Our Experts are renowned for their design skills, inimitable talents, and perhaps most importantly, their ability to find (and dream up) the best vacation spots.

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More than just a place to lay one's head, hotels are a playground for designers to gather inspiration and sources from around the globe. “I’m always looking for a stay that’s design-forward,” reveals Jake Arnold on The Expert Podcast.

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With rooms centered around opulence, comfort, and reprieve for guests traveling near and far, these little-known escapes can spark endless curiosity and creativity. Here, our Experts share the 9 best design hotels that epitomize luxury, ease, and style.

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For an Exquisite Inn

Quinta da Côrte

Tucked away in Portugal’s Douro Valley, also known as the Golden Triangle, is a small, serene oasis frequented by Jenna Chused of Chused and Co. “It’s a seven-room hotel with multiple small sitting areas and a communal dining table inside the kitchen. It is the most perfectly blended interior of eclectic antiques and custom details designed by the amazing Pierre Yovanovitch. To me, a small, unique, exquisitely decorated inn that serves gorgeous, delicious food is the ultimate luxury,” says Jenna.

For a Soulful Escape

Le Sirenuse

Perched upon a hilltop in Positano is a quintessentially Italian getaway loved by Sandra Weingort. “It is very different from my personal style but its soulful, understated elegance is what I call true luxury,” she says.

For a Stately Retreat

Heckfield Place

Located in the heart of the English countryside, this restored Georgian estate dates back to 1790. “It has that magic and elusive mix of understated luxury, comfort, elegance, and authenticity,” says Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors. “It's a stately home in a park—the ultimate country retreat.”

For a Tuscan Experience

Villa Biondi at the Castiglion De Bosco

Few places capture the spirit of luxury quite like Tuscany, which is perhaps why multiple getaways in the beloved Italian region have made our Experts’ radar.

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“The villas at Villa Biondi date back to the 12th century and have an unmatched level of charm and sophistication,” says Cameron Ruppert. “I love hotels that don’t have a main building or big grand lobby but rather lots of older little spaces that make you feel like you’re in a private residence.”

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Monteverdi Tuscany

On a medieval hilltop just a few miles away is one escape loved by Lauren Liess: “Monteverdi is the epitome of natural, rustic luxury: textural, soulful, and beautiful Italian villas with plaster walls, old beams, and history with a completely modern sensibility,” she shares. “The grounds and the crumbly stone walls look like heaven to me.”

For a Magical Mediterranean Hotel

Mezzatorre

Nestled amongst the cliffs of Ischia overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea is a magnificent getaway that Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby flees to when in need of a little R&R. “I love everything about the Pellicano hotels: the designs are beautiful, the settings are always magical, and Italian food is my absolute favorite,” she says.

For a Seaside Setting

Hotel Tresanton

Set in the coastal South Cornish village St Mawes, Tresanton is a yacht club turned hotel that Lonika Chande adores for its subtle and sophisticated spaces: “The setting for a perfect British seaside holiday combined with understated luxury, comfortable beds, and good food,” she says.

For an Otherworldly Estate

Prestonfield House

This luxe estate feels like a step back in Scottish history. “I don't require a hotel with the best spa treatments, a pool, or a world-class presidential suite with tons of space. To me, luxury is being completely transported to another world when you arrive, with excellent service and food,” says Noz Nozawa. “The spaces are exceptional and inspiring and the grounds house peacocks and cows.”

For a Quietly Luxurious Getaway

Harmony Hotel

For Anne McDonald, hotels are at their best when they radiate a subtle, confident splendor. “Quiet luxury is such a buzzword right now and I like places that feel like that,” says Anne. “Harmony Hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica is the perfect example. It doesn’t slap you across the face with luxury. It's subtle and it's not super big, but everything is done super well.”