Crank up the romance dial to ten with a trip to The Lombok Lodge, where guests staying in one of the hotel’s private villas are treated to panoramic views of the azure blue Medana Bay, Hermés bath products, private decks with plump sofas and highly-attentive staff. Cool off in the pool, take a private yoga class or head to Frangipani Spa for a Balinese massage. By night, the poolside becomes the candlelit setting for dinner, which is an elaborate, five-course affair. No need to set the alarm, breakfast is served whenever you feel like it.

Set within the UNESCO-protected city of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy, Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita oozes old-world charm. In keeping with their Stone Age origins, the former cave dwellings – which overlook the scene-stealing Gravina Canyon – are void of TVs, wi-fi, rugs and plastics. In their place, you’ll find open fires next to freestanding bathtubs, lit by plenty of candles and lanterns (did someone say romance?). In-room massages, cooking lessons and private dinners in what once was a 13th century rupestrian church are also available.

Stroll hand-in-hand through the ancient streets of Santanyí, Majorca, and then return to the minimalist haven that is Can Ferrereta. What was once a 17th-century townhouse has since been transformed into a sleek boutique hotel, with rooms furnished in neutral linens and dark, hardwood floors, an indulgent spa with all-natural products and artworks dotted throughout by celebrated Catalan artists, such as Jaume Plensa. The real drawcard however is the 25-metre outdoor saltwater pool; a whisper-quiet Mediterranean paradise.

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Where the cobalt blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand meets the luscious green rainforest of Koh Samui, you’ll find Six Senses Samui, a luxe retreat with a rustic feel. Budget breakers can opt for a villa with a private pool and sun deck but the entry-level Hideaway Villa will more than suffice, with its king-size bed and secluded location among lush rainforest. The resort is also home to arguably the best restaurant on the island; Dining on the Rocks. For extra brownie points, book Table 99 in advance – it comes with its own private terrace. 

It’s Greece, but not as you know it. Grand Forest Metsovo sits amongst the expansive wilderness of the Pindus mountain range in the country’s north. In winter, you’ll be greeted with snow-capped peaks and open fires, while summer brings pine-scented warmth and cooling dips in the outdoor infinity pool. Whether you’re in your suite, eating handmade truffle-infused gnocchi in the restaurant or floating on your back in the glass-surrounded hydrotherapy pool, the great outdoors beckons from every window. 

Get swept away in a real life fairytale at Raas Devigarh, a hilltop palace boasting a labyrinth of secret gardens, passageways and turrets. In fact, there are so many hidden layers to this boutique hotel, staff are on-hand to provide a guided tour. While the hotel, around 25 kilometres from the hustle and bustle of Udaipur, Rajasthan, is a glorious riot of golds and greens on the outside, inside it’s a different story; it’s all soothing neutrals and sunken tubs with one heck of a view. 

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From the cerulean blue parasols beside the outdoor pool to the towering cypress trees that punctuate the perimeter of this luxury boutique hotel, it is clear that every tile, every tropical plant, has been chosen with intent. Former artist estate Villa Bokéh is set amid two-and-a-half hectares acres of lush, established gardens and each of the hotel’s 15 individually-decorated rooms are adorned with local artworks, in a nod to the building’s former custodian. Elsewhere, there is a lake to explore, a spa to enjoy and a delightfully soft poolside daybed to sink into.

Nestled neatly between the lush Mayan jungle and Lake Bacalar, your A-frame tent awaits. But don’t get too comfortable (no easy feat, with king-sized beds, waffle robes and fluffy towels), because at Habitas Bacalar, there’s an abundance of complimentary activities to enjoy including sunrise paddleboarding, yoga, yoga on your paddleboard, aerial yoga, sound baths and guided meditations. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy traditional Mayan cuisine (sourced from local ingredients) or work out any sore muscles at the spa, where products using ingredients such as cacao, honey, rosemary and ginger are sourced from local communities.

Salmon pink walls, towering palm trees and intricately-patterned tile work: this is Cali by way of Morocco. Sands Hotel and Spa, in the Coachella Valley city of Indian Wells, boasts the type of retro appeal you’ll spend your stay talking about trying to recreate at home. In keeping with its hedonistic location, there are firepits, free standing tubs (the Junior Suite even has one on the private patio for alfresco bathing), an outdoor pool and a spa offering treatments with a Moroccan influence.

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Indulgence is the name of the game at Empire Retreat and Spa, where pastimes include kicking back and sampling the product of the five-hectare vineyard or enjoying one of the spa’s signature couples’ massages. Set to a soundtrack of kookaburra cackles and running water, this adults-only Margaret River enclave promises privacy, pampering (the Opulence spa treatment is two hours long) and the opportunity to reconnect.

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