Where? On the west bank of the Nile, near the Valley of the Kings, in Luxor, Egypt.
City boutique or rural retreat? Definitely the latter. A destination resort set within a sprawling private compound, Al Moudira looks across fields populated by farm workers, camels and donkeys, to the mountains of the desert beyond.
Sounds romantic? Absolutely. Enclosed by ochre-coloured walls that turn rosy in the setting sun, this luxurious oasis features a vast Roman-style pool, shady nooks scattered with sofas and kelims and fragrant gardens filled with mandarin, orange, mango and guava trees.
Who goes there? Notable guests have included ambassadors, painters, photographers, writers, politicians and even the odd Hollywood celeb.
So it's new, then? Yes, but you'd never know it. Designed to resemble a traditional Arabian palace with cupolas, arches, columns and arabesques, each of the 54 rooms sports a different Arab theme and is big enough for royalty. Oh, and every bathroom is a private hammam.
Tell us more: The drool-inducing decor combines old-style opulence (frescoes, Moorish tiles, copper and glass lanterns, four-poster beds and writing desks inlaid with mother-of-pearl) with a fresh contemporary feel (spare design, a rich, saturated palette and gem-bright cushions piled on the floor).