All of that changes as one enters the grounds of Thomas Henkelmann and Homestead Inn in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Formerly the summer mansion of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenia, now among the most beautiful hotels in the world, the Hotel du Palais overlooks Biarritz main beaches.

A long tree-lined driveway leads you to the rambling 100 year old farmhouse, House of Jasmines, owned by actor Robert Duvall and his lovely Argentine wife, Luciana.

It is a conversion of an existing building constructed in 1889 by architect Ludwig Heim (appointed master builder of the government), which housed the head office of Dresdner Bank until 1945.

In 1839 the tiny Laubersche Herberge opened in Zermatt, offering travellers respectable accommodation in its three rooms. In 1855 Alexander Seiler expanded the inn into the Monte Rosa, and since then the hotel has provided the picturesque town with some of its most elegant and luxurious accommodation.

Hacienda de San Rafael is a picturesque, private sanctuary gazes across the tranquil Andalusian Plains.

Take in Acropolis views from the Hilton Athens hotel in the heart of the city.

In quiet Kennebunkport, Maine, just a mile from the beach, Hidden Pond turns the idea of a traditional New England country escape on its head.

The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich is an elegant grand hotel with more than 140 years of tradition.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Canberra's finest international 5-Star Hotel, is conveniently located in the national capital's Parliamentary Triangle.

Hambleton Hall is one of Britain's finest country house hotels. The lakeside setting is spectacular and the restaurant is a haven for gourmet and wine lovers and only some two and a half hours north of central London, England.

The Hotel de Russie is located in the heart of Rome between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo on the Via del Babuino.

The InterContinental Hayman Island Great Barrier Reef is located within the Whitsunday Islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

You arrive either by speed boat or seaplane to Huvafen Fushi (meaning Dream Island), on the edge of its own lagoon on the North Male Atoll.

Ideally located in the heart of Geneva's shopping and financial districts, which appeals to travelers who appreciate the d'Angleterre's combination of discreet elegance and personalized service.