Best Hotels & Lodges

Entamanu teeters on the north-west rim of one of the world's most iconic natural phenomena, Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater. Uniquely perched to exploit the beauty of both the southern Serengeti plains and the plummeting crater below, this lodge has dramatic views, literally, all around. The lodge is accessible by road from Arusha - even the drive is its own adventure, hugging the crater's contours. Breathtaking landscapes aside, this is one of the premier wildlife destinations in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site to boot. The area is home to the regal Maasai people, known for their rich history and hunting culture. Everywhere you look there's something utterly remarkable.

The driest (and one of the highest) deserts on Earth, the Atacama is a revelation in surviving against all odds, from its endemic flora to the Aymara people who made their home in the same area Explora was built. While the hotel isn't far from the town of San Pedro, it has the feel of a true oasis, surrounded by 17 hectares of beautiful gardens alive with native plants and where thermal pools are dotted around for the ultimate al-fresco spa experience. Explora is known for its fantastic guided excursions, which will take you from salt flats coloured pink with flamingos to the surreal Moon Valley.

Hanoi is an inimitable city, branded by its world-renowned cuisine, striking history (told in its many quarters), and the constant beep of mopeds. Along the iconic Hang Be street in the Old Quarter, La Siesta is a glitzy, stylish and inventive hotel. If you don't believe us, check out the rooftop Lighthouse Sky Bar; it certainly does the trick, with walls of glass that take the shape of a ship 'moored' on the 10th and 11th floors in homage to the vessels that were once sold on the street. Inside, the suites are slick and refined with views over the bustling lanes below. Just the place to return to after a day out in Vietnam's capital.

The Hide offers a top-class experience in an easily accessible but private concession of Hwange National Park. The accommodation is more than comfortable and the family-operated team has pretty much perfected their product over the past two decades. Your stay here will incorporate several different activities and the time spent in camp is sure to be restful and spoiling. Game viewing in the park is best during the dry winter months (June-October) when animals are drawn to the waterholes, which are pumped. That being said, there's plenty to see during the green summertime when the bush is lush and springing with new life and an abundance of birds.

If you’re all about the outdoors, and experiencing a destination and culture with intrepid hikes and off-the-beaten-path adventures, look no further - and we mean it. Explora is THE ultimate HQ for adventurers and explorers alike! Located semi-remotely next to the traditional village of Urquillos in the Sacred Valley, the hotel is devoted to providing rewarding explorations away from the tourist crowds - and without missing any of the landmarks. With amazing architecture, stunning views of Inca terraces as well as top-quality cuisine and amenities, this full-service hotel will make you wish you had just one more day of exploring.

This lodge, in the middle of the Namib Desert, quite literally in the middle of nowhere, has crafted itself as a stand-alone destination in Namibia. Guests travel the extra mile to get here because it is offers something special. During your stay you will find silence and serenity. The team arrange exquisite desert picnics, you can dine on fine food under a blanket of bright stars, quite literally on the edge of the desert (even your villa has a skylight above your bed so you can savour that phenomenal sight late at night) or recline at the sparkling swimming pool overlooking the breathtaking view.

Traveling throughout Madagascar is both awe-inspiring and very hard work, so a few days in a serene lodge on a tropical island is just the ticket as a transition between your adventure and your homeward journey. And Tsara Komba Lodge is the perfect wind-down destination. Sited on a forested mountain slope, facing the warm ocean and run by superb French hosts Xavier and Lucie, the lodge welcomes you with open arms. The thatched chalets are stylish, minimalist and ooze comfort, the food is very good, the views reach to infinity and you're encouraged to do exactly as you wish.

Privately owned &Beyond Mnemba Island is a real gem, laced with soft, white-sand beaches and surrounded by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. From the moment you land, time seems to stop and your senses are heightened – that's how far you are from city mayhem. With just 12 private beach bandas that somehow manage to combine rustic simplicity with utter luxury, you can be as active, or not, as you wish. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, take star-lit dinners on the beach and visit the dive centre to explore the coral reefs and their colourful fish.

Rome doesn't lack grand hotels, but few have earned the kind of devotion that the Hotel de Russie inspires. Designed in 1818 by Giuseppe Valadier, the same architect responsible for the neighbouring Piazza del Popolo, it has welcome Russian royalty, Picasso and Cocteau through its doors (the latter famously declaring it "paradise on earth"). Restored by Rocco Forte in 2000, the hotel sits on Via del Babuino between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, with the Tiber, Trevi Fountain and Villa Borghese all within easy walking distance. The real showstopper, though, is the terraced Secret Garden — 2,800 square metres of orange trees, roses and trickling fountains climbing the Pincian Hill, which makes it genuinely hard to believe you're in central Rome.

Famous the world over, Hiroshima is a city of great poignancy and determination, traits that are at the forefront of nearly every excursion. Nestled in the heart of the city, the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel is a well-established spot with fantastic access to some of Hiroshima's most iconic sights. It happens to be just a five-minute walk from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Unlike many chain hotels, the ANA Crowne Plaza exudes warmth and hospitality that instantly makes you feel at home. After a day of taking in the sights and shopping up a storm, head to the lounge for afternoon tea or evening cocktails.

Located in the heart of the small village of Chacras de Coria, this delightful, long-running boutique hotel is as cosy and welcoming as they come. The small-town setting adds to the charm and the picturesque village square is only a few blocks away. At the hotel, the restaurant offers superb dining experiences, the rooms are warm and comfortable, and the service is fantastic - the staff truly feel like family and will happily organise every detail of your stay. Further afield, there are wineries aplenty within 20 minutes drive or less, making charming Lares de Chacras a great base from which to explore what Mendoza is most famous for.

San Camp brings you forward into the future of eco-friendly, responsible travel by taking you back in time to an era where safari meant personal butlers and starry banquets. Huge, open, airy tents appear as an oasis on the desolate Makgadikgadi Salt Pan - the site of an extinct lake bed. This mysterious place is home to a healthy meerkat population—willed, but delightfully habituated—as well as desert-adapted wildlife, including brown hyenas, Aardwolf, bat-eared foxes and black-maned lions. Walk with a local San Bushman for a real-life history and biology lesson, or get an on the spot archaeology and geography lesson from your guide; navigate the vast moon-like landscape at your own speed, on the back of an ATV. Bedouin tents, Persian rugs and vintage accents conjure a true Lawrence of Arabia feel - the atmosphere is hallucinogenically romantic.