21 of the world’s most beautiful beachfront hotels

But some are, quite simply, more beautiful than others.

Whether you’re after a glitzy, all-inclusive resort or a low-key island hideaway, we’ve picked 21 of the world’s most stunning.

Soneva Kiri (Koh Kood, Thailand)

Situated on the island of Koh Kood — just off the coast of Bangkok — Soneva Kiri is one of Thailand’s most luxurious and exclusive beachfront escapes.

Le Guanahani (Saint-Barthlemy)

Fresh from a four-year, $40 million renovation, this classic St. Barth resort — located on its own private peninsula — is more beautiful and extravagant than ever.

Its newly revamped guest cottages are painted in bright shades of turquoise and buttercup yellow, and feature plush, modern colonial furnishings.

All rooms have spacious terraces and many feature their own swimming pool and private tropical garden.

Property highlights include two pools, two white sand beaches and a reef-protected lagoon.

Hotel Fasano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Located at the tip of Rio’s legendary Ipanema Beach, Hotel Fasano has views that alone are worth the trip.

From its luxurious rooftop infinity pool, guests can admire the entire expanse of Ipanema and the distinctive Morro Dois Irmaos and Corcovado mountains.

The hotel itself is as impressive as its location: it was co-designed by Philippe Starck and blends a contemporary aesthetic with quirky retro touches.

Its 79 rooms and 10 suites follow suit, mixing the ultramodern with the eclectic (think ear-shaped mirrors and colorful Sergio Rodrigues loungers).

Hotel du Palais (Biarritz, France)

Napoleon III built this lavish venue in France’s glitzy Atlantic resort town as a gift for his wife Eugnie in 1855.

It still channels the same Old World grandeur it did back then with its seemingly endless marble, crystal chandeliers and plush dcor.

Its 153 rooms and suites are similarly sumptuous, crammed with antiques and richly embroidered fabrics.

But the best thing about the property is its location, perched above the windswept Grande Plage — steps from not one but two beautiful beaches.

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore (California)

Sandwiched between the mountains and ocean on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, this Spanish Colonial resort has the best address in Cabo San Lucas.

Rooms are huge and beautiful, decorated with Mexican art and outfitted with fireplaces, terraces and plunge pools.

Though the resort is directly on the beachfront and every room has a pool, there are four additional pools onsite — including a swim-up bar steps from the ocean.

Its signature restaurant, El Farallon, offers clifftop dining and some of the best seafood in Los Cabos.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia)

Opened in 2008, the Four Seasons is Bora Bora’s newest resort and arguably its most beautiful.

It’s made up of 100 overwater, thatched-roof bungalows that stretch out over an emerald lagoon, several of which have their own private pools.

For those who prefer to stay on land, there’s a handful of spacious villas strung along a white sand beach.

There’s also a cathedral-like spa and a large infinity pool flanked by chic teak loungers and thatched cabanas.

The Setai (Miami, USA)

With its sleek facade and high-rise appeal, the Setai feels more like a hip urban hotel than a beachfront resort — a refreshing contrast from its garish, candy-colored South Beach neighbors.

Inside can be found a striking Art Deco-meets-Eastern aesthetic: slate-colored marble, teak accents and Asian artwork.

Suites are similarly zen and feature enormous handmade Swedish wooden beds and sumptuous black granite soaking tubs.

Outside are three stunning pools — heated at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, 85 degrees and 90 degrees respectively — located steps from South Beach.