Best Hotels & Lodges

Perched among rolling hills and ancient vineyards, this 1000-year-old castle has perfected the art of combining historic grandeur with laid-back Italian charm. Think exposed stone walls, beamed ceilings, and the kind of views that make you want to quit your job and become an olive farmer. The castle's courtyard feels like it's been plucked straight from a Renaissance painting, while the Michelin-starred restaurant proves that modern-day pleasures haven't been forgotten. Whether you're hunting for truffle-laden pasta or simply fancy a splash in the panoramic pool, this pocket of Tuscany knows how to deliver the goods.

Panoramic Grand Hotel is perched atop a hill, right on the edge of the map, in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. Its strategic location offers breathtaking views in every direction: nature, the Iguazu and Paraná rivers, and the meeting point of three countries: Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Guests are offered fresh and modern spaces designed to provide a relaxing experience for couples, families, and groups of adventurers who visit.

The hotel is located on the riverbank, in an area renowned for its rich historical heritage. You will enjoy spectacular sunsets, excellent cuisine, exquisite spa treatments, and warm, personalized service worthy of the finest hotels in Argentina.

Nestled in nature, Iguazú Grand offers extraordinary experiences for families, couples, and friends in a warm and comfortable setting. It is located just minutes from Iguazu Falls, named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and part of the world's largest waterfall system.

Discover the elegant and spacious suites, the sophisticated restaurants and bars, and all the five-star amenities. You are welcomed into this luxury resort in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.

This well appointed but intimate tented camp is situated in the private Linyanti Reserve, on the banks of the Savute Channel, close to the source of the Delta. Set amongst the trees, the camp is most notable for offering some of the best elephant viewing in Africa during its winter months, and for its abundant year-round game and high predator densities. Regarded by many as the best camp in the entire Linyanti region, Savuti is highly recommended by guides and guests alike. Its reputation is almost as good as its game viewing opportunities.

Vietnam's Mekong Delta is a mesmerising maze of waterways, floating markets and emerald-green palm groves – but most visitors only scratch the surface. These private sampans, sized to navigate the narrowest tributaries, take you somewhere entirely different: canals too slim for commercial boats, villages untouched by tourism, and encounters with rice paper makers, coconut farmers and brick artisans who've honed their crafts for generations. Recognised as a Lonely Planet 'Top Choice', the experience is refreshingly intimate – a dedicated crew of four or five looks after everything from five-course dinners to cycling excursions through the countryside. It's slow travel at its finest, drifting through Ben Tre's legendary 'Coconut Kingdom'.

At first glance, the triple-decker ship has the look of a hotel adrift on the Mekong Delta, water rippling like silk at the bow. Dressed in a coat of wood and metal, the Aqua departs from Ho Chi Minh City to meander past tiny villages and floating markets. Along the way, trace the country roads on a bicycle or birdwatch from the comfort of a rooftop lounger - photographers at the ready! Serene interiors create a relaxing place to rest after a busy day packed with activities. Evenings are spent watching a classic at the cinema or enjoy the sunset over a cocktail.

Dreamt up by a connoisseur of luxury desert camps, every detail at Inara is immaculately executed, from the desert-chic decor to private, candlelit dining tents, and a fabulous array of adventurous activities. Whether you're trundling along in a dune buggy or swaying camelback across the rocky landscape, starkly beautiful views occupy every direction - and it's more than worth an early wake-up to catch the sunrise, slowly illuminating the distant Atlas Mountains. The camp truly checks every box for an idyllic escape to the Agafay Desert, and our top tip is to simply soak in the atmosphere over a cup of mint tea.

The Grand Oasis Sharm el Sheikh is an all-inclusive 4-star resort spread on 52,000 m2 of beautiful landscaped grounds with fantastic views on the Red Sea. The resort offers bright accommodation and features different range of facilities including a private beach, 3 outdoor pools, a well-equipped gym, one tennis court, a spa center and volleyball.

Grand Oasis Resort offers accommodation in 433 guestrooms complete with a mini bar, climate control, an individual safe, a private balcony, and a private toilet. The rooms have a view over the garden. Guests can make use of a shower, a hairdryer, and bathrobes.

Set in an exquisite riverine forest on the edge of an oxbow lagoon, Muzimu Lodge is at the heart of one of Africa's most extraordinary conservation success stories. After decades of civil war devastated Gorongosa, American philanthropist Greg Carr's ambitious restoration project has brought the park roaring back to life – and Muzimu, Gorongosa’s flagship camp, offers front-row seats to its remarkable recovery. There are just six canvas rooms (and, from 2027, three ‘island’ tents), all with en-suite bathrooms and large verandas, connected by wooden walkways to a shady swimming pool and spacious lounge and dining area. It’s also a central hub for many of the park’s pioneering conservation and community initiatives and a stay here is thoughtful and considered in every way.

SKY Resort is one of the best resort found in the beautiful lake side city of Bahir Dar. The resort hotel is a luxury facility that is intended primarily for customer’s comfort and is located around near special attractions, such as Lake Tana monasteries, Tiss Issat falls and so many attractions around.

Set on the banks of the Marico River in Madikwe, one of South Africa's largest malaria-free reserves, Jaci's Private Lodge has just been through a proper glow-up: earthy tones, sunken lounges and hides positioned to put you at eye level with whatever's come down for a drink. Children of all ages are actually welcome here, not merely tolerated, and with ten redesigned suites alongside three private villas, it flexes easily between a honeymoon for two and a reunion for twenty. This is Big Five country with the Kalahari's edge for a neighbour, and not a malaria pill in sight.

The dusky-pink Baroque villa at the estate's heart houses Locanda Nerello restaurant, stuffed full of antiques, art and neon signs and offering a fabulous 0-kilometre menu of dishes like albacore tartare with Salina capers, risotto with fennel and orange zest, and homemade cannoli. Below it, the Convivium Bar occupies the old stone cellar – well-stocked and ideal for an aperitivo – and outside, there's a solar-heated infinity pool framing panoramic views of both Etna and the sea. There's also a small spa, and a larger menu of in-room wellness treatments.

Across the sea from Hiroshima, Miyajima has long been known as one of the most scenic places in Japan. Sitting on the island's very popular Omotesando Avenue (the shopping is fantastic!), the Kurayado Iroha Ryokan couldn't have a better view of the island's floating Torii Gate and shimmering water beyond. Staying true to its very authentic roots, a stay at the Kurayado Iroha is all about bubbling, spring-fed baths and kaiseki cuisine prepared with local ingredients, including vegetables from the Chugoku Mountains and seafood caught fresh every day. Become absorbed by the magic of Miyajima Island as you wander from shrine to shrine, and take in the splendid views.

Tucked among thorn trees, Lewa rises from its hillside setting with a distinctly organic style. Thatched and intriguing, the main area is outdone in the quaintness stakes by its cocoon-like cottages—aptly called Earth Pods. The lodge lies at the very heart of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The main building, once a private home, is set on a hill, so the views across the landscape are uninterrupted – southwards to Mt Kenya and, to the north, the rugged Mathews Range and the sacred mountain of Ol Olokwe. Lewa has some of the best game viewing in East Africa.

Bordering the iconic Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Evolve Back Gham Dhao Lodge sits at the threshold of a harsh and storied landscape. The first reserve in Botswana to be set aside for its rich cultural heritage, the Central Kalahari is the historic home to the San Bushmen, a people group expertly adapted to the severe desert environment. Few places on earth allow such an authentic cultural interaction alongside a truly wild game experience. The desert wildlife ranges from the majestic black-maned Kalahari lion to the truly bizarre brown hyena, the black-backed jackal, and the elegant oryx antelope. This totally off-the-grid camp still manages luxury with its back-to-basics approach.

In the heart of the Atlantic, Fernando de Noronha offers pristine turquoise beaches, untouched trails through lush landscapes, all surrounded by rich marine life and breathtaking viewpoints. Situated in the northeastern region of Brazil, just a few miles from Recife, it offers a unique combination of beauty, sustainability, and welcoming infrastructure, with warm weather all year round. Nestled between the crystal-clear waters and paradise beaches of Fernando de Noronha since the year 2000, you’ll find a small, iconic, and authentic Villa Hotel where the philosophy of welcoming, caring, and nurturing is embedded in its DNA. Relax and unwind in one of the 37 comfortable suites, equipped with everything you need for an unforgettable stay.

Perched high on the Estrada da Colina with 180-degree views stretching from the dramatic spike of Morro do Pico to the shimmering arc of Praia do Porto, this intimate pousada occupies one of the archipelago's most enviable vantage points. Built within an environmental preservation area - and designed accordingly, with solar energy and water treatment systems woven into its fabric - it's a pleasingly conscientious base from which to explore a UNESCO-listed marine paradise that limits visitor numbers to protect its extraordinary ecosystem. Part of the EKOS hotel group, it's a small, polished operation where the team remembers your name before you've finished checking in and the concierge will have your island itinerary sorted before your first caipirinha is poured. Think spa treatments after snorkelling, sunset cocktails by the infinity pool, and deeply personal service that can turn a holiday into something rather more memorable.