TESUQUE, NEW MEXICO - As the light of another glorious New Mexico day fades, guests at the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado gather on the historic property’s outdoor terrace to watch the nightly sunset show.

QUEBEC CITY - History abounds on the narrow cobblestone streets of this living museum and especially in its Petit Champlain district — a UNESCO gem that harkens back to the very beginning of Canada. Sometimes, history even follows you into your hotel room.

DAYTONA BEACH - As the dim light of day casts a long shadow along Daytona’s golden beach, guests at legendary The Shores Resort & Spa gather in front of the open fire pits on a terrace overlooking the Atlantic surf.

PALM BEACH - We cross the bridge connecting West Palm Beach with this posh playground for the rich and powerful and are instantly impressed by the rows of pencil-straight palm trees lining trendy Royal Palm Way.

NAPLES, FLA.- If someone mentioned “Fifth Avenue,” you’d naturally think of New York’s iconic thoroughfare and its famous European designer shops. You probably don’t even know about the charming “Fifth Avenue” that runs through the oldest part of this Florida vacation city where the well-heeled come to escape northern winters.

LAS VEGAS – Opening a hotel without a casino in this gambling mecca is something like building a "beach resort" in the Sahara Desert without a pool. Only a chain so secure in its brand, its impeccable service and its world-renowned amenities would even think of taking such a gamble.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – People arriving in Canada’s loveliest of cities only have “Georgia” on their mind — the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, that is.

KELOWNA, B.C. – A young receptionist welcomes me to Sparkling Hill Resort and makes it crystal clear that Canada’s “best new” hotel property with the country’s “best new” spa was designed for the purpose of helping guests “relax and rejuvenate” during their stay.

GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO – Peter Freed leans back in a chair in his office atop Toronto’s trendy Thompson Hotel, folds his arms behind his head, and ponders a question relating to the proficiency of his golf game.

This is the White House of hotels – complete with stately columns that welcome guests into a world of mountain luxury. This is more mansion than hotel and offers some homey features in a grand setting.