The hotel was designed by the celebrated I. M. Pei in a dramatic modern-deco style, most evident in the lobby, which is filled with imposing limestone columns and sharp architectural lines. Overlooking the lobby, The Garden restaurant serves a breakfast and lunch menu featuring healthy gourmet bites, with local suppliers providing organic ingredients for the asparagus frittatas, smoked salmon sandwiches, cauliflower steaks and roast chicken dishes.

Nearby is the Ty bar, which serves small-plate snacks and signature cocktails. Although the hotel does not have a dinner restaurant, 24-hour dining is available courtesy of the in-room dining menu. A serviceable spa contains whirlpools and saunas and offers proprietary L. Raphael treatments and products. To be noted, there is no swimming pool in the hotel.

Best in Europe: Four Seasons Firenze

Set in the Renaissance city of Florence, famed for its art museums, architectural wonders, and rich cultural heritage, Four Seasons Firenze perfectly complements the historical setting. The hotel is housed in an opulent former palace and is surrounded by the largest private garden in the city, dating from the 15th century and filled with topiary, centuries-old trees, and marble monuments and fountains.

The recent addition of a swimming pool is careful to not detract from the venerable atmosphere. Inside the hotel, ancient paintings, frescos, and statues adorn the public spaces and guest rooms, most notably the stunning Royal Suite. At the Michelin-starred Il Palagio, a superb selection of Tuscan fare, such as the signature cacio and pepe cavatelli pasta, is accompanied by a wine cellar filled with vintages from around Italy.

The five-star spa offers a full range of treatments, making use of regional ingredients in specialist therapies such as the Chianti wine massage. For guests wanting to explore the Tuscany countryside, the hotel provides classic and luxury cars that complete the romantic setting.

Best in Asia: Four Seasons Nam Hai

Set on the shores of a stretch of sandy beach considered to be one of the best in the world, Four Seasons Nam Hai promises a relaxing beach vacation. The architecture reflects local building and decor elements, evident within the open-air public spaces, modern yet traditional rooms and the tranquil spa. Within the spacious grounds, scattered with coconut palms, a three-tiered infinity pool cascades towards the beachfront and an herb and vegetable farm provides fresh local ingredients for immersive cooking classes.

Down on the immaculate beach, a wide range of non-motorized water sports can be enjoyed. At the La Sen restaurant, international and Vietnamese cuisine is served in a covered pavilion with folding glass doors opening onto an alfresco dining terrace overlooking the beach and pool.

Café Nam Hai provides light healthy meals from morning to evening, and cocktails, beers, and premium spirits are available at the sophisticated courtyard bar and the casual beach bar.

Best in South America: Four Seasons Buenos Aires

Housed partly in an early 20th-century mansion in the heart of the fashionable Recoleta district, some guest rooms have a refined European vibe, with hardwood floors, French windows, and antique furnishings, while other rooms have received a modern update.

For visitors looking to experience a true taste of local culture, the hotel will arrange private tango classes, red wine massages and prime, dry-aged beef degustation sessions at a variety of nearby locations. Down in the hotel courtyard, immaculate formal gardens surround a heated outdoor pool with plenty of sun loungers.

Guests should try to attend one of the Sunday asados — social barbeque gatherings done in the traditional Argentine fashion and held around a blazing fire pit.For a more formal dining experience, the Elena restaurant serves an impeccably-prepared range of quality meat cuts, paired with the rich, full-bodied Malbecs and other varietals for which Argentina is famous.

Best for Nature: Four Seasons Golden Triangle

Four Seasons Golden Triangle places guests in the midst of the lush forests and grasslands of Thailand. Set beside the Ruak River and accessible only by boat, the camp consists of elegant open-air tents and lodges, constructed with beautifully polished wood and bamboo timbers. Accommodations are tastefully decorated with local textiles and art and have alfresco balconies overlooking the river. Hot tubs, outdoor showers, and private pools are also available in select rooms.

A wide range of activities encourage guests to explore the natural world, from energetic hikes through bamboo forest foraging for edible plants to elephant treks, mahout training and boat rides on the Mekong River. After a long day of exploration, a riverside pool, surrounded by granite boulders and teak logs and shaded by leafy coconut palms, provides a cool oasis of relaxation, and an open-air spa provides soothing recovery services, including bamboo massages and lemongrass poultices.The Nong Yao restaurant offers a diverse menu of local and Western dishes, with a thatch-roof wine cellar containing an excellent selection of vintages.

Best View: Four Seasons Chicago

Occupying the top floors of the 900 North Michigan Shops tower on the famed Magnificent Mile strip, Four Seasons Chicago offers guests a huge range of shopping opportunities without having to leave the building, with upscale shops and designers such as Bloomingdales, Gucci, and L’Occitane all in residence. However, it is the stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago city skyline that are the true drawcards of this property.

Modern guest rooms take full advantage of the impressive vistas, with large windows containing padded window nooks for hours spent in scenic comfort. The on-site spa has a large pool housed in a sunlit chamber reminiscent of an ancient Roman bathhouse, as well as a hot tub, steam room, and sauna. The hotel is also very family-friendly, with a kids’ club packed with toys for young children and air hockey and video games for older kids.The Allium restaurant is one of the finest in the area, offering farm-to-table fare such as Colorado lamb and Alaskan halibut. Guests can also enjoy in-room dining, followed by indulgent desserts such as custom sundae ice-creams for the kids and handmade cocktails for adults.

Best Beach Holiday: Four Seasons Bora Bora

On a sandy island, overlooking a crystal-clear lagoon filled with coral reefs and with stunning views of Mount Otemanu, Four Seasons Bora Bora is a secluded corner of tropical island paradise. Built in a native Polynesian style of thatched roofs of palm leaves and hardwood timbers for the floors and columns, the hotel consists of open-air public spaces, beachfront villas and desirable overwater villas extending out into the calm lagoon waters.

Both types of villa come with private plunge pools, scenic furnished balconies, and luxurious fittings. A free-form infinity edge pool is set on the edge of the sandy beach, where kayaks, snorkels and other non-motorized water sports equipment are available. Jet skis and deep-water fishing tours can take guests further out into the ocean waters, and artificial grass tennis courts are located in the resort grounds.

A superb beachfront spa contains open-air treatment rooms offering signature therapies including Tahitian-black-pearl exfoliations and algae body wraps. Scenic breakfast and dinner restaurants, relaxed beach bars and private island dining experiences comprise the food and beverage options, with dishes featuring Polynesian, French and international flavors.