Best Hotels & Lodges

Up a slope from Balapitiya Beach, awash with frothing waves, Kumu Beach has unbroken views of the Indian Ocean. In shades of white and blue, unfussy but elegant furnishings fill the communal areas - whimsical art like giant copper globes and abstract floral paintings. With just 10 bedrooms, the hotel feels quite intimate and you'll rarely see another soul on the powdery beach. The south coast of Sri Lanka is a collection of picturesque bays, which warrant endless strolls, and the Madu Ganga River is a lovely spot for a boat trip.

Paternoster Dunes is the perfect antidote to modern city stresses. The Guest House & Spa is nestled amongst the dunes on the beachfront in the quaint fishing village of Paternoster in the Western Cape. The Atlantic Ocean is literally on its doorstep. Paternoster is one of the last traditional fishing villages on the West Coast, famous for its pristine beach, whitewashed village charm, laid back lifestyle and friendly inhabitants. The stylish guest house has five luxurious bedrooms, some opening directly onto the beach. It also has a guest lounge, a heated swimming pool and a spa.

A remote hideaway on the slopes of Mount Nyiro in northern Kenya.

Desert Rose Lodge was built to showcase Kenya's stunning Northern Frontier region. Perched some 1700 metres above sea level, the lodge is surrounded by the dense forest and jungle of Mount Nyiro's slopes, yet on the ground, there is nothing but semi-arid plains. The road leading up to the lodge (an exhilarating, twisting, heart-stopping track up a steep incline!) marks the beginning of your adventurous stay, and throughout, you'll be cared for by local Samburu staff. The only lodge in the region, and more remote than you can imagine, a stay at Desert Rose is remarkable in every way.

When Guilherme Rondon inherited his grandfather's cattle ranch in 1996, he could easily have sold it to developers. Instead, this passionate conservationist opened the doors to just 22 guests at a time... and the rest is history! Located 225 kilometres from Campo Grande, just where the Rio Negro meets the seasonal floodplains of Vazante do Castelo, it's one of the most protected areas in the Pantanal and the wildlife is abundant. In flood season, crystal-clear waters surround the lodge, turning morning coffee into a lakeside experience. Beyond, weathered pantaneiros still guide up to 1,000-strong herds of cattle, continuing traditions that predate your great-grandparents and adding to a truly authentic Pantanal experience.

Liberty-style splendour awaits the moment you cross the threshold into this delightful time capsule of Neapolitan Belle Epoque. While the façade still proudly displays its 19th-century decorative elements, step inside and you'll be transported to a world of refined elegance that has attracted the glitterati for over a century. Originally designed as a residential building, this masterpiece by acclaimed architect Giovan Battista Comencini was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1906 and has been playing host to writers, musicians, actors and other luminaries ever since. The recently renovated rooms and suites offer a contemporary take on classic style, many boasting views that sweep across the Bay of Naples with mighty Vesuvius looming in the distance and the majestic Castel Dell'Ovo standing guard in the foreground.

Those looking for peace, privacy, impeccable service and unbelievable views all tied up with a shedload of style need look no further than Goatfell. A boutique gem with just four rooms that gaze across a tea-country special of pretty plantations, forests and soaring peaks, this is a place to restore your soul. Previously an old colonial bungalow with bags of history, the interiors are a perfectly-chic mix of antiques and furniture that are beautiful and never stuffy. So, what to do with all this beauty? Relax, take in the unparalleled views and dine on sumptuous cuisine...

A tiny chunk of land in the Setouchi Inland Sea, aka the Mediterranean of Japan, Naoshima has become a living museum of sorts and its shores are scattered with striking art installations. Befitting of such a locale, Benesse House is the brainchild of noted architect, Tadao Ando, who has spent over 20 years crafting this unique hotel. It's actually four buildings in one, including the Park, Oval, Beach and Museum, all of which showcase works that wouldn't be out of place in the Guggenheim. Set right on the shoreline, you may never leave Benesse House, but the team is well-versed in island activities, just in case you do.

Two hours’ drive north of Mombassa on Kenya's central coast, the newly renovated Hemingways Watamu is a boutique beach hotel that combines the old-time charm of a fisherman's paradise, with a fresh injection of luxury. Its hunting- and fishing-loving patron saint, the eponymous Ernest Hemingway, is said to have visited in search of some big game fishing, but allegedly never left the bar! Take this anecdote as an allegory - feel free to be as busy or static as you like. From sailing, deep-sea fishing and diving, to golfing and sunset cruising, there is plenty to keep you entertained, but the sandy beaches and open-plan grounds with two swimming pools are there for lazing and lingering. Whatever your aim, Hemingways Watamu is a gem.

Life flourishes on Nosy Ankao, an exotic private island 3.5km off Madagascar’s northeastern tip. The island, with its aquamarine bays, pearl-white sandy beaches and winding waterways, forms part of a private five-island archipelago - a 15 000-hectare marine reserve. Fourteen palatial villas are strung along the pristine tropical shoreline. Not only do you get the best of an ultra-luxurious beach lodge experience, with warm waters teeming with colourful marine life, but also a bit of a bush experience with the likes of lemur trekking and turtles nesting on the island’s beaches.

The Peech was formerly an up-market private residence in the leafy suburb of Melrose, and is now one of Johannesburg’s more distinctive boutique hotels. This owner-run establishment has a contemporary, edgy African style throughout its 32 rooms and suites scattered within serene landscaped grounds. It’s the ideal hangout for those keen to experience Melrose’s dynamic vibe, with shopping, fabulous restaurants and bars nearby, and well positioned for exploring the bustling African city. A gem of a retreat with plenty of luxury, all the mod cons, and particularly notable for its award-winning Bistro restaurant and champagne bar.

A tiny Ligurian fishing village with a harbour full of superyachts and pastel buildings, Portofino is a postcard come to life. And looking down on all of it from a terraced hillside is Splendido, a 16th-century Benedictine monastery that the monks abandoned after one too many Saracen pirate raids. In the 1800s, Baron Baratta turned it into his summer pile, in 1902 it became a hotel, and, since then, it's been the Riviera's hideout for Hollywood, European royalty and everyone in between. A multi-year refresh by designer Martin Brudnizki came to an end in 2025, and today, the hotel is light, fresh, and irresistibly glamorous.