Set on a landscaped private island, this high-end beach resort is a 15-minute speedboat ride from the capital, Malé, home to Velana International Airport.

Luxurious villas have private decks, beach access and ocean views. All feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, as well as iPod docks, minibars, and tea and coffeemakers. Upgraded villas add private pools, decks and tropical outdoor showers.

This refined hotel is set across a modern tower, a 19th-century office block and a 1932 bank, and is an 8-minute walk from Cape Town train station.

Elegant rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, iPod docks and smart TVs. Some present high ceilings or private balconies. Suites add lounges and butler service. A 2-floor penthouse suite offers views of Table Mountain, plus a gym and a steam room.

Set in a sleek high-rise building, this upscale hotel is 2 km from The Dubai Mall and the iconic Burj Khalifa.

Offering views of the city or the Burj Khalifa, the polished rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and designer toiletries. Family rooms and suites add living areas. Club rooms come with lounge access, as well as butler service.

Surrounding St. James Court’s fountain, this all-suite luxury hotel in a Victorian-Edwardian building is a 6-minute walk from Buckingham Palace.

Plush suites feature urban-chic decor and high-end furnishings, and offer butler service and full kitchens, plus Nespresso coffeemakers, iPod docks, washer/dryers and Wi-Fi access. Some include luxe designer decor featuring custom made furnishings, fireplaces, and 3D TVs. Room service is offered.

Open since 1930, this opulent landmark is across the street from Central Park and a mile from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The bright, elegant rooms feature free Wi-Fi and Turkish marble bathrooms, as well as Bose sound systems, HDTVs and designer toiletries; some have views of the park. Suites include living rooms and soaking tubs; some have city views. Upgraded suites offer personal butler service.