5. Qualia, Hamilton Island, Australia (beach hotel)

Billing itself as Australia's first seven-star hotel, Qualia has the requisite luxury trappings -- personal infinity pools, a 1,000-bottle wine cellar -- but the real stars here are architect Chris Beckingham and chef Stephane Rio, who have modernized the notion of an Australian reef resort. Airy one-bedroom pavilions combine native styles and materials with Rio using indigenous ingredients in unexpected ways.