Franschhoek, meaning “French corner,” is an oddity in Dutch-settled South Africa — a village founded by Huguenots during the seventeenth century, and a place that retains its Provençal character to this day. The surrounding area is part of the South African wine country, and the nearby vineyards still bear French names, as well as a quaint array of antique shops and museums.

Here, just 45 minutes from Cape Town, is a strange blend of two hemispheres, the stunning landscapes of the Western Cape set against the distinctly Provençal facade. Bedrooms are spacious, even sprawling, dressed in rich colors and hand-painted fabrics, eschewing any African references in favor of an updated and simplified French auberge look. The courtyard pool is the centerpiece in the summer, and in winter, guests can be found tucked in around their wood-burning fireplaces.

It’s no surprise that food and drink are the focus of Le Quartier Francais; the restaurant serves Cape cuisine, a rather unique fusion of French, Malay, and traditional South African traditions. The wine is, of course, another attraction, with a number of the region’s finest labels on hand. The contrast of French auberge style with South Africa’s towering granite peaks is a pleasant one — just don’t be surprised if you can’t remember which hemisphere you are in.

How to get there:
Le Quartier Francais is approximately a 50 minute drive from Cape Town International Airport.

It’s a medieval Irish castle relocated to the heart of Dublin and re-imagined for the boom years. The Fitzwilliam is Terence Conran’s big Irish hotel design statement, and it’s not a quiet one. This hundred-odd-room palace lords over the west side of St. Stephen’s Green, complete with park views from the terrace, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a second casual-chic Conran-designed eatery — and it’s about as central as it gets, around the corner from the shops on Grafton Street and walking distance from more nightlife than any one person can handle.

Sir Terence’s ultra-clean modern style is in evidence all over this place, so much so that the frilly script F above the bed feels almost garish, surrounded as it is by expanses of cream and grey. Anyone who can get luxury-hotel guests to move forward out of the Belle Epoque and into something more contemporary deserves a knighthood in our book — here the Fitzwilliam’s clientele of Irish celebs and Celtic-tiger entrepreneurs sleep in stylish minimalist peace.

Views, naturally, get better as you go up, and the penthouse, designed by the very hip London interiors firm Project Orange, is the ultimate in bachelor-pad excess, with a grand piano and massive egg-shaped tub to go with its privileged position overlooking the Green.

To be perfectly frank, it sounds more than a little bit insane. Then again, that’s probably exactly what one ancient Egyptian said to another on the topic of that new development at Giza. The Palace of the Lost City is part Vegas, part Orlando, part eighth wonder of the world, a resort on the site of a mythical lost empire — and, not coincidentally, also on the site of Sun City, South Africa’s designated leisure and entertainment district.

It’s not just the casinos and live shows that link Sun City with Las Vegas. Both are best approached uncritically — it’s not their impeccable good taste that attracts millions of visitors, but rather the sense of spectacle, of over-the-top entertainment. On that score the Palace certainly qualifies. The public spaces are resplendent in a sort of classically-influenced lost-world African-empire style — think ancient Greece with palm fronds, or a bizarro-world African Versailles with a pervasive elephant motif.

The rooms and suites, by and large, dial down the volume on the theme — they’re still heavily styled, but many have striking lake or valley views. It’s classic resort-hotel living, with no sensual pleasure denied, whether in the standard rooms or the most lavish suites. And in addition to the multitude of dining and entertainment options, the Palace is positioned to make the most of Sun City’s other charms — not only is it a golfer’s paradise, featuring a wickedly difficult Gary Player course (complete with Nile crocodiles), but it’s an ideal jumping-off point for a safari in Pilanesberg National Park.

It doesn’t get much grander than a 19th-century palace hotel in Europe’s banking capital. Baur au Lac, a Zurich institution since 1844, played host to pretty much anyone who was anyone, from royalty and heads of state to artists and Alfred Nobel. It’s kept itself in fine shape, and its antique-strewn opulence is a chastening reminder that today’s design hotels might not age quite so gracefully.

That’s not to say time here has stood still. Today, following a massive renovation, there’s a rooftop fitness center with an extraordinary view of the lake, and the bedrooms come with business-traveling musts like wireless internet and technology butlers. The suites are bigger than ever, and all rooms come equipped with such high-tech necessities as flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stereos. But it hasn’t lost touch with its roots, and many of Baur au Lac’s greatest charms are timeless and low-tech: shoes are collected and shined while you sleep, and the hotel’s private garage will not just store your vehicle but clean it, refuel it, even fix it if need be.

This is the kind of hotel that becomes a hub for its city’s social life. The restaurant has seen a thorough redesign at the hands of Pierre-Yves Rochon, and many a deal has no doubt been made over tea or aperitifs in Le Hall; meanwhile Club Diagonal is the sort of contemporary and relevant VIP-catering nightclub that’s a real rarity in an old-world grand hotel.

When we talk about economic development we’re normally talking about South America or sub-Saharan Africa. But how about Sicily? In just a couple generations they’ve gone from barely surviving to downright thriving — and among the evidence you’ll find a number of fine hotels, not least of which is Parco Cavalonga, near Ragusa, on the island’s far southern end.

The park in question is a valley whose gentle slopes are covered with the traditional olive trees and low scrubby Sicilian brush. The setting provides a feeling of isolation that’s quite beyond anything you’ll find in more typical Italian environs. And Parco Cavalonga is practically a self-contained village — the Relais Parco Cavalonga contains fifteen stylish hotel rooms, and the eight Residences allow for quite a bit more spreading out.

So it’s a choice between a cozy little inn with stylish, subtly contemporary rooms, or a rather more luxurious spell in one of the freestanding houses — to call them cottages, as Parco Cavalonga does, is a bit of an understatement. There’s one infinity pool for the Relais and another for the Residences, and either one is a fine place to spend part of a sunny afternoon; it’s a long way indeed from the Sicily of a few decades ago.

There’s something soothing even about the name. And while the Park Hotel Amsterdam is no relation to any of the other Park hotels you might have in mind, it’s a name that suits this understated, effortless, modern luxury hotel. The décor is vibrant and crisp, though never flashy, and the experience radiates refinement without ever feeling forced.

Rooms are spacious and well-appointed rooms, decorated in a muted palette of blacks and grays. Furniture becomes more eclectic as the price and scale of the rooms increases, from the lime green chairs of the superior rooms to the patterned sofas of the split-level loft suite. Each room, however, features a zoned-mattress personalized sleep system and an interactive lighting design for guests to explore — they’re thoughtful touches, geared towards the comforts that count. Without sacrificing privacy, the bathrooms’ lack of interior walls creates a sense of openness and peace. And the views, especially from the larger suites, are panoramic postcards of central Amsterdam.

A 24-hour fitness center is sleek and well-equipped, and the front desk is more than happy to book you a cruise down the canal or help plan a night out. For those who prefer a night in, MOMO restaurant serves up Asian fusion, while its triangular bar, buffed to a reflective sheen, provides a worthy home for the hotel’s signature cocktails. Located along a prime stretch of the Singelgracht canal in the bustling city center, next to the Van Gogh Museum and across from Vondel Park, the hotel effortlessly serves as a nexus of culture and commerce — if for some reason you’re fashion-phobic, avoiding a brand-name assault from the shops in this neighborhood can be something of a challenge.

Its sister hotels in Montreal and Toronto are no less sleek, no less luxe — but when it comes time to measure them against their in-town competition, it’s the Hôtel Le Germain Calgary that comes out ahead. Calgary’s long since outgrown its cowboy phase, but it’d be a stretch to call it a cultural capital; this is what makes the stylish and urbane Le Germain so impressive.

The location, along 9th Avenue, could hardly be more central, which helps — this means business and leisure travelers alike have no geographic reason to look elsewhere. And why should they? You’d have to be allergic to both contemporary design and modern boutique hospitality to consider giving this one a miss. (A rare condition, thankfully.)

It’s a new build, and a striking one at that, not just outside but inside as well. The common areas are chic, creatively lit and decked out in rich materials like mosaic tile and volcanic rock. The rooms are a bit more sedate, exuding a low-key residential air, with slightly risqué open-plan baths. The hotel’s environmental measures are manifold, which include little things like low-flow toilets and energy-efficient lights but also bigger interventions, such as the geothermic system whose deep wells heat the hotel’s water supply (and the radiant floors).

Atop it all stands the spa complex, with far-ranging views from its well-equipped fitness center. There’s one very distinct nod to Calgary’s ranching heritage in the form of the Charcut Roast House, and the lobby lounge is fast becoming one of the city’s preferred central meeting points.

The luxury market in Bhutan’s capital is not a crowded space — if you’re in town looking to maximize your Gross Personal Happiness, there’s really no place quite like the Taj Tashi Thimphu. Consider it a reward for trekking through the mountains, or for simply getting through the country’s stringent visa process. The Taj group is known for planting its properties squarely at the intersection of local and decadent, and this one is no exception.

The hotel, whose dzong architecture lends it a fortresslike aspect, is situated in the middle of the capital city, ringed by the Himalayas. Bhutan pine and Thai silks cover the floors; detailed Buddhist murals cover the walls. While guests can certainly opt for eggs and other Western specialties, they’re missing a chance at some fine Burmese food, including the chili-and-cheese stew known as ema datshi. Traditional dancers perform each night in the courtyard. And out back is an enormous hand-etched prayer wheel, containing, according to some, a billion mantras.

As for decadence, consider this: a pillow menu, ranging from the typical to an herb-filled concoction meant to stimulate meditation; heated floors and standalone tubs in the bathrooms; canopy beds and balconies and divans positioned so that you can recline with views only of treetops and swirling clouds; and nightly treats helping ensure sweet dreams. And then there’s the spa. Some of its signature treatments involve an invigorating massage, followed by a relaxing poultice; others feature intricate bathing rituals developed to prepare royalty for their wedding day.

From a Western perspective the Mandarin Oriental hotels are largely an urban phenomenon — in most of the world’s major cities, among the top three or four luxury hotels is invariably a towering modern Mandarin. For their first hotel in the People’s Republic of China, however, the Mandarin group has gone off-script. Sanya, you may have gathered, is a town on the coast of Hainan island, and this particular Mandarin Oriental makes the most of its setting, with a low-slung villa-resort profile — albeit one that’s both finished and serviced in typically impeccable Mandarin style.

The location really is rather stunning, occupying some thirty acres of lush beachfront land. Hainan’s extreme southerliness offers some clues as to the nature of the landscape, as you’re much closer to Vietnam than somewhere like Macau. The accommodations are woven into the landscape amid the palms — the rooms and suites in low buildings with balconies, the villas and pavilions in freestanding stone buildings along the beach or perched on the hillside.

Interiors are somewhat rustic in aspect, a fitting departure from the Mandarin group’s typically urban style, but they’re as crisp and clean as any, and outfitted with everything you’d expect from a brand-new luxury hotel. The leisure offerings, as well, are expanded, to suit Sanya’s purpose as a tropical island getaway; the Spa Village is a large and secluded complex, where it’s easy (and pleasant) to get lost amid wooden pavilions and endless pools. It’s not your typical MO, but it’s none the worse for that fact — at this very moment any number of Pacific Rim executives are no doubt arranging a bit of business on Hainan.

How to get there:
Mandarin Oriental Sanya is approxinately 25 minutes from Sanya International Phoenix Airport by taxi or car. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

The Algarve region of southern Portugal is a leisure-seeker’s paradise. In addition to the beaches that stretch for miles along the Atlantic coastline, Algarve’s biggest attractions are birdwatching (it’s a massive rallying point on the migration route) and golf. Some of the region’s best courses can be found near the city of Tavira, home to the newly renovated 16th-century convent turned boutique hotel, Pousada Convento da Graca.

The building represents the fertile mixture of architectural styles that has characterized the city over the centuries, a yellow Baroque façade giving way to the arches of a Renaissance courtyard. In an ideal world, every hotel that attempted to acknowledge historical influences would do so with the grace of Convento da Graca. A particularly inspired touch: partially excavated ruins from the site’s Islamic period are visible from the hotel’s bar.

The thirty-six guest rooms are uncluttered and spacious. Deep red floorboards are accented by vibrant throw rugs and bedspreads. Thematically, the furniture is a bit harder to pin down, as it ranges from classically comfortable to modernist, with paisley patterned chairs sitting alongside chaise lounges. Some rooms feature balconies, and the superior suite boasts a private garden and terrace.

At the restaurant, it’s less about what — though the selection of local fish and lamb is sufficiently mouth-watering — than where, as it’s possible to eat in the sumptuous dining room or outside beneath the arches of the cloisters. Aquatically inclined parents, rejoice: the main pool is for adults-only relaxation, with a smaller pool alongside for kids who want to splash around.