Anantara Hua Hin Resort

"Two-and-a-half hours south of Bangkok, the Anantara Hua Hin Resort, set in a sleepy seaside town once frequented by Thai royals as their summer playground, still looks the regal part. Rooms have hand-crafted wooden armoires, silk accents, and the occasional private terrace that overlooks either the tropical gardens or the Gulf of Thailand. The roughly 14-acre garden dreamt up by architect and landscape designer Bill Bensley is designed to resemble an ancient Thai village, and water features like lagoons and lotus ponds fill the property. There are plenty of restaurants and lounges to choose from, too: Readers recommend Rim Nam for Thai and fusion cuisines, and Issara Café for leisurely breakfasts; for a dining experience that's a little less conventional, there's Spice Spoons, to school you in the art of perfectly balanced curries." - Betsy Blumenthal