Four places to disconnect from everything

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High style in deepest Switzerland

Adelboden, in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland, is immersed in a Sound of music The landscape, packed with the seasonal amenities that appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, from winter slopes to more than 300km of hiking and cycling trails in summer, and a beautiful 15th-century clock tower in the village, to boot. The Brecon has just opened here, with 18 rooms and four suites (the latter ideal for families and those seeking privacy) designed, as are the common rooms, restaurant and sauna, by Amsterdam-based Nicemakers.

The interiors have a wow effect, with beautiful coffered wood ceilings, natural slate floors, hand-woven wool blankets and rugs, and carved stone sinks and tubs. Leather armchairs are arranged around low marble tables by the fire; the all-day menu features simple organic dishes, from fig and ricotta salad to lemon polenta cake (with plenty of veggie fare). Those looking for a #cabinporn parody should look elsewhere: this is it. sincerity filtered through a Scandinavian-Japanese lens, with elegant and very chic results.

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Bikini ready on the south coast of Mallorca

Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel Es Trenc has a new proposition for Mallorca’s south coast: youthful fun of all kinds, with very few children. The second Mallorcan establishment of the German hotel group Bikini has requisitioned and renovated three adjacent buildings, surrounded by gardens at the southern end of Es Trenc beach. The 130 rooms exude colour and joy, with lush murals, custom-made bamboo furniture and beaded curtains on the walls: Balearic style with a small dose of 1960s Tiki hut.

The billiards room, once a public pool, was created in collaboration with German DJ and hip-hop artist Clueso. In addition to a set of turntables and a vinyl collection and recording studio, the (now empty) pool also functions as an event space. The fitness center has indoor and outdoor yoga studios; the hotel shop offers picnic supplies and homemade snacks; and you can cliff jump directly into the sea from the hotel gardens.

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The new house in Puerto Escondido

Long the Pacific Coast getaway destination of choice for many Mexicans, Puerto Escondido has lately become a hotspot for travelers from much further afield, coming for its combination of thoughtful, sustainable architecture and culture (Casa Wabi has a home here, and art galleries are popping up everywhere) and, naturally, its excellent beaches and food.

The latest addition to the already bustling hotel scene is Casa Yuma, opened by three expats at the southern end of Ventanilla Los Naranjos, just behind the beach. The low-rise buildings are set in a palm grove, with the ocean in the background and mountains behind. The 25 rooms are simple and contemporary, with lots of pink and whitewashed brick, carved wood furniture and sisal; some have rooftop terraces. Elsewhere in the hotel there is plenty of sand underfoot, from the open-air bar to the large pool and sunken conversation pit. The restaurant is open to the public, so beachcombers can wander in and enjoy the all-day menu.

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Midnight fun in the far north of Norway

It’s time to head north: Nusfjord, which runs along the western edge of the Lofoten archipelago, high above the Arctic Circle, is a cluster of fishermen’s cottages (25 of them, on 26,000 acres) that have recently been completely renovated. Hygiene order: wood-paneled walls, beds with feather blankets, simple painted furniture, rough wooden ceilings, a few huge bathtubs next to windows with views of Valhalla.

The open-air spa was created by recent graduates of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design; from the spring-fed hot tubs you can jump straight into the sea, just a few metres away. The village general store, where about 20 people still live full-time, most of them employed in Nusfjord, has plenty of high-end provisions; a former whisky depot is now a gourmet pizzeria; the village salting house has been converted into an art gallery. Two more cabins are currently being added, promising a more “elevated” version of Nordic comforts, and Oslo star chef Björn Svensson is consulting on a soon-to-open restaurant.

@mariashollenbarger