96 sea Hotels

This amazing Napoleon III building is situated 15 minutes from Cannes in 22 acres of private parkland. Built in 1870 it was originally intended to serve as a writer’s retreat but that didn’t work out and the property became a luxury hotel that still attracted famous writers and artists. Yes, …

Costa Rica has a long tradition of ostentatious hotel-building but today’s travelers often prefer a smaller, wiser experience. Enter then, Kura Design Villas. Located on the esoteric Osa Peninsula halfway up a rainforest-clad mountainside, these properties balance perfectly on that fine line between rustic and luxury. Awake then, to the …

Lundy Island is one of England’s natural wonders – a small emanation that rises from the waves of the Bristol Channel, just under five square kilometers in size. It has been populated since Neolithic times with old gravestones recently uncovered and dated to the 5th Century. There are a number …

Set in the sleepy town of Chacala (which means “where the shrimp are” in the native tongue), this resort is located in a secret cove only accessible by boat. There is no wifi or television, and the little electricity needed is produced from solar panels. There are several private houses …

Located on top of a cliff overlooking the coast of Ibiza, this private estate is apparently two hours trip from every European capital city. It is located in an unspoiled natural reserve park that allows you the chance to relax in a natural environment. The whitewashed walls are in traditional …

This 19th Century fort was built during Napoleon’s carefree conquering of Europe. The British were a bit concerned and installed a number of forts around their coastline like so many Red Alert bases. Fort Clonque was originally designed to house 68 soldiers while black metal cannons peered over the battlements. …

A luxury 26ft cruise boat that will take you to Venice and Croatia. Breakfast is served on board and you can eat dinner in their luxury on-board restaurant. The top deck is equipped with sun loungers and there is a covered bar and lounge to sit in. Below deck, there …

The world’s first on-land cruise ship, this hotel takes all the joy of a cruise ship and combines it with the usefulness of staying in one place. The sound of waves lapping at the hull is simulated, so you can imagine you are on a cruise. The location is on …

Cornwall is England’s sunniest county: full of dew-sparkled hills, Arthurian moors, and villages resting by the fishing boat bobbing sea. It’s a popular destination and why not stay in a treehouse while you’re there? Named after the feisty local birds, Tree Sparrow House is a compact wooden dwelling resting in …

As you arrive via helicopter, Spitbank Fort initially looks like a military outpost from a classic strategy game like Red Alert or Total Annihilation. Indeed, when it was built in the 1860s its purpose was military: to defend Britain’s Portsmouth Harbour which was then one of the richest ports in …

This was the first luxury resort on Koh Samui; one of Thailand’s most idyllic islands. It has changed hands a few times but remains one of the most high-status spots on the island. The design of the hotel is “classic Thai” and makes the most of its unspoiled surroundings. Arrive …

This hotel is hewn out of the very living rock on the Amalfi coastline. Want to go to the beach? Then take the lift through the rock to the sand below. Your vine-hugged balcony has some of the finest views you will ever see - from the sea to Positano. …

This hotel is a diver’s dream. It’s for serious divers who want to explore the oceanic depths of the Coral Triangle off the Coast of Mabul Island. The hotel is in a converted oil platform that was designed for deep-sea oil drilling. Now, instead of being about man controlling the …

How far north can you go without staying a tent, getting lost, and resorting to cannibalism? Well, try the Hotel Arctic. It is the world’s northernmost four-star hotel (which begs the question as to what a two-star Arctic Hotel would be like) and is popular among people who like their …

Award-winning eco-design hotel, Chumbe Island Resort about as much impact on its environment as a drop of rainwater. You stay in a traditional thatched cottage built to catch the sea breeze and keep you cool as you swing on your day-bed without the need for fans and air conditioning. They …

Most hotels give you a choice of rooms, some give you a choice of caravans, spheres, or eco-pods, well, Azura Retreat gives you a choice of islands. Now that’s impressive. The resort is located on two islands, Benguerra and Quilalea. Both are located within a marine wildlife reserve which means …

This hotel was a frequent haunt of famous author Agatha Christie who set her novel, And Then There Were None, on a fictionalized version of the archipelago. The hotel was finished in 1929, and throughout the 1930s, it played host to glamorous guests. In World War 2, it served as …

No-one goes to galleries to view art these days. In fact, everyone who takes art and design seriously knows that to truly appreciate art you have to live with it. But even if we can afford the best art, we can only choose to live with a few select pieces. …

This fort was named after the first Earl of Leicester who was a 16th Century English statesman and close friend of Queen Elizabeth I. Originally designed to deter the French from invading England again, it remained an isolated post in the British channel until it was captured by the Nazis …

This hotel is located on a forgotten part of Brazil’s coastline - between a white sand beach and an environmental sanctuary. Architect, Osvaldo Tenorio, said he was inspired by nature’s “primitive forms and calming essences”. The hotel does not have hundreds of rooms – just 23 villas and suites so …