InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa

The InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa is, like many of IHG’s delightfully straightforwardly named properties, exactly what it sounds like: a wellness-focused luxury resort by one of the biggest names in the business, within sight of the skyscrapers of the Qatari capital but surrounded by palms and beaches rather than buildings and boulevards. The vast swimming pool, surrounded by loungers and lawns, is dwarfed by the private beach, which is slightly more than a mile long — and within this perimeter is a self-contained luxury experience that, for all its seclusion, may as well occupy its own private island.

With some 375 rooms and suites it’s a large-scale operation, but a thoroughly relaxing one — with this much space, and so long a menu of facilities, it’ll never feel crowded. The spa is enormous, as is the athletic club with its tennis and squash courts. Even the smallest room covers more than 400 square feet, and the largest ones are large indeed. Meanwhile the resort’s restaurants and bars number over a dozen, and span a vast range of concepts, from Peruvian and Greek restaurants to a French brasserie, a Parisian-inspired nightclub, and the surprisingly specific Belgian Café.