Dominican Republic, Hacienda Azul

Located in the Tortuga neighborhood, which is on the front nine of the La Cana golf course, your four-bedroom Hacienda offers sophisticated island-style living, from trellised walkways connecting the kitchen to the dining and living rooms, to high airy ceilings allowing the breeze and sunlight to meringue around the room. There is 2,000 square feet of outdoor living space, including a sprawling patio on both sides of the main entertaining area with an impressive wrap-around pool. Play a game of backgammon, sample island rum and listen to local rhythms…or simply do nothing.

Relax in the serenity of your second floor open-air living space and let your eyes slowly rise toward the horizon. There’s the marooned shipwreck on the ninth-hole sand trap followed by the lush emerald fairway. Directly across the way notice the couture-inspired Beach Club decorated by island denizen Oscar de la Renta. Eventually meditate on the turquoise waves of the Caribbean lapping along the magnolia-white shore. You could stay here for eternity, or at least for a brilliant Dominican sunrise.