Siem Reap, Cambodia

Often, really smart hotels can seem a bit po-faced, but not this fresh, boutique place, which offers a refreshingly cool haven after forays to nearby Angkor. The uber-stylish décor, by US designer Bill Bensley, incorporates lots of contemporary Cambodian art objects and colours to create a relaxed, tropical feel. Views flow through sliding doors to cosy, private pebble gardens, or over the gorgeous black-tiled lap pool in the main courtyard, where you can bliss out to the sound of the water feature and tropical birds flitting through the surrounding palms. A few different classes of room are offered: the showers get more decadent as you move up the grades!