The Big Six: Surf hotels in the Americas

Shorebreak Hotel, California

Suitably located in "Surf City USA", the Shorebreak is one of Huntington Beach's newest hotels. It channels the surf heritage in its colour palette (lemon, tangerine, cerise, lime and ocean blue), vintage-leaning design and beach views. After a day out in the ocean, guests can congregate for cocktails around the fire pits at The Deck lounge or head back down to the beach for Huntington's nightly bonfires.

Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California, US (001 714 861 4470; shorebreakhotel.com). Doubles start at $234 (£156), room only.

Rancho Pescadero, Mexico

World-class breaks such as San Pedrito and Cerritos are on the doorstep of Rancho Pescadero, which offers a colourful and stylish base for boarders and beach bums in Baja California Sur. Guests staying at the thatch and adobe-style resort can make use of free surfboard hire, daily yoga and tai chi lessons, a spa and miles of near-empty beaches. Olive ridley and leatherback turtles lay their eggs in the sand here, while grey and humpback whales can be spotted in the water throughout the winter.

Rancho Pescadero, Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico (00 52 1 612 135 5849; ranchopescadero.com). Doubles start at US$211 (£141), room only.

Kalon Surf School, Costa Rica

The steamy jungle of Costa Rica's south Pacific coast provides a lush backdrop here. Tuition focuses on long-term, sustainable techniques. Meanwhile, accommodation is in a luxurious mansion where rooms have ocean views, balconies and hammocks and the open kitchen provides cold beers, fresh fruit and three-course dinners.

Kalon Surf School, Dominical, Costa Rica (001 949 342 6216; kalonsurf.com). One-week packages from US$1,930 (£1,287) pp, all-inclusive.

Waikiki Edition, Hawaii

Ian Schrager and Marriott hotels' partnership came to fruition with the Waikiki Edition last year and the picture is suitably stylised. A collage of broken surf boards greets you at reception, while the hotel has its own lagoon, a bar at its private Sunset Beach and contemporary Japanese restaurant. Those more keen to experience Honolulu's legendary surf can book in for Surf and Bikini Bootcamps, which partner fitness regimes and surf lessons.

Waikiki Edition, 1775 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii (001 808 943 5800; editionhotels.com). Bootcamps start at $445 (£297) pp per day full board. Doubles from $222 (£148), room only.

Surf Lodge, Long Island

The Surf Lodge has made its home at the eastern point of Long Island and is by far the most design-driven place to stay in the small fishing town of Montauk. Sun-bleached driftwood, vintage patterns, tongue-and-groove panelling and colourful art by surfers and surf fans set the scene. The restaurant serves freshly-caught seafood, while the bar turns up the volume with live music and DJs throughout the summer.

The Surf Lodge, 183 Edgemere Street, Montauk, Long Island, New York, US (001 631 668 1562; thesurflodge.com). Doubles start at $218 (£145), room only.

La Bahia Beach Hotel, Nicaragua

This recently-opened hotel offers cool minimalism on Nicaragua's relatively undiscovered north Pacific coast. Volcanic rock, teak and hardwood salvaged from the devastating 2007 Hurricane Felix create a picture of sleek serenity. There are just four smart but simple cabanas (with no TVs or air conditioning), a restaurant, bar and pool, with views of the ocean and teak forest. It's the perfect retreat after a day out on the breaks that lie directly in front of the hotel.

La Bahia Beach Hotel, Chinandega, Nicaragua (00 505 8958 5075; labahiabeachhotel.com). Doubles start at US$173 (£115), room only.