Best Hotels & Lodges

Some hotels win you over with design, others with location - and this one does it with dinner. Tucked into the hillside near the village of San Cassiano in South Tyrol's Alta Badia valley, Ciasa Salares has been in the Wieser family since the 1960s, and their obsession with food has turned a traditional alpine lodge into a genuine gastronomic destination. A wine cellar with 24,000 bottles, dedicated cheese and chocolate rooms, and four distinct restaurants sit alongside wood-panelled cosiness and honest Ladin hospitality. Beyond the table, the UNESCO-listed Dolomites are right there (the Armentarola ski lift is practically on the doorstep), and summer opens up some of Italy's finest hiking.

See why so many travellers make Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo their hotel of choice when visiting Chuo. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a quiet setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers and holidaymakers alike.

The undeniably glam Dar es Salaam Serena is a perfect short-stay hotel located near both the airport and hub of this coastal city. Once the country's capital, Dar es Salaam is a real melting pot – the people are vibrant, the traffic is predictably busy and the trade is brisk. The 230-bed hotel itself, however, is an oasis of calm, with lush gardens, a palm tree-studded pool area, two restaurants, two bars (including one pool-side) and a coffee shop. Staff are friendly and prompt, their service matching those of other international hotels. And the rooms are spacious and super-comfortable.

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.

High above the Bay of Naples, this grand dame has been turning heads since 1834. The scene is set the moment you step through the wrought iron gates - five acres of citrus gardens, three historic buildings, and a magnificent stone terrace that serves up show-stopping views of Mount Vesuvius brooding across the water. Duck into the music room where Wagner once composed, peek into the winter garden, or take the private elevator down to the port below. The whole place feels rather like stepping into a Fellini film, albeit one where the impeccable service and Michelin-starred cuisine remind you that you're very much in the here and now.

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.