The coolest hotels in the world for 2017

Why is it cool? The way it looks, for starters. And its location – perched on stilts on a rocky outcrop in Newfoundland, Canada, it’s unlike any inn we’ve seen before, with modern architecture that looks stunning silhouetted against the sky.

What else? The striking boxy shape affords each room floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea, while the rooftop space is given over to wood-fired saunas and outdoor hot tubs.

The area: This is the ideal base to explore Newfoundland’s stunning scenery, from watching icebergs float along ‘Iceberg Alley’ in early summer to trekking along ancient footpaths and hiking up cliffs.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £961. fogoislandinn.ca; Bridge & Wickers offers seven-night trips to Newfoundland, including three nights at Fogo Island Inn, two nights in St John’s, two nights in Trinity, car hire and flights with WestJet, from £2,899 per person. bridgeandwickers.co.uk

Why is it cool? Reykjavik is one of the hippest destinations du jour, and a city this cool needs an equally cool hotel for visitors to stay in. Enter the Ion City Hotel, a temple of sleek Nordic design that revolves around organic materials in an understated and calming palette of grey and white.

What else? Ease yourself into Iceland’s unique cuisine (delicacies include rotten fish) at Ion City’s North African-influenced restaurant, Sumac, where chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson has blended the country’s, er, unusual cooking with more approachable international flavours.

The area: The hotel sits right on Reykjavik’s main thoroughfare, so you’ll find galleries, bars and restaurants on your doorstep.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £447. ioniceland.is; Wow Air offers return flights from London Gatwick to Keflavik, Iceland from £34.99. wowair.co.uk

Why is it cool? It’s more than just a resort – Song Saa is also a non-profit organisation that was established to protect the inhabitants of the Koh Rong Archipelago, improve the welfare of its communities and preserve the local environment.

What else? It helps, of course, that the resort is extremely luxurious (and comes with an appropriately eye-watering price tag). If you’re prepared to shell out, you can stay in breathtakingly beautiful villas (made with reclaimed materials, naturally) that jut out over the water, complete with private pools.

The area: Song Saa really is all about giving back, so you can organise to visit the local communities it works with, as well as the rainforest reserve – and the best way to do that is by booking a trip on The Ahyoka, the resort’s own dedicated sustainability yacht. Obviously.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £1,141 on an all-inclusive basis, based on two sharing and including transfers from Sihanoukville. songsaa.com; Vietnam Airlines flies to Sihanoukville from Paris via Ho Chi Minh City, from £720 return.

Why is it cool? Fall asleep watching the stars in EcoCamp’s stylish geodesic domes, modelled on the shape of the traditional dwellings of the indigenous Kaweskar tribe that still lives in the area.

What else? The camp is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the devastatingly beautiful Patagonian wilderness, offering f guided treks and wildlife excursions. Start your day with a stretch session in the Yoga Dome, and round it off with delicous dinner served in the Community Dome.

The area: EcoCamp sits inside the Torres del Paine National Park at the southernmost tip of the Chilean Andes, which is home to ancient forests, glaciers, lakes, rivers and fjords, as well as pumas, guanacos (from the same family as alpacas and llamas) and a diverse array of birds.

Getting there: Four-day safaris start at £950, including transfers from Puntas Arenas airport. ecocamp.travel; LATAM flies from London Heathrow to Punta Arenas via Madrid or Sao Paolo, from £853 one way. latam.com

Why is it cool? Perched on a hilltop in the middle of the Tasmanian wilderness, 40m above the sea, the lodge is about as far as you can get off the beaten track – and it’s as much about the journey it takes to get there as it is about the stay itself.

What else? You might have a tough time finding it at first – the award-winning building was designed to blend into its forested surroundings and was made with beautifully burnished hardwoods, glass and hammered steel.

The area: Set deep in the National Park, it’s the only building for at least 20km. You arrive following a pretty lengthy hike, so take the chance to relax and swim in the sea, or if you’re feeling energetic, play cricket on the beach.

Getting there: The Tasmanian Walking Company offers four-day guided walks from about £1,432 for a twin share, including transfers from Launceston, all meals, guides and equipment. taswalkingco.com.au; Qantas offers return flights from London Heathrow to Launceston, with stopovers in Dubai and Melbourne, from £775. qantas.com

Why is it cool? It looks a bit like Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel, which is pretty much an explanation in itself as to why it’s worthy of your attention, but there’s more: it overlooks the absolutely stunning Mer de Glace, a vast glacier that’s attracted thousands of visitors each year for more than four centuries.

What else? On the outside, Terminal Neige-Refuge is a monument to old-world glamour, but inside you’ll find that it actually has a distinct design edge, thanks to a recent refurbishment. Oh, and it has a bistro – appropriately named Le Panoramique – that looks out right onto the incredible glacier.

The area: This is a key location for hiking, climbing and skiing, which are the main ways of accessing the Montenvers, but there’s also a cute little railway that’ll chug you up to the peak in summer – or when you’re just not feeling all that adventurous. Shh, we won’t tell anyone.

Getting there: Nightly rates from about £220. refuge.terminal-neige.com; EasyJet offers one-way flights to Geneva from £26.74. easyjet.com

Why is it cool? Watch your step here, because this jaw-droppingly beautiful resort is set right at the edge of a cliff in the Al Hajar mountains, at 2,000m above sea level. It’s the perfect place for a reprieve from city life – a two-and-a-half-hour journey from the nearest airport, the hotel is only accessible by four-wheel drive.

What else? Camera at the ready: every inch of Alila Jabal Akhdar is overtly Insta-worthy, from fort-like wooden doors to copper ornaments and handmade pottery – not to mention the stunning infinity pool that overlooks dizzyingly deep ravines.

The area: If you can bear to leave, explore the nearby Unesco-protected Bahla Fort, an immense structure of unbaked brick and stone foundations that sits in a lush oasis.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £267. alilahotels.com; Oman Air offers return flights from London Heathrow to Muscat from £370. omanair.com

Why is it cool? Family holidays can be cool as well, you know. Think bluer-than-blue water, whitewashed walls, bougainvillea and super-stylish suites – as well as a wealth of activities that will keep both you and your little ones entertained.

What else? There’s an in-house ‘baby chef’ and a daily ‘baby buffet’ at the main restaurant. Yes, really. But there’s nightlife too, whether it’s in the form of drum and bass DJs that spin the night away at Pasha Bar, or whisky and jazz on the beach – giving you the best of both worlds.

The area: In a location like this, it’s really all about the sea. Book yourself onto a boat tour – either private or with a group – that explores nearby islands and the Gulf of Fethiye or takes you out in the evening to watch the sunset. If you’re a history buff, visit the Dead Sea, or Kayakoy, which is an abandoned ancient town with Roman roots.

Getting there: Nightly rates start from £185 per person. hillsidebeachclub.com; EasyJet flies from London to Dalaman from £49.99 one way, then it’s a 45-minute drive to the resort. easyjet.com 

Why is it cool? Cedar-wood hot tubs that overlook Cornwall’s rugged coastline where you can sit and sip your favourite tipple, for one thing. But there’s more: a sleek design that gives you a constant view of sky and sea; and laudable eco credentials that mean you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your stay without a hint of guilt.

What else? Think of it like staying at your best friend’s (very luxurious) pad. There’s an excellent restaurant, a well-stocked library, and bringing dogs is actively encouraged – right down to the homemade doggy treats you’ll find in your room on arrival.

The area: It’s Cornwall, so this is the perfect place to head out on bracing walks on the beach, with the dog in tow, or brave the cold water to go surfing. Gnarly, dude.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £300 B&B. scarlethotel.co.uk; you can drive from London to Mawgan Porth in approximately four hours, or you can take a train from Paddington to Bodmin Parkway Station, which is a 25-minute taxi away. Tickets from £61 one-way. gwr.com

Why is it cool? This gobsmackingly beautiful part of Italy made its name with silk production – Villa Vittoria is a relic of this heritage, occupying a former silk mill right by the water with 13 bedrooms that are just begging you to stay the night.

What else? Lovingly restored by its owner, Villa Vittoria is unquestionably one of the most special hotels on the water. It boasts family heirlooms in the form of leather chairs in the living room, bedrooms dressed up in whites and mauves, and an Insta-worthy infinity pool.

The area: Take the hotel’s dinghy out on the lake; check out George Clooney’s mansion; or head to Lido de Leno, a sandy oasis by day that becomes a hip local hangout by night.

Getting there: iescape offers nightly rates from £191. i-escape.com; EasyJet offers return flights to Milan Malpensa from £50. easyjet.com

Why is it cool? Ultra-chic bright yellow, coral and green geometric prints, retro brass lamps, cool old-school fonts, and other Art Deco flourishes that all hark back to golden age Miami in the 1950s, unexpectedly delivered by the hotel chain known as Hyatt. Yes, really.

What else? Be sure to take on the huge portion of fried chicken, waffles and maple syrup at Bird & Bone, the hotel’s restaurant that serves up some of the best American comfort food in the city.

The area: The phrase ‘Miami cool’ didn’t come from nowhere you know – head here for celeb-spotting, great weather all year round, and one of the world’s best electronic music festivals, Ultra, which takes place in the city every March.

Getting there: Nightly rates from £156. theconfidantemiamibeach.hyatt.com; Norwegian offers one-way flights to Miami Fort Lauderdale from £159. norwegian.co.uk