San Francisco  Hotels: Fairmont San Francisco Where luxury meets history. Sitting atop Nob Hill, the hotel’s gilded lobby features a grand staircase, marble floors and crystal chandeliers that feel fit for an English castle. But the best feature might just be the expansive view of the bay. St. Regis San ... More

Lisa and Johann Pepin’s relationship started with elements of a romantic comedy: A bubbly blonde from suburban Milwaukee meets a charming Frenchman working on his master’s degree in Wisconsin. The pair marry and move to Chicago to start their careers, she in public relations and he in finance. But in ... More

Located on a former coconut plantation 20 minutes outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital city, the St. Regis Bahia Beach has all the lavish amenities you’d expect from a five-star resort: there’s a state-of-the-art gym, a swanky spa, gorgeous suites, poolside cabanas and two esteemed restaurants. A ... More

The reigning champion: Since 1993, Explora's Hotel Salto Chico (pictured below)—in the heart of Chile's almost 600,000-acre Torres del Paine National Park—has been the area's go-to upscale hotel experience, based on a model of "luxury of the essential": comfortable rooms, locally sourced food and wine and an overarching ... More

Geraldine’s Take an elevator up to the fourth floor of the hip new Hotel Van Zandt, and you’ll find Geraldine’s, a live music restaurant and bar. The buzzy, leather and brass-filled space opens up to the hotel’s rooftop pool, complete with a fireplace and private cabanas. Order a boozy Old ... More

In a sea of Playa del Carmen hotels, Mahekal Beach Resort stands light-years above the rest. Guests will enjoy the rare combination of a luxury resort experience with authentic Mexican history. The resort’s palapa-style bungalows (some of which sit just feet from the ocean’s edge) were originally erected ... More