UXUA Casa Hotel; Bahia, Brazil
Owned by Wilbert Das (one-time Creative Director and Head of Design for Diesel) UXUA Casa Hotel has a collection of interiors that wouldnt look out of place in the pages of ELLE Decoration. Oh, and its also just a gentle stroll from the beaches of Trancoso, some of the most stunning stretches of sand on the Bahia Coast. Cheap it certainly is not, but then its hard to put a price tag on somewhere this beautiful
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The Catalina; Miami, USA
In contrast to pretty much everywhere else worth laying your hat for the night in Miami, The Catalina is pretty affordable. That it also makes for a pretty stylish base from which to conduct a few nights hard partying (to the extent that you get a complimentary bottle of vodka with some rooms) comes as a welcome additional bonus.
Decembers a great time to be in Miami as the countrys most important arts show, Art Basel, rolls into town, along with a host of glamorous after-parties, a supporting cast of beautiful people from the worlds of art and design and a generally buzzy vibe.
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Hotel Villa Bahia; Salvador, Brazil
Hotel Villa Bahia, the second of our pick of places to stay in Brazil, is a different set-up entirely from UXUA. A couple of handsome 18th-century townhouses clad in quirky boutique styling and surrounded by the crumbling colonial grandeur of Salvador, it still makes for a very attractive proposition, though.
Salvador is also surrounded by some great beaches like Porto da Barra, Farol da Barra and Itapoan which, as spring segues into summer, makes it an absolutely perfect destination for a mix of winter sun and a spot of culture. Plus they serve a mean cocktail by the lovely rooftop pool, if even the beach is a bit too much like hard work
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The Tides; Riviera Maya, Mexico
Mexicos Riviera Maya in November/December is a pretty good place to be, as the temperatures havent quite reached their searing peak season highs, while the crowds, too, are a little thinner. But all the things that make the Yucatan such a fabulous winter sun destination namely beaches and Mayan ruins are still there in abundance.
Barefoot luxury is the order of the day at The Tides. An assortment of thatched roof casitas dotted through the jungle, it specialises in peace and privacy (mobiles and children are banned) making it a popular choice with honeymooners and couples looking for lots of luxurious alone time.
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Nuarro; Nampula, Mozambique
You dont get much more far-flung and exotic than the coast of Nampula Province in northern Mozambique. Marooned all the way up here a bumpy four-hour 4x4 drive away from anywhere, no less is Nuarro, an eco-lodge made up of a handful of gorgeous chalets surrounded by bush, beach... and precious little else.
Days can be spent snorkelling or diving the nearby 150-metre drop-off, or taking a sea kayak out for the day and doing a spot of whale-watching. Or they can be simply whiled away in the hammock on your terrace or stretched out on the pristine white sands. And if theres not a great deal more time left to visit this year before it closes up for the season, theres always next spring
Read ELLEuks full review of Nuarro
Looking for somewhere a little closer to home than our pick of the best early winter sun hotels? For a wintry break of a different kind, check out our selection of the best romantic hotels in Cornwall by the sea. Or see all our places to stay.
