The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

There are times when the most desirable destinations feel a little too desirable, and South Beach is no different. The very same glamour and buzz that make it one of the travel capitals of the United States can also leave guests badly in need of some peace and quiet. It’s a stretch to say, as The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, that Bal Harbour is quite ideally located, but in fact it’s that small measure of remoteness, some fifteen minutes north of South Beach, that makes this a tantalizing locale for an all-new luxury hotel of The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour’s stature.

For one thing, you can’t put up 17 new floors full of generously sized studios and suites down in South Beach today. What the hotel's accommodations may lack in proximity to the intersection of Lincoln and Collins they more than make up for in state-of-the-art modern comforts, including espresso machines, plasma-screen entertainment systems, and massive bathrooms, with freestanding tubs beside ten-foot floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s plenty of room for ten thousand square feet of spa, as well as an outdoor pool and a selection of private cabanas and whirlpool tubs. And there’s just enough to eat and drink — realistically you won’t hole up in your room during your entire stay, but the presence of a fine restaurant and bar means that a night in is a viable option.