On the legendary island of Santorini, atop the Caldera Cliffs, is the Katikies Hotel and Spa. It has infinity pools, gourmet restaurants, and steam rooms. Enough said.
Hayman Island sits directly on top of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, which makes it an amazing spot for fishers, snorkelers, and divers.
This upscale resort (and “upscale” in Monte Carlo is literally as up as that scale can get) sits on Monte Carlo Bay. It has a casino, of course, as well as a spa, four restaurants, and a nightclub.
Right across from the world’s “only seven-star hotel,” the Burj al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel sits directly on the beach next to the Wild Wadi Waterpark, which is free for hotel guests.
The Rosewood Mayakoba is a standout resort on famous Playa del Carmen in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. It features a spa, a “wellness pool” (which, let’s be honest, is really any pool sitting on the beach), excursions to the cenotes, and dolphin watching tours.
Jumby Bay in Antigua has an infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean with pool attendants who will bring anything from ice cream to books. If you aren’t sold after that last sentence, you’ve got a heart of stone (or, you know, just a small bank account).
The Four Seasons on Bora Bora has overwater bungalows, pool cabanas, infinity pools, plunge pools, and a reservable private island.
In Kailua on the Big Island of Hawaii, the beachside Four Seasons Hualalai boasts six pools, private snorkeling pond, rock climbing wall, and serves an “aphrodisiac martini” for couples.
In Cabo San Lucas, Capella Pedregal has five nearby beaches in addition to four pools and a spa.
Maui’s largest resort is the Four Seasons in Wailea. It’s got golf courses, adult-only infinity pools (as well as a swim-up bar), and hosts stand up paddling (SUP) yoga classes.
Capella’s five-star Ixtapa Resort is in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, the place from The Shawshank Redemption that you probably thought was fictional. It sits on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The Four Seasons at Peninsula Papagayo sits on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the hotel you can go on jungle ziplining tours or stargaze while eating — seriously — appetizers infused with meteorite dust.
The Reefs resort in Bermuda has kayaks, snorkel gear, and SUP equipment available right on the beach for its guests. They also have a beachside bar and restaurant. (via, via)
The Four Seasons at Manele Bay on the island of Lanai has golf courses that literally sit on cliffs overlooking the Pacific. The resort also offers voluntourism programs for its guests.
Probably the most impressive aspect of Live Aqua in Cancun is the culinary offerings: the hotel runs five restaurants, two bars, a sushi station, a deli, and pool-and-beachside cocktail services.
La Casa Que Canta is in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and is situated among jagged cliffs facing the Pacific. It’s a relatively small hotel, with only 25 suites, but it’s regularly ranked among the best in the world.
The Koa Kea Hotel (“White Coral”) is on the island of Kauai. It’s got killer surfing, as well as whale watching and helicopter tours.
Aside from being one of the top luxury hotels in the world, Eden Rock in St. Barths has a world-class art gallery and the Ocean Way music recording studio, where the likes of Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello have recorded.