Hoi An, Vietnam

It’s just as well Hoi An holds so much fascination or you’d be tempted to squander your entire holiday idling at this delightful faux-colonial hotel on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Since it opened in 2005, the Anantara has been our first choice in the town, thanks to its gracious, retro style and plum location on the waterfront. Facing either the courtyard garden or river, the rooms are simple, smart and spacious, the bathrooms large, and pool ideal for revitalizing dips between trips into town.