If money were no object and you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? If you were the Aga Kahn -- the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and one of the world's richest men -- you'd build a lavish villa in the northeastern corner of Sardinia. Hotel Cala di Volpe, or "den of the fox," is surrounded by rugged, golden lime- stone cliffs, steady breezes, white beaches & sparkling emerald water. The prince's private villa has been transformed into a hotel where the cognoscenti wander about, enjoying the private beaches and grounds, impeccable service and rustic charms that lie just outside their doorsteps.

Feel like a monarch yourself as you use the world-class spa and sailing school at the yacht club next door. Or venture out into your make-believe kingdom: Twisty roads and sheep crossings snake through vineyards and cork forests, and women in traditional black Sardinian dress walk around 400-year-old walled villages. Drive to mysterious nuraghi, the stone dwellings of prehistoric Sardinians. Buy cheese from formaggi e salumi vans parked by the roadside, or feast on roast porchetto, crisp flatbreads, sautéed orziada and braised wild boar at family-owned restaurants. Return to your luxe enclave, satiated and ready for another day fit for a prince. luxurycollection.com

More Regal Resorts

• Sleep among palms once owned by King George V at Half Moon Blue, a guesthouse and restaurant on Tobago. halfmoonblue.com
  
  
• Enjoy royal views on Hawaii's Big Island at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel; it sits on the site of an 18th-century palace. konabeachhotel.com