Best Hotels & Lodges

Ant's Nest Lodge is situated on a private game reserve in the malaria-free Waterberg region. The owners renovated an old ranch house to create Ant’s Nest using local stone and thatch that blend into the surroundings. It is an excellent bush getaway for couples, honeymooners and families alike. The lodge can be booked on an exclusive basis. Ant’s Nest not only enjoys lovely views of the valley but is also surrounded by open plains where rhino and other game graze frequently at close range. The team at Ant’s Nest is exceptionally hospitable and will make your stay memorable.

Nestled within the most exclusive bay along the Ligurian Riviera, this completely renovated 19th-century villa provides the perfect blend of intimacy and luxury. Your arrival sets the tone immediately – cool blue interiors, glittering chandeliers, and an overwhelming sense that you've discovered Italy's best-kept secret. With just twelve exquisite rooms, the atmosphere is delightfully refined yet discreet, allowing each guest to feel like the protagonist in their own Italian riviera story. Perhaps the most enviable feature is the hotel's private beach, where the gentle lapping of the Mediterranean provides a soothing soundtrack to lazy afternoons on pristine loungers. And should Portofino's charms beckon, the complimentary shuttle whisks you there in a mere five minutes – though we'd forgive you for finding it difficult to leave this beachfront haven.

Tucked among Stone Town's winding alleys, where stalls offer heaped bowls of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, and the walls are ablaze with curios, sunshine-bright fabrics and local artworks, is an alley that is unexpectedly quiet. And it's here, behind a traditionally ornate wooden door, that you'll find 170-year-old Kisiwa House. Built by a wealthy Omani merchant as a family home, the house is now a modern boutique hotel. Kisiwa (Swahili for 'island') was one of Stone Town's first buildings, so there's a profound sense of history embedded in its walls, antique furniture and original photographs of past residents.

Cross the threshold into an unexpected world, where nature reigns supreme, art pervades every corner, and Sardinian traditions are the very essence. Su Gologone isn't just a hotel, it's an experience. A pleasant surprise awaits you around every corner, a warm smile at every glance.

In the beautiful Barbagia region, a rugged and surprising region of Sardinia, just a few dozen kilometers from the sea, lies a world of juniper trees and embroidery, terracotta and inlay, 20th-century Sardinian artists, and a strong culinary tradition.

Dating back to 1936, when this remote part of the central Drakensberg was almost inaccessible, Cathedral Peak Hotel is now a beloved family-friendly hotel renowned as a maker of great holidays. Within its beautiful setting beneath the mountains' blue-grey jagged peaks, the hotel is at the heart of all sorts of outdoor adventures, including some of the country's best hiking and mountaineering. The four-star hotel offers accommodation for everyone, good buffet-style food and warm service.

Villa San Sanino, a small luxury farmhouse , is located in one of the oldest and most evocative places in Tuscany, land of the Renaissance, of proportions and balance, in the wine-growing area of ​​Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico. Only 4 luxury suites , each unique. At Villa San Sanino, you'll find a romantic retreat with a relaxing atmosphere, tranquil pace, and a personal welcome, where you'll feel right at home.

Here in Umbria, overlooking a romantic view of the Duomo of Orvieto, along the route of the ancient Via Francigena, where pilgrims refreshed themselves before journeying on to Rome, you will find elegant suites restored in the authentic style of the 14th century. At the Locanda Palazzone, surrounded by vineyards, guests can discover the flavours of Umbria in the Enoteca, dine on the terrace on summer evenings, and swim in the pool

With centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese influence, Nagasaki is a fascinating blend of cobbled lanes, varied food and architecture. Perched above JR Nagasaki Station with views stretching across the harbour to Mount Inasa, the sleek Nagasaki Marriott makes an excellent base for exploring. The Shinkansen platform is quite literally downstairs, there's a shopping mall next door, and the city's trams rattle past below. It's definitely on the larger side (there are 207 rooms in total), but the genuinely warm staff and thoughtful nods to Nagasaki's seafaring past give it more personality than you'd expect from a big-brand property.

Perched on the shores of the glittering lake, this magnificent grande dame of a hotel has been welcoming discerning travelers since 1863. The sumptuous interiors - with their jewel-toned purples, golds and indigos - transport you to an era of Belle Époque elegance, when wealthy Europeans would flock to the Italian lakes for restorative retreats. Today, the hotel seamlessly maintains its historic charm while offering every modern comfort. Sink into plush furnishings and gaze out over the pristine waters, perhaps penning your own masterpiece as Hemingway did during his stay (which later featured in 'A Farewell to Arms'). Just a short hop from Milan, this little corner of paradise offers the perfect escape, whether you're planning a romantic getaway, family adventure or elegant business gathering.

If walls could talk, the frescoed ceilings of this 1870 grande dame would have stories that'd make your head spin. Picture this: Christian Dior taking his final breath in one of the suites, Grace Kelly swanning through the lobby, and a young Puccini composing at the piano whilst Marie Curie debated radioactivity over aperitivos. This isn't just any old Tuscan pile - it's where Italian Art Nouveau maestro Galileo Chini went properly wild with his paintbrush in 1901, creating celestial ceilings populated by floating cherubs and ethereal figures that still stop guests mid-stride today.Set bang in the centre of Montecatini Terme (yes, that's thermal springs central), the hotel sprawls across 20,000 square metres of century-old parkland. The 120 rooms maintain their period swagger with antique Liberty furniture and marble bathrooms that wouldn't look out of place in a Visconti film. But don't mistake all this historical pomp for dusty museum vibes - there's a thoroughly modern 800-square-metre spa lurking beneath all that Belle Époque beauty, complete with Rasul baths and enough treatment rooms to keep a small army of stressed executives purring.

Oita Prefecture pumps out more hot spring water than anywhere else in Japan — and handily, the Hokke Club is right in the centre of it. An eight-minute stroll from Oita Station and slap-bang in the Miyakomachi entertainment district, it's a practical springboard for soaking your way through Beppu's famous onsen (twenty minutes by train) and the gentler ryokan town of Yufuin. The rooms won't win design awards, but the Simmons beds are genuinely comfortable, and the top-floor bathhouse has views across the city. And then there's the breakfast buffet, laden with Oita's regional specialities and a treat every morning!

La Roqqa is a destination within a destination, a project of land regeneration, a luxury boutique hotel where "new simplicity" is the stylistic signature. The warm, welcoming hospitality and the extraordinary views invite you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the place, savouring every moment.