Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

This former palace was one of India’s first bona fide heritage hotels, and remains among the best thanks to its sensitive balancing of Rajput tradition with the demands of a modern, luxury five star. A resplendently mustachioed doorman, chest clinking with medals, salutes guests on arrival. Inside, you’ve a choice of six categories of rooms and suites, from lavishly furnished quarters in the old wing of the main building to ersatz desert huts in the garden, which have their own little walled gardens and charpois (traditional day beds) to lounge on. The pool is large enough for a proper swim, and in the evening, the central lawn hosts performances by Rajasthani musicians and dancers. Only ten minutes’ drive from the Old City, Ajit Bhawan is also easily accessible by car and well placed for sightseeing.