A villa at Velaa Private Island.
TROPICAL GETAWAY Velaa Private Island in the Maldives accommodates guests in villas designed by Czech architect Petr Kolar; many overlook the turquoise Indian Ocean. Built with local materials, the beach pool villa features teak furniture, an indoor bathroom and an outdoor bath connected by a garden atrium. Water sports, a spa, and a golf course await. Rates from $2,000. velaaprivateisland.com
WASHINGTON OASIS The Avery Georgetown, a 15-room boutique hotel, opened last year in a renovated row house. Interiors by DC-based designer Kate Ballou of Hendrick Interiors are playful and feminine, yet rooted in a modern sensibility. A king suite boasts Harlequin wallpaper, a classic Wishbone Chair, and a whimsical Discoco chandelier. Rates from $299. averygeorgetown.com
HISTORY REBORN The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia is fresh from a $24 million facelift. Wimberly Interiors recast the grand lobby in neutral colors, textures, and materials. In the public spaces and updated guest rooms, pops of metallic and bronze were inspired by the colors of money—an homage to the 1908 building, which originally housed a bank. Rates from $299. ritzcarlton.com