T

he advent of air travel is enough to make one indulge in a bit of nostalgic worry for the resorts along the Baltic Sea, places which must necessarily have seen some decline in attendance now that it’s half a day’s flight from Munich to the Maldives. The island of Rügen, however, is still going strong, positioned just off the coast of northeastern Germany, and while some of the appeal is historical, it’s by no means purely a retro trip, as evidenced by the swanky, subtly modern Cerês am Meer.

You might expect sunny colors at these northerly latitudes, but the Cerês am Meer’s charcoal-and-white bedrooms pop in their own way when struck by the low Baltic sun. The clean contemporary style stands in contrast to the surroundings: the hotel stands in the center of Binz, Rügen’s classic resort town. And it’s anything but a case of some brash newcomer, setting out to upset the luxury status quo — the Cerês’s modernity feels cool and controlled, and the king beds and expansive Baltic-facing balconies (not to mention the spa, the fine-dining restaurant and the rooftop lounge) drive home the point that this is simply the new face of the luxury hotel.

How to get there:
Ceres Am Meer can be reached by air, train or car. The closest airport with scheduled service is Rostock-Laage(RLG), approximately 140km away. The nearest airfield for private jets is Güttin bei Bergen, about 25km away. By rail, Binz Station is conveniently located near the hotel and offers inter-city and regional service. Sassnitz port(10 km away) offers night train service and motorail connections, as well as access by ship: Scheduled car and passenger ferries serve the port with service to and from Sweden and Denmark.