The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg

Rooms here overlook either the Volkswagen factory or the Autostadt canal, which tells you everything about where you are. This Forbes Four Star, Michelin Key hotel was designed by Andrée Putman, whose interiors manage to feel modern without the usual preciousness. The Kraftwerk spa and a heated outdoor pool handle leisure, while Newman's Bar runs live jazz most nights beneath Arnold Newman's portraits.