25 Heavenly hotels

Claire Coleman uncovers the most entrancing places
to stay

1. Babington House
Somerset, UK
The country outpost created by Nick Jones (of Soho House) was arguably the first urban country hotel. Media types and celebrities come in couples, or with their brood, to hang-out in a sophisticated London-in-the-country, anything-goes atmosphere.

2. Burj Al Arab
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (left)
Acknowledged as the best hotel in the world, this towering edifice takes pampering to new levels; from the chauffeur-driven Rolls that meets you at the airport, to your own personal butler to run your jacuzzi bath.

3. Carlisle Bay
St Mary’s, Antigua
Modern design and technology, mixed with the island’s natural beauty and a hint of its colonial past, make this beachfront base, with private cinema and funky library, a cut above. Think Sandy Lane in setting, but chic and understated in style.

4. Copacabana Palace Hotel
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Despite being located in one of Rio’s less salubrious areas, the Copa’s Old World glamour has been hosting A-listers since 1923. Sir Mick and the Stones set up camp here when they played their record-breaking beach gig earlier this year.

5. Duomo Hotel
Rimini, Italy
With Rimini touted as the new Ibiza, the smart party set will undoubtedly be flocking to this recently opened design hotel. DJs are flown in from around the world, so expect to encounter discerning clubbers with class.

6. Hotel Puerta America
Madrid, Spain
The ultimate design hotel—or 12 in one. Each floor was handed to a big name designer. And with names from Sir Norman Foster to Ron Arad and Zaha Hadid, the difficult part is choosing which floor to book. With touches such as a corridor made from steel shapes, it’s a modernist’s fantasy.

7. Hotel Arts
Barcelona, Spain
The iconic metal goldfish sculpture is more attractive than the glass and steel skyscraper that houses Barcelona’s most stylish hotel. But impeccable service and wonderful bathrooms—stuffed full of Acqua di Parma goodies—keep fans coming back.

8. Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc
Cap D’Antibes, France
This is glamour old-school-style with the sort of filmic Riviera chic that the French do so well. It’s imbued with the spirit of Hayworth, Hemingway and Dietrich, all of whom have graced the guest register over the years.

9. Hotel Rodina
Sochi, Russia
This brand new Stein Group hotel is bound to attract the same calibre of clientele as its existing properties. Fans of relaxed elegance are bound to warm to the mod cons, which include a private cinema and a cigar room.

10. Karma Samui
Koh Samui, Thailand
One can imagine the chummy Primrose Hillbillies holidaying at this brand new 36-villa resort in Koh Samui. Each has a private pool and comes with the option of a private chef if the open air beach restaurant doesn’t appeal.

11. Le Prince Maurice
Mauritius
This all-suite hotel keeps the likes of Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas happy with a stunning floating restaurant, breathtaking infinity pool and almost embarrassingly obsequious staff who really can’t do enough for you.

12. Oberoi Udaivilas
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
With A Banyan Tree Spa, suites with private infinity pools and a recent accolade as Conde Nast Traveller’s Best Hotel in the World for Service, who can blame Bill Clinton and Jade Jagger for stopping off here?

13. Palace Hotel
Gstaad, Switzerland
This grande dame of the slopes has an enduring appeal that continues to delight contemporary industry and entertainment big cheeses as much as the society girls whose daddies were international playboys here in the 1960s.

14. Palazzo Versace
Gold Coast, Australia
Equally reputed for its unparalleled breakfast buffet as its patchy service, fans of Donatella and her opulent Footballers’ Wives style, not to mention former I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here contestants, flock to this OTT temple to gold-plated consumerism.

15. Prestonfield
Edinburgh, UK
With an interior design that is part Louis XV and part Bet Lynch, this opulent boudoir-style hangout exploded onto the scene by hosting a star-studded dinner for the 2003 MTV awards and has continued to attract the glitterati ever since.

16. Riad El Fenn
Marrakech, Morocco
Owned by Vanessa (sister of Richard) Branson, this six-suite townhouse and artistic retreat is moments from the noise and heat of the bustling souk, but its peaceful rooftop terrace, tranquil pools and hammam seem a world away.

17. Soho Grand Hotel
New York, USA
From the black and white photos in the hallways to the king size coffee cup in your bedroom, this is the quintessential NY hotel. Quirky touches, such as your own pet goldfish, keep the style-savvy coming.

18. St David’s Hotel & Spa
Cardiff, UK
Leading the vanguard of cool in Cardiff, the bar of this huge edifice overlooking the bay is where home-grown hipsters like Gavin Henson and Charlotte Church rub shoulders with international imports such as Robbie Williams and singer, Pink. Complete with swim-through hydro-therapy pools, the spa is something else.

19. The G
Galway, Ireland
Designed by milliner Philip Treacey, this unashamedly opulent—and occasionally camp—hotel overlooking Lough Italia isn’t a place for minimalists, but since opening last year it has garnered a host of awards.

20. The Gansevoort
New York, USA
In the heart of the hip Meatpacking district, the 45-ft rooftop pool and bar vies with Soho House’s as the most stylish locale for a mid-summer cooldown. Expect big rooms, comfy beds and top-class service.

21. The Mondrian
Los Angeles, USA
An Ian Schrager-Philippe Starck collaboration, where almost everyone you meet is, in true Hollywood-style, “shooting something” or “working on a treatment”.  Lounge on a mattress by the pool, while painfully thin waitresses ply you with apple martinis.

22. The Setai
Miami, USA
This is a serene oasis of Oriental style in the heart of bustling South Beach. Rooms boast bathtubs at the end of the bed for indulgent in-room spa treatments, while the see and be seen pool is a must for Miami A-listers.

23. Twelve Apostles
Hotel & Spa
Cape Town, South Africa
In such a geographically perfect area, it would be a shame if this ideally-placed hotel let the side down. Luckily it doesn’t, with celebrities and critics all paying homage to superb service, great food and design-led interiors.

24. Whatley Manor
Malmesbury, Wiltshire, UK
Universally acclaimed for its outstanding service, this super-comfortable modern country house hotel is less of a party palace and more of a retreat for stressed-out executives and paparazzi-shy stars seeking to temporarily escape the rat race.

25. Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, USA
In the capital city of OTT, this place takes some beating. It’s not themed, but with five waterfalls, including one inside the nightclub, who needs a theme? High rollers Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman have already been spotted here.