Dream Pool: The Riviera Palm Springs, United States

The Riviera Palm Springs, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, is one of the most legendary hotels in Palm Springs. At the heart of the hotel is the soleil pool, which has an interesting history.

Originally designed by the visionary architect Irwin Schuman, The Riviera was fashioned after the glamorous hotels of old Las Vegas. Opened in 1959, this Palm Springs resort immediately became the go-to hot spot for celebrities and sophisticates like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who would lounge by the pool and in the Presidential Suite. Elvis Presley was a frequent visitor at The Riviera and sought both refuge and rehearsal space in the Mediterranean Room for his band before leaving for tours and shows in Las Vegas.

In 2015, The Riviera Palm Springs opened as the second Tribute Hotel in the United States under Starwood Hotels and Resorts. While soaking in the sun, guests can enjoy poolside dining on the expansive sundeck of Soleil. The menu offers California-inspired cuisine with choices of salads, grilled sandwiches or fresh daily seafood. On sundeck you will find loungers, tables and chairs, or you can reserve a private cabana.

Amangiri Suite at the Amangiri, Utah, United States

Amangiri is a luxury resort at the heart of the Grand Circle and within easy reach of some of the continent’s most magnificent protected areas, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and Monument Valley. Amangiri’s 243 hectares (600 acres) and beyond reveal stark beauty as well as rich cultural heritage.

The Suites at the Amangiri reflect the luminous qualities of the surrounding Utah desert. Accommodation design features include white stone floors, concrete walls, natural timbers and fittings in blackened steel. Each Suite has an outdoor lounge and fireplace with expansive desert views, while some feature a private pool or roof terrace.

Amangiri Suite

The 348-square-metre (3,472 square feet) Amangiri Suite features a large private lap pool with floating steps, an expansive sun deck with outdoor dining areas and a sky terrace, all with magnificent Utah desert views. The perfect place for relaxing getaway!

• Desert views
• Private swimming pool (18m x 4m / 59ft x 13ft) with floating steps
• Sun deck with four sun loungers, built-in lounge seating, dining area
• Fire pit
• Private sky terrace with large day bed
• Private courtyard entrance and breezeway
• King-size bed
• Living area with reading chairs, writing desk
• Bathroom with twin rain showers, soaking tub
• Twin vanities, dressing areas, separate toilet
• Wi-Fi, TV, DVD player, sound system, safe
• Air-conditioning, underfloor heating
• Personal bar

Natural Wonder: Monument Valley, Utah, United States

Monument Valley in Utah is said to be one of the most photographed places on earth. The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world.

Set aside by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1958, the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park covers almost 92,000 acres in northern Arizona and southern Utah and lies within the Navajo Nation reservation.

This remote, inspiring place demands a closer look. Enjoy hiking, jeep tours, horseback riding and stargazing in Monument Valley. Visitors may explore the 17-mile scenic drive in private vehicles or book a half-day or full-day jeep tour to explore the area's backroads and sacred lands with the help of a local guide.

Stay the night and step out after dark to appreciate the timelessness and wonder of the Milky Way. Stopping to appreciate the rhythms of this ancient, sacred land has the ability to change your perspective if you take the time to let it.

Luxury Resort: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, United States

Within close proximity to San Francisco, but set on a secluded bluff above the Pacific Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is a perfect place for a relaxing break or a romantic getaway.

Two championship golf courses appeal to players of all skill levels, fire pits on the Ocean Lawn and a luxury spa invite conviviality and relaxation. Hotel rooms and suites are inspired by their California surroundings, as are locally sourced restaurant menus.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay features:

• The Ritz-Carlton Club private lounge with a personal concierge staff and complimentary culinary presentations throughout the day
• 24-hour room service
• 16,000-square-foot spa and on-site spa shop
• Fitness center with Cybex gym and indoor heated swimming pool located adjacent to the resort at the Colony Club
• Three gas fire pits overlooking the Pacific Ocean
• Six lighted tennis courts
• Access to both on-property championship golf courses; golf pro shop and dedicated golf concierge