Hot Address

Wish You Were Here

Hotels knock down the walls of the traditional lobby.

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MANDARIN ORIENTAL
Km 298.8 Carretera #307
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo,
Mexico, 52-984-877-3234,
mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya

PHOTO: GEORGE APOSTOLIDIS

Four ceiba trees, which for ancient Mayans represented the connection between the heavens and the underworld, point the way to the porte cochère at Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya. On the other side, the lobby, surrounded entirely by reflecting pools, feels like a floating barge, save for a small bridge that leads to the butlers.

AMANDARI
Kedewatan, Ubud
Bali, Indonesia
65-361-975-333, amanresorts.com

A light wind blows through the Balinese village-style Amandari resort, especially in the lobby, where a thatched roof rests on wooden beams. Made to resemble a wantilan (a village meeting place), it’s the perfect spot to convene with fellow guests after spending quality alone time in your own villa, complete with private pool.

GRAND HYATT KAUAI RESORT & SPA
1571 Poipu Road
Koloa, Hawaii
808-742-1234, kauai.hyatt.com

The stone path that winds through an atrium to the check-in area of the Grand
Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa teems with talkative birds. An ocean view is the backdrop to the main spectacle: local artisans working on woodcarving, leis and lauhalas. Walk to the end, and there’s another path that leads straight to the white sandy beach. Le sentier de pierres qui serpente dans l’atrium jusqu’à la réception du Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa retentit du chant d’oiseaux. Avec l’océan en toile de fond, des artisans locaux sculptent le bois, fabriquent des guirlandes traditionnelles ou tressent des paniers de feuilles de baquois. Au bout du sentier, un chemin mène à la plage de sable blanc.

THE DATAI LANGKAWI
Jalan Teluk Datai
Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
60-49-59-2500, lhw.com/datai

Nestled in a rainforest, the Datai’s alfresco lobby borders all four sides of a large and fragrant lotus pond. There’s no background music – just the echoing sounds of exotic birds and monkeys. For the curious at heart, a resident naturalist is on standby, ready to take visitors on a tour of the surrounding wildlife.

THE HOUSE
Paynes Bay
St. James, Barbados
246-432-5525, thehousebarbados.com

There’s no lobby at The House. Instead, sunken sofas fill an open-air foyer, where waiters serve smoothies to new arrivals. The view of the azure waves is soothing, as is the complimentary anti-jet lag massage that follows. The daily high tea served on the beach helps wash away any leftover stress.