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The hotels and stays we would book ourselves, across every destination, each with what it does well and where it falls short.
10 Days in Bali · luxury · Sayan, near Ubud
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Iconic rice-bowl entry bridge over the Ayung River valley
10 Days in Bali · luxury · Sanggingan, Ubud
COMO Uma Ubud
Private-pool villas over the valley
10 Days in Bali · luxury · Seminyak Beach
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali
Direct Seminyak Beach frontage on large mature grounds
10 Days in Bali · resort · Petitenget, Seminyak
W Bali - Seminyak
Lively beachfront with a buzzing pool and bar scene
10 Days in Bali · boutique · Central Ubud
Alaya Resort Ubud
Walking distance to the Monkey Forest and Ubud Palace
10 Days in Thailand · luxury · Bangkok riverside (Chao Phraya)
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Historic riverside property with over a century of guests
10 Days in Thailand · value · Bangkok riverside, near the Old City
Riva Surya Bangkok
Riverside boutique property a short walk or boat ride from the Old City
10 Days in Thailand · boutique · Chiang Mai (near the Ping River)
137 Pillars House Chiang Mai
A restored 1889 teak house with spacious suites
10 Days in Thailand · boutique · Chiang Mai Old City
Rachamankha Chiang Mai
A serene Lanna-and-Chinese design tucked in the Old City
10 Days in Thailand · design · Phuket (Nai Yang Beach)
The Slate
A distinctive tin-mining-heritage design by Bill Bensley
10 Days in Vietnam · luxury · Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
A restored 1901 colonial landmark near Hoan Kiem Lake and the Opera House
10 Days in Vietnam · unique · Halong Bay
Paradise Elegance Cruise
Overnight cruise with private-balcony cabins among the karsts
10 Days in Vietnam · resort · Thu Bon riverside, Hoi An
Anantara Hoi An Resort
Riverfront under a kilometre from the Ancient Town
10 Days in Vietnam · luxury · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Park Hyatt Saigon
Colonial-style property beside the Opera House in the heart of District 1
Amalfi Coast · luxury · Positano
Le Sirenuse
A former private villa (opened as a hotel in 1951) with the classic Positano cliffside view
Amalfi Coast · luxury · Amalfi town
Hotel Santa Caterina
Family-run by the Gambardella family since 1880
Amalfi Coast · luxury · Ravello
Belmond Hotel Caruso
Set in an 11th-century former palace with dramatic clifftop gardens
Amalfi Coast · design · Praiano
Casa Angelina
An all-white, minimalist design rare on this coast of majolica tile and pastel facades
Amalfi Coast · value · Ravello
Hotel Bonadies
A 13th-century former convent turned family-run four-star hotel, run by the same family for over 140 years
Athens · luxury · Syntagma / Plaka border
Electra Metropolis Athens
Rooftop pool and restaurant with panoramic Acropolis views
Athens · design · Koukaki, beside the Acropolis Museum
AthensWas Hotel
Directly on the pedestrian street beside the Acropolis Museum
Athens · boutique · Koukaki / Plaka border, near the Acropolis
Herodion Hotel
Rooftop garden terrace with an unobstructed Acropolis view
Athens · boutique · Koukaki
The Koukaki Residence
Housed in a restored 1930s neoclassical building
Athens · value · Monastiraki Square
A for Athens
Rooftop bar with an Acropolis and Monastiraki Square view at a fraction of the luxury price
Bangkok · luxury · Riverside (Chao Phraya)
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Historic riverside property with over a century of guests
Bangkok · luxury · Sukhumvit
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit
Sky bridge straight into Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT
Bangkok · boutique · Old City (Rattanakosin)
Sala Rattanakosin
A restored riverside warehouse directly across from Wat Arun
Bangkok · design · Silom
Pullman Bangkok Hotel G
A five-minute walk from Chong Nonsi BTS
Bangkok · value · Riverside, near the Old City
Riva Surya Bangkok
Riverside boutique property a short walk or boat ride from the Old City
Barcelona · luxury · Gothic Quarter
Hotel Neri Relais & Châteaux
A converted 12th-century palace on a quiet Gothic Quarter square
Barcelona · luxury · Gràcia / Passeig de Gràcia
Hotel Casa Fuster
A 1908 modernist building by Lluís Domènech i Montaner
Barcelona · resort · Barceloneta beachfront
W Barcelona
Sail-shaped landmark building right on the beach
Barcelona · boutique · Eixample
Petit Palace Eixample
Central Gran Via location, walk to Passeig de Gràcia
Barcelona · value · Eixample
Hotel Constanza
Walkable to Casa Batlló, Plaça Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter
California Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · luxury · Big Sur
Post Ranch Inn
Cliff-top rooms on a 98-acre private preserve
California Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · resort · Big Sur
Alila Ventana Big Sur
A 160-acre forest and sea setting with two pools and Japanese hot baths
California Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · boutique · Carmel-by-the-Sea
La Playa Hotel
A historic property recently renovated
California Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · luxury · Santa Barbara
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel
A 1918 property on seven acres of gardens
California Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · value · San Simeon
Silver Surf Motel
Affordable and minutes from Hearst Castle
Cape Town & the Winelands · luxury · V&A Waterfront
The Silo Hotel
Set above the Zeitz MOCAA contemporary art museum in a converted 1920s grain silo
Cape Town & the Winelands · luxury · Bantry Bay (Atlantic Seaboard)
Ellerman House
Edwardian mansion with an extensive private art and wine collection
Cape Town & the Winelands · resort · Stellenbosch
Lanzerac Wine Estate
A working wine estate dating to the 17th century, with rooms among the vines
Cape Town & the Winelands · boutique · Franschhoek village
Le Quartier Français
A 25-room boutique hotel in the centre of Franschhoek village
Cappadocia · luxury · Uçhisar
Museum Hotel Cappadocia
Turkey’s only Relais & Châteaux member, built around a private collection of Anatolian antiques
Cappadocia · luxury · Uçhisar
Argos in Cappadocia
Built into and around a 2,000-year-old monastery and ancient village over 14 years of restoration
Cappadocia · boutique · Ürgüp
Sacred House
A restored roughly 250-year-old mansion with an unusual underground "Inferno" spa nine meters below street level
Cappadocia · boutique · Göreme
Kelebek Special Cave Hotel & Spa
Some rooms carved as early as the 8th century, alongside more standard cave-style rooms
Cappadocia · value · Göreme
Cappadocia Cave Suites
Real cave rooms at a fraction of Uçhisar’s luxury rates
Corfu · luxury · Moraitika / near Corfu Town
Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort
Adults-oriented, quiet, polished service
Corfu · resort · Benitses (southeast of Corfu Town)
Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa
Dramatic hillside setting and infinity pools
Corfu · boutique · Corfu Old Town
Siorra Vittoria Boutique Hotel
A restored 19th-century mansion in the heart of the Old Town
Corfu · boutique · Corfu Old Town
The Merchant
Contemporary rooms in a historic shell
Corfu · value · Northwest coast
Dogma Boutique Studios (northwest)
Good value near the northwest coves
Crete · boutique · Chania Old Town, on the Venetian Harbour
Domus Renier
A restored Venetian noble residence directly on the Old Harbour
Crete · boutique · Rethymno Old Town
Veneto Boutique Hotel
A 15th-century former monastery building in the heart of the Old Town
Crete · boutique · Heraklion, on the Venetian port
Lato Boutique Hotel
Fifty-four rooms, most looking over the Venetian port and the Koules fortress
Crete · luxury · Elounda (Agios Nikolaos area)
Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Bungalows, suites and villas looking out toward Spinalonga island, many with private pools
Crete · family · Agia Galini (south coast)
Galini Tropika
Family-run, seventeen suites directly on the beach beside a small river
Dubai · resort · Palm Jumeirah
Atlantis, The Palm
Aquaventure Waterpark and The Lost Chambers Aquarium on-site
Dubai · luxury · Downtown Dubai
Address Downtown
Direct views over the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain
Dubai · luxury · Dubai Marina
Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai
Twin towers directly on the Marina promenade
Dubai · boutique · Old Dubai (Bur Dubai, along the Creek)
Al Seef Heritage Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Traditional wind-tower "bayt" architecture on Dubai Creek
Dubai · value · Downtown Dubai (Za’abeel side)
Rove Downtown
Under a 10-minute walk to Dubai Mall and near the Burj Khalifa
Fiji · luxury · Malolo Island, Mamanucas
Six Senses Fiji
Solar-powered pool villas on a Mamanuca island
Fiji · luxury · Malolo Island, Mamanucas
Likuliku Lagoon Resort
Fiji’s overwater-bungalow pioneer and adults-only
Fiji · resort · Mamanuca Islands
Castaway Island, Fiji
Family-friendly thatched bures on a private Mamanuca island
Fiji · resort · Denarau Island
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Full-service beachfront resort on Denarau near the airport
Fiji · value · Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands
Tourism Fiji budget-island listings
The Mamanucas and Yasawas have simple bure and dorm resorts along the Yasawa Flyer route
French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · luxury · Nice, Promenade des Anglais
Le Negresco
A Nice institution since 1913, right on the Promenade des Anglais
French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · luxury · Cap d’Antibes
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
A nine-hectare private park at the tip of Cap d’Antibes, open since 1870
French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · luxury · Cannes, La Croisette
Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel
The best-known address on La Croisette, open since 1911
French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · unique · Saint-Paul-de-Vence
La Colombe d’Or
A small inn whose walls and terraces are hung with original works, informally collected from 20th-century artist guests
French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · boutique · Villefranche-sur-Mer
Welcome Hotel
A 1710 building on the harbour of Villefranche-sur-Mer, with past guests including Jean Cocteau and Winston Churchill
Great Barrier Reef & Cairns · resort · Port Douglas
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas
147 hectares of tropical garden with two hectares of lagoon-style pools
Great Barrier Reef & Cairns · unique · Between Cairns and Port Douglas
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Standalone timber bungalows built into a private headland reserve
Great Barrier Reef & Cairns · luxury · Cairns CBD
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Walking distance to the Reef Fleet Terminal and the Esplanade
Great Barrier Reef & Cairns · resort · Palm Cove
Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore
The only Palm Cove property with absolute beach frontage
Great Barrier Reef & Cairns · value · Cairns Esplanade
Mantra Trilogy Cairns
Directly on the Cairns Esplanade near the Lagoon pool and reef terminal
Greece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · design · Between Syntagma and Plaka
New Hotel, Athens
A Design Hotels property by Fernando and Humberto Campana, built with salvaged materials from the former Olympic Palace Hotel
Greece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · luxury · Little Venice, Mykonos Town
Little Venice Suites
Steps from the windmills and Little Venice’s cafe-lined waterfront
Greece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · boutique · Agios Elefterios, on the edge of Mykonos Town
Vencia Boutique Hotel
A family-run boutique hotel operating for around four decades
Greece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · resort · Platys Gialos, Mykonos
Petasos Beach Resort & Spa
A private peninsula between Platys Gialos and Psarou with direct beach access
Greece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · luxury · Oia, Santorini
Andronis Boutique Hotel
24 recently renovated suites and villas perched on the Oia caldera cliff
Hoi An · luxury · Ha My Beach (north of Hoi An)
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
All-villa beachfront resort with three-tier infinity pools
Hoi An · resort · Thu Bon riverside
Anantara Hoi An Resort
Riverfront on the Thu Bon under a kilometre from the Ancient Town
Hoi An · boutique · Rice fields near the Thu Bon
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Set among rice fields yet close to town
Hoi An · value · Cam Chau (near the Ancient Town)
Hoi An Ancient House Resort & Spa
Traditional Hoi An style architecture
Hokkaido · resort · Niseko Village
The Green Leaf Niseko Village, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Direct ski-in, ski-out access to Niseko Village slopes
Hokkaido · luxury · Hanazono, Niseko
Zaborin
Only 15 villa-style suites, each with a private indoor and outdoor onsen
Hokkaido · resort · Furano
New Furano Prince Hotel
Directly connected to the Furano ski zone with ski-in, ski-out access
Hokkaido · value · Central Sapporo, above Sapporo Station
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
Sits directly above Sapporo Station, minimizing transfers with luggage
Istanbul · luxury · Sultanahmet
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
Two blocks from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace
Istanbul · luxury · Beşiktaş (Bosphorus shore)
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
The only former Ottoman imperial palace operating as a hotel on the Bosphorus
Istanbul · boutique · Galata
Georges Hotel Galata
A restored 1882 building with a rooftop restaurant and Bosphorus views
Istanbul · design · Karaköy
The Bank Hotel Istanbul (formerly Vault Karaköy), a Member of Design Hotels
A converted mid-1800s bank building with preserved architectural details
Istanbul · value · Sirkeci (edge of Sultanahmet)
Sirkeci Mansion
A 14-minute walk from the Blue Mosque at a fraction of Sultanahmet luxury prices
Kenya-Tanzania Safari Route · unique · Musiara Marsh, Masai Mara, Kenya
Governors’ Camp, Masai Mara
A prime unfenced site on the Mara River with year-round resident wildlife
Kenya-Tanzania Safari Route · luxury · Kichwa Tembo concession, Masai Mara, Kenya
&Beyond Bateleur Camp, Masai Mara
Private-concession exclusivity leased from Maasai landlords
Kenya-Tanzania Safari Route · resort · Central Serengeti (Seronera), Tanzania
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Full luxury-brand infrastructure rare in so remote a setting, with spa, dining and a waterhole pool
Kenya-Tanzania Safari Route · resort · Ngorongoro Crater rim, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Dramatic rim-edge architecture with uninterrupted crater views
Kenya-Tanzania Safari Route · value · Talek River, Masai Mara, Kenya
Fig Tree Camp, Masai Mara
Unrestricted reserve access despite a value price
Koh Samui · luxury · Laem Yai Bay (northwest)
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
Hillside private-pool villas with sweeping bay views
Koh Samui · luxury · Ban Ao Bang Rak (north headland)
Six Senses Samui
Fishing-village-inspired villas on a private headland
Koh Samui · luxury · Lamai
Banyan Tree Samui
All-pool-villa resort on a private bay
Koh Samui · resort · Bophut Beach
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort
Steps from Fisherman’s Village and its night market
Koh Samui · resort · Maenam
Santiburi Koh Samui
Spacious grounds of palm gardens on the quiet north shore
Kyoto · luxury · Kamogawa riverside, downtown
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Riverside site favored by Japanese nobility since the 17th century
Kyoto · unique · Arashiyama
Hoshinoya Kyoto
Reached only by a private boat up the Katsura River, a genuine arrival experience
Kyoto · unique · Downtown Kyoto
Tawaraya
Over 300 years of continuous operation as a ryokan
Kyoto · boutique · Sanjo, downtown
Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
Guest-only public and private baths, unusual for a mid-range hotel
Kyoto · value · Near Kyoto Station
Piece Hostel Kyoto
Free evening events (cinema nights, cooking classes, happy hour) that make socializing easy
Lisbon · luxury · Marques de Pombal / Eduardo VII Park
Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Ten storeys above Eduardo VII Park with sweeping city views
Lisbon · luxury · Bairro Alto / Chiado
Bairro Alto Hotel
Rooftop terrace with a panoramic river and old-town view
Lisbon · boutique · Baixa / Chiado
AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado
Sits right on Praca do Municipio, minutes from the river and Alfama
Lisbon · boutique · Alfama
Memmo Alfama
Small rooftop pool with one of the best river views in the city
Lisbon · boutique · Alfama
Santiago de Alfama
A restored historic mansion with panoramic city views
Madrid · luxury · Paseo del Prado (Art Triangle)
Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
Sits between the Prado and Retiro Park in the Art Triangle
Madrid · luxury · Centro Canalejas (near Puerta del Sol)
Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
Occupies seven historic buildings just off Puerta del Sol
Madrid · luxury · Barrio de Salamanca
Rosewood Villa Magna
Reopened in 2021 after an extensive renovation
Madrid · boutique · Malasana / Gran Via
7 Islas Hotel
Family-run boutique property with two decades of history
Madrid · apartment · Malasana
Eric Vokel Madrid Suites
Restored townhouse with multi-bedroom apartments
Maldives Overwater Villas · luxury · Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll
Soneva Fushi
Pioneer of the "no shoes, no news" barefoot-luxury concept
Maldives Overwater Villas · luxury · Baa Atoll
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
103 villas across a jungle-covered island inside the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve
Maldives Overwater Villas · luxury · Alif Dhaal Atoll (South Ari)
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Home to Ithaa, the world’s first undersea restaurant, five metres below the surface
Maldives Overwater Villas · luxury · North Male Atoll
Gili Lankanfushi
45 overwater villas and residences, all on stilts over the lagoon
Maldives Overwater Villas · luxury · South Ari Atoll
LUX* South Ari Atoll
The only resort-based Whale Shark Research Programme in the Maldives, with a database of over 400 identified sharks
Miami · resort · Mid-Beach
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Iconic 1954 Morris Lapidus architecture
Miami · luxury · Coral Gables
The Biltmore Hotel Miami – Coral Gables
A 1926 National Historic Landmark with grand old-Florida architecture
Miami · boutique · South Beach
Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach
Boutique Art Deco property with a courtyard pool
Miami · design · Mid-Beach
Freehand Miami
Design-forward property with the well-regarded Broken Shaker courtyard bar
Miami · value · Brickell / Downtown
Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown
Reliable midrange standard close to Metromover and Metrorail
Morocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · luxury · Marrakech Medina (Bab El Ksour)
El Fenn
41 individually styled rooms around an extensive contemporary African art collection
Morocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · boutique · Marrakech Medina (Bab Taghzoute)
Riad Yasmine
Small 8-room riad with a courtyard pool
Morocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · unique · Erg Chebbi dunes, near Merzouga
Luxury Camp Merzouga
Deluxe tents with en-suite toilet and shower, unusual for a desert camp
Morocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · boutique · Chefchaouen old medina
Casa Hassan
One of Morocco’s first riad guesthouses, open since 1987
Morocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · boutique · Chefchaouen old medina (near Bab Souk)
Dar Chefchaouen
A preserved building over 250 years old in the heart of the medina
Mykonos · design · Megali Ammos, near Mykonos Town
Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge
Sea-view suites with a sea-facing infinity pool and Sunset Lounge Bar
Mykonos · resort · Platis Gialos (south coast)
Myconian Ambassador Relais & Châteaux
Sits directly above Platis Gialos beach with a three-minute walk to the sand
Mykonos · boutique · Mykonos Town
Semeli Hotel (Semeli Town)
In the heart of Mykonos Town, walking distance to Little Venice and the windmills
Mykonos · value · Ornos
Ornos Blue Hotel
About 200 metres from Ornos beach
New York City · luxury · Midtown Manhattan (Fifth Avenue)
The Peninsula New York
Landmark 1905 building on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street
New York City · boutique · SoHo
Crosby Street Hotel
86 individually designed rooms by Kit Kemp
New York City · design · Bowery / Lower East Side
citizenM New York Bowery
20th-floor cloudM rooftop bar with skyline views
New York City · boutique · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Wythe Hotel
Converted 1901 barrel factory with the borough’s original boutique-hotel identity
New York City · value · Upper West Side
The Lucerne Hotel
Landmark 1904 building a few blocks from Central Park and the Natural History Museum
Paris · boutique · Le Marais
Hôtel du Petit Moulin
Christian Lacroix-designed interiors, each room different
Paris · boutique · Le Marais
Hôtel Emile
Contemporary design at a fair price for the location
Paris · boutique · Saint-Germain-des-Prés / Rue du Bac
Hôtel Saint Germain
17th-century mansion on the elegant Rue du Bac
Paris · unique · Montmartre
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre
Just five suites, each designed by a different artist
Paris · value · Latin Quarter
Hôtel du Levant
Four generations of the same family running it
Peru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · luxury · Cusco historic center
Belmond Hotel Monasterio
A restored 17th-century seminary on Inca foundations two blocks from the Plaza de Armas
Peru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · luxury · Machu Picchu citadel gate
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
The only hotel at the entrance to the Machu Picchu citadel
Peru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · resort · Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Its own private train station connecting to Machu Picchu
Peru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · boutique · Urubamba, Sacred Valley
Hotel Sol y Luna
Individual stone casita bungalows set in gardens
Peru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · value · San Blas, Cusco
Casa Andina Standard Cusco San Blas
A Peruvian chain built around a colonial stone patio
Phuket · luxury · Nai Thon (northwest coast)
Trisara
Private-pool villas and residences on a secluded bay
Phuket · design · Kamala (hillside)
Keemala
Striking themed pool villas set in rainforest above Kamala
Phuket · design · Nai Yang Beach (near the airport)
The Slate
A distinctive tin-mining-heritage design by Bill Bensley
Phuket · luxury · Cape Panwa (southeast peninsula)
Sri Panwa
Hilltop villas with private infinity pools over the Andaman Sea
Phuket · resort · Cape Panwa (southeast peninsula)
Cape Panwa Hotel
A historic property on a quiet peninsula
Queenstown · luxury · Queenstown Town Centre (lakefront)
Eichardt’s Private Hotel
A Queenstown institution operating on the same lakefront site since 1861
Queenstown · boutique · Queenstown Town Centre
QT Queenstown
Distinctive, playful design in the QT house style
Queenstown · luxury · Queenstown Bay (edge of town centre)
The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments
Lakefront position with wide views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables
Queenstown · luxury · Queenstown Town Centre
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
Central position a short walk from the gondola and lakefront
Queenstown · value · Queenstown Town Centre (lakefront)
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Lakefront position near the gondola base station at a lower price than the luxury hotels
Rajasthan Golden Triangle · luxury · Lake Pichola, Udaipur
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
A genuine 18th-century royal palace on its own island in Lake Pichola
Rajasthan Golden Triangle · luxury · Central Jaipur
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
A former Maharaja’s residence and one of India’s first palace hotels
Rajasthan Golden Triangle · resort · Fatehabad Road, Agra
ITC Mughal, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Large Mughal-garden-style grounds that won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Rajasthan Golden Triangle · boutique · Old City, Jaipur
Alsisar Haveli, Jaipur
A genuine 1892 family mansion converted to a hotel
Rajasthan Golden Triangle · value · MI Road, Jaipur
Zostel Jaipur
A well-reviewed backpacker brand with dorm and private options
Rome · luxury · Piazza del Popolo / Centro Storico
Hotel de Russie
A tiered Secret Garden courtyard unlike anywhere else in central Rome
Rome · design · Via Nazionale, near Termini
Hotel Artemide
Ambrosia rooftop restaurant and bar with skyline views
Rome · boutique · Prati, on the Tiber
Villa Laetitia
A 1911 liberty-style villa restored by the Fendi family with real vintage furniture in every room
Rome · value · Trastevere
Hotel Trastevere
Genuinely inside Trastevere, steps from the restaurant streets
Rome · value · Esquilino, near Termini
The RomeHello
A social-impact hostel with both dorms and private rooms
San Francisco and Napa Valley · luxury · Nob Hill, San Francisco
Fairmont San Francisco
A 1907 Beaux-Arts landmark with grand public spaces
San Francisco and Napa Valley · boutique · Union Square, San Francisco
Hotel Zeppelin
Playful, design-forward rooms two blocks from Union Square
San Francisco and Napa Valley · boutique · Downtown Napa
Napa River Inn
Rooms in historic riverfront mill buildings
San Francisco and Napa Valley · design · Downtown Napa (West End)
Andaz Napa
Steps from 20-plus tasting rooms and the Wine Train
San Francisco and Napa Valley · luxury · Rutherford, Napa Valley
Auberge du Soleil
A 33-acre hillside estate with panoramic vineyard views
Santorini · luxury · Oia
Katikies Santorini, Pelagos House
Suspended right on the Oia cliff face with sweeping caldera views
Santorini · luxury · Oia
Canaves Oia Suites
46 suites and villas with some of the best-known caldera views in Oia
Santorini · luxury · Imerovigli
Grace Hotel Santorini, Auberge Resorts Collection
One of the largest infinity pools on the caldera rim
Santorini · boutique · Fira
Aria Suites & Villas
Caldera-view courtyard pool right in the heart of Fira
Santorini · value · Kamari (southeast coast)
Kamari Beach Hotel
Directly on Kamari’s black-sand beach
Seminyak · luxury · Seminyak Beach
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali
Direct Seminyak Beach frontage on large mature grounds
Seminyak · luxury · Seminyak Beach (Petitenget end)
The Legian Seminyak, Bali
All-suite beachfront rooms facing the sunset
Seminyak · resort · Petitenget
W Bali - Seminyak
Lively beachfront with a buzzing pool and bar scene
Seminyak · boutique · Petitenget (Desa Potato Head)
Katamama
Handcrafted design in millions of hand-pressed bricks
Seminyak · value · Double Six / south Seminyak
Horison Seminyak Hotel
Good value a short walk from Double Six Beach
Seoul · luxury · Gwanghwamun / Jongno
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
A 29-story tower designed with references to Korean palace architecture
Seoul · luxury · Myeongdong
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Directly connected to Lotte Department Store and Myeongdong’s shopping streets
Seoul · boutique · Bukchon Hanok Village
Rakkojae Seoul
A genuine hanok stay with heated ondol floors and a courtyard setting
Seoul · value · Gwanghwamun / Jongno
Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun
Reliable mid-range chain within walking distance of Gyeongbokgung
Sicily · luxury · Taormina
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel
A former 14th-century convent with terraced gardens over the Ionian Sea
Sicily · boutique · Syracuse (Ortigia)
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel
Steps from the sea in Ortigia’s historic center
Sicily · boutique · Palermo (historic center)
Palazzo Natoli
A restored 1795 mansion near the Cathedral and Quattro Canti
Sicily · resort · Val di Noto (Hyblaean countryside, near Noto)
Masseria degli Ulivi
A restored rural estate among olive and carob groves
Sicily · romantic · Salina, Aeolian Islands
Principe di Salina
14 rooms, all with sea views, on the greenest Aeolian island
Singapore · resort · Marina Bay
Marina Bay Sands
The world-famous rooftop infinity pool and SkyPark observation deck
Singapore · luxury · City Hall / Beach Road
Raffles Hotel Singapore
A national monument dating to 1887, all-suite since its 1990s restoration
Singapore · luxury · Marina Bay / CBD
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
Housed in a 1928 neoclassical landmark that was once Singapore’s General Post Office
Singapore · design · Chinatown / CBD
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering
A WOHA-designed "hotel-in-a-garden" with terraced greenery through the building
Singapore · value · Tanglin / Orchard
JEN Singapore Tanglin by Shangri-La
Directly connected to Tanglin Mall and near Orchard Boulevard MRT
Sri Lanka Round Trip · design · Dambulla, cultural triangle
Heritance Kandalama
A landmark building by architect Geoffrey Bawa set into 211 acres of forest
Sri Lanka Round Trip · boutique · Sigiriya
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Standalone dwellings set across five constructed wetland ecosystems
Sri Lanka Round Trip · unique · Bogawantalawa Valley, hill country
Ceylon Tea Trails
Five restored colonial tea-planter bungalows on working tea estates
Sri Lanka Round Trip · luxury · Galle Fort
Amangalla
The oldest part of the building dates to 1684, inside the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort walls
Sri Lanka Round Trip · resort · Weligama, near Galle
Cape Weligama
Cliff-top setting about 40 metres above the Indian Ocean, roughly 30 minutes from Galle
Sydney · luxury · The Rocks
Park Hyatt Sydney
Closest luxury hotel to the water, with floor-to-ceiling harbour views
Sydney · luxury · The Rocks / CBD
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
Sweeping Harbour Bridge and CBD views from upper floors
Sydney · boutique · CBD (near Town Hall)
QT Sydney
Theatrical, art-deco design inside a heritage building (the former Gowings and State Theatre)
Sydney · boutique · Woolloomooloo
Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Set in a heritage-listed wharf with marina views
Sydney · value · Surry Hills, near Central Station
Rydges Sydney Central
Around 200 metres from Central Station, easy for airport trains and day trips
Tokyo · luxury · Otemachi
Aman Tokyo
Vast, minimalist lobby and rooms inspired by ryokan design
Tokyo · unique · Otemachi
Hoshinoya Tokyo
Every floor is a private ryokan wing with a shared tatami lounge
Tokyo · boutique · Jingumae / Shibuya
Trunk (Hotel) Cat Street
A genuinely social lobby bar that draws locals, not just guests
Tokyo · boutique · Shibuya
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
Directly connected to Shibuya Station via Mark City
Tokyo · value · Ueno
Nohga Hotel Ueno Tokyo
Rooms feature work from local artisans, not generic hotel decor
Tuscany · boutique · Florence historic center
Hotel Brunelleschi
Built around a Byzantine-era tower predating Florence itself
Tuscany · boutique · Siena, inside the city walls
Palazzo Ravizza
A 19th-century palazzo with a private garden inside Siena’s walls
Tuscany · luxury · Montalcino, Val d’Orcia
Castello di Velona Resort, Thermal Spa & Winery
An 11th-century fortress overlooking the Val d’Orcia
Tuscany · boutique · Panzano in Chianti
Villa Le Barone
A historic villa run more like a private house than a hotel
Tuscany · boutique · San Gimignano
La Collegiata
A 16th-century former Capuchin convent with a panoramic pool
Two Weeks in Japan · luxury · Shinjuku, Tokyo
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Occupies the top floors of a Shinjuku tower with 360-degree views
Two Weeks in Japan · value · Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
A five-minute walk from Shinjuku Station’s east exit
Two Weeks in Japan · luxury · Gora, Hakone
Gora Kadan
Built on the grounds of a former Imperial family villa
Two Weeks in Japan · luxury · Arashiyama, Kyoto
Hoshinoya Kyoto
Reached by a short boat ride up the Oi River
Two Weeks in Japan · luxury · Nakanoshima, Osaka
Conrad Osaka
Occupies floors 33 to 40 of a Nakanoshima tower with river and city views
Two Weeks in New Zealand · luxury · Taupō (central North Island)
Huka Lodge
A storied luxury lodge on the Waikato River above Huka Falls
Two Weeks in New Zealand · design · Auckland
The Hotel Britomart
A sustainability-focused design hotel in the walkable Britomart precinct
Two Weeks in New Zealand · luxury · Queenstown
Eichardt’s Private Hotel
A historic lakefront hotel in the heart of Queenstown
Two Weeks in New Zealand · boutique · Christchurch
Sudima Christchurch City
A well-run modern hotel in the central Victoria Street precinct
Two Weeks in New Zealand · value · Nationwide network
YHA New Zealand hostels
A national network of well-located hostels for budget travel
Ubud · luxury · Sayan
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Iconic rice-bowl bridge and Ayung River valley setting
Ubud · luxury · Sanggingan
COMO Uma Ubud
Private-pool villas over the valley
Ubud · boutique · Jalan Bisma, central Ubud
Bisma Eight
Contemporary design in a jungle-edge setting
Ubud · boutique · Central Ubud
Alaya Resort Ubud
Walking distance to the Monkey Forest and Ubud Palace
Ubud · value · Nyuh Kuning / south Ubud
Ubud Aura Retreat
Good value with a wellness and yoga focus
Zanzibar · luxury · Stone Town
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Restored from two historic seafront buildings, an 18th-century residence and a 19th-century telecoms house
Zanzibar · resort · Nungwi
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Distinctive makuti thatched-roof architecture on the northern tip
Zanzibar · resort · Kendwa
Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa
On Kendwa’s tideless white-sand beach
Zanzibar · unique · Mnemba Island (private, off the northeast coast)
&Beyond Mnemba Island
A private 1.5km island shared with only a handful of other guests
Zanzibar · value · Paje
Mr. Kahawa (Kite Centre Zanzibar)
Attached to an established IKO kitesurf school operating on Paje beach since 2006