4 of the world’s best hotels

After more than a year of lockdowns and quarantine and social distancing, we're all more than ready for a big, celebratory, I-just-endured-a-pandemic vacation. Unfortunately, with many international borders still closed and some countries facing their second or third, or fourth Covid-19 waves, much of the world isn't ready for leisure travel to ramp up just yet (though there are certainly signs of progress). Still, we can plan, can't we? From tropical island escapes from the Maldives to Hawaii, to glamorous urban getaways in Sydney and Hollywood and Singapore, we are dreaming of and saving for these post-pandemic splurges. Starting rates are in US dollars, per night.

W Melbourne, Australia

Opened in February 2021, the W Melbourne is the first international five-star hotel to launch in Australia this year a hopeful sign for tourism, though Australia's borders currently remain closed to international travel. Built inside the glittering, $1.25 billion Collins Arch precinct also home to luxury residences and upscale retail and dining offerings the ultramodern hotel boasts five restaurants and bars, plus a gold-roofed indoor heated pool, featuring a poolside bar and DJ booth. Its 294 rooms are as plush and design-centric as you'd expect from any W hotel, with the addition of luxe deep-soaking tubs and sweeping views over the city or Melbourne's Yarra River. W Melbourne, 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia. Rates start at $450.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort, Lanai, Hawaii

This adults-only wellness retreat is the epitome of post-pandemic luxury: for starters, it's located on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which is so peaceful and secluded it feels like you're on your own private island. Then there are the plush suites, hidden so discreetly amongst Lanai's jungle-filled, mist-covered Koele Mountains you'll barely notice the other guests. Finally, you get a personalized wellness itinerary crafted by your own Sensei Guide, which sets you up with spa treatments and wellness activities -- everything from morning meditation to sound baths -- aimed at melting away any lingering stress or anxiety. Sensei Lanai, 1 Keomoku Highway, Lanai City, Hawaii. Rates start at $1,130 single occupancy/$1,610 double occupancy, including $600 per person in Wellness Experience credits (room-only rates from $650, single or double occupancy).

Hotel West Hollywood, Los Angeles

If a glamorous city escape is more your style, it doesn't get much better than this sleek urban oasis on Sunset Boulevard. Opened in 2019 -- just months before the pandemic hit -- its rooms are some of the largest and most luxurious in all of Los Angeles, boasting earthy, minimalist-chic decor, sumptuous marble bathrooms and unparalleled vistas over the Hollywood Hills. Then there's the daybed and cabana-flanked pool, a veritable sanctuary of calm and tranquility high above LA's busy, palm-lined streets. But most impressive of all is the brand's sustainability-centered ethos, seen everywhere from the design (furniture is made using reclaimed California wood) to the dining (an onsite organic garden supplies restaurants with herbs and veggies). The entire hotel is also plastic- and (nearly) paper-free, and guests can join a loyalty program that allows them to reduce their carbon footprint with every stay -- touches that make all the difference as we move into a post-pandemic world. 1 Hotel West Hollywood, 8490 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California. Rates from $670.

Soneva Jani, Maldives

If you want to treat your family to a post-lockdown vacation that'll blow their mind, Soneva Jani is it: its overwater villas come outfitted with private infinity pools and waterslides that will transport you down to the glittering turquoise ocean below. Other family-friendly attractions include an overwater cinema, a star-gazing observatory and an ice-cream and chocolate room. Each villa also comes with a retractable roof, so kids can doze off beneath the stars. For parents: a sumptuous spa, an expansive wine cellar, multiple dining options ranging from sashimi to Spanish tapas and sunset cruises (you can even bring the kids -- if you like). Soneva Jani, Medhufaru Island, Manadhoo, Maldives. Rates from $3,290.