Fancy a stay in a 19th-century Spanish palace or a ‘ski chalet’ in Dubai? Perhaps a private island retreat in the Maldives is more your speed. This year’s honour roll of our favourite new hotels is truly exceptional. Check in.

WORDS GUY DIMOND, GEORGE EPAMINONDAS, ROSA JACKSON, CYNTHIA ROSENFELD, ROB INGRAM, TRACY LEE-ELRICK, SCOTT ADAMS, ANDREA CLARKE, ED PETERS PHOTOGRAPHY TETSUYA MIURA (CONRAD TOKYO), ANSON SMART (KURAMURE), DAVID MATHESON (BULGARI RESORT), COURTESTY OF DESIGN HOTELS (THE ELYSIAN, MAVIDA, GOLDMAN 25HOURS, CHAMBERS, HOSPES PALACIO DE LOS PATOS, NEW MAJESTIC), OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PROPERTY PICTURED