The owners of this Caribbean confection on one of the Dominican Republic’s most dramatically beautiful beaches definitely had fun in the design process. Less a hotel and more a collection of eccentric, colonial-style houses, Playa Grande Beach Club is a favourite of high- profile, style-setting New Yorkers. It is pure escapism.

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To understand the Australian continent is to visit Uluru—the spiritual monolith that is now recognised as the beating heart of the country by indigenous and non-indigenous people alike. Longitude 131 is a series of tents with unparalleled views of the rock. Since Australia’s best hoteliers acquired the camp, it has rid itself from its Crocodile Dundee-ness and engaged beautifully with the Aboriginal stewards of the land, transforming not only the earthy aesthetic with exquisite art but also creating experiences that enrich guests’ understanding of the sacred ground.

Discover more at longitude131.com.au

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I love most of Firmdale’s hotels in London because interior designer Kit Kemp’s colourful English whimsy gels nicely with a stay in the city. I always choose The Soho Hotel, which is one of her originals. But to be honest, it is less about the design and more about the service, discretion and perfect location secreted down a laneway in frenetic Soho. It’s the ideal bolthole for an itinerary of shopping theatre-hopping and eating.

Discover more at firmdalehotels.com

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Mexico city is without question the most exciting city in the Americas from a food and art perspective, but it has always lacked a great small hotel. That is until this jewel came along. Each room at the Ignacia Guesthouse is like a velvet slipper in a different colour—vibrant, stylish and slightly indulgent. Rather like a moment in the city itself.

Discover more at ignacia.mx