It’s given artists refuge since 1979, so it’s no surprise that this western American retreat is known as one of the best in the world. Putting pen to paper is no problem here as writers benefit from enormous desks in prime positions, both indoors and out. Seeking to give the gift of time and space to all disciplines, The Artists’ Barn contains three visual art studios, a large dance studio, a dark room and a music composition studio. The only thing to distract you here is the view of the Santa Cruz mountains that frame the monastic property.

Banishing yourself to Fogo
Island with its ferocious and unpredictable climate makes
procrastination near on impossible. Previous artists have stayed
for one to three months and filled the inn with progressive
sculptures and eclectic handcrafted furniture. The luxurious
lodgings present dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic
views of the ocean in every room, an art gallery and a rooftop spa
and sauna.

Lofty ceilings and plenty of natural light make this the ideal
Italian
retreat. Wander through the tree-lined archways following the scent
of the lemon groves to the historic Palazzo Galli Tassi, which
dates back to 1510. A handful of the rooms are left completely
blank, acting as floor-to-ceiling canvases for creatives to immerse
themselves in. The unique touch of the Numeroventi is their
complete investment in the growth of artist; at the end of the
residency they invite them to show their work in the grand
palazzo.

The world’s first free hotel operates in the currency of
experience. Seasoned travellers preach that immersion in new
cultures are a priceless commodity and cities thrive off creative
diversity. Forward-thinking,
Gothenburg-based clothing label Elvine agrees, championing this
ethos by offering creatives a free room in their hotel. With speedy
wifi and endless free coffee, as well as a few luxury extras
(robes, slippers and a treasure trove of grooming products) the
Creators Inn redefines the term home from home. A glamorous
alternative to couch surfing, Italian DJ Alexander Robotnick and
fashion duo Jojo & Malou were among the first to stay.

It’s less a retreat and more just a bed but when it’s located in
the California
desert and looks like some sort of an apocalyptic experiment, we’re
not complaining. Described as having a “sci-fi”
aesthetic the experimental project consists of 10 deluxe
sleeping pods, a communal outdoor kitchen, open-air showers and
compost loos. The minimalist campsite spans 35 acres and was the
brainchild of US artist Andrea Zittel, who is known for
experimenting with freedom and
sustainability.

Dotted across the
Scottish highlands,
bothies are essentially tents with a solid roof, offering
respite from the wilderness and little else beyond the basics.
Taking inspiration from the visionary hermit and poet Sweeney,
solitude is something The Bothy Project provides in abundance,
alongside bunk beds, writing desks, and a fire. They’re found using
coordinates, so you’ll need to get handy with a compass.

Don’t let the fact that Solange stayed here for her honeymoon
make you think this is a flash celebrity haunt which will soon go
out of fashion; the colonial beach town of Trancoso
has been the home of bohemian beach bunnies since the 1970s. Soak
up some of their carefree spirit and check into pistachio-coloured
casas lovingly restored by Dutch artist
Wilbert Das and local artisans. Vogue photographers, fashion
designers and sculptures have all stayed and contributed to Uxua
Casa ensuring that no piece of furniture, art or fabric is the
same.

A desert town always on the cusp of revival, Joshua
Tree is a mecca for musicians, with Gram Parsons ashes
scattered through the national park after Phil Kaufam famously
stole his body from the mortuary. The weird, the wonderful and the
eccentric are welcomed at Hicksville Trailer Park where guests can
choose to stay in a galactic airstream, gypsy wagon (complete with
tarot cards) or “The Fifi” which is described like being insider a
genie’s bottle and comes with an extensive collection of neon wigs
– if that doesn’t get your creative juices flowing we don’t know
what will.

With velvet armchairs and shabby chaise lounges haphazardly
thrown together, La Muse is everything a bohemian enclave should
be. Amid well-used writing desks and table dressers that no doubt
hold as many secrets as the walls, this 10-room manor house is a
simple, romantic transcendence from the hustle of city life. The
quaint town of Labastide Esparbairenque is a maze of cobbled
streets, 13th-century architecture and fairytale forestry. Neither
a novelty nor overly luxurious, the understated La Muse Retreat
offers the chance to disconnect in order to reconnect.

Among the wannabe hipsters sporting bit-too-new Dr Martins and
the fresh boys who have just discovered progressive house, you’ll
find original Ace Hotel pioneers crouching over Macbooks and
fuelled by flat whites. This place is the best friend of
freelancer, offering they have one night stands with artists from
Manhanttan
to
Shoreditch. Not as wonderfully sordid as it sounds, their One
Night Only programme invites artists to spend the night turning
rooms into work spaces and lobbies into studios. Think of it as a
weekly open-mic night for art.