COMO Parrot Cay is the northern Caribbean’s preeminent private island, wrapped in sweeps of sand and peaceful seas in the Turks and Caicos. It combines 1,000 unspoiled acres and a mile-long, powder-sand beach with relaxed luxury. The region’s best spa, the award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat, provides holistic, Asian-inspired therapies. Choose from 72 unique guest rooms, suites, villas, and beachside houses, all decorated with understated elegance. For absolute privacy, reserve a residence tucked away from the main resort. The island's two restaurants serve gourmet dishes, including organic, healthful COMO Shambhala cuisine.

With architecture reminiscent of a typical Andalusian village, the five-star La Bobadilla, a Royal Hideaway Hotel is striking. Just 67 spacious rooms, all with fine wood and marble and brick accents, house the fortunate guests who flock here for the natural beauty and the peace and quiet. The estate boasts its own Mediterranean chapel, flower-lined walkways, and a luxurious 1,200-square-meter pool surrounded by palms. The spa is sublime, with its olive oil treatments and Finnish and Turkish saunas. Come evening, dine in one of two restaurants: La Finca, for its creative cuisine, or El Cortijo, for its traditional Spanish offerings.

Fogo Island Inn sits on an island, off an island, at one of the four corners of the earth. Situated along Iceberg Alley, all 29 rooms feature floor-to-ceiling views of the North Atlantic Ocean. This is where locality is expressed when nature and culture come together through food, adventure, and community. The island has seven seasons, and its still-wild world has caribou to track, hills of berries to forage, nature trails to explore, and countless birds and marine species to behold. This award-winning inn is operated as a social business, and 100 percent of the operating surpluses are reinvested in the community.

Be part of the next century of Lake Como tradition and take in the stunning lake views at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. This art nouveau landmark, across from Bellagio peninsula, features 90 sumptuous accommodations and the aristocratic Villa Sola Cabiati – an 18th-century residence with six suites. Other delectable delights: five Italian restaurants for all gourmet palates, award-winning T Spa with its panoramic views, three pools (including one that floats on the lake), a private sandy beach, and romantic tours in the Venetian motor launches. Book a Rooftop Suite to enjoy a private terrace with Jacuzzi.

Remote and intriguing Easter Island is home to explora Rapa Nui, an unobtrusive residence built almost entirely from the island’s wood and volcanic rock. Your guest room is home base in this mystical land, and a massage salon and open-air Jacuzzis are readily available. Each day brings excursions, from easy to difficult, along with picnics on the shore or rocky outcroppings. These expert-led, small-group activities include exploring on foot, bicycle, or by boat. Explora programs take care of your experience from beginning to end. Included are all explorations, lodging, meals, drinks, and airport transportation on fixed schedules.

Hidden in a secluded giant tortoise reserve, nestled on the edge of an extinct volcanic crater, Pikaia Lodge provides the highest level of comfort and services and a fantastic alternative for exploring a “pristine paradise on Earth” in a truly sustainable yet luxurious, land-based stay. Pikaia is designed for the eco-adventure traveler, who seeks close contact with the incredible wildlife, stunning views, and natural beauty surrounding this UNESCO World Heritage site. Pikaia Lodge offers all-inclusive three- to seven-night packages, complemented by half- and full-day land and marine explorations aboard an exclusive private yacht.

Amantaka is a tranquil sanctuary within easy walking distance of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Each of the 24 suites features an airy living area with doors opening to the courtyard and a tree-shaded lounge or private swimming pool. Dine on Lao- and French-influenced cuisine in the dining room, enjoy drinks in the lounge bar, or take a casual meal on the pool terrace before visiting the town’s fabled night market. Spend days exploring Luang Prabang’s 32 beguiling temples or its many colorful boutiques, bakeries, and markets. Return to the resort’s intimate spa, sparkling pool, tennis center, gym, and yoga studio.

Situated in the heart of Bantry Bay (one of Cape Town’s most exclusive neighborhoods), Ellerman House, Member of Relais & Châteaux, is an elegant mansion just ten minutes away from the city center and within walking distance of Clifton and Camps Bay beaches. Whether you choose the luxurious atmosphere of Ellerman House or the modern-art-gallery style of its two three-bedroom villas, you will fall under the spell of an address that lets you relish all the pleasures of Cape Town. Enjoy dining on gourmet cuisine, tasting fine vintage wines, and surveying the impressive private art collection; plus, the ocean view is spectacular!

An otherworldly desert retreat, Amangiri is situated on 600 pristine acres in Canyon Point, Utah with sweeping views towards Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Located in the centre of the Grand Circle, the all-season resort, its landmark Aman Spa and its secluded camp known as Camp Sarika by Amangiri are surrounded by such iconic attractions as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Bryce and Zion National Parks. The region has been home for centuries to the native Navajo tribe and presents the raw landscape for which the American Southwest is famed.