Summer is upon us, and with its arrival comes the promise of jetsetting away. If you’re feeling a little uninspired this season, these stunning properties – brimming to the top of their ornate ceilings and intricate archways with culture, heritage, history, and exquisite design – could just be the location of your next refined escape.

ROYAL MANSOUR MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Beyond the palatial facade and sumptuous interiors, the Royal Mansour Marrakech is a deep embodiment of Moroccan culture itself, a tangible testament to this storied country and all the rich heritage it entails. The sprawling property is located just a few steps away from the Jemaa elFnaa Square, the centre of Marrakech’s medina quarter, and has become a modern symbol of a glorious past. Every aspect of the palace is entrenched in the native way of life, from the arches to the tiles, the drapes to the artisanal crafts, and even the construction; typical rooms have been traded in for riads – a historical Moroccan floor plan, at the centre of which stands a courtyard with the building wrapped around it. A fountain is the focal point, and the Royal Mansour’s private riads are luxury personified, with rooftop plunge pools and a personal butler who will reach you through a secret network of tunnels and doors placed underneath the garden pathways. @royalmansourmarrakech

VERMELHO MELIDES, PORTUGAL
The anatomy of colour is the focus of this boutique retreat in the Portuguese summer hideaway of Melides. A property by Christian Louboutin, the Vermelho, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, features only 13 rooms, each unique and individual, speaking a different design language crafted by Loboutin himself after many summers spent in the village. Walk in and find detailed craftsmanship, sweeping frescoes, rare artworks, local Alentejo tiles and antique furniture, all lending into an experience so intimate, so singular and so intentional. Painters, sculptors, and carpenters from across the region create a ton of character and every corner is a work of art itself, blending light, shade and colour masterfully. Two villas offer an even more secluded, sanctuary-esque experience, allowing guests to truly escape. The in-house restaurant offers the best of Portuguese gastronomy, served in bright tableware made in the village itself. @hotelvermelho

THE LEELA PALACE UDAIPUR, INDIA
Perched by the serene Lake Pichola, The Leela Palace Udaipur is an ode to the bygone era of blue-blooded living in the state of Rajasthan, India, painting a picture of grandeur marked with stunning technicolour. The romance starts before you even get to the property – a scenic boat ride takes you across the lake, at the end of which you land at the foot of the sprawling hotel, draped in white marble and sandstone like traditional Mewari constructions. Ornate arches, overhanging balconies, domed pavilions, heritage textiles, historical artefacts, and expansive landscaped gardens – the interiors are splashed in cultural motifs to emulate the feel of true royalty. With the hotel being located away from the mainland, a sense of exclusivity prevails, and the stay includes a 360-degree experience of the city’s heritage. Arq By The Leela, Villas at Pichola take you one step further with an ultra-luxury villa experience in complete privacy. @theleelapalaceudaipur

PASSALACQUA, ITALY
Located in the midst of the waterside charms of Lake Como, the Passalacqua is housed in an 18th-century restored neoclassical villa – doesn’t get more romantic than that. Draped in pleasant shades of yellow and sage, this is a place that celebrates the slow way of life, filled with long, leisurely days by the pool, a calendar-esque surrounding green cover and unbridled views of the shimmering waters beyond. The idea is to take a vacation that is unhurried, quiet and restorative. Marble, mirror work, painted glass, frescoes, ceiling carvings, glossy chandeliers, antique furniture, and all the delightful, old-world Italian design one can imagine – all that comes with expansive gardens and terraces to spend your days in. The Palazz features eight cosy rooms, while the Villa is home to 12 larger ones, and the Casa al Lago offers four exclusive enclaves with Lake Comoviews. If you’re looking for la dolce vita, you’ll find it here. @passalacqualakecomo

CLARIDGE’S, LONDON
In the heart of Mayfair, London, stands Claridge’s, a symbol of the district’s glitzy, glamorous past. The property itself is a time capsule, having first opened doors in 1812 under a different identity, and after more than 200 years of acquisitions, renovations, and many a celebrity guest within the walls, it stands at the intersection of ultra-luxury hospitality and English heritage. The facade remains as timeless as ever, blending Victorian grandeur on the outside with art deco character of the 1920s and 30s on the inside – think black-and-white geometric marble floors, mirrored panels, polished metal accents, Lalique glasswork, rooms with crystal chandeliers, thick drapes and gilded furniture. The hotel has entertained the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger, and many European royalty, so you know it’s already a chic address. @claridgeshotel

IMMOBILIA APARTMENTS, EGYPT
The Immobilia Apartments of Cairo follow a different format from your usual hotel. The Immobilia was the first high-rise ever built in the Egyptian capital, back in the 1930s, and was home to many of the country’s golden age celebrities. Now, the apartments have been renovated and converted into serviced units with windows that open into the buzzing Cairo downtown and towards lacquer blue views of the Nile. Much of that classical art deco charm has been preserved, with the homes being filled with a kind of globe-trotting collection that adds inimitable character – art from New York, antiques from the local bazaars, pearl cabinets, wire frames, pops of colour and pattern, a visible appreciation for great wooden carving, and bathrooms splashed in marble. Sitting somewhere between old and new, the apartments feel lived in, and are a piece of the city’s glittering history. @egypt_beyond

MANDARIN ORIENTAL BANGKOK, THAILAND
Another historic property, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has been operating since 1876 and is an icon of Thai luxury. Gorgeous, grand and avant-garde, the hotel fuses its colonial era design sensibility with a healthy smattering of traditional Thai touches like oriental prints, fan motifs, silk textiles and cultural artefacts. It holds legendary status for its service and thoughtful hospitality, and views of the Chao Phraya River. Staying at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is a complete experience, with access to Thai gastronomy, inspired wellness and exploring the city with trips and tours of Bangkok. Part ornate, part contemporary, this is a property that has achieved status of style simply by its legacy. @mo_bangkok

THE NED, QATAR
The Ned Doha comes with a history of its own – it is housed in Qatar’s former Ministry of Interior building and in the present, is a pioneer in spotlighting Middle Eastern female creatives. Displaying over 350 artworks by over 100 Middle Eastern artists within its walls, this is an art hotel right at your doorstep, with a collection curated by Wadha Al-Aqeedi and Elina Sairanen, co-founders of Mathqaf Arab Museum of Modern Art. The exterior of the property flourishes the kind of brutalist design popular in the 1970s – geometric patterns, straight lines and a shade of grey typical with this style of modernism. The interiors make for a perfect contrast against the raw columns and ceilings, with 70s glamour taking over. Lush velvet in bold colours, marble tabletops, retro prints, bright patterns and brass hardware lean into the theme and add another layer of luxe to the whole affair. @theneddoha

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