Wood is at the heart of the AROSEA Life Balance Hotel – not simply in the clean, calming Swiss pine-filled interiors, but also in the sustainable philosophy that originally inspired its owners to build this South Tyrolean property. For up in the off-the-beaten-path Ulten Valley, where forests cover mountain slopes, the district’s biomass heating plant, which warms the hotel, is partly supplied by local farmers who can earn additional income by selling their wood to the plant. This local-first, environmentally committed thinking informs the AROSEA experience, from the use of pine, slate and sheep wool in the interior design to the wellness offering – natural Alpine products and an outdoor pond for swimming, for example – to the “zero-kilometer” food approach (food that is produced in the direct vicinity of the property). While guests can savor this in the modern, light-filled main dining room with lake views, they can also enjoy the cosy atmosphere of the wood-paneled 18th-century “Stube” – smaller dining rooms found in surrounding farms and rebuilt at the property. Named after valleys and villages in the area, they embody the mix of tradition and modernity, nature and sustainability that runs through this eco-resort.

Built in the style of a traditional Tyrolean castle, complete with turrets, thatched roofs and red-and-white shuttered windows, A-ROSA Kitzbühel resort may outwardly resemble a scene from a time gone by – but once inside, the warm colours and accent on such materials as wood, marble and tile paint a much more contemporary picture. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel like royalty staying here: a visit to the enormous 3,000 sq m spa, offering both indoor and outdoor pools, eight saunas and more than 20 treatment rooms with a magnificent view over the majestic Alpine landscape, will leave you feeling perfectly pampered. The grounds surrounding the hotel accommodate one of Austria’s most stunning nine-hole golf courses, while several others can be reached within minutes. Whether you opt for complete relaxation or an active time out, this Alpine fairy tale has got you covered.

Fogo Island Inn likes to challenge preconceptions, so when it describes itself as a ‘public house’, one can be sure it is like no other. Replacing traditional ‘pub’ dark corners, this is a light-filled, transparent architectural and cultural ensemble. Nevertheless, its spirit owes something to its antecedents, so the island community is heartily invited to enjoy the library, art gallery and fine-dining restaurant. Located in Newfoundland, Canada, Fogo Island Inn presents a multitude of opportunities: how about a day with a chef or learning to paint? Ocean fishing and cross-country skiing are other fitting activities. Of course this all depends on which of the island’s ‘seven seasons’ are happening during your stay.

Its reputation stretches far beyond the shores of the Inner Alster Lake, over which it has a fine view, and indeed beyond the northern powerhouse of Hamburg: at Restaurant Haerlin, the creative French cuisine of classically trained Executive Chef Christoph Rüffer has won awards aplenty, including a pair of coveted Michelin stars. Served against an elegant backdrop – think cream and pale green, with Chinese silk tapestries, gold embossing and a 20,000-crystal chandelier – the culinary offering is technically perfect, intense with occasionally unexpected flavour combinations, and employing top-quality seasonal ingredients. There’s also a built-in wine closet and excellent wine list, as well as an eight-seat Chef’s Table one floor below, where gourmets have a bird’s-eye view of the kitchen team at work. The sophistication and refined luxury carry over into the restaurant’s ‘home’, the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, the epitome of grand European hospitality, its 156 rooms and suites set in a 19^th-century mansion between the opera house, smart boutiques and the lakeside.

Head to the heart of Munich’s hippest future-forward urban space for an evening that brings together the cosmopolitan with the local, the eclectic with the strikingly individual. You and a partner will have guest list-only access to the opening of the lounge at Andaz’s latest outpost in the Bavarian capital. Works from local artists infuse the space, nowhere more impressively than the new lounge itself. Here, video installations by award-winning Munich-based artist and creative director Yves Peitzner, who blends design with technology in his experiential art, depict the city’s skyline over 365 days. You will get up close and personal with both the work and its creator while sipping your cocktail. Further refreshment will be provided in the penthouse suite, from which you can gaze out at the real Munich night skies, having already been inspired by their artistic recreation.

Cradled by the Austrian Alps, and with panoramic lake views that appeared in the Bond film Spectre, the natural setting of VIVAMAYR Altaussee would be enough to induce a feeling of wellbeing in most weary guests. However, the full VIVAMAYR experience – a medical and detox programme based on findings developed by Dr F. X. Mayr nearly a century ago – offers an approach to healthy living that leaves exponents’ habits altered forever. Recognised as best spa for targeted healing by CNTraveler, the Altaussee outpost opened its doors in 2015, sculpted from wood sourced from the surrounding forests and with an elegant pine, light and pastel-filled interior. Located in a region known for its salt sources, this “white gold” plays a major role in the VIVAMAYR spa area – with its sole steam bath, indoor swimming pool with salt water pool, Watsu treatment in a highly concentrated salt tub and sauna with rock salt wall – highlighting again the natural connection to a healthier life.

When, in 2004, Dr Harald Stossier founded a medical and detox centre on the idyllic shores of Lake Wörthersee, in southern Austria, he started a small empire that has now expanded to several locations, all of which convey his philosophy for health and wellbeing. Based on the findings of Dr F. X. Mayr, developed nearly a century ago, the VIVAMAYR approach includes sophisticated diagnostics, effective holistic treatments and an individualised diet plan to combat the ills and stresses of modern life. In a tranquil setting which is sun-drenched in summer and snow-sprinkled in winter, this luxurious hotel offers a pool, spa, fully equipped gym and beauty salon, as well as freshly prepared organic food in outside and indoor locations with lake vistas, underlining the healing effect that draws guests to this serene centre.

Right at the foot of Mallorca’s UNESCO World Heritage-protected Tramuntana mountains, a world away from the island’s party strongholds, lies an oasis of tranquillity: Castell Son Claret. Founded in the 15^th century, the property – which opened as a luxury hotel in 2013 – sits on more than 300 acres of pristine, unspoilt countryside where the fragrances of bergamot, grapefruit, orange, rose and jasmine linger in the air and nothing blocks the view of the spectacular mountain range in the distance. The garden’s luscious bounty – including almond blossom and lavender – doubles as ingredients for the indulgent spa treatments at Bellesa de Claret, some of which can be enjoyed outdoors. The hotel is also home to the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in the Balearic Islands, Zaranda, where chef Fernando P. Arellano and his team create innovative dishes in the glass-fronted kitchen.

Right at the foot of Mallorca’s UNESCO World Heritage-protected Tramuntana mountains, a world away from the island’s party strongholds, lies an oasis of tranquillity: Castell Son Claret. Founded in the 15^th century, the property – which opened as a luxury hotel in 2013 – sits on more than 300 acres of pristine, unspoilt countryside where the fragrances of bergamot, grapefruit, orange, rose and jasmine linger in the air and nothing blocks the view of the spectacular mountain range in the distance. The garden’s luscious bounty – including almond blossom and lavender – doubles as ingredients for the indulgent spa treatments at Bellesa de Claret, some of which can be enjoyed outdoors. The hotel is also home to the only two Michelin-starred restaurants in the Balearic Islands, Zaranda, where chef Fernando P. Arellano and his team create innovative dishes in the glass-fronted kitchen.

Continuing over a century of wellness-focused hospitality, the third and fourth generations of the Bolland-Anton family – whose surnames combine in the resort’s own moniker – are now at the helm of the BollAnts Spa im Park, established 110 years ago as the Felke Jungborn Kurhaus Dhonau. Located around an hour from Germany’s business capital Frankfurt, the current-day reincarnation offers top-class luxury, qualified medical wellness and evocative touches of the past. For example, accommodation is in buildings ranging in style from Jugendstil and Bauhaus to modern, nestled amid an extensive private park. The Michelin-starred Jungborn restaurant – one of three on the property – is set beneath vaulted ceilings, its name recalling that of the original establishment. It was here that the Felke healing method was developed, and this holistic natural medicine practice is still followed at BollAnts today – alongside a raft of outdoor activities, excellent spa facilities and numerous sustainability-focused measures, from organic quality body care to the use of local produce and support for local wines.