On Location
Video tours of the world's most exceptional properties
WOHA's 2009 landmark on a clifftop plateau along the Bukit Peninsula's southern coast: 65 pool villas in local limestone and recycled ulin wood, kept so well it still reads as contemporary. A horizon pool facing the Indian Ocean, the Sunset Cabana Bar cantilevered over the cliff edge, CIRE and The Warung — and a beach some six hundred steps below, with no lift.
Bulgari's first resort in Asia, on a limestone clifftop above a private cove at the southern tip of the Bukit Peninsula. Walled pool villas by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, an inclinator down to the beach, the Serpenti Pool Club and Il Ristorante – Niko Romito — and service that never slipped, even with the resort full during our stay.
Just 32 butler-attended pool villas across 23 hillside hectares above Jimbaran Bay — the most spacious Raffles in the world, and the quietest of Bali's great addresses. A private beach, the Raffles Spa, and service we count among the best we have found anywhere.
A green sanctuary in Sindhorn Village on Langsuan, beside Lumpini Park. A dramatic sweep of board-formed concrete holds 274 rooms and suites, the Resense spa and a 25-metre cantilevered infinity sky-pool — central Bangkok at the pace of a resort.
An 18th-century palace commissioned by Louis XV on Place de la Concorde, reborn under Rosewood in 2017 after a four-year restoration. Marble, gilt and grand salons, a light-filled pool and a Michelin-starred table — the most quintessentially Parisian address in the city.
A Belle Époque palace in Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art, between the Prado Museum and Retiro Park. Gilles & Boissier interiors, a 14-metre indoor pool and Deessa — Quique Dacosta's two-Michelin-star table — make it one of the city's most iconic stays.
Screened by mature gardens on Paseo de la Castellana, in the Salamanca district. Interiors read as a contemporary Madrid home, with Amós by Michelin-starred chef Jesús Sánchez and Sense, A Rosewood Spa — luxury that never raises its voice.
Philippe Starck reimagined a historic 1920s building on Gran Vía. Warm woods, leather and ceramics run through only 57 rooms and suites, joined by a spa and an indoor pool 20 metres long — intimate and unhurried for one of Madrid's busiest avenues.
A restored 19th-century villa in a quiet corner of San Sebastián, a short walk from Zurriola Beach and close to the Old Town. With only 25 rooms — period detail in the original house, lighter style in the former stables — it feels like a private residence.
Steps from Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gràcia, surrounded by designer boutiques. A 12-metre indoor pool, a terrace and Patricia Urquiola's design throughout — exceptionally central, and calm the moment the doors close.
LVMH's Parisian maison overlooking the Seine and the Pont Neuf at La Samaritaine. Home to the Dior Spa, a serene indoor pool, and Plénitude — Arnaud Donckele's three-Michelin-star table — it is among the most refined luxury stays in Paris.
A discreet five-star retreat moments from the Palais-Royal gardens and the Louvre. Understated Parisian elegance, warm and personal service, and a coveted first-arrondissement address make this one of the city's most charming boutique stays.
Timeless elegance on Sathorn Road. Impeccable service, refined interiors, and a world-class spa create an iconic luxury experience in the heart of Bangkok.
Bangkok's most sophisticated urban sanctuary. Ultra-modern design meets discreet luxury with panoramic skyline views, elevated dining, and serene wellness spaces above Ploenchit.
A riverside sanctuary where Thai heritage meets contemporary luxury. Lush tropical gardens, infinity pools overlooking the Chao Phraya, and serene spa experiences define this urban retreat.
Perched on a headland with panoramic Gulf views, this wellness-focused hideaway offers private pool villas, farm-to-table dining, and holistic spa journeys amid pristine nature.