1. Txai Resort, Brazil
Pronounced "chai", this chic hideaway on Brazil's "cacao coast" is a model of laid-back luxury. Its 40 beach-front, bungalow- style rooms are aimed at well-heeled bohemians and the resort is serious about its environmental credentials. It's also a great destination for swimmers, with six pools to choose from - one for children, one designed specially for "watsu" (a holistic water treatment), one for lap swimming, one built with blue glass tiles and a "refuge" pool for relaxing - as well as the ocean waves
Txai Resort, Rodovia Ilheus-Itacare km 48, Bahia, Brazil (00 55 11 6858 7777; www.txairesort.com.br). Doubles start at US$395 (£208), including breakfast
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2. Gallery Hotel, Singapore
With its Lego-like exterior, this postmodern 223-room hotel definitely cuts a dash along Singapore’s riverside. What really sets the Gallery Hotel apart, however, is the cantilevered, glass-sided pool that juts out over the street from a fifth-floor rooftop. Take a dip if you dare.
Gallery Hotel, 76 Robertson Quay, Singapore (00 65 6849 8686; www.galleryhotel.com.sg). Doubles start at S$240 (£89), including breakfast
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3. Gran Hotel la Florida, Spain
This five-star, 70-room hotel is one of Barcelona’s swankiest places to stay. Designer fittings and a historic setting are part of the draw, but most spectacular is its 37-metre stainless-steel pool.
Gran Hotel La Florida, Ctra Vallvidrera al Tibidabo 83- 93, Barcelona, Spain (00 34 93 259 30 00; www.hotellaflorida.com). Doubles start at €170 (£142), room only
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4. Murano Oriental Resort, Morocco
Younger sister to the Murano Urban Resort in Paris, this Moroccan manifestation of style-conscious French swagger is set in Marrakech’s Palmeraie district. Its 37 rooms are as contemporary as they are glamorous. In a nod to Marrakech’s “red city” tag, the pool is dramatically lined with red tiles, lending the water an almost blood-like sheen.
Murano Urban Resort, Douar Abiad, Marrakech, Morocco (00 212 24 32 7000; www.muranoresort.com). Doubles start at €320 (£267), room only
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5. Banyan Tree, Seychelles
The perfect choice for those whose conscience and pockets are equally deep, the Banyan Tree group is dedicated to corporate responsibility, with an emphasis on both environmental and social sensitivity. It also knows how to do decadence, as proven by its Seychelles outpost. Alongside the 60 sybaritic villas and spa, there is an eye-catching swimming pool that appears to float out over the ocean.
Banyan Tree, Anse Intendance, Mahé, Seychelles (00 248 383 500; www.banyantree.com). Doubles start at €848 (£707), including breakfast
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24 May 2008, Chosen by Rhiannon Batten
