The Best Hotels to Prime Your Tan

 Dermatologists' reprimands aside, everyone looks better with some color. So before Casper comparisons mock you at the beach, consider making your gold-toned getaway to somewhere sunny. With tans and tropical cocktails in mind, the boutique hotel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith have lined up five sizzling spots to banish any lingering winter blues and embrace the arrival of spring -- and shoulder season deals -- whether you?re happiest on the beach under the shade of a banyan tree, or lounging by the pool at an exclusive Miami mansion.

Esencia in Quintana Roo, MexicoThe beach at Esencia on the Riviera Maya looks like it was made to star in a Corona commercial. Opt for one of the whitewashed ocean-view rooms to best appreciate the lush shoreline.

Start the day with group yoga, lounge on the sand through the afternoon, then arrange beach massages as sunset. Or, to really heat things up, settle into the spa's Mayan-style steam dome. A wealthy Italian duchess owns the resort, so you?ll get true royal treatment wherever you choose to crack that beer.

18 Pedio R?stico Xpu-Ha Lote, Quintana Roo, Mexico; doubles from $625

Villa by Barton G in Miami Beach, FLWe can think of only two reasons guests wouldn't want to spend all day by the exclusive, fountain-fed Thousand Mosaic Pool at South Beach's Villa by Barton G. One: nine-foot-wide beds. Two: your own personal butler to cater to nearly every whim while you laze away between their custom Frette sheets. When motivation does set in, set off to explore the grounds that were once Gianni Versace's lavish mansion. Indoors, the brightly patterned boutique hotel piles on the luxury with gold-flecked paint, velveteen fabrics and hand-painted trompe l'oeil walls. Outside, the Italian-inspired pool is a see-and-be-seen display that would make Versace beam.

1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL; doubles from $895

Verana in Jalisco, Mexico Whatever vestiges of winter remains, tiny, tropical Verana takes you as far from it as possible. To reach the remote Pacific Coast paradise, guests travel by boat, then mule, through thick jungles along florally fragrant trails. Once you arrive, worship the sun from an open-air villa or ocean-facing canopied daybeds. Should you tire of warm ocean currents, dip into the spa's shiatsu-inspired massage pool. Indeed, the only frosty thing about this place is the glasses holding its chilli-infused margaritas.

449 Calle Zaragoza, Jalisco, Mexico; doubles from $273

Parrot Cay in Providenciales, Turks & CaicosWhen Hollywood hotshots such as Hugh Jackman need a place to bare their six-packs, they often decamp to the sunny seclusion of Parrot Cay's beach villas. Set on a pristine, otherwise uninhabited beach isle in Turks & Caicos, the hotel is a minimalist collection of butler-serviced retreats with private sun decks, plunge pools, waterfront hammocks and personal Jacuzzis. You can also channel your inner action hero and set off to conquer the island?s coves and wetlands atop the resort?s free sailing, windsurfing and paddleboarding gear.

Old Airport Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos; doubles from $1,500>
 

For more accommodation inspiration and sun-soaked destinations, visit MrAndMrsSmith.com or call 800-464-2040.