There’s something wonderful about checking into your accommodation, going to your window and discovering a panoramic view. Relaxing amid refined surroundings while gazing at the raw power of the sea can feel positively intoxicating. Most of the hotels below stand in warm places like the Caribbean or Indonesia, but some overlook chillier, more dramatic waters.

1. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Antibes, France

Situated in an “exquisite location” between Cannes and Nice, this 19th-century mansion on 22 acres takes in expansive views of the Mediterranean. An “oasis in the south of France,” it boasts 111 antique-filled rooms, a Dior Spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant. One member calls it a “romantic hotel” with no equal on the French Riviera.