contemporary spin on Thai food.
Rooms from £304, B&B. Programmes at Layan Life start at £974 for a three-night retreat excluding accommodation. anantara.com | layanlifephuket.com
Brach Madrid
In the last few years, several international hotel brands have opened in historic buildings in Madrid, preserving the façades while reimagining what lies within. The latest of these is Brach, the fourth property from Evok Collection. It is in what was once the Palacio de Masserano on Gran Va, the city's most famous street, where novelist Victor Hugo lived as a child. In the rooms, Philippe Stark has paired materials such as leather, wood and wicker with eclectic curiosities - seahorse-shaped sconces, travelogue-style illustrations, handwritten notes - to evoke a sense of storytelling, which continues in the bathrooms. In the restaurant, mahogany-panelled walls, soft lighting and brasserie mirrors reference 1920s grand cafés, while a cabinet of paintings nods to a time when impoverished artists would pay for their food with their work. Chef Adam Bentalha (previously at Brach Paris) whips up Mediterranean sharing plates, many of which are cooked over fire in the open kitchen. There is also a patisserie (for post-museum-hopping slices of Andalusian orange tart), a cocktail bar and La Capsule, a Clarins spa with marble interiors, a lap pool, oxygen chamber and cryotherapy.
Rooms from €580, B&B. brachmadrid.com
Hyll Cotswolds
A handsome Grade II-listed 17th-century manor house in the North Cotswolds has been restored and converted into an inviting, serene and softly contemporary country escape. The joint vision of Manchester-based Youth Studio and Jolie Studio, it is the first project by new hospitality brand Madfabulous and will be opening this summer with a restaurant, snug and bar, set within the 60-acre estate. The main house has eight bedrooms while, in the former outbuildings, a further 18 rooms have been carved out. Plans are in motion for an events barn on the grounds, built in the local stone and timber style, and set to launch in 2026. The interiors emulate the calming aesthetic of the moment, with limewashed walls, chunky wood furniture and linen upholstery in neutral shades with accents of olive green. Flexible check-in and check-out times, breakfast baskets delivered to bedsides and rotating book menus are some of the ways the hotel will inspire a slower indulgence, for guests to while away days and just be, in contrast to existing hotels in the Cotswolds, which tend to be more on the traditional side. Hyll will encourage guests to perfect the art of doing nothing - whether exploring the gardens or taking a place next to a roaring fire in winter.
Rooms from £245, B&B. hyllhotel.com
Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno, Catalonia
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the sprawling vineyards of the 18th-century Priorat estate that informed the palette chosen by Barcelona-based design studio Astet for this intimate hotel, which opened two years ago. The location, in an area of the Catalonian province of Tarragona known for producing rich minerally red wines, is reflected in the subtle burgundy accents that appear throughout - from velvet tub armchairs and rugs to marble elements - alongside oak, terracotta and cream-coloured leather. Suites are split between the original stone masia and the Atelier next to the pool; those in the latter have private terraces with fire pits. Vinotherapy (which uses products made from grapes by Spanish start-up Foosh Beauty) takes place in the spa built around the ruins of the olive mill. Other experiences include cellar tastings, wine masterclasses, stargazing, electric bike tours and yoga. Food is a major draw, too: diners can tuck into tapas on Tarraco's shady patio, or enjoy one of the tasting menus with sommelier-selected wine pairings at Vinum. A special menu has even been created to celebrate Catalonia being named World Region of Gastronomy for 2025.
Rooms from £360. B&B. masdenbruno.com
Cali Mykonos
A sign of a good hotel is that you feel perfectly at ease spending a whole day there and this is such a place. Built on the rocky hillside of a private bay with its own beach, Cali feels like a quiet retreat despite being on one of Greece's most popular islands. This is, in large part, thanks to its location near the tail end of its southern coastline, yet it is only a 20-minute drive to Mykonos Old Town (the hotel provides free private transfers). Another standout attraction is the infinity pool, the largest pool on the island, which follows the natural curve of the landscape. The beach, which opens up from a rocky outcrop, is blissfully removed from the buzzy nightlife for which Mykonos is known, with roaming wild goats the only interruption. Accommodation is in a mix of low-slung buildings and more spacious villas combining the white-sugar-cube Cycladic style with the piled stone walls found in the Peloponnese, where the Greek owner's family hails from. The restaurant serves modern takes on Greek favourites, while at The Lounge - part bar, part sushi restaurant - the terrace is the ideal sunset spot. This year sees the launch of a new spa and open-air gym, with padel and tennis courts, as well as The Apollo Bar, where there will be live music and a menu of local small plates.
Rooms from €950, B&B. calimykonos.com
La Posta Vecchia, Lazio, Italy
Hotel Il Pellicano might be the most fabled of the three Italian family-owned Pellicano properties, but this coastal escape, 40 minutes from Rome, has an equally fascinating history. The Renaissance mansion once belonged to 20th-century industrialist Jean Paul Getty Sr and, during restoration work in the 1960s, he unearthed mosaics, marble and ampullae from the ancient city of Alsium (now preserved in a basement museum). It was opened as a hotel in the 1990s by Roberto Sciò and renovations, overseen by creative director Marie- Louise Sciò, began in 2023, when the exterior was painted using a terracotta pigment typical of Lazio palazzos. Most recently, the focus has been on refreshing the rooms, balancing original artwork and elaborate tapestries with modern-day comforts. Ingredients from the gardens are used in spa treatments and for dishes at The Cesar restaurant, which has a coveted terrace with Tyrrhenian Sea vistas. The indoor pool has glazed doors that open onto a lounger-lined balcony, while the beach club, set on a private stretch of the sandy shore where guests can sail, kayak or paddleboard, has been expanded for the summer season.
Rooms from €450, B&B. postavecchiahotel.com
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