Aussie close-to-home favourite named most ‘beautiful’ place to stay

We might all have different priorities while on holiday, but we can probably all agree that staying in a beautiful space really takes your trip to the next level.

Whether you’re in a luxury apartment, renovated historic house, a ski chalet or a beachfront bungalow, a well-designed home can be the highlight of your holiday. For some inspiration, Sharps has crunched the numbers to narrow down the top ten destinations with the best design-led stays.

10. Park City, USA

This luxury mountain destination in the USA is home to what’s often called the “greatest snow on earth”.

The region is home to stunning chalets that can be rented by tourists, with jaw-dropping views, open-plan living areas, and stone and wood finishings.

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9. Big Island (Hawai’i), USA

Traditional Hawaiian homes were originally built without walls at all, using just posts and a thatched roof, an influence you can still see in some homes today.

Most include lava rock as a feature material, native koa wood furniture and lanai, which is a covered porch often treated as a primary living space.

8. Cape Town, South Africa

If you’re renting a luxury home in Cape Town, you’d be crazy not to choose something on the coastline, where the houses feature balcony pools and glass walls to show off the beach and Table Mountain.

7. London, England

London homes are among the most expensive in the world, and it shows in the architecture. Some are centuries-old from the Georgian or Victorian eras, with renovations that keep original features intact. Then there are the hyper-modern new builds, luxury apartments in skyscrapers, and traditional row homes.

6. Los Cabos, Mexico

This city is a playground for the rich and famous, and it shows in its luxury home rental options. Many have a signature look of limestone walls, green roofs planted with native desert plants, and frequently feature a “sala”, indoor-outdoor living rooms built around a central fireplace or fountain.

5. Saint Barts, France

This French island in the Caribbean has a planning rule stipulating that no home can be taller than a palm tree – leading to a layout of low, sprawling homes. The homes are a blend of tropical design, French colonial style, and the barefoot luxury aesthetic.

4. 30A Area (Florida), USA

It may not have the most romantic name, but this region of Florida between Destin and Panama City Beach is home to 16 beach towns, all of which are full of beautiful homes for a laid-back holiday. Homes include aesthetic coastal features which complement it, like board-and-batten siding, wicker furniture and high ceilings for airflow.

3. Yucca Valley, USA

The gateway to the famous Joshua Tree National Park in California, this region is known for its architectural prowess – home to the famous Invisible House in the desert. Houses here are made to blend in with the landscape and keep residents cool in the heat, with stone floors, earthy tones, and plenty of windows.

2. Paris, France

Paris is one of the world’s most romantic cities, and its luxury apartments are the best place to base yourself. In the 19th century Baron Haussmann redesigned the city, giving it the uniform cream stone facades and wrought-iron balconies you see today. Interior details include herringbone flooring, ornate ceilings, and tall French windows.

1. Bali, Indonesia

Known as the Island of the Gods, Aussies are no strangers to the beautiful offerings of Bali. Homes and villas on the island showcase centuries-old temple-inspired design, with open-air courtyards, thatched roofs and outdoor spaces that make you feel like you’re living among the jungle.

Natalie Prince, interiors expert at Sharps, said, “travellers visiting the island are returning home wanting to bring this thoughtful design feel into their own spaces. Even without the jungle landscape, the principles of Bali’s interior design stay the same: natural materials, open plan layouts and a calm, less-is-more approach to design.“