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1 Situated on the seahorse-shaped island of Jumeirah Bay, THE BULGARI RESORT DUBAI (left) gleams even in bejewelled Dubai. Designed by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, the super-luxe resort has over 100 suites, 20 private villas with pools and butlers, a marina with space for 50 yachts, and a staggeringly beautiful and sprawling spa. The Italian architects favoured a low-rise design that is unique in a city of skyscraper hotels. bulgarihotels.com/dubai 2 SIERRA ESCAPE (above) in the hills outside Mudgee brings glamping to rural NSW. Set amid more than 100 hectares of rolling countryside, the swank eco tent comprises an 18-square-metre bedroom with king bed and a separate bathroom with rain shower and freestanding bath. A wood-burning stove and outdoor firepit will keep you toasty, while power for phones and laptops will keep you connected – if, that is, you can tear yourself from the glorious views from the attached deck. sierraescape.com.au

LODGINGS IN California’s Napa Valley tend to be on the stuffy side. Not Calistoga Motor Lodge, a former ’40s roadside motel just 90 minutes from San Francisco that’s been whimsically transformed. Its 50 rooms steal cues from vintage camper vans, the pool is decked out with games, and you can mix your own mud bath at the playful spa. calistogamotorlodgeandspa.com