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"Ten New Exotic Retreats Around the World\nThese recently opened hotels and resorts offer a sense of privacy, captivating design, and unforgettable views\nThe idyllic white-sand beaches and turquoise lagoons of the Maldives are among the world's most alluring, and following the success of its Cocoa Island resort, the COMO hotel group has opened a second property in the remote chain of Indian Ocean islands. Maalifushi's 66 suites and villas, a mix of overwater and garden lodgings, are sprinkled throughout a 20-acre private island in the archipelago's Thaa atoll (a 50-minute seaplane jaunt from Male).\nJapanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi conceived the airy rooms\u2014many of which face pristine private pools\u2014with natural woods, dreamy canopy beds, and walls that slide open to encourage indoor-outdoor living. For lunch, guests can head to the resort's Maldivian restaurant, Madi, or book the uninhabited neighboring island for an unforgettable picnic. From $650/night; comohotels.com/maalifushi\nThe serene Bang Tao Bay, on Phuket, Thailand's west coast, is home to Anantara's newest property, which occupies a tranquil stretch of secluded Layan Beach. More than half of the 77 accommodations are spacious villas with private pools.\nThe refuge offers a number of activities to keep guests busy, from water sports to cooking classes that include a shopping trip to the local market. After indulging in one of the spa treatments, consult the hotel's slumber guru, who will work with you to ensure that you achieve a good night's rest. From $230/night; phuket-layan.anantara.com\nChinzombo is a new sustainable bush camp from Norman Carr Safaris that sits on 60 riverfront acres bordering South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. The camp comprises six steel-framed villas with private pools as well as a dining, lounge, and library structure\u2014all of the buildings can be easily relocated without leaving a footprint should the need ever arise. Grass thatching, fallen Mopani trees, natural canvas, composite-timber flooring, and locally produced leather are among the recycled or recyclable materials that were used.\nThe retreat was devised by husband-and-wife architects Silvio Rech and Leslie Carstens of South Africa, who commissioned local artisans to fabricate decorative elements for the interiors. A neutral palette and rich textures helps create a calming oasis to soothe guests after an action-packed day of exploration and game drives. From $595/night per person; normancarrsafaris.com\nLocated on a beautiful stretch of beach on the eastern shore of Bali's Bukit Peninsula, the Indonesian resort encourages easy yet refined island living. The French hotel brand called on Wilson Assoc. to design the 415 rooms, which include 17 villas\u2014ranging from one to three bedrooms\u2014that are perfect for couples and families alike.\nAmong the amenities are a spa and three restaurants, serving Indonesian, Pan Asian, and Italian cuisines. To the delight of parents in need of a break, the resort offers cooking and yoga classes for the younger set. From $190/night; sofitel.com\nDespite it being just an hour south of Lisbon in the seaside village of Comporta, Portugal, Cabanas no Rio is a remote place for travelers to unwind and recharge. Architect Manuel Aires Mateus reimagined what were once two timber fishermen's huts to construct a high-style haven that accommodates just two people at any given time.\nThe exquisitely simple cabins\u2014one contains a bedroom and bath, the other a living area and small kitchen\u2014face the Sado estuary. Bird-watching, horseback riding, and stunning beaches are just a sampling of what the area has to offer. From $276/night; cabanasnorio.com\nFrom its mountaintop perch outside the Costa Rican town of La Fortuna, two and a half hours north of San Jose, the Nayara Springs resort boasts views of a lush ravine in the Arenal Volcano National Park. All 16 villas come with private gardens, outdoor showers, butler service, and plunge pools that are fed by the surrounding mineral hot springs.\nThe area is a mecca for adventure enthusiasts, with activities like zip-lining, rafting, and hiking close by. For a more relaxing existence, try a coffee scrub or chocolate wrap in one of the open-air spa pavilions. From $590/night; nayarasprings.com\nThe location of the Vana, Malsi Estate wellness retreat in northern India, amid 21 acres of mango and lychee orchards and surrounded by forest, means that guests can really focus on themselves. A team of fitness experts, nutritionists, yoga practitioners, spa therapists, and doctors trained in traditional Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese medicines help build programs tailored to each guest's health and wellness goals.\nSpanish design firm Esteva i Esteva Arquitectura created a calm ambience inside, with natural woods, earth tones, and large windows that allow light and nature indoors. The 66 rooms, 16 suites, and four villas overlook the lower Himalayan foothills. From $534/night per person (minimum three-night stay); vanaretreats.com\nWith the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range in the distance, Hotel Escondido, the latest retreat from the hip hotel collection Grupo Habita, sits on almost 700 feet of prime Pacific coastline north of Puerto Escondido\u2014a popular surf destination and fishing village whose name translates to \"hidden port\"\u2014in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.\nThe laid-back property comprises 16 thatched-roof bungalows designed by architect Federico Rivera R\u00EDo. Each hut is equipped with its own outdoor oasis, featuring a plunge pool and canvas hammocks ideal for lazy afternoon naps. From $385/night; hotelescondido.com\nMauritian architect Jean-Fran\u00E7ois Adam put an updated spin on Moorish-style architecture for his design of the Royal Palm Marrakech, the latest resort from Beachcomber Hotels. The retreat is set among an olive grove just outside of Marrakech, making it both conveniently located and secluded.\nBerber carpets, ceramic tiles from nearby Zagora, and painted woodwork known as zouak are among the local crafts that decorate the 135 suites and villas. Come May, a 45,000-square-foot spa will join the property's four restaurants and golf course. From $530/night; royalpalm-marrakech.com\nLocated on Necker Island, a 74-acre isle owned by Sir Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands, the Great House reopened last fall after a fire destroyed the building in 2011. The new structure was modeled after the original with a few modifications, among them a larger top-floor master suite. There are nine handsome guest rooms with balconies overlooking the Caribbean as well as a bunk room that sleeps six children.\nThe entire island\u2014which also includes six smaller villas\u2014can be rented for groups of up to 30 adults and eight children. For couples or families who don't need the full property, individual rooms can be booked during select weeks. The all-inclusive retreat boasts a spa and activities such as sailing, waterskiing, kiteboarding, and tennis. From $27,475/week per room on select weeks, $62,000/night for exclusive use of the island; neckerisland.virgin.com"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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