Taj Bekal Resort and Spa, Kerala

Twenty-six acres of Kerala coastline, where the Arabian Sea meets palm-fringed lawns and rooms built from plaster, wooden beams, and flared thatch roofing. The resort pulls in regional houseboat details and palm-leaf manuscript patterns alongside pillow menus and king beds, which is a comfortable tension to live inside. The Ivory Bar sits under a dramatic dome with a garden moat, which is exactly the kind of architectural choice that makes perfect sense once you're sipping cocktails and watching the stars.