Hong Kong

Hong Kong compresses extraordinary energy into a small, vertical space, and luxury travel here is about the view and the table. The classic move is a harbor-facing suite at the Peninsula, a grand dame since 1928 with its fleet of green Rolls-Royces, or the Rosewood across the water, its rooms framing the nightly light show over Victoria Harbour. The skyline from the Peak at dusk is one of the great urban sights in Asia.

The food is the obsession, spanning three-Michelin-star Cantonese dining rooms, dim sum served from steaming carts, and dai pai dong street stalls hidden in the backstreets. Between meals, the city surprises: green hiking trails and quiet outlying islands sit a short ferry ride from the neon. For where to stay, choose Kowloon for the skyline view or Central for the buzz. The best time to visit is October through December, when humidity drops and the skies clear.