Framed by palms and with sparkling turquoise sea, nowhere does beachside bliss like the Maldives. And with a string of new openings, this Indian Ocean the islands’ hotel scene has never looked better.

If the thought of winter has you itching to book a sunny escape, here are five new getaways to consider, from California to the Caribbean. Check into a restored Bahamian retreat where Greta Garbo once ...