Best Hotels & Lodges

Set in a restored historic villa—once the House of Gold—the hotel blends cultural richness with modern comfort in the very heart of Stresa. An intimate atmosphere, bespoke service, and serene lake views create an oasis for travelers seeking authenticity and sophistication.

Nagasaki is one of those Japanese cities that catches you off guard. Centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese influence have left their mark on everything from the churches to the noodles, and the whole place has a cosmopolitan energy that feels unlike anywhere else in Japan. Perched in the Minamiyamate district at the base of the famous Glover Garden hill, the Crowne Plaza makes its case almost entirely on location. It's a reliable IHG property — clean, well-staffed and recently spruced up — and while it won't win any design awards, having Nagasaki's two UNESCO World Heritage sites and the Gunkanjima tour boats practically on your doorstep is hard to beat.

Part of the LHP Hotels empire (they of the "made in Italy style and design" manifesto), this 62-room property takes itself rather seriously as Montecatini's first proper design hotel. Built in 1910 but given the full monochrome makeover, it's all geometric patterns, chrome furnishings, and that black-and-white aesthetic that screams "we hired an expensive interior designer and by God you're going to notice." The whole thing reads like someone's mood board for urban sophistication came to life - water cascades at the entrance, a rooftop pool with 360-degree views, and a spa they've christened Monté that promises "exclusive wellness". But here's the thing: despite the try-hard design speak and occasional pretentiousness, they've actually created something rather special here, especially when you're floating in that rooftop pool watching the sun set over the Tuscan hills.

Fukuoka is Japan's under-the-radar culinary capital – the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen and home to over a hundred yatai food stalls that light up the streets each evening. Sitting right beside Hakata Station (connected by an underground walkway, no less), Miyako Hotel is a polished, modern base with a few tricks up its sleeve. Opened in 2019, the hotel is wrapped in glass and greenery, with natural hot springs feeding a rooftop spa that looks out over the city skyline. Rooms are generous by Japanese standards, the food leans into Kyushu's seasonal produce, and Fukuoka Airport is a mere five-minute subway ride away.

Tucked into the forests above Beppu, Japan's undisputed onsen capital, Showaen is a near-century-old ryokan with a backstory as rich as its mineral-laden waters. The site was once a thriving Edo-era gold mine, and when the diggers struck hot spring water instead of ore, a rather wonderful Plan B was born. Today, nine standalone villas are scattered across a sprawling 6,000-tsubo estate of manicured Japanese gardens, each with its own private onsen fed directly from the old gold veins below. Seasonal kaiseki dinners are served course by course in your room by a dedicated attendant, and the quiet is so complete you'll hear nothing but birdsong and trickling water.

Kissed by the Tuscan sun and surrounded by the pristine blue Tyrrhenian sea, Hotel Il Pellicano is a timeless Mediterranean hideaway, home to all things slow, stylish and creative. Come embrace your sense of wonder and experience 'la dolce vita'. The best place to experience 'la dolce vita.' Guests can experience a taste for 'sprezzatura' – an Italian word that captures an offhand, casual elegance and Il Pellicano is the epitome of that.

Ischia is often overshadowed by its flashier neighbour Capri across the bay - but that's exactly how regulars prefer it! It's the Bay of Naples' volcanic sibling, laced with thermal springs and chestnut forests, and moving at a noticeably slower pace. The quietest corner is the tiny fishing village of Sant'Angelo and, set right on the edge in a mountain of volcanic stone, is the Miramare Sea Resort & Spa. The work of Neapolitan architect Giuliano dell'Uva, it's a rare piece of contemporary design on an island more often done up in terracotta and tile and a private beach, sea-view rooms and access to a proper thermal park are the perfect finishing touches.

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'.

On a cliff above the Arabian Sea, a short hop from Kovalam, Niraamaya Surya Samudra was doing the boutique-resort thing decades before the label existed. Its cottages aren't reproductions: they're actual tharavads, rescued from villages across Kerala and rebuilt here on a headland thick with coconut palms. Below them, a swimming pool has been carved clean out of a single granite outcrop, its edge dissolving into open water. An Ayurvedic spa staffed by resident physicians, three distinct places to eat, and sunsets that turn the whole cliff mango-orange make the modern case. Clifftop hotels are two-a-penny in Kerala now. This one taught them how.

Perched majestically atop rolling hills, this restored 18th-century castle is the stuff of fairytales – but with a deliciously modern twist. Originally built as the passion project of an aristocratic amateur architect (who clearly had impeccable taste), today it's a masterclass in preserving historical opulence while adding just the right touches of contemporary luxury. From the moment you step into the medieval living room, with its original furnishings and artwork, you'll feel like you've wandered into an especially well-appointed museum where you're actually allowed to touch the exhibits – and better yet, sleep in them.

Located just a 1-minute walk from Uno Station and a 3-minute walk from Uno Port, this conveniently situated location is ideal as a base for exploring the Seto Inland Sea and its islands, expanding the possibilities of your trip. The sea breeze and beautiful scenery are right beside you, as the hotel offers Superior Twin, Premium Deluxe, and Corner Suites that all feature balconies with ocean views. Enjoy the beautiful, ever-changing scenery of the Seto Inland Sea to your heart's content.

On the west coast of Okinawa's Main Island, where the East China Sea shows off its best turquoise, this is the first Halekulani to open beyond Hawaii (the Waikiki original has been going since 1917). It runs along a mile of coastline inside the Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park, a short hop from the sea-cliff drama of Cape Manzamo. The look is pale and calm, all 'seven shades of white' chosen to throw the blues and greens outside into clarity. Everything carries a noted polish, plus a genuine longevity story: Onna sits in one of the world's original Blue Zones. Aloha, Ryukyu-style.

Kumejima sits a lonely 90 kilometres west of Okinawa's Main Island, reachable by a short hop from Naha or a slower ferry that gives you time to properly check out. Cypress Resort bows in a long curve along Ohara Shinri Beach, so every room, and the infinity pool out front, faces nothing but sea, coral reef and the odd propeller plane taking off from the airstrip next door. Days here revolve around boat trips out to Hatenohama, the seven-kilometre sandbar locals call the most beautiful stretch of water in the East, and evenings on a barbecue terrace with the sunset for company. Kumejima doesn't try hard. It doesn't need to.

Irabu Island sits at the western edge of Okinawa's Miyako group, reached via a 3,540-metre bridge that arcs over water so clear the locals christened it 'Irabu Blue'. IRAPH SUI, a Luxury Collection Hotel, occupies a coveted stretch of coast, each room facing the sea and several with their own plunge pool. Days unfold around an infinity pool that appears to spill straight into the ocean, a spa drawing on Miyako sea salt and sun, and a French restaurant turning local wagyu and reef fish into something rather special. Sunsets here are dreamy beyond belief – you won't want to miss one.

A hidden gem in the heart of Robertson town (located on South Africa's famous Route 62), the Robertson Small Hotel is fabulous in every sense of the word. Housed in a beautiful Victorian manor house straight from the pages of a storybook, there are various rooms scattered throughout the gardens, the majority of which overlook aquamarine swimming pools. Inside, the decor wonderfully personal and immaculately thought out - think fynbos-inspired linens, whacky artworks by Cape Townian artist Michael Taylor and stunning signature pieces that will make you want to unpack your suitcase and move right in.

Ishigaki sits at the southern tip of Japan, where the Yaeyama Islands trail off towards Taiwan and coral reefs turn the sea into something closer to stained glass. On a forested cliff at the island's less-crowded northern end, JUSANDI is a five-villa retreat named after yusandi, the local word for sunset, and it takes watching that sunset seriously. Architect Norihiko Dan built the place in whitewashed curves that somehow don't look out of place against the palms and Ryukyu limestone. A three-minute walk through the forest delivers you to a blue cave that feels more like a secret than a tourist stop. It's become something of a honeymoon institution here, for good reason.