Best for: that unbeatable ‘wow’ factor

Phulay Bay means “where the mountain meets the sea,” and the lush 30-acre property is sandwiched between two national parks at the edge of Phang Nga Bay, where limestone karsts rise out of the Andaman Sea. Home to the famed Phi Phi islands, this part of Thailand is well loved for its tropical beaches and turquoise water.

Each of the 54 villas and pavilions has been built at an enormous scale. A Royal Beach Villa may have around 5,000 square feet of combined indoor-outdoor space. The bed is the widest I’ve ever seen—at an absurd 13 feet across, it’s akin to the width of two side-by-side kings—and private pools are large enough to do laps. It feels like you’ve woken up in a fairy tale and you’re sleeping in the giant’s quarters. The only risk here is being late for your massage appointment or a one-on-one session with their in-house wellness guru, Master Aniket.

This type of serene, unspoiled setting, combined with over-the-top luxury (like bathrooms akin to personal hammams), and warm, dedicated service from a butler who will remember your favorite snacks, defines the Reserves. Fittingly enough, Phulay Bay was the first member of the portfolio and remains the standard bearer for the brand. From $1,007.

Best for: a gourmet getaway

With its own temple set among rice terraces, Mandapa is a Bali dream writ large in the dense jungle of Ubud. Its 60 suites and villas are filled with traditional ikat (dyed textiles), and everything is classical Balinese, from the architecture and materials—thatched peak roofs and dark teak wood—to the focus on outdoor space.

Mandapa takes on the feel of a sacred site, though one that’s designed to allow you to indulge. The spa is made up of a collection of treatment villas where guests can choose among multiple robes and sarongs. The sound of the river rushing through the property provides a tranquil and therapeutic backdrop. 

Eating well is how I often prefer to indulge. Here, it started every day with breakfast—served all day—and a plate of nasi goreng, paired with fresh tropical fruits and strong Balinese coffee. Dinner is a seven- or nine-course set menu at Kubu, where European fine-dining techniques are meshed with local ingredients and flavors. Sawah Terrace explores Indonesian and Balinese culinary heritage, with all the spicy sambal and dips you’re craving. Hilltop Ambar is the spot for a cocktail, preferably a coconut-aged Negroni—where the beverage is matured in an actual coconut, as opposed to a small barrel—enjoyed with a sensational view of the tranquil rice paddies below. From $1,320.

Best for: an elegant weekender

Here’s the move. You pop down to Puerto Rico with a direct flight to San Juan, check into Dorado Beach for a couple of nights, and proceed to live like a Rockefeller. Literally. Laurance Rockefeller acquired the 1,700-acre property in the 1950s and set about establishing what we now refer to as an eco-resort, a unique concept for the time.

There’s an unmistakable post-war, gilded glamour to the place, though the property has been brought up to modern specs, too, with the latest in creature comforts ranging from lavish bathrooms with indoor-outdoor showers and soaking tubs, and a signature property-wide scent of lemongrass and ginger. Sustainability efforts have always been core to the hotel, including LEED Silver Certification and the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program, which offers hands-on educational and conservation experiences designed to foster an awareness of and appreciation for its precious ecosystem.

There are pristine sandy beaches and nature trails galore, and a revered, century-old ficus tree in front of Spa Botánico. Guests receive their own cruising bikes to explore as they please, following weaving paths that connect each of the hotel’s 11 low-slung buildings that seem to blend into the idyllic tropical mangroves and palms. From $1,095.

Best for: a spectacular setting for cultural exploration

Talk about an entrance: Your trip to Nujuma in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea starts with a brisk, 27-minute seaplane flight over impossibly bright blue water to a set of private islets. This is a Maldivian type of escape, with overwater villas set atop myriad hues of aqua and turquoise. Yes, in Saudi Arabia.

Wooden boardwalks and bike paths connect its 82 villas and other areas of the resort. Those cerulean seas aren’t just for show. The 14-mile Al Jadir outer reef—the fourth-largest barrier reef in the world—is a short speedboat ride away; thick walls of coral offer channels to swim, dive, and snorkel for an almost cave-like experience.

Cultural exploration is central to the property: Nujuma’s Conservation House offers a range of classes and conversations, including chats with Ohoud Mosuyly, the hotel’s full-time culture and heritage experience manager. A nighttime astronomy session delivers a bedouin interpretation of the stars in some of the clearest starry skies I’ve seen. Nujuma means “your stars,” so being welcomed to Nujuma is akin to being welcomed to the celestial skies themselves. From $2,250.

Best for: adventure and family fun

Nekajui doesn’t just offer a loaded range of activities—it’s seemingly designed with jungle adventures in mind. Guests go from room to room across a suspended walking bridge in the treetops, and a steep funicular leads down to the beach. A taste of adventure on your way to the multi-tiered, thermal water–fed infinity pool, perhaps? There are even three treetop tents: safari-style lodging with private pools, outdoors showers, and expedition furniture.

That’s just where the fun begins. Via dedicated excursion operator Papagayo Explorers, there’s an adrenaline-soaked activity for every member of the family, while the separate Camp Nekajui program caters to children ages four to 12.

Sign up for the Aerial Park, a few minutes away within the Peninsula Papagayo complex, with several rope courses and half a dozen ziplines. There’s also UTV off-roading, kayaking, mountain biking, and archery. That said, if the parents want to let the kids go off exploring while they unwind at the Nimbu Spa, home to the largest hydrotherapy pool in the region, that doesn’t sound too shabby, either. From $1,525.

Best for: seclusion in nature

Rissai Valley is where you go when you want to escape it all. Put the cellphone down, close the laptop, and soak up the renowned beauty of Jiuzhai Valley National Park, a 180,000-acre nature reserve. The 87-villa Reserve is situated in a prime vantage point to appreciate the scene, and there’s perhaps no better place to do than your spa-grade bathroom. A sunken gray stone soaking tub large enough to lie across sits in front of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Dragon spruce trees fill the landscape among crystalline lakes, deep valleys, and soaring 15,000-foot mountains in the near distance. Guests are encouraged to explore the outdoors, whether it’s a scenic stroll to admire flowers in bloom or a more arduous full-day hike. The fresh mountain air will do wonders for whatever ails you, as will the fortifying menu that changes with the seasons. From $1,475.

Best for: treating yourself to wellness

At Zadún, R&R and wellness comes to the forefront, thanks to Spa Alkemia—a 30,000-square-foot wellness center where you could easily spend a full day, then sign up to come back the next morning.

At the heart of the spa is a massive hydrotherapy pool, with multiple stations to soothe those aches and pains, along with sauna and steam rooms, a lounge and relaxation areas. In addition to Mayan wellness rituals, the standout offering is what’s known as a Savasana room. It’s one of the few of its kind in the world, taking the idea of a sound bath—trippy enough on its own, for those who have had the pleasure of trying it—to the extreme, in a room purpose-built to deliver a sensory experience unlike any other. The actual floors vibrate you into out-of-body, meditative bliss.

Each guest at Zadún is catered to by a personal concierge who’s always a text message away. They’re known here as tosoani, which translates to “dream watcher” in the Indigenous Nahuatl language. That’s just the type of person you want to have your back during a luxury getaway, isn’t it? From $999.

Best for: a romantic retreat

Higashiyama Niseko Village makes Hokkaido’s beauty the star of the show. Mount Yotei—a known lookalike for Mount Fuji—lurks out the windows of the Reserve’s 50 rooms, with unobstructed views thanks to a location on an otherwise unused portion of the swarming Niseko Village ski area.

Onsen life is a major portion of the stay here, and in the winter, drifts of pristine fresh snow rest beside the hot waters, mist wafting in the air. It’s ideal for cozying up with someone special and letting the rest of the world melt away. Maybe you hit the slopes for Niseko’s famed powder—and make use of the property’s ski-in/ski-out access—or maybe you put on your robe and the “do not disturb” sign and spend the day using your in-room, deep-set stone soaking tub.

When you’re ready to brave the world, head as far as the lobby. Sit by the fireside with a cocktail or a glass of wine to whet the appetite before dinner at Sushi Nagi, the seven-person sushi counter hidden within the larger Yukibana restaurant. Hokkaido’s seafood is on full display during an omakase masterclass. From $602.