InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel
Paphos, Cyprus

Create lasting memories by sitting on the terrace, watching the stars and trying the superb salad bar filled with dishes using local produce. (The chef is Stephanos Chrysanthou.) At this new village-like hotel, get a Club InterContinental room, like 4106, which has a private nine-metre pool overlooking the eighth golf hole. The sports masseuse in the spa, Jennie Hammond, makes your body feel whole again.

www.aphroditehills.com

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Bahía de Banderas, Mexico

Three times a week, local fishermen carry their morning’s catch up the beach; chef Hervé Fucho explains your choices and you choose your dinner. One of my favourite villas at this idyllic beach-set resort is 400, an end suite with a private terrace and plunge pool, right above the sea. At the Jack Nicklaus course, there is an optional par-three 19th hole, with the green on a natural island 180 metres away.

www.fourseasons.com

Dhoni Mighili
North Ari Atoll, The Maldives

The six villas at this all-inclusive resort come with a 20-metre working Dhoni boat, fitted with a luxury cabin and crew of four, so you can go for overnight sails. Back on the private island, you have your own butler and you can dine anywhere, including on the beach. Passion Villa has its own private pool. GMs are chef David O’Hara and his wife, Jacquie.

www.dhonimighili.com

The Fairmont Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

On the site of Fort William, this 301-room classic hotel towers over the Narrows, the entrance to the city’s bottle-shaped harbour. Request a room with access to the sixth-floor Fairmont Gold lounge. From end room 500, I loved watching the fog swirling in and out of the harbour. I also recommend a quick run up to Cabot Tower, named after John Cabot who sailed here in 1497.

www.fairmont.com

Monasterio del Cusco
Cusco, Peru

Gregorian chants greet you as you arrive at the two-floor hotel in a 1595 monastery that still has a working church. All 123 rooms are different, and some come with piped-in oxygen to help guests acclimatize to the altitude. Room 436, overlooking one of the four cloisters, has a loveseat inset in one wall and several historic art works – and butler Pedro is one of the best in the business. Enjoy the copious buffet breakfast.

www.orient-express.com

The Waldorf Hilton
London, United Kingdom

Conveniently adjacent to the renamed Novello theatre, the new home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, this 1908 vintage hotel was itself originally intended as a theatre. Now it has 303 bedrooms, recently modernized in 21st-century style; room 341, facing busy Aldwych, has orange-coloured walls and a central bed. There is a 14-metre pool, and the bar is the meeting place for the younger set.

www.hilton.com

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Mary Gostelow is one of the world’s top authorities on luxury hotels and the editor-in-chief of the Wow Traveler newsletter for elite travellers. You can reach her by writing to mgostelow@enroutemag.net or visiting www.wowtraveler.net.

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