From tropical island getaways in the Maldives and Hawaii to glamorous city breaks in Sydney, Hollywood, and Singapore, we dream of splurging on these hotels and saving for them.

Brando, French Polynesia

Brando is located on an island 30 miles north of Tahiti and is a celebrity favorite

If it's sophistication and luxury you're after, you can't beat Brando, an ultra-luxurious private 30-mile north of Tahiti at Tetiaroa's island resort in Tetiaroa, 30 miles north of Tahiti.

The far-flung getaway is a favorite of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres. Former President Barack? Barack Obama also visited the island after leaving office in 2017, writing his memoirs there. (Most recently, Kim Kardashian threw her lavish 40th birthday party on the island in October 2020.)

It has just 35 thatched-roof villas, each adorned with a private infinity pool, outdoor dining area and all the creature comforts you might expect from a five-star hotel in London or New York.

But the biggest luxury of all? Your own private powder-white sandy beach and turquoise ocean just steps away from your bedroom.

Brando, Tetiaroa Private Island, French Polynesia. Prices start from R21,367.

Matakori Lodge, New Zealand

This Matakori Lodge luxury suite doesn't let the view get in the way

It's worth splurging here for the view alone. Towering over the mountains behind tranquil Lake Wakatipu, Matakauri Lodge boasts a breathtaking setting in New Zealand's South Island.

This 12-suite lakeside lodge on the outskirts of Queenstown overlooks Cecil's and Walter's Peaks as well as the aptly named mountain range, The Remarkables.

Short excursions include bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, creek rappelling, and wine tours, but with a view like this, jaded travelers tired of the big fads may want nothing more than to stay at a full-service spa! Book a treatment with sweeping lake views and the soaring 1,978-meter (6,490-foot) Cecil Peak.

Off-season rates for double occupancy lodge rooms start at R7,545.

Four Seasons Resort Lanai Sensei, Lanai, Hawaii

Private spa cabanas are scattered amongst the lush foliage of Lanai Sensei

This adults-only wellness resort epitomizes post-pandemic luxury. First, it's located on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which is so peaceful and secluded that it feels like you're on your own private island.

Then there are the luxury suites, secluded and tucked away in the jungle-filled, mist-covered mountains of Lanai, where you'll barely notice other guests.

Finally, you'll get a personalized wellness itinerary crafted by your very own Sensei Guide, offering spa treatments and wellness activities - from morning meditations to sound baths - designed to eliminate any lingering stress or anxiety.

Prices start from R8,814 for a single occupancy / R11,752 for a double occupancy

Chateau de la Grande Rousse Hotel, France

The Adam Link / Chateau de la Grande Rousse Hotel

Swimming pools and acres of labyrinths, lakes and gardens are part of the charm of the Chateau de la Grande Rousse Hotel

This serene retreat is the perfect place for a relaxing stay. >

Tucked away in France's idyllic Loire Valley, this tranquil 18th-century chateau feels a million miles from the rest of the world - even though it's only a 55-minute train ride from Paris.

The hotel's 17 sunny, spacious suites, each adorned with hand-painted murals, crystal chandeliers, and antique Louis XV furniture, will make you feel like you've stepped back in time. (The most luxurious is the Le Grand-Lucé Suite, which enjoys sweeping views of the gardens and a lovely claw-footed soaking tub.) Outside, there's an 80-acre maze of lakes and rose gardens for you to enjoy, as well as a beautiful stone-edged swimming pool - the perfect rustic escape.

Prices start from R5,528.

Jack's Camp, Botswana

Secluded and luxurious, Jack's Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime getaway

If it's an ultra-exclusive serenity you're after. This is a luxury safari camp tucked away on a million acres of private wildlife reserve in the Kalahari Desert.

Opened in 1993, closed for renovation in 2019 and reopening in early 2021, this legendary camp boasts nine huge luxury guest tents (more than twice the size of the original tents) with plush four-poster beds, ornate old-world safari décor, and a small private swimming pool overlooking the Makgadikgadi salt flats.

There's also a library, billiards room, bar and a plush tea tent strewn with Persian rugs and plush cushions - the perfect place to unwind with a cup of iced tea after a long, hot day out on safari.

Jack's Camp, Makgadikgadi Salt Flats, Kalahari, Botswana. From R9,682 per person per night for double occupancy (includes game drives, meals, drinks, etc.).

The West Hollywood Hotel Los Angeles

Featuring the largest, most luxurious rooms in all of Los Angeles

If a glamorous city is more your style, it doesn't get much better than this stylish urban oasis on the Sunset Strip.

The 1 West Hollywood, which opened in 2019 just months before the pandemic hit, is one of the largest, most luxurious rooms in LA, with rustic, minimalist chic decor, plush marble bathrooms and unrivaled views of the Hollywood Hills.

Then there are the sofa beds and the pools flanking the cabanas, a veritable sanctuary of calm and serenity above L.A.'s busy palm-lined streets.

But most impressive of all is the brand's sustainability-centered ethos, which is evident everywhere from the design (the furniture is made from reclaimed California wood) to the dining (an on-site organic garden supplies the restaurant with herbs and vegetables).

The entire hotel is also plastic-free and (almost) paperless, and guests can join a loyalty program that allows them to reduce their carbon footprint with each stay - touches that make all the difference as we move into a post-pandemic world.

Prices start from R3,338.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Italy

One of the swimming pools floats on Lake Como

With Europe opening up to mostly international travelers, your first stop should be the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, an iconic Art Nouveau hotel on the shores of Lake Como.

Each of the hotel's 90 rooms is uniquely decorated with indulgent details like spacious balconies, terraces, and whirlpool tubs. While splurging every euro on a lake view room is worth it, the garden view rooms overlooking the beautifully manicured grounds also offer an oasis of tranquility.

Outside, you'll find three swimming pools, one of which floats directly on the lake.

Tremezzo Grand Hotel, Antica Regina Street. Prices start at around CNY 5,074 for a garden view room, including breakfast for two.

Soneva Jani, Maldives

If you want a locked-down vacation that will blow your family away, Soneva Jani is for you. Its overwater villas with private infinity pools and waterslides will take you to the glittering turquoise ocean below.

Other family-friendly attractions include an overwater movie theater, a stargazing observatory, and an ice cream and chocolate room. Each villa also has a retractable roof, so kids can doze off under the stars.

For parents: a luxurious spa, a spacious wine cellar, multiple dining options from sashimi to Spanish tapas and sunset cruises (you can even bring the kids if you want).

Soneva Jani, Medu Faru Island, Manadhu Island, Maldives. Prices start from Rs. 22,382.

Raffles Singapore

Raffles Singapore is the noblewoman of luxury hotels

If you're looking to splurge big time - like, "Crazy Rich Asians! " - then you can't beat Singapore's iconic Raffles. It's one of the world's greatest hotels and the benchmark for many other five-star hotels around the world today.

This 135-year-old hotel is the definition of luxury, from the recently updated suites (which have the same old-world colonial charm as always, but with a subtle modern twist) to the elegant Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented in 1915.

Each guest has his or her own butler, who provides a rare kind of service that is intuitive, attentive, but discreet - perhaps the greatest luxury of all.

Raffles Singapore, 1 Mezze Road, Singapore. Prices start from 6,410 RMB

Crowne Plaza Sydney, Australia

The Crowne Plaza Sydney elegantly towers over the Sydney skyline, opening in late 2020 after four years and a whopping $1.7 billion in construction.

The glittering petal-shaped skyscraper bills itself as a six-star hotel, with 14 restaurants and bars (including the world-famous Nobu), an infinity pool overlooking Sydney Harbor, and 349 guest rooms with deep-soaking marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows with city views.

The decadent spa features yoga and meditation terraces, relaxation rooms, infrared saunas and a separate Roman bathhouse-inspired spa retreat - the perfect place to wash away your cares.

Prices start from RMB 5,675.

Silver Sands Grenada

Silver Sands Grenada's 100-meter pool is touted to be the longest in the Caribbean

Featuring the longest swimming pool in the Caribbean, at 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level, a full-service spa and two restaurants. This stylish resort is located on the unspoiled "Spice Island" of Grenada.

Located on Grand Anse Beach, the resort features 43 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as beachfront and hillside villas.

Two miles of powdery sand invite visitors to sunbathe, stroll or jump in the water. The resort offers water sports.

Silver Sands Grenada, Grand Anse Main Road, Grand Anse, Grenada. Off-season rates start from R6,009.

Grumeti Serengeti River Mountain Lodge, Tanzania

This luxury lodge from AndBeyond is set to reopen in June 2020 after a complete overhaul triggered by the April floods.

Rebuilt from the ground up, the new Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge will be more luxurious and modern, designed to blend into the landscape and make the most of its location on a tributary of the Grumeti River.

The new suites will more than double in size, featuring deep soaking tubs and indoor showers, as well as outdoor decks with private small pools. There's also a cabana pool with views of the hippo-filled river and a new gym.

Grumeti Serengeti River Mountain Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. From R7,211 per person per night for double occupancy (includes game drives, meals, drinks and more)

W Melbourne, Australia

The five-star W Melbourne opened early last year - it's the newly reopened luxury accommodation for Australian travelers.

The ultra-modern hotel is built within the gleaming $1.25 billion Collins Arch district - also home to luxury residences and upscale retail and dining offerings - and boasts five restaurants and bars, as well as a heated, gold-roofed indoor pool with a poolside bar and DJ booths.

The hotel's 294 rooms are as luxurious and design-centric as any W Hotel, and feature luxurious deep-soaking bathtubs with unobstructed views of the city or Melbourne's Yarra River.

Prices start from R1,903