Best Hotels & Lodges

If there was ever a place where the world appears through rose-tinted glasses, it's Fairview House. Living up to its name as it looks over an idyllic scene of mist-infused mountains and fynbos-covered valleys. These views even inspired two novels written by the family matriarch! Once a hand-built home, Fairview has been transformed into a impeccably styled boutique hotel with South African artwork and touches to remind of its heritage - the ornate fireplace makes for a cosy spot to curl up. Tucked away from the fast lane, Fairview is an inviting refuge with the beauties of the Garden Route within arm's reach.

In a hustling and very bustling city of 1.6 million people, Arusha Coffee Lodge is the perfect hideaway for a spot of pre or post safari rejuvenation. As the name suggests, coffee is a running theme and the lodge is nestled into the lush emerald bushes of Tanzania’s largest plantation in the foothills of Mt Meru and well-located for flight connections. Radiating warmth and charm, this is an elegant and relaxing stopover choice with a number of activities to keep you busy… and possibly the freshest cup of coffee you will ever taste.

On Lake Garda's western shore, olive groves and lemon terraces tumble down to the water, and high above is the flagship wellness resort of the Leali family, Lefay Resort & SPA. Opened in 2008, it's still the lake's headline act for serious spa-retreaters and the signature wellness method pairs Classical Chinese Medicine with Western methods that play out across a variety of programmes, longevity consultations and treatments from an in-house doctor. It's set in a stunning 11-hectare private park above Gargnano, and you'll also find two accomplished restaurants with a proper sommelier for when you're not ensconced in the 4,300 square-metre spa.

Enjoying a prime location beside the peaceful Dojima River, the Mitsui Garden Hotel is a retreat from Osaka's frenetic energy. Although, it is just a short walk away from prominent subway stations meaning the sights of Osaka are perfectly within grasp. From the rooftop lounge at the hotel, the cityscape is laid out like a 3D map, and you'll enjoy plotting out the next day's exploits over an evening aperitif. From head-spinning museums and beautiful gardens to the famous neon lights of Dotonbori, there is a million things vying for your attention - and after a fulfilling day, what could be better than an in-room massage to wind down with?

This mid-sized lodge has a safari character with a difference. Located in the central eastern parts of the Kruger National Park in the Singita Private Concession, it's set on a cliff face overlooking the N’wanetsi River. Enjoy spectacular views of the bush, extravagant luxury and a top-end wellness centre. Like its sister lodges, Singita Lebombo is known for its impressive guiding. Discover the secrets of the wild on foot or from a vehicle and get the chance to come face to face with the Big Five and so much more.

Okonjima Plains Camp was built on the site of the owner's original farmhouse. After a dramatic face lift the 'Barn' doors, the nickname for the main area of the camp, were officially opened. It offers comfortable and stylish accommodation for guests visiting the AfriCat Foundation project. With 30 rooms, it's a larger camp than we would usually recommend, but if you are interested in big cats and seeing how the world's most successful research and rehabilitation project works in practice, a 2 night stay here is a must.

Although just a 5 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng Town, Sala Samui manages to provide a haven of calm, right on the water's edge. Sun-splashed, whitewashed and beautifully understated, the resort ticks many boxes for a seaside resort. Alongside the usual lineup of private pools and daybeds to lounge on, added luxe extras include toes-in-the-sand dining every evening if you so desire and movie nights on the starlit beach. Gorgeous views of the Gulf of Thailand complete the picture - and we haven't even told you about the Sala Spa with its solar-themed treatment rooms and world-renowned products. Bliss, indeed.

Steeped in history yet entirely modern, this light, bright and thoroughly beautiful hotel sits high in the Sri Lankan hills offering gorgeous views of Castlereagh Reservoir. With just five bedrooms, it's intimate and relaxing and the service is always second to none (especially when your dedicated butler makes an appearance...). Days are all about taking in the stylish luxury, wandering the beautiful gardens and cooling off in the crystal-clear infinity pool. It's the sort of spot we wish we could teleport you to, pronto.

Three Tree Hill Lodge is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains, and overlooks the secluded Mfazimnyama Valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve. It is an owner-managed, eco-friendly, historic lodge offering spectacular scenery, locally grown farm-style country food and warm hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere. The lodge has 6 double/twin cottages along with 3 self contained cottages namely Kiplings Family, Churchills and Burchells which can accommodate different group sizes and offer different views of the reserve depending on where you stay. It is also the perfect base to explore the major Anglo-Boer War Battlefields in KwaZulu Natal, and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, a world heritage site. History and wildlife enthusiasts will love this comfortable and welcoming lodge.

In Swahili Pole Pole means 'slowly, slowly' a very apt description for this picturesque quaint lodge built up on the hillside set amidst palm trees sloping down to a small sandy shore lined with mangroves. The lodge has a distinct unpretentious and laid back atmosphere that has garnered it a lot of accolades as one of the best luxury eco resorts in the world. Let your phone battery die and disconnect from the outside world. The service is discreet and thoughtful with heavily Italian-influenced cuisine with a Tanzanian flair. Relax with the tides—the perfect compliment to any bush safari.

Step off one of Bologna's narrow medieval lanes, push open a discreet wooden door, and you'll find yourself standing beneath a soaring glass cupola. The palazzo of Hotel Corona D'oro has been woven into the city's fabric since the 13th century when it belonged to the noble Azzoguidi family, and has been welcoming guests since 1890. With only 40 rooms, flagstoned cloisters and a pretty, vaulted breakfast room it's a more intimate version of the city's grander options. The location is hard to fault too, with the Two Towers are literally round the corner and Piazza Maggiore five minutes on foot.

Kitich Camp is a truly remote and private location set in a pristine forest on the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains (also known as the Lenkiyio Hills). The camp has guarded this vast natural forest for more than 40 years and was originally set up in the 1970s as a private hideaway for his friends by the celebrated hunter and conservationist Miles Burton. The forest covers some 900 square kilometres of Mathews Mountains' peaks, which soar so high above the lowlands that the BBC described the area as a “biological bonanza" on a "sky island".