Best Hotels & Lodges

A three-hour drive from Cape Town, through some of most picturesque winelands imaginable, the brand-new Morukuru Beach Lodge lies in the 36,000-hectare De Hoop Nature Reserve, a pristine coastal fynbos region with World Heritage Site status. Not only is this unique region near South Africa's southernmost tip of Cape Agulhas, it's also one of the best places to see southern right whales (from July to Sept). The artfully constructed ecolodge is a sprawl of glass and natural rocks, capitalising on the scenery: limestone cliffs, secluded bays, and fynbos-shrouded white dunes. Expect African wildlife (marine and terrestrial), and a private beach.

Perched atop terracotta cliffs in the tree-laden heart of Lapalala Game Reserve, the freshly-minted Noka Camp is a haven of conservation. The lodge is 100% solar-powered and has been built on small concrete pads to ensure no marks are left on their piece of the Waterberg. And bonus, this has had no effect on the aesthetics so expect gorgeous interiors and every comfort you could ask for. Noka Camp is bespoke in every sense of the word, and with an award-winning architect at the helm and hand-crafted items from the local community, every corner of the camp is a delight.

In the pilgrimage town of Kotohira, just at the foot of the forested Mount Zozu in a quiet, unhurried corner of Shikoku, sits a ryokan that's been welcoming travellers since 1627. Originally an inn for pilgrims visiting the revered Konpirasan shrine, Kotohira Kadan has hosted Japan's literary greats, imperial family members and countless souls who arrive to climb the famous 1,368 stone steps to pray. Today, it's a layered property that sprawls across hillside gardens with heritage cottages, renovated guest wings and Konpira Onsen's skin-softening hot spring water known locally as 'The Great Beauty's Bath'.

Stay at the Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel and home is a classically beautiful Victorianised farmhouse that was declared a National Monument in 1984 – and for good reason. With a sweeping whitewashed façade, pretty tiled floor and grand Romeo-and-Juliet-style balconies, you can’t fail to be impressed as you meander up the pathway from the main street. Neighbourhood-wise, this is Cape Town at its trendiest best; kooky Kloof Street is around the corner while the bars and cafes of Tamboerskloof are just up the hill. If any hotel deserves the title of ‘best kept secret’ it’s the Cape Cadogan…

While the rest of the Amalfi Coast leans into terracotta, bougainvillea and old-world romance, Casa Angelina does something refreshingly different. Sitting on the cliffs of Praiano, the hotel's white-on-white minimalism feels more gallery than grand palazzo... And that's totally the point. Clean lines, contemporary art and a pared-back palette let the real star of the show take centre stage: the staggering Tyrrhenian Sea views that stretch from Positano to Capri. Add a Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant, a holistic spa and the hotel's own private boats, and you've got one of the most distinctive stays on this magnificent coastline.

Looking out at the ice-blue waters of Lake Toro and the iconic Torres del Paine, Patagonia Camp is entirely at one with nature. A passion project by adventurous travellers wanting to share this scenic corner of Chile with visitors, the guides at Patagonia Camp are experts in planning the ultimate day out. Trek across glaciers, foothills and valleys to discover the park in vivid technicolour, and along the way, learn about the original peoples of Patagonia as told by millenia-old cave paintings. The camp was also built to be feather-light with luxury yurts built on wooden platforms and an organic water treatment plant. You'll enjoy the view that much more knowing the camp's done its part to protect it.

Ho Chi Minh City has long been the stage for era-defining history and glitzy go-getters mingled with perfumed temples. Hotel Des Arts was at once seamlessly stylish - combining a taste of the 1930s with romantic suites and an artistic flair that runs like a fine thread throughout. In the lobby, chandeliers hang like curled ribbons, open bird cages act as decor and tea trays, and an exquisite array of artwork lines the walls. In the heart of Saigon (the energetic city centre), a walk down the sweeping boulevards reveals grand architecture and monuments that recall a sobering past.

Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks but it can get busy and the facilities aren't what they could be. Ongava, which is a sizable private reserve on its southern border, capitalizes on its proximity and provides what the park cannot: exclusivity, luxury and flexibility, whilst maintaining an intimate camp feel. Ongava Tented Camp combines the best of Etosha with great service and the chance to benefit from a more personal guided experience in a less restrictive environment. Here you can combine comfortable accommodation with great game sightings and still experience Etosha Pan.

'Zil Pasyon' translates as 'Island of Passion' in Creole and it's a fitting name for this breathtaking private island retreat on Félicité, one of the Seychelles' most dramatic granitic islands. Once a coconut plantation, the island spent nine years being lovingly regenerated before the resort opened in 2016 – and it shows. Occupying just a third of Félicité's 652 acres, the 30 pool villas are tucked among lush tropical forest and towering granite boulders, with three powder-white beaches and Indian Ocean views that'll stop you in your tracks. A 20-minute helicopter ride from Mahé sets the tone for what follows: a seriously impressive spa carved into the rocks, Creole-inspired dining, and the kind of barefoot luxury that Six Senses does so well.

An Arabian mansion in the middle of buzzing Marrakesh, Les Jardins is a haven of leafy palms and orange trees and lazy moments by the pool. And nnowing that the bedlam of the city is just outside makes the hotel's breezy terraces, quiet lunches in the garden, and polished interiors all the more enjoyable! At the hotel, you'll be pampered in the stone hammam and sip cocktails on the rooftop terrace with its views over the Medina. Then, when you're ready, the city awaits, from the stunning gardens of the French quarter to the lantern-lit souk selling, perfume, silks and delicacies.

Tucked deep within the mist-shrouded canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, this newly reimagined lodge sits at the epicentre of one of conservation's greatest success stories. With barely 1,000 mountain gorillas left on Earth, and more than half calling this ancient forest home, you're essentially bedding down in the world's most exclusive wildlife neighbourhood. Freshly reopened after a complete transformation, the 10-villa hideaway has shed any pretence of roughing it in favour of eco-conscious luxury that would make David Attenborough weep with joy. The location is so primo that gorillas occasionally pop by for impromptu garden visits – though the brilliant rangers guarantee you'll meet them on their own turf during every trek.