Best Hotels & Lodges

If you're looking for a private reserve with fewer people in a private vehicle, off-road driving, really good accommodation and food and, of course, the best opportunities to see game, you won't go wrong at Lion Sands. Set within the larger Sabi Sand Reserve, Lion Sands is the only private reserve to have access to the perennial Sabie River, which it shares with Kruger National Park. And River Lodge is a tranquil haven, with lush riverine greenery, the winding waterway, wildlife everywhere and elegant yet homely accommodation.

This private, permanent lodge is set on a 10 000 hectare concession within the famous Sabi Sands Private Reserves. Set on the edge of the Sands River with its year-round flow, enjoy watching the elephants as they come down for their afternoon watering sessions. Spend mornings and afternoons exploring the surrounds as you encounter the elusive leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino from the comfort of a safari vehicle. For those that are a little more adventurous, connect with the bush on foot during a walking safari.

The story of how this place came to be is almost too good. In the late 1860s, when Florence was briefly Italy's capital, a German banking baron built an outrageously opulent villa for his Florentine bride — then very nearly burned it to the ground in a jealous rage. He didn't, thankfully, and Villa Cora is today one of the city's finest spots to stay. Tucked into rose-filled gardens on the south side of the Arno, a short stroll from the Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo, it feels a world away from the tourist crush of the Duomo. The staff are genuinely lovely, the interiors are gloriously eclectic, and there's a heated outdoor pool. In Florence. Year-round.

The conditions that make Rosario Valley one of Chile's finest wine regions - gentle coastal winds and sunny, temperate days - are also a winning combination for a laidback holiday, whether you spend it hiking into the hillside or sampling as many grapes as you like. Sitting pretty in a garden of well-groomed hedges and flowers, La Casona has a rather Tuscan feel to it with butter-yellow walls and terracotta roof. The Matetic Vineyard produces some of the best organic and biodynamic wines in the country, and you may just bump into their resident alpacas on a stroll through the vines. We believe 'idyllic' is the word.

The official accommodation for FLIP, Brazil's internationally renowned literary festival, Pousada Literária takes its bookish credentials seriously. The restored mansion in Paraty's historic centre, redesigned by award-winning Jacobsen Arquitetura, houses several suites and villas a myriad of buildings, all positioned around a pretty central garden. There's a heated pool and beautiful spa with herb- and spice-infused treatments, providing the R&R. The farm-to-table restaurant sources organic produce daily from a nearby farm-turned-sustainable-education-centre. Every room has a curated selection of books, but the piece de resistance is the library, where over 2,000 titles reside on the grand shelves.

One of Vietnam's most charming spots, Hoi An comes with the promise of cobbled lanes, rural excursions and more history than you'll know what to do with. With its French colonial design and picturesque setting, Anantara fits right in. Not much separates it from the idyllic Thu Bon River except for a few lazy palms and you'll have every chance to enjoy the view at morning yoga in the garden or over the specialty Hoi An Burger (a patty in a hot dog bun served with Vietnamese camembert!). It's the kind of place where the staff always remembers your name and you might just want to move in.

This privately owned gem lies within a UNESCO World Heritage site and Zimbabwe's oldest National Park, Matobo Hills. The lodge is one of a kind with its world class facilities built right into huge granite boulders. The area is steeped in history, both ancient and modern and boasts one of the highest concentrations of San rock art anywhere in Africa. The park is also home to variety of wildlife, most notably rhinos, leopards and a healthy population of the endangered black eagle.

Anurak is the type of place to utterly immerse yourself in nature. Each morning, step out onto your private patio surrounded by endless swathes of palm trees and the forested peaks beyond. You'll use up every bit of sunlight tracing the rivers, jungle trails and caves on adventurous days spent boating across Cheow Lan Lake, following in the tracks of forest elephant or canoeing down green waterways, the cackle of birdlife filling the air. After sipping a few Mai Tais and a hearty Thai dinner, you'll fall asleep to the sound of gibbons calling from the trees, and dream of doing it all again the next day.

Unlike most temporary camps, Kigelia has a modicum of luxury that is in keeping with its external environment. Constructed of canvas to leave as little foot print on the land as possible, there is nothing but the relaxing necessities to distract you from the surrounding beauty. It has a remote setting under kigelia (sausage) trees and overlooking the Ifuguru Sand River. Enjoy the daily game drives with a worthwhile walking safari thrown into the mix for good measure. Wonderfully positioned for predator sightings, herds of elephants, buffalo, giraffe and much more. There is never a dull moment at this camp.