Banyan Tree Mayakoba Resort & Spa

The lavish Mayakoba resort region feels like a Bond villain’s secret lair (albeit without the menace or white cats); the 1,600 acres of lushly landscaped Riviera Maya property is well known for its seclusion and proximity to the world’s second-largest coastal reef. And the Banyan Tree, which opened in this coastal setting in March 2009, upped the opulence ante with 132 private stand-alone villas (the smallest is 3,000-plus square feet), kitted out with rough-hewn slate floors, earthenware sinks, and soaring glass skylights. Each is a sanctuary, with its own walled garden, plunge pool, and sun terrace, while the decadent spa and private beach club encourage style-setters to meander through the gardens and dunes.