Far from the madding crowdInspiring getaways from California to ZanzibarThis round-up of the world"s most exceptional hotels and retreats is packed with awe-inspiring photos and tantalizing descriptions of the world"s greatest getaways. While few will visit them all, this collection provides a dizzying array of exotic destinations for the armchair traveler.Highlights include a California inn where Liberace would have felt right at home, and shabby-chic bungalows on Highway 1 in Big Sur. Choose from luxurious residences nestled on the Ubud hillside overlooking the Ayung River in Bali, or oceanside bungalows on a Brazilian archipelago. Go camping in "royal style" in the Indian desert, or opt for a luxury tented camp on an island in the best game-viewing location in Botswana. Relax in a hand-woven banda on Zanzibar, a hotel-museum full of contemporary art on the Sicilian coast, or a sumptuous Provencal spa retreat in the south of France.The editor:Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987 to 2010, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.