MALDIVES Set on whale-shaped Kothaifaru Island, a 45-minute seaplane ride north west of capital Malé, in the secluded Raa Atoll, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has a clean-lined, low-fi aesthetic that will appeal to fans of minimalist design. A 20-minute walk around the island leads to one photogenic moment after another, from the low-rise timber villas with their landscaped rooftops to open-air restaurants set amid reflective pools, and the treetop spa and glassy infinity pool. Because the island is free from noise-polluting motorised watersports, guests can swim, sail, kayak or paddleboard around looking out for black-tip reef sharks and stingrays. Kothaifaru is also one of only a few places in the Maldives where you can encounter marine bioluminescence, a natural phenomenon caused by trillions of tiny dinoflagellate plankton, which emit a cool blue light . Swim inside this aquatic galaxy when it’s at its best between August and November. ROOMS: From US$755 (£585), B&B. hyatt.com