1. Barcelona

Come spring you'll be able to sit beside the pool at the Grand Hotel Central in El Born and take in the fantastic view over the Gothic district and city walls.

· From €220, grandhotelcentral.com.

2. Méribel

Just Soh, a six-room ski lodge, mixes the traditional (Jacuzzi, open-fire) with some nifty extras (hair straighteners, cameras for hire, an honesty bar with supermarket prices) in Elle decoration-style surroundings.

· £450pp per week, including breakfast, afternoon tea, four dinners and transfers. justsoh.com.

3. Vienna

Viennese architect Hans Hollein has upgraded his landmark building, Haas Haus, turning four floors into 45 hi-tech, cone-shaped guestrooms at Do&Co hotel. Opening March.

· Rooms from €199, designhotels.com.

4. Rimini

A club with rooms is the theme at Duomo, designer Ron Arad's first hotel project. Opening March.

· From €240. duomohotel.com.

5. Corsica

This boutique hotel on a white-sand beach looks more Caribbean than Corsican.

· Seven nights' half-board cost £1,358pp, including flights through Holiday Options (0870 4208372, holidayoptions.co.uk).