Hot spots: Villa Samadhi, Kuala Lumpur

"Samadhi" is Sanskrit for "state of mind" and this is certainly a place to nurture it, with stillness and relaxation key to the guest experience. The Samadhi Retreats (of which the Villa Samadhi is the flagship) are intended to be "not just places, but gateways to dream states".

No, really! That's what is so wonderful about Villa Samadhi. The high walls that keep the resort secluded and a guarded gate with a discreet sign do justice to the term "luxury hideaway". This is one of few places in Kuala Lumpur where it is possible to escape the traffic and humidity, to chill out on sun-loungers shaded by thatched roofs and balconies set around a pool - and all just a 20-minute walk from the Petronas Towers, which dominate the city's skyline, and the massive shopping mall beneath them. However, don't rely on taxi drivers getting you back to the villa by name alone.

It's perfect for a romantic city break. All but one of the rooms contains a Jacuzzi, but a word of warning: the bathrooms are exposed to the main room, so you may want to adapt your morning "triple S" routine accordingly. Inside the property, you forget you are in KL - except when you catch a glimpse of the towers from Bumbung Bar, which is in the rafters and serves tempting cocktail concoctions and delicious canapes.

Malay tradition and charm meet elegance and style in the décor, with all elements (polished concrete, bamboo and bright bursts of colour) blending seamlessly. The property has a rustic beauty about it, due in part to the old, salvaged wood integrated into the design, and the hand-wrought carpentry and craftwork. Magical touches have been bestowed on guest rooms, all of which resemble miniature villas. Each also has a water feature - be it a plunge pool, a rain shower or a Jacuzzi in a jungly, open-air extension of the bathroom.