Zuri Zanzibar Hotel & Resort, Zanzibar

The first Design Hotel in Zanzibar, this collection of fifty-five thatched roof villas, clustered to reflect a traditional African village, is secreted away alongside one of the best stretches of silky sand beach on the Tanzanian archipelago. This landmark hotel is also the first hotel in the world award awarded gold for Earthcheck's Sustainable Design.

To limit their impact on the native flora the villas are set above the ground. The wood used, teak, is imported from the mainland, as is the grass thatch. The curtains of paper beads are made by a local women's enterprise, beds and mosquito nets house a clever energy efficient cooling system. Bathrooms are indoor-outdoor affairs and terraces are ornamented with appealing wicker furniture and hammocks. Elsewhere upcyled bottles are used as lamps and the wooden furniture comes from local fishing boats and old dhows. Bathroom products are produced by local seaweed farmers.

Cuisine is a fusion of Arabian, African, Indian and European, and the fish and seafood, as you might expect, is exceptional. The honey at breakfast comes from the southern highlands, there's hibiscus juice and cocktails aplenty at the open air Peponi bar. There are two restaurants and a bar and grill, and two further bars. Watch the moonrise on the treehouse like terrace of Maisha.

The stylish al fresco library is a wonderful place in which to relax. Fragrant spice gardens span a quarter of the resort and bring glorious taste, scents and colour to the cuisine. A yoga deck offers relaxing exercise with wonderful ocean views and the spa has a Jacuzzi deck for yet more relaxation. The vast infinity pool is a particular highlight of the hotel as is the beach, home to a vibrant water sports centre, which uniquely in this area, suffers no tidal impact.