No, these startling hotels are not the work of AI: they’re real-life stays in surreal locations, designed to make your wildest dreams come true. Below, our round-up of the best destination hotels in the world.

Image credit: Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe

Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe

1/16

Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico

Before Luke Skywalker became a Jedi in the Star Wars saga, he lived on the desert planet of Tatooine, pondering his life’s purpose while watching two suns set over the horizon. Only one sun sets at Valle de Guadalupe, about two hours drive south-east of San Diego airport across the border in Mexico, but it turns your room a magnificent gold. The 30 sand-toned villas at the new Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe are set on a 6.5-hectare property that is pure Tatooine. Built into the mountain, with easy access to the resort’s winery (where you can enjoy an afternoon tasting of the region’s signature grenache), each villa has a fireplace for winter stays and a pool on your terrace for when that singular sun reaches the highest point in the sky.

Image credit: Ovo Patagonia

Ovo Patagonia

2/16

Patagonia, Argentina

Perched on a rugged, snow-flecked cliff face, some 270 metres above the ground, Ovo Patagonia gives new meaning to “wild beauty”. The futuristic, bubble-like design of the four fully serviced pods stands in striking contrast to the other-worldly landscape. Not for the faint of heart (or anyone under 16), your stay begins with a transfer from the village of El Chaltén to the Estancia Bonanza lodge, from where you’re taken on a guided hike up a protected climbing route. Once you arrive at the summit, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Andes and a night under the stars, with breakfast and dinner delivered by your guide. The panoramic windows of each pod invite nature in over three levels: a cosy bedroom on the top, a lounge and amenities in the middle and a hammock-style net below.

Image credit: ÖÖD Hekla Horizon

ÖÖD Hekla Horizon

3/16

Hella, Iceland

Staying at one of seven mirrored lodges in southern Iceland, among glacier mountains and lava fields, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve landed on another planet. Views of Mount Hekla volcano and the Northern Lights hovering above the hot tub do nothing to dispel the idea. But a look around your guesthouse should bring you back to earth: relaxed and refined, ÖÖD Hekla Horizon includes comforts such as saunas, cosy beds and fully equipped kitchenettes. If you don’t feel like taking a spin on the pans, the town of Hella is 25 minutes away and is packed with eateries, including Rangá Restaurant, which serves modern Nordic fare using locally sourced ingredients.

Image credit: Garrya Mù Cang Chải

Garrya Mù Cang Chải

4/16

Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Morning mist blankets the hills at Garrya Mù Cang Chả unknown i, the 110-room highland resort in the north-west of Vietnam. But when the clouds part, the terraced rice fields, swirling along the contours of the mountains like an undulating sea of green, begin to appear. It’s one of many wonders at this dreamy retreat that sits elegantly in its surroundings and leans into wellness. At 8lements Spa, hydrotherapy treatments take you through a series of stations, including a sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, a “silk bath” filled with bubbles to melt away stress and an ice fountain. Admire the intricate bamboo lattice work on the resort’s ceilings in the otherwise minimalist design. Or settle in at the poolside bar where the biophilic design meets the view.

Image credit: Lisa Sun

Flockhill

5/16

Craigieburn Valley, New Zealand

Set in the High Country of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, dramatically cradled by limestone boulders and golden tussock grass, Flockhill resort provides a serene escape from ordinary life, just a 1.5-hour drive from Christchurch. Updates to the 14,500-hectare property, including seven recently opened villas, have taken it up a notch. The fine dining at its new Sugarloaf restaurant, which serves dishes featuring fruit picked onsite and fish caught locally, is similarly impressive. But at night, Flockhill becomes enchanting. With minimal light pollution, the sky transforms into a spectacular dome of stars, best seen from your private terrace with a glass of Marlborough sauvignon blanc in hand.

Image credit: Rosewood Schloss Fuschi

Rosewood Schloss Fuschi

6/16

Salzburg, Austria

Journey back in time to a 500-year-old castle on the shore of Lake Fuschl in Salzburg. Here, the alpine air drifts down from the snow-dusted mountains, crisp, fresh and thoroughly restorative. After a major refurbishment last year, the majestic Rosewood Schloss Fuschl now offers 98 guestrooms, including 42 luxury suites and six waterfront chalets, plus there’s a heated outdoor infinity pool that overlooks the serene lake. The onsite spa, featuring eight treatment rooms and a gym, has also had its own modern makeover. And if you get tired of gazing at the fairytale surroundings, there’s always the art: the hotel has an extensive collection of Renaissance paintings and Baroque sculptures on display.

Image credit: Villa Beatrice

Villa Beatrice

7/16

Portofino, Italy

If you’ve ever dreamt about escaping to a summer house with unfettered access to the Mediterranean, this 112-year-old villa, lovingly restored and opened in July, can make that fantasy a reality, for a price. Set on a clifftop overlooking the sparkling waters of Liguria, the three-storey Villa Beatrice has four suites in a mix of styles, from Art Nouveau to Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival, as well as a separate one-bedroom cottage among the pine trees. The villa is booked in its entirety so you’ll enjoy total exclusivity, making it the perfect location for a special event or family get-together. The 6000-square-metre property has a pool overlooking the coast and a bar that can host up to 30 people. But leave that for the butler and chef to organise while you stroll to the Dior Spa at Beatrice’s sister hotel, Splendido.

Image credit: James Florio

Tierra Atacama

8/16

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the oldest and driest in the world, with some parts receiving rain only a few times per century. But at Tierra Atacama, the newly refurbished 28-room resort overlooking the Andes Mountains, you’ll never want for anything. As dusk falls on the terrain, sink into the pool overlooking the nearby volcanoes or sip on the signature Rica Rica Cocktail (made with a plant native to Atacama) by firelight. Enjoy meals made with locally sourced ingredients, as well as alfresco showers underneath the stars, a hot tub and a horse ride through the desert.

Image credit: Lilløy Lindenberg

Lilløy Lindenberg

9/16

Vesterålen, Norway

In Norwegian, “Lilløy” means “little island”, which is a fitting name for this cosy-yet-modern four-bedroom cabin perched on a tiny isle in the Vesterålen archipelago. Step outside where your sauna and bath await or grab a book from the library and curl up in front of the fire. Onsite herb garden running low? The local shop is just metres away.

Image credit: Arctic Bath

Arctic Bath

10/16

Harads, Sweden

Clad in timber, these six striking lodges just south of the Arctic Circle in Sweden seem like they are floating on the Lule River. Each is connected to the shore by a floating walkway and features a lounge area with a pellet stove. But it’s the locale that really takes this stay to the next level. Jump off your wooden deck for a swim in summer or bob in the outdoor bath in winter, surrounded by ice and a blanket of snow.

Image credit: Cube Aletsch

Cube Aletsch

11/16

Bettmeralp, Switzerland

Staying at the Cube Aletsch, 2647 metres above sea level, amid the rugged Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site, feels akin to visiting another planet. At night, illuminated by the millions of stars above, the patio’s hot tub is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while looking out at the Matterhorn.

Image credit: Render courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Prestige Cruises

Skyview Regent Suite

12/16

Regent Seven Seas Prestige Cruises

These suites boast a frankly unreal panoramic view of the sea – and sky – while you sail. Featuring two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a living room, sauna (with butler) and a luxurious dining area complemented by a well-stocked bar, it will truly elevate your cruising (and can accommodate up to six). The suite can be found on the top level of Seven Seas’ newest ships, which will set sail for the Caribbean in December 2026.

Image credit: Uga Halloo Wella

Uga Halloo Wella

13/16

Hatton, Sri Lanka

Imagine a colonial bungalow that resembles a gigantic treehouse, nestled among the chartreuse-coloured mountains of Hatton and overlooking a tea plantation, roughly 1444 metres above sea level in Sri Lanka. Outside, your infinity pool offers up views of the Castlereagh Reservoir but inside every luxury – from butler service to spa treatments and a state-of-the art jacuzzi – is available at this five-star accommodation, fresh off a major refurbishment.

Image credit: Innit Lombok

Innit Lombok

14/16

Lombok, Indonesia

There’s no need to worry about bringing the sand in with you at this villa on the beach of Ekas Bay in Lombok. The entire dining room of your elevated beach shack has a sand floor, masterfully designed to blur the indoors with out. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a bathroom and if you ever tire of surfing on your secluded beach, the calm waters of the swimming pool are mere footsteps away.

Image credit: Anantara Golden Triangle

Anantara Golden Triangle

15/16

Chiang Rai, Thailand

A tent in the middle of a 160-acre bamboo forest may not sound like a peak dream sequence but at the Anantara Golden Triangle, amid the misty hills of northern Thailand, these opulent, air-conditioned tents with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Mekong River, are nothing short of surreal. With elephants just beyond your private deck, this stay also offers guided encounters with your new friends, gourmet dining experiences (including eating at ‘Canopy” a restaurant that is 52 metres above the grasslands) and traditional wellness treatments - all less than an hour’s drive away from Chiang Rai’s international airport.