The Danish island of Fyn is where Hans Christian Andersen was born, so it’s no coincidence it looks like a fairytale. Rolling hills, fruit-laden orchards, sandy beaches and thatched roof farmhouses paint a soothing symphony of garden and sea.
At the island’s hideaway Falsled Kro hotel, guests are transported to a Nordic dream. Uncluttered rooms offer fireside lounges, private verandas with bay views and natural limestone bathrooms with oversized soaking tubs that beg for bubbles. It’s Scandinavian country living at its most authentic.
Hygge is the Danish concept for creating an environment of cozy, understated comfort with friends and family. It’s literally part of the culture to gather together and appreciate a mug of hot chocolate after a brisk walk and watching the snow fall while candles softly flicker.
There’s no need to venture to Denmark to experience this concept: These 10 effortlessly elegant hotels offer low-key luxury to counterbalance the high-tech stress of modern life.
Field Guide, Stowe, Vermont
Vermont’s sugar shacks and covered bridges are as comforting as a flannel shirt. Stowe, a New England mecca for downhill skiers, is one of the state’s prettiest towns. A dreamy panorama of church steeples and stately trees set against towering Mount Mansfield attract visitors in every season.
The Stowe Recreation Path is an all-season greenway that winds through the village, catnip for outdoor enthusiasts. In winter, the town grooms the path for cross-country skiing.
Field Guide is a boutique hotel a few minutes’ walk from the center of town. Rustic, woodsy elements and a color scheme rich with greens, gold and bright pops of orange, calls to mind leaf peeping, hiking and other fresh-air diversions.
After an active day, guests gather in the common areas to enjoy board games and browse the collection of vintage field guides. For those seeking additional comfort, relax by the crackling fire or soothe tired muscles in the hot tub.
Rooms are equipped with stylish kimono-style robes and beds are made with super-soft linens.
Breakfast (included in the room price) is just the thing to fortify before a day of outdoor adventure.
Field Guide, 433 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672; +1 802 253-8088
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley, Peru
Peru’s Sacred Valley is the heart of the Inca world. Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is in the center of the valley, nestled between mist-covered mountains and fertile fields.
The hotel draws inspiration from the area’s cultural heritage, with Inca masks and Andean textiles taking center stage.
All rooms and stand-alone casitas immerse guests in open space with expansive views. Wrap up in a colorful hand-woven blanket and watch the sunset from the patio.
Heated towel racks, super-soft baby alpaca blankets and a bottle of high-proof pisco are warming additions. Many guest rooms have private fireplaces.
The garden grows crops such as quinoa, corn and potatoes, farmed the old-fashioned way, with hand tools and oxen. Guests are invited to pick their own produce.
For a deeper dive into indigenous Peruvian culture, Kuoda Travel is a locally owned tour company that specializes in individualized, immersive experiences beyond the confines of the hotel. Learn to weave with village residents, spend an afternoon at a rural school or dine at a local family’s home.
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Km 63 of the Cusco-Urubamba-Pisac-Calca Highway, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru; +51 1 6100400
The Loren at Pink Beach, Tucker’s Town Smiths, Bermuda
Bermuda’s legendary pink sand, reliable wind and quirky knee-length shorts make it a favorite with the international yachting set, giving the island a distinctly upscale feel.
Its British heritage can be seen when locals break for their traditional afternoon tea, complete with scones and clotted cream.
The Loren at Pink Beach is a new beachfront hotel, built into a hillside to maximize views of the rolling Atlantic Ocean.
Everything is designed with an eye towards comfort and sustainability. Guest rooms and common areas are bathed in light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Natural wood accents, sea views and fresh bouquets set a calm tone.
Relaxing with a good book is easy; The hotel has over 3,000 vintage and new hardcover books displayed both in the library and on bedside tables in guest rooms.
The Loren at Pink Beach, 116 South Road, Tucker’s Town Smiths HS01, Bermuda; +1 441 293-1666
Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
With lobster boats floating by and the sound of the foghorn in the distance, Cape Elizabeth is the quintessential coastal Maine town.
Tourists stop here to see the venerable Portland Head Light, a working lighthouse first lit in 1791.
The Inn by the Sea’s 61 rooms have touches of warm wood and just enough splashes of nautical bric-a-brac to feel homey. A boardwalk leads through a wildlife sanctuary to windswept Crescent Beach, so the ocean’s salty breath is never far.
The inn’s foster dog roams the grounds cruising for a belly rub, pat on the head or a game of catch. (When the resident foster dog is adopted, the staff bring in a new dog to foster.) For those who find interactions of the canine sort soothing, it’s