Best Hotels & Lodges

'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.

After a spectacular $40 million makeover, this riverside tower has reinvented itself as Singapore's most ambitious eco-luxury experiment. With an address along the historic Singapore River, it's far enough from the CBD's chaos to feel like a retreat, yet just a two minute stroll from the MRT (train). With fresh, reimagined rooms, complete with AI assistants and filtered water systems, the 30-storey sanctuary has become the unlikely darling of eco-conscious families and urban escapists. The real triumph? They've managed to make sustainability feel genuinely luxurious, pioneering everything from water filtration to biodegradable amenities without sacrificing one bit of comfort.

Scarcely pin-pricks on a globe, the scattered isles of Africa's Gulf of Guinea barely feature on a map, let alone a traveller’s radar. But as technology connects the remotest corners with the rest of the world and people hunger for roads-less travelled, things are changing—though, thankfully, not too quickly. Bom Bom Island Resort straddles jungle, beach and islet on the northern tip of Principe Island, one part of the archipelago nation of Sao Tome and Principe. This place is a boon for sojourners seeking solitude and pristine nature, both on land and by sea. The island's 136 square-kilometres are nearly all primary and secondary forest ringed by pale-sand beaches that just beg to be explored.

This mid-sized, owner-run lodge is located in the hills of rural Karatu, about halfway between Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park - and a short drive to Tarangire National Park and the extraordinary Serengeti. Set in 10 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, Plantation Lodge offers a great mix of lush surroundings, lodge comfort, excellent food, spa pampering, aesthetically pleasing African style and access to Tanzania's most scenic national parks.

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.

Like all the Elewan Collection of lodges and camps in Tanzania (including Joy's Camp, Elsa's Kopje, Kitich and Lewa Safari Camp), Tortilis is set in an iconic location. In this case it's the western Amboseli, where game viewing is fruitful, accommodation is first-class, the food is Italian-style delicious, the guides are local and there's a responsible attitude towards conservation and the local communities. Here, overlooked by Mount Kilimanjaro, you can see a elephants (lots of them), hippo, lion and other big cats, and plentiful birds.Tortilis is Kenya's first eco-lodge and has won the Tourism for Tomorrow award.

There’s a reason the Alvear Palace is Argentina’s most emblematic hotel and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Located in Buenos Aires’ most stylish neighbourhood, Recoleta, it opened in 1932 as a luxury hotel for ritzy European travellers and diplomats, sparing no expense. And although it has undergone a series of renovations and additions since then, it’s still a model of the highest expression of refinement. We're talking flawlessly-suited bellboys complete with white gloves, Louis XVI style interiors, enormous ballrooms, and high tea fit for royalty. It will come as no surprise that notable guests range from Walt Disney and Nelson Mandela to Orson Welles, Karl Lagerfeld, Sofia Loren, European kings and queens… you get the picture.

To the west of Chobe National Park is Chobe Forest Reserve, home to one of the few remaining natural timber forests in Botswana. Lying in a private concession in this off-the-tourist-track reserve is Muchenje Safari Lodge, a laid-back retreat set high on an escarpment with views across a seasonal floodplain to the distant river. The lodge is owner-run and -managed, so every detail has been carefully considered, from the comfortable main area and lovely chalets to the fresh, homely meals, prolific wildlife (the region is one of the richest birdwatching areas in Africa) and top-quality guided drives and nature walks.