Best Hotels & Lodges

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.

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.

If sweet, sweet chocolate therapy, tai chi on the lawns and peaceful river views are your idea of a retreat, then this is the resort for you. Anantara gives the disarming impression that it's far from the well-walked streets of Chiang Mai but it happens to be in easy reach of revered temples and downtown markets. Make the most of this choice locale with a ride on the resort's river boat, sipping on champagne as you drift past quaint Thai homes and spice gardens. Par for the course in this ancient city, Anantara has quite the backstory as the former British Consulate. Trust us, the hotel pays homage in rather original ways!

Down a winding, narrow lane (there are 9000 or so) in the Fes el Bali medina, Riad Fes was once the home of a Fassi aristocrat. With a splash of Art Deco style here and a few modern comforts there, the riad was restored to its original splendour to do what it does best - entertain guests. Inside, every space has been designed to show off the best of Fez's bygone allure, which shines in the bubbling Carrara marble fountains, the grand archways, and the stunning views of the 1000-year-old medina and far-off peaks from the terrace, the scent of Jasmine gently wafting on the breeze...

Slap bang in the heart of the stunning Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren is one of the oldest working farms in South Africa. With an emphasis on sustainability and organic produce, the owners are bringing an elegant and very contemporary twist to the old adage ‘farm to table’ and boy, do they do it well. From the award-winning restaurant and vineyard to the home-grown spa, every aspect of a stay here is led by the bountiful gardens and hubbub of edible delights within. And then there’s the cottages; white-washed Dutch gables transformed into sanctuaries of graceful simplicity and sophistication, worthy of a visit in themselves.

Lake Manyara Green Camp lies on the tree-lined banks of the dry Endabash River in western Lake Manyara National Park. Cliffs rise behind the camp, with a pretty waterfall that tumbles onto boulders, forming small pools that are perfect for midday swims with great views of the lake. This rustic fly camp keeps it simple, with open-air dining and large pillows for lounging on the dry riverbed. But this is only half its charm. The location is one of the sanctuary's best for wildlife, so animals (especially elephants) visit frequently. Expect great service and thrilling encounters.

Most Venice hotels are planted deep in the maze of canals... But the Belmond Hotel Cipriani does the exact opposite. Located on the eastern tip of Giudecca Island, the hotel looks back across the lagoon at St Mark's Square, with three acres of fragrant gardens, a working vineyard and the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in central Venice. Opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani (the man behind Harry's Bar and the Bellini cocktail), it has been a favourite Venetian bolthole of Hollywood, royalty and the Biennale crowd ever since. Many of the staff have been there for decades and it really does show.