Singapore

Flagship hotel of the prestigious Shangri-La chain, this grand, lavish five-star offers luxury on an impressive scale, with a total of 747 rooms and suites spread over three multi-storey wings. Glass walls in the lobby yield views of the beautiful grounds, often referred to by Singaporeans as the city’s “other botanical garden” because of its size and tropical lushness.

Although only a short drive from downtown, the site is peaceful, while the elegant, generous sized rooms offer relaxing havens after (or before) a long flight. As you’d expect, the swimming pool is huge and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from.