Sure, it’s a cliché, but for good reason: The Ritz has been synonymous with effortless Parisian glamour for decades, an insouciant ultra-luxe spot for the world’s most luxurious travelers since Cesar Ritz and chef Auguste Escoffier opened it in 1898.

A full renovation a few years ago brought back a lot of the burnish that the years had faded; its public spaces - among them the Bar Vendome and the storied Bar Hemingway - have been rebooted without losing any of their fin-de-siecle grandeaur, and are as much a lucus of Paris social life as ever.

Since the completion of its multi-million dollar renovation, the Ritz Paris has brought renewed energy to its historic interiors, along with Michelin-starred dining and a redesigned spa.

Sorely missed during a nearly four-year closure and renovation, the reopened Ritz Paris is grander then ever before.

In novels, songs, and common parlance, there's not a word that evokes the romance and luxury of Paris better than the Ritz.

It added a Chanel spa and an underground ballroom, and thankfully kept those swan faucets.

It was all worth the wait. Four years after closing its doors for renovation, the new-and-improved Ritz has kept the Belle Époque glamour but added some modern necessities: speedy Wi-Fi, new plumbing, and a one-of-a-kind Chanel spa.

Legendary it is, and a four-year £175m makeover has made it only more so... The staff are still brilliant: charming, intuitive, proud to be there. It's all just a little fresher. A little breezier.

And glam is something the Faena oozes, from the pool's candy-cane colour scheme to low-lit and super scene-y Saxony bar.

The result is 169 theatrical guest rooms dressed in velvet and bathrooms that encapsulate old-world glamour, plus sumptuous public spaces adorned with gold leaf and commissioned murals by artist Juan Gatti.

Faena is no ordinary resort. It has a screening room (obviously), but also a full-blown theatre, where the sexy in-house review, C'est Rouge, plays at weekends. Then there are the three terrific restaurants... The whole package? Pure magic.

It's all curving lines, jewel tones, and retro-inspired decor, with luxe amenities and a distinctly Faena twist: bespoke bed linens made in Italy, Carrara marble bathrooms, and private butlers to attend to your every need.

It is flamboyant, fashionable and routinely over the top... but it is also exceptionally imaginative and run with professionalism and panache... I felt extremely disinclined to leave.

Designed by Argentinian owner Alan Faena, with film director Baz Luhrmann and his set designer wife Catherine Martin, it’s no wonder this suite boasts a dramatic decor of red, gold and brightly patterned textiles.

The Charles H also regularly ranks among Asia’s best bars, and its gilded speakeasy-style decor makes for an elegant setting to devour some glorious cocktails.

Enjoy the view from each room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, and snack on crunchy anju (drinking snacks) at Oul, the hotel’s late-night bar inspired by the city’s drinking culture.

A resort in the city, this conveniently located property wows with next-level facilities, generous amenities for families, true five-star service and cinematic views. Rounding out the offering, diverse dining and drinking experiences range from an extravagant Italian to an old-school speakeasy.

In terms of aesthetics, the former home of Viscount Lanesborough echoes Regency wall to wall, where Corinthian columns and gold leaf gilding accentuate neo-classical opulence, not to mention the vast art and sculpture collection on display throughout the property.

Live out your Jane Austen fantasy at this Regency-styled five-star. Though it may not have the history of some of London’s classic hotels, the Lanesborough’s distinct character (butler service for every room, oil paintings, a hotel cat) would have you believe it's been holding court since the 1800s. The super spa and recently refreshed restaurant are other major draws.

Combining a stellar location between Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and Mayfair with the sense of history for which London is so revered, this Regency-style hotel ticks all the right boxes for a quintessential British stay.

Under the direction of Paris studio Alberto Pinto and London firm ReardonSmith, the Lanesborough's opulent 93 rooms and public spaces have been meticulously restored by British craftsmen, preserving the building's distinct Regency architectural style.

The hotel is now part of the Oetker Collection, and it shows (it excels at service). So you'll have a round-the-clock butler; ask for Hervé, who will protest loudly if you don't let him unpack and press your clothes.

This eco-conscious property highlights natural materials but with tons of style, creating a luxurious oasis in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Stellar service paired with modern, earthy interiors and a bustling Jonathan Waxman restaurant place 1 Hotel Central Park among New York's top accommodations.

Encouraging the reuse of bath towels is as far as eco-consciousness goes in most hotels, but 1 Hotel Central Park takes things further... taps are installed with filters, while, in a paperless approach, tablets are preloaded with newspapers.

The rooms are visually stylish quite apart from their construction, and the textured, organic look of the hotel's public spaces stamps an immediate identity on the place. Combine it with a restaurant, Jams, that serves impeccably sourced farm-to-table cuisine, and you've got a recipe for success.

Eco-tastic touches abound, such as reclaimed wood furniture, an egg timer in the showers to tell you when five minutes is up, chalkboards in place of notepads, upcycled cardboard hangers and adorable terrariums made (where else?) in Brooklyn.

The rooms are spacious and lavish, showcasing a level of attention to detail that fits right in to Northern Italy’s reverence for craftsmanship. And the suites very quickly ascend to extreme heights of luxury, with bathrooms that rival some hotel spas, and optional terraces that offer a rare perspective on a city that’s not known for open skies.

The hotel tastefully blends Italian design and furnishings with Oriental features. The contemporary interiors take inspiration from 1940s Milanese interior décor with soft wall tones and oak wood fittings.

Eight years, four 19th-century buildings and big bucks add up to the smartest hotel in the city.

Playfulness is at Alex’s core, via a record player here, a velvet love seat there and all manner of designer knick-knacks.

The hands-down highlight is the rooftop terrace, the place to be at sunset.

The South Congress Hotel combines refined design with craft elements and Americana; the works of local artists sit alongside Hunter S Thompson photographs, while terracotta screens contrast with white brick walls.

One negotiates the public spaces in series, passing through cool and inviting rooms in a tranquil succession of blued steel, rusticated bronze, white bricks, terra-cotta, and cedar accents... You'll find many a reminder that this is still funky, accessible Austin: caged pendant bulbs, articulated bedside lamps, stationery, locavore minibars.

Austin's newest hotel oozes cool, from location to rooms to food.

South Congress takes everything you love about the Live Music Capital of the World and rolls it into a three-story structure on ultra-vibrant South Congress Avenue. The real action is in the common spaces, though.

The Andes mountains provide a scenic backdrop, while interiors marked by brick and stone walls, beamed ceilings, and wooden accents make for a cozy escape from the noise of the metropolis.

The Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina entwines its 1940s colonial history with a splash of contemporary Colombia. A leafy suburban mansion set in the heart of the capital is an ideal retreat for those escaping the hustle and bustle of the city – settle down beside fireplaces and escape the ever-present rain of Bogotá.

The building - built in 1946 using salvaged details from demolished local convents - has been spectacularly renovated to preserve features such as hand-carved wooden doors, stone columns and beamed ceilings, with interiors by designer Lauren Rottet.

The impeccably preserved home has been reborn as the hot place to stay in Bogotá. All [rooms] include Nespresso machines for Colombian coffee on demand and access to a full-service spa, where treatments incorporate the local ingredient of choice: gold.

Because of its relatively small size and ultra-personalized service, this hotel feels like staying in a private mansion.

This may be the best address in Bogotá, but what is lovely about Casa Medina is its contrast to the city. Bogotá is edgy and gritty, a place of urban cool... But this hushed hotel is an old-fashioned aristocrat and is deeply soothing.

Located in the happening neighborhood of Zona Minerva, west of the Centro Histórico, Casa Habita is a chic 37-room hotel with a minimalist aesthetic and a breezy rooftop terrace.

Housed in a 1940s Art Deco mansion... the interiors mix serious design pieces with whimsical, retro touches. Come Saturday night, a who's who stops by the dramatically lit bar.

A charmingly offbeat newcomer in the heart of Guadalajara's up-and-coming arts district.

The mix of up-and-coming city with a happening destination hotel makes this a win-win trip.

Set in an imposing art deco landmark in Hörtorget, in what was once an illustrious department store known as P.U.B – where Greta Garbo once worked behind the hat counter – is this fabulous Haymarket by Scandic concept flagship, one of Stockholm’s most distinctive places to stay.

Greta Garbo once worked here and the décor, particularly in the bedrooms, gives a nod to the art deco style.

Behind the jovial jazz age scenery, this is the same hyper-efficient machine for over-night stays familiar from other Scandic hotels, albeit enhanced here by bars and restaurants that create a wonderful buzz virtually round the clock.

Taking inspiration from the art deco era, design studio Koncept adorned the interior with vibrant pastels and patterned wallpapers and textiles... Two restaurants, as well as a bar serving classic cocktails, encapsulate the glamour of 1920s Hollywood.

Haymarket travels back in time to the Twenties with gilded surfaces, Art Deco flair, peacock feathers, staff in white jackets or bow ties, background jazz music, and a festive atmosphere. Despite 405 rooms, its soul is very much boutique hotel.

Best Beds: Lisbon. The Vibe - Relaxed grandeur means corridors as wide as your house, stately staircases, bronze equestrian statues and antiques. Yet it feels comfortable and informal.

A ground floor cocktail bar and restaurant from chef Tiago Bonito serves fresh produce from the Alentejo and the Algarve, while a tucked-away spa and indoor swimming pool offer respite from the hustle and bustle of the Praça do Comércio.

A treasure trove of history housed in one of Lisbon's most elegant of buildings.

The Old Clare weaves Dada-esque interiors through the bones of two heritage buildings, creating a haven of modern luxury. With three top restaurants within the compound, and a rooftop pool and bar, she may be named after an old bird but she's certainly ruffling some new feathers.

The rooftop pool and bar is a highlight as are its three restaurants headed by a superhero team.

As befits a brewery turned boutique hotel in an artsy part of town, there's an almost aggressive edginess to the Clare. But the attitude is tempered by thoughtful details like goose-down duvets and ultrasoft merino blankets.

Until recently, Sydney didn't have many fun or fashionable places to stay. The Old Clare Hotel, in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Chippendale, is the most high-profile among a number of new arrivals.

A former pub and brewery are reborn. If these walls could talk...

Set on a lane in an artsy part of inner-city Chippendale, the Old Clare is classic Thirties art deco on the outside, black steel and exposed brick on the inside- retro-industrial chic taken to a new level.

The 67-room hotel taps into new-wave Catalan design with yak's wool bedcovers loomed in neighboring Terrassa and prints by designer Clara Arnus.

Designed by Brooklyn firm Studio Tack, Casa Bonay is housed in a 19th-century building on a leafy street in the Eixample district. Its warmly minimal rooms are brought to life via original mosaic floors and solariums or balconies...

Say hola to Casa Bonay, brainchild of Barcelonian chica, Ine?s Miro?-Sans and her 'house of friends' - a collaborative melting pot of local fashion designers, craftspeople, foodies and a coffee roaster.

More of a club than an ordinary hotel, it's filled with young, successful creatives in search of experiences rather than anything so pedestrian as luxury... Yep, that's a half jack of Belvedere Vodka in the mini-bar and a hand-woven wool blanket by local outfit Els Teixadors on your bed. Cutting-edge comfort is what this place is all about.

The Mandarin's debut African resort is as subtle and stylish as you'd expect from one of the world's leading luxury hoteliers. Its 54 villas, nine suites, three restaurants and world-class spa are set outside the medina in a gorgeous, two-hectare garden of blooming roses.

In a city associated with sensory overload, the Mandarin Oriental, set amid 50 acres of olive trees, roses, and palms, is a breath of fresh air... Order a nightcap and stargaze outside your villa as the scent of jasmine wafts by on the breeze.

Once you clap eyes on your vast villa, you will never, EVER want to leave. You'll be too busy leaping in and out of your pool, or sweating it out in your mini hammam, or sipping a minty mojito in your hot tub.

Nothing feels cookie cutter at 11 Howard, where every piece of furniture, art, or bath product is enough to make you want to pause and take a look.

There's a huge mural spearheaded by Koons, a Calder mobile in the lobby, the buzzy street-level restaurant Le Coucou, all before you get upstairs to the hotel proper—a Scandi-chic oasis of soft pink, dove gray, and blond wood.

11 Howard makes its mark with a Scandinavian design sensibility complemented by impressive artistic credentials, with pieces by Hiroshi Sugimoto and Alexander Calder... High ceilings and plush but minimal furnishings crafted in Denmark set the rooms apart

Already a major hotspot for the city's creative types... the perfect understated statement hotel bang in the midst of crackling, trendsetting SoHo.

Mixing modernity with nostalgia, the hotel’s interiors have been designed by Ron Arad, while the retro-inspired staff uniforms are by Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant. There’s a fine-dining restaurant, a whisky bar and a rooftop bar and lounge...

It's a bit kitsch, a bit camp and even, dare we say it, a bit cheesy. But it's pretty fabulous too, with its Moroso chairs, a maze-like whiskey bar, a long, sexy library overlooking the Potomac River and juicy staff uniforms by Mad Men costume-designer Janie Bryant.

The Marfa Book Company, a 21-year-old local institution, moved into the hotel lobby where it shares space with paintings by Texan Jeff Elrod.

The hotel’s minimal, industrial spaces were created by Houston-based Carlos Jiménez Studio, while the 55 rooms have been dressed by interior designer Alice Cottrell with Austrian sheepskin rugs and distressed leather couches.

The hotel features numerous grand public spaces, kitted out by the likes of Lobmeyr, Thonet and Gubi. After a tour of the city in one of the hotel’s vintage Maseratis, guests can retire to the courtyard, verdant with tropical flora.

There are tinkly Lobmeyr chandeliers and black marble, and white-jacketed waiters who will glide over to pour a flute of Veuve, but also a flurry of Moroccan tiles, modernist glass bricks, a fairy-white rooftop restaurant with a plunge pool outside, a standalone goulash bar.

The 26 art deco-inspired rooms have been stylishly outfitted with Louis de Poortere rugs, and Fontana Arte and Flos lamps, while public spaces have been dressed with black and white marble, and a palette of blues, pinks and dusky reds.

With Dimore Studio in charge of design, this new Paris address has a warm feel and strong Art Deco influences. With a mahogany and velvet interior, orange-toned Seventies fabrics and Asian-inspired screens, it is typical of the Milanese duo’s signature style...

This affordable design hotel echoes 1950s Milan style, and back on to the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

An eclectic mishmash of furnishings and colour combinations, it is outfitted with Flos lighting, Kvadrat curtains and custom-made Cassina furniture designed by Patricia Urquiola herself, with artwork courtesy of local creatives.

Designed by local practice Office Winhov and Tel Aviv studio Baranowitz + Kronenberg, the hotel has two restaurants – sleek steakhouse Mr Porter, and The Duchess, which matches contemporary grandeur with stellar cocktails and fine dining...

Here the fashionably hirsute hang out on curvaceous chairs and in sofa-lined cubicles... Direct links to the city's art, design and fashion worlds make this a happening hub.

Hidden away in Tai Hang, minutes from Causeway Bay, Tuve’s minimal aesthetic is at odds with its frenetic location... visually sparse rooms, in marble, concrete and wood, all come with complimentary smartphones, kingsize beds and spacious walk-in showers.

With its edgy urban location and bonsai version of minimalism, this is one of the most fascinating hotels to have opened in Hong Kong in years... Small but slickly designed, Tuve is hospitable, entertaining and very good value.

It features a spa, with couples’ treatment rooms, a garden and cabanas, as well as 40 guest rooms outfitted by interior designer Aline Langlieb with a distinctive blend of retro resort style and hip urbanism.

Design-conscious digs one block from the Med.... The lobby is equal parts 1950s urban glam and tropical fiesta; the first impression becomes even better when you’re handed a glass of champagne at check-in.