Best Hotels & Lodges

Camp closed: 1 - 30 Nov each year Mountain gorillas have long been Rwanda's principal attraction, often eclipsing its other wildlife, and the landscapes. Those endearing primates deserve their fame, but if you're keen to take in Rwanda's many other natural offerings, come to Ruzizi Tented Camp. Set on the forested shores of Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park, the camp is surrounded by jungle and poised to access plains, swamps and highlands, which are home to elephant, zebra, giraffe, leopard, lion and hippo, and more. This intimate camp keeps things simple and eco-friendly, but really punches above its weight with exceptional guides, staff and a prime setting.

Queen Elizabeth National Park isn’t exactly busy, but if you’re looking for some real solitude, head south to the Ishasha sector for a few nights in the aptly named Ishasha Wilderness. The camp does exactly what it says on the tin and does it really rather well at that - this is bona-fide eco-camping in a pristine spot, where hippos snort languidly in the river and elephants wallow in the shallows. The style is simple (but very comfortable) and the emphasis on good-living, with hearty Euro-Ugandan cuisine on the menu, cold beers on tap and smiling faces all round.

Resting lightly among the dune forests on the shoreline of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Bazaruto Sands is an authentic, exclusive boutique ecolodge with a purpose. Thoughtfully designed spaces, genuine Mozambican hospitality, and a peaceful coastal setting come together to create a luxury that feels effortless and truly connected to place.

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.

Five bedrooms, on a street where the neighbours count their stock in millions. Épernay's Avenue de Champagne has been UNESCO-listed since 2015 and the great houses line it one after another, cellars running deep into the chalk below. Behind one of the doors, though, is a family townhouse rather than a monument: 18th-century bones, a fire in the hall, and a walled garden at the back that comes as a genuine surprise given what's on the other side of the building. The furniture the previous owners left behind has been kept and set against newer pieces. The wine house attached went biodynamic decades before anyone else in the region thought it sensible, and the tastings are correspondingly unhurried. Grand address, small house.

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.

Mere minutes from the centre of Cheltenham, Cowley Manor is a magnificent Italianate house, recently given a sharp and slightly mischievous new life by the crowd behind some of Europe's best cocktail bars. The result? A country-house hotel that is definitely one-of-a-kind, and rooms that take you down a designer rabbit-hole of bold colours and very funky details. Inside, log fires and deep sofas keep it cosy; outside, acres of parkland roll away into lakes where swans drift among the lily pads and giant rabbits (sculptures!) hide in the grass. Spend your days swimming, wandering, or settling in at the bar, the Cotswolds outpost of the cool-as-a-cucumber Experimental Cocktail Club.

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...

An idyllic and very quick boat ride from central Aswan, Mövenpick sits on Elephantine Island with delightful vistas of the Nile and Smartie-coloured Nubian Houses. After the bustling energy of Cairo, Aswan is a laidback locale where the scent of fresh roses welcomes you each day and at the hotel, you'll enjoy tranquil river views over a bowl of homemade ice cream. Boasting the best view in Aswan, the Panorama is the highest restaurant in the city, and it's from here that you can eye out your next stop. Will it be the floral paradise on Kitchener's Island, the famous Philae Temple (or Temple of Love), or even an authentic felucca ride down the Nile?

Stopovers in Kigali tend to be dominated by big chain hotel groups. And they're certainly fit for purpose. But there's a new inn in town. One that'll make your stopover a whole lot more glam. So we're rather pleased to introduce Hemingway's Retreat Kigali. This fresh, contemporary boutique hotel has been built with both sustainable principles and comfort in mind, and blends them perfectly. With just 20 luxury rooms surrounded by mature gardens, a good restaurant and a wellness centre, The Retreat is as heavenly as it claims to be, in that appealingly down-to-earth way.