1. warapuru, itacare, brazil
anoushka hempel meets brazilian rainforest meets virgin beaches. extraordinary, if purely for the design value. soon to open, sure to shock.
site
2. vamizi island, quirimbas archipelago, mozambique
mozambique? well, its a lesser known cousin to seychelles and mauritius, but its islands are equally gorgeous and even more virgin, and vamizi is perfect as a luxe-eco-exotic lodge.
site
3. villa dubrovnik, dubrovnik, croatia
a dramatic cliffside setting to the most exotic of all mediterranean destinations, with the turquoise waters of the adriatic below and the white minimalism of the sleek hotel above.
site
4. bedarra, great barrier reef, australia
another piece of minimalism washed ashore. i'm not complaining. especially if you're sipping a martini while sauntering in your plunge pool while gazing at a sunset over the pacific. the wood cabins in the forests by the beach is the best way to go back to nature without the heartache.
site
5. the datai, langkawi, malaysia
a local legend, and for good reason. asian neo-traditional design meets lush rainforest meets pristine beaches and usual cliches for exotic seaside paradisos, but with ghm flair.
site
6. amanwana, moyo island, indonesia
aman resorts at its seaside best? arguable, but that doesnt alter the fact that the place is amazing. tents with sleek interiors and service+location to match.
site
7. w retreat and spa, maldives
how do you even attempt being different in a place which has typified lagoon resorts? by funking it out. w brings in the jazz, retains the luxe and lets out the cliches. works for me.
site
8. parrot cay, turks and caicos
the carribean is a step further than maldives - its even tougher to be different in a place with such easy access to americans. yet parrot cay retains the historical aspect without being kitschy. the neo-colonial look is not exactly path breaking, but refreshing enough to be loved.
site
9. amphityron hotel, navplion, greece
the aegean beckons with a historic city as a backdrop and a modern hotel as the host. great design, awesome location. greek without the white plaster-blue dome route.
site
10. le sirenuse, positano, italy
positano in itself is a twistedly awesome place to stay - a hillside that tumbles down to the sea. before the water, on the slope, is an italian legend that looks like one, but has a refreshing design sensibility on the inside. and its luxe enough to write volumes on.
site
11. ada, bodrum, turkey
middle eastern mansion meets mediterranean seas. pure sexy.
site
12. hix island house, vieques, puerto rico
retrosexy, simply put. my kinda place.
site
13. katakies hotel, santorini, greece
if you have to go the white-blue-greek island line, then this one's like no other. stands out because its so well standing in.
site
14. rayavadee, krabi, thailand
another south east asian legend. steers clear of phuket, keeps the asian touch, binges on luxury and even has a grotto set restaurant to boot. and the isthumus setting? ah, that too.
site
15. fort tiracol, goa, india
historic fort restored to its portuguese brightness, overlooking the arabian sea? goa at its different-est.
site
