Well-Designed Hotels Around the World

Spread across 29 acres of preserved nature, Nizuc’s design includes five swimming pools, three of which are infinity pools. Located beside the Mesoamerican Reef, architect Alejandro Escudero had sustainability top of mind. Tangled mangrove trees grow in various areas of the resort while unsalvageable mangrove trees become mirror frames in Terra Nostra, one of Nizuc’s on-site restaurants. There are also many living plant walls bursting with vegetation.

Considered by many to be the most fashionable luxury hotel in Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée lives up to the hype. The Haute Couture suite looks like a page from a glossy magazine, with a crystal chandelier, baby grand piano, marble bathroom, and hints of pink throughout: chairs, pillows, curtains, flowers, you name it. Best of all, guests get a stunning views of the Eiffel Tower outside their oversize windows

As Nashville’s first million-dollar hotel, expect nothing short of the royal treatment at The Hermitage. Apart from the hotel’s decadent lobby, the ground floor men’s restroom makes the biggest impression on guests. The Art Deco space features leaded-glass black and green tiled walls reminiscent of the 1930s, authentic terrazzo floors, an old-fashioned phone that connects to the front desk, and a shoeshine station. <

The glass igloos at Finland’s Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort are transparent, so you can literally use the Aurora Borealis as your night light. The newest igloo additions feature a private sauna, fireplace, kitchenette, and their signature glass roof made from the Lapland region’s Kelo pinewood. Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights or staying up with the Midnight Sun, these lodgings have you covered in more ways than one.

A steep, winding road leads to Kura Design Villas, a five-star boutique hotel with eight luxury suites. Known for its sustainability, Kura is plastic-free, has an on-site greenhouse, and uses LED lighting at night. It also has solar panels—which provide nearly 100% of the resort’s power—baked into the infinity pool design. The 60-foot-long saltwater pool offers views of the Osa Peninsula rainforest and the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park.

Opened in 1932, the five-star La Mamounia is a beauty from every angle, especially the spa, which features an indoor pool, vaulted ceilings, Moroccan tile work, hanging metal lanterns, and white horseshoe arches. You’ll find the same attention to detail throughout the 27,000-square-foot property. Suites are adorned with a curated selection of Moroccan art, furnishings, and colorful fabrics.

Combating the sensory overwhelm of Manhattan, MADE expertly incorporates warm wood elements throughout its design—think accents like chairs, bar stools, tables, walls, and ceiling fixtures. Good Behaviour, MADE’s 18th-floor tiki-inspired lounge, adds to that theme with exposed wood on the walls and ceiling and mixed in with lots of planted greenery.

It’s hard to pigeonhole Palihouse into any category, design or otherwise, and that’s all part of its charm. Built inside a historic Spanish Colonial building, it’s part Old Hollywood glam and part modern luxury. There’s a range of design accents throughout the hip space, from Spanish tiles and a stone fireplace to original blown-glass doors and wood-beam ceilings. Rooms are antique-chic, with antlers over the bed, industrial lighting, and nature-inspired wallpaper.

Operating as a separate resort next to the original Sandals Barbados, the “royal” addition has gone all out on its suite design. The Butler Suites are the pinnacle of luxury, with direct access to a private plunge pool, quartz vanities with backlit mirrors, flooring made of natural stone and added pebble accents, and tranquility soaking tubs for two. On the off chance you choose to leave your suite, the beach is literally steps away.

Storm-watching is big in Tofino, and there’s no better place to sit back and watch it all unfold than The Wickaninnish Inn. The resort boasts a woodsy aesthetic that blends well with the scenery—you’ll see a bald eagle or two if you’re lucky. Rooms have large windows overlooking the sea, fireplaces, soaker tubs, and heated bathroom floors. There are even binoculars in the rooms, should you prefer a sheltered storm view.