Celebrity Life

The first thing you’ll notice at Vommuli is the resort’s striking architectural design, from the curved whale-shark–shaped exterior of the Whale Bar, to the dhoni-inspired beachfront villas and the overwater Iridium Spa, which mimics the shape of a lobster. The John Jacob Astor Estate, which is named after the founder, is the Maldives’ largest overwater... View Article

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Kuda Hithi is just a short yacht ride from Malé, but with an enormous lagoon and thick, tropical vegetation, the island feels like it is in the middle of nowhere. The resort’s size — just over three acres — gives a particularly intimate feel, and the fact that it’s owned and run by a Maldivian... View Article

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When it opened in 2009, Peninsula Shanghai occupied the only structure built on Shanghai’s historic waterfront, The Bund, in over 60 years. The view from this iconic riverfront spot is most captivating from the rooftop bar, Sir Elly’s Terrace, but it’s the two-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Yi Long Court that impresses most. Sir Elly’s Restaurant joined... View Article

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Velaa is set in the Noonu Atoll, where turquoise lagoons and islands of white sand and lush vegetation come with a wealth of marine life and close proximity to world-class dive sites. The no-expense-spared design includes work from award-winning Czech architect Petr Kolar: See the opulent teak-furnished villas, and the cocoon-like wine cellar and restaurant... View Article

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Given its pagoda-style design, you’d almost think this hotel was another of Hangzhou’s ancient sites; the property sits amid the temples and gardens of the city’s historic West Lake district. Look closer and you’ll see traditional influences interpreted through immaculate modern design. In Jin Sha restaurant, which serves local as well as Cantonese and Shanghainese... View Article

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Soneva Fushi is the epitome of barefoot chic, but it also has more than its fair share of extravagance. Thatched villas are made of natural materials to blend into their tropical surroundings, with huge living areas spilling out onto terraces, freeform pools, wine cellars and even water slides. Try out the many water toys and... View Article

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Arrive by seaplane or luxury yacht at this private resort spanning one of the biggest islands in the atoll. In this flawless environment of white sand, sparkling lagoon and palm tree groves, beach-facing and overwater thatched villas come with private pools, shaded cabanas, hammocks and views out to the horizon. You may be tempted to... View Article

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Singapore has long taken pride in its status as a Garden City, with verdant greenery flourishing throughout. Shangri-La Hotel Singapore epitomizes this connection to nature with 15 acres of its own tropical gardens. Opened in 1971 as Shangri-La’s first property, the hotel has developed these gardens over multiple decades by cultivating thousands of tree and... View Article

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This breathtaking property is a former residence of the Indian royal family. And it is certainly fit for royalty — the white-marble palace-turned-hotel majestically rises from the shimmering water of Lake Pichola. So captivating is this locale, it was featured in the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy. Arrive in style by taking a boat from... View Article

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This Taj hotel is certainly palatial, but it doesn’t just look the part: It is the former palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Sitting 2,000 ft above the city, it is made entirely of Italian marble and stretches over a staggering 34 acres of land. Princess Esra led the 2010 Taj Hotels restoration and, in... View Article

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Opened in 1963 as the first Mandarin Oriental, this flagship property is legendary. Gaze out at the cityscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows of your Western- and Asian-inspired suite. Or savor the views while dining at the hotel’s world-renowned restaurants. Sample creative French fine-dining plates at the eponymous, two-Michelin-starred restaurant of Pierre Gagnaire; tuck into dim... View Article

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Built on land that once belonged to the Maharana of Mewar and designed to look like a palace from his kingdom, this hotel embodies Indian royal living. Domed pavilions in warm yellow stone enclose private courtyards with walls of bougainvillea, and sunlit walkways lead through ornate arches to landscaped gardens and reflective pools. Mosaics, murals,... View Article

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