15 ocean Hotels

The road from Lisbon airport winds through increasingly peaceful countryside before depositing you at what feels like the edge of the world. Here, perched on the cliffs of Praia Grande, sits the Arribas Sintra Hotel – a modest 4-star establishment that happens to hold the rather grand title of mainland …

Santa Monica, a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, is home to Shutters on the Beach - an upscale hotel on the Pacific Ocean. Decorated by Michael S. Smith (yes, the same man who decorated the White House for the Obama Administration), the hotel has a homey feel with …

This island escape with 400 acres of organic farmland and tropical forests in the West Indies provides a welcoming atmosphere and community with a passion for sustainable living. With secluded guesthouses and farmhouses, travelers will find spectacular views in this peaceful atmosphere. Staying at the farm is a unique experience …

This rental property was built in the 1980s on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a 200-mile stretch of barrier islands off the coast of the North American mainland that have long been a kite-strewn holiday destination. It was the location for a film called Nights in Rodanthe, where Richard …

Mexico, the land of tequila, beaches, fun, and excitement, is home to many historic sites and exquisite hotels, including Hacienda Cerritos. Cerritos is located on a private bluff about 40 miles (64 km) north of Cabo San Lucas outside the historic colony of Todos Santos (All Saints). It is also …

It’s hard to think about Spain without visualizing sparkling beaches meeting the deep blue waters of the Iberian Peninsula. You’re a stone’s throw away from the wild cliffs of Loiba when you arrange for a stay at the guest house on the famous Paraqueira Loiba Estate, and in the heart …

The WildSpring resort is located on the south Oregon coast, a place of outstanding natural beauty. Stay in a luxurious cabin in a private residential forest of 100-ft trees. Each cabin is built like a small home, filled with art and antiques, with radiant-heated floors. Visit the giant redwoods south …

Located on a resort island, W Singapore is a hotel for the playful-hearted to wine, dine and have fun. Here you have access to everything on your doorstep: casinos, beaches, restaurants, and the massive retail park known as Orchard Road. Your room has sea views, a special W signature bed, …

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 …

Goa is one of the most popular destinations on the globe. Its year-round sunshine, laid-back culture, and infinite stretches of beach attract people the world over. Now wouldn’t it be nice if you could break off a piece of this paradise to call your own? Well, you can at Elsewhere. …

Easter Island or ‘Rapa Nui’ is one of the most remote islands in the world: first populated by humans roughly 1000AD. The original Polynesian inhabitants carved the famous Easter Island Heads that represent their deified ancestors who, they believed, controlled the environment. Some of the statues have been shoved over. …

So it’s an ultra-modern wooden cabin with views over the grand ocean waves by the famous Hirtle’s Beach. It may look like the sort of cube you would find in a toddler’s mouth but inside it is a triumph of eco-sensitive architecture and cutting edge ergonomics. It has caused considerable …

It holds the world record for ‘smallest hotel in the world’, and when you arrive at Punta Grande, you will be forgiven for thinking you have arrived at the home of an insane fisherman with love for very exposed locations. Situated on a rocky outcrop on the island of El …

The tourist industry in Cascais has had a great time recently. This gorgeous medieval village boasts a fine location that has long been used as a getaway for the rich and famous. The top real estate here is the old aristocratic mansions that lie on rocky outcrops, high above the …

A shining example of what creativity and recycling can achieve, the hotel owners rescued this 1965 Boeing 727 from a rusty airport graveyard and placed it in the Jungle canopy by the beautiful Costa Rican coastline. The team cut it into pieces and transported it by truck and crane to …