Space to relax.
After the crowds have left and before the weather changes, look to these retreats for peak autumn getaways.
Beachcombing and batik: Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas
Between Phuket and Krabi, the secluded island of Yao Yai hosts the new 148-room Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas amid the limestone sea stacks that pepper Phang Nga Bay. Guests can immerse themselves in Thai island culture with excursions such as sidecar motorcycle trips through a rubber plantation, batik-painting lessons, and trips to the local fishing village to pick up ingredients for a cooking class. A family pool, kids’ club with baby yoga, and ball pit with slides enhance cross-generational escapes. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a 60-minute massage for two.
SO/Paris’ artful lobby.
Paris at your feet: SO/Paris
The SO/Paris, a David Chipperfield transformation of a Seine River-side municipal building, exudes cultural cachet with more than 120 works of art that include commissions by the likes of Olafur Eliasson – each with a QR code for further investigation. (Bonus style points: Patou artistic director Guillaume Henry designed the staff’s attire, from ponchos to berets.) Views from the hotel’s 162 rooms frame Paris landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Coeur. Head to restaurant, bar, and nightclub Bonnie for skyline views from the property’s top two floors. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
Seating in the signature suite.
Join the Italian club: Casa Cipriani Milano
Casa Cipriani Milano sequesters just 15 generous rooms in the sprawling Palazzo Bernasconi, leaving plenty of space for guests to call their own in this hybrid private club/hotel overlooking one of Milan’s oldest parks. Among three stylish dining options, the main Club Restaurant dishes Cipriani classics such as carpaccio and Bellinis, The Living Room serves DJ-driven evenings and light fare, while The Pickering Room satisfies appetites at all hours with artisan pizza and pasta. Should guests choose to exit this pampered Corso Venezia bubble, key attractions including the Scala opera house and the landmark Duomo are just minutes away by club courtesy car. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 dining credit.
Seaside blues at Monte Cogoni beach.
Forever summer in Sardinia: Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia
Slip the summer throngs and bask in the cerulean lagoon – dotted by flamboyances of pink flamingos – at the 107-room Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia. From the spa’s rooftop sundeck and its whirlpools cantilevered over the gardens to the restaurant and terrace bar beside the main pool, guests are never far from wide-reaching views of the Italian island’s southern coast. With horseback riding, aperitif hour on a private boat, and four-wheel-drive expeditions to taste local cheeses, the Conrad embraces summer until its annual closure at the end of October. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 dining credit.
The adults-only pool at Jumeirah Muscat Bay.
Wellness and culture in Oman: Jumeirah Muscat Bay
The new 195-room Jumeirah Muscat Bay channels desert tranquility where the Hajar Mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. Guests can hike into Bronze Age settlements, snorkel with sea turtles, meditate in a traditional hammam, or sign up for monthly Wim Hof Method ice-bath workshops at the spa, and choose from five restaurants serving an array of international cuisine. Get to know Omani culture in the capital of Muscat, only 15 minutes away, home to bustling souks, sixteenth-century Portuguese forts, and an ornate mosque with space for 20,000 worshippers. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
Katara Towers, inspired by Qatar's national seal.
Doing Doha in style: Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha
The Middle East’s latest architectural icon, the crescent-shaped Katara Towers – inspired by the crossed swords of Qatar’s national seal – hosts two luxury hotels, Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha.
Qatar’s only all-suite hotel, the 132-room Raffles Doha goes all out with butler service, a collection of books curated for each guest, and in-room amenities that include a full bar, a bean-to-brew coffee machine, sleep kits, and plush slippers. Apartment-size suites top out with the Royal Suite, spread over two floors with its own pool and game room, and the Parisian Suite, spanning the entire 30th floor with a private gym and cinema. Alba, from three-Michelin-starred chef Enrico Crippa, leads Raffles’ food-and-beverage program, which includes the connoisseur’s Blue Cigar lounge, home to 6,000 rare and first-edition literary classics. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 dining credit.
Three additional restaurants – the late Indian food expert Jiggs Kalra’s Masala Library, South American-focused Vaya!, and a French tea lounge – reside in neighboring Fairmont Doha. Its 362 rooms, inspired by Persian Gulf yachts, star gold mosaic walls, wood paneling, and furnished terraces. Residency on the Fairmont Gold concierge floor brings access to a private outdoor pool. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.