Five Best: Riverside hotels

There's water, water everywhere at these hot spots, says Justin Talbot

Hotel du Vin, England

Hotel du Vin, England

The latest addition to the expanding Hotel du Vin empire sits on the banks of the Thames in a converted brewery. Henley has a long-established tradition of rowing and three of the hotel's suites offer prime viewing positions of the oarsmen in training for this month's Regatta - from the comfort of the bath. The suites have not one, but two baths, one of which sits on an outdoor terrace, allowing guests views of the river, and rowers below. The hotel's decor is classically Hotel du Vin, with stylish industrial-conversion interior design and plenty of concessions to the modern-day traveller.

Hotel du Vin and Bistro (01491 848400; www.hotelduvin.com), New Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2BP. Doubles from £115, room only

Chedi Chiang Mai, Thailand

Set to open on 1 July, the Chedi Chiang Mai sits on the banks of the Mae Ping river, which carves through the Chiang Mai valley from Burma to the Bhumibol reservoir. The Chedi embraces modern Asian design and has stylish decor throughout. Each suite opens on to a private courtyard, and a private butler service is allocated to each room. The restaurant is in the former British Consulate building and most of the hotel's rooms overlook the Mae Ping river.

Chedi Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand (00 66 53 253 333; www.ghmhotels.com). Doubles from 10,400 Baht (£142), including breakfast

Four Seasons, Czech Republic

The Four Seasons in Prague is spread over four buildings, embracing Baroque, neo-Classical, neo-Renaissance and modern architecture and design. It faces the Czech Republic's celebrated Vltava river, which dissects the country from north to south. Only a year after opening, the hotel was hit by floods when the river burst its banks in August 2002. However, the lower-ground floor underwent a complete overhaul, re-opening several months later with the addition of an impressive health spa.

The hotel offers stunning views of Prague castle and Charles Bridge, and a replica of a statue of St John Nepomuk, who was pushed off the Charles Bridge on the orders of King Vaclav IV. His body was later found in the Baroque building of the hotel.

Four Seasons Prague, Veleslavinova 2a/1098, Prague, Czech Republic 110 00 (00 42 221 427 000; www.fourseasons.com/prague). Doubles from €331 (£225), room only

Continentale, Italy

The Continentale faces a famous bridge: the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, which straddles the river Arno in Florence. The hotel offers chic, modern accommodation right on the banks of the river. Inside, you'll find a harmonious mixture of modern and 1960s-style furnitureand large windows overlooking the river. A must-see for guests is the sunset from the hotel's rooftop bar, which offers panoramic views of the city.

Continentale (00 39 055 27262; www.lungarnohotels.com), Vicolo Dell'Oro, 6r, Florence, Italy. Doubles from €319 (£228), including breakfast

Royal Livingstone, Zambia

On the banks of the Zambezi river above Victoria Falls, this hotel is also in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, a World Heritage Site. Guests can breakfast under rainbows cast from the mist of the falls, less than five minutes away. The pool is just metres from the river's edge and all rooms have verandas with river views. The hotel is a good location from which to explore the bush and its fauna.

The Royal Livingstone Hotel, Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, Southern Province, Livingstone, Zambia (00 260 3 32 1122; www.lhw.com). Doubles from $407 (£226), including breakfast