Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa

The property rests on the banks of the mighty Mekong River at the meeting point of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. The Zen-luxe retreat, near the Thai town of Chiang Saen, unabashedly makes the most of its location. Each of the 90 rooms includes a balcony with a canopied daybed for prime tri-cultural vistas. The Anantara's spa has five treatment rooms, equipped with both Thai massage platforms and private outdoor decks. The Mekong plays host to scenic river rides on long-tail boats, and the resort's nearby elephant camp, affiliated with Thailand's Elephant Conservation Center, offersriding courses. There's also a Thai cooking school, along with two restaurants and a bar. To help support the Doi Tung produce co-op, run by 27 area villages and tribes, the hotel carries its fair-trade nuts and coffee beans to sell to guests.