Best Hotels & Lodges

From the ever-present scent of the orange blossoms to the freshly-squeezed juice at breakfast and luxuriating massages with orange blossom mousse, La Villa des Orangers certainly lives up to its name. The atmosphere is a million miles away from the beeping and braying of the Medina, yet La Villa happens to sit at the foot of the Koutoubia Mosque, right in the heart of the winding streets of Marrakesh. Built in the 1930s and brought back to life by some of the city's finest craftspeople, the house forms its own oasis without forgoing any of its authenticity.

Just five minutes from Siem Reap's Old Market, Rambutan Hotel & Resort is officially two boutique properties side by side that share everything including two saltwater pools, a restaurant and bar, and a spa. The Hotel wing is home to the split-level Balcony Villas with a real tree-house atmosphere, while the Resort side has deluxe Terrace rooms with outdoor bathtubs. Between them, there are only 26 rooms so the lush tropical gardens never feel crowded. But what really sets Rambutan apart is its heritage: it's a genuine social enterprise where staff receive free education, healthcare, and childcare. Add LGBTQ+ friendly hospitality and eco-conscious initiatives, and it's somewhere very special.

After a spectacular, multi-million-dollar transformation, the Mandarin Oriental has shed its corporate skin to reveal something far more intriguing... This distinctive fan-shaped tower – both to represent the logo and provide the best of views – rises above Marina Bay with a renewed swagger and style. The 2023 renovation has woven Singapore's multicultural DNA throughout, from batik patterns in the bedrooms to orchid cascades in the atrium. And HAUS 65, their champagne-soaked club lounge on the 21st floor, might just be the city's most indulgent hangout. Add vintage Vespa tours, a resplendent spa, and uninterrupted views of the nightly light show, and you've got Marina Bay luxury with proper personality.

Closed for refurbishment - reopening 2027

Voted one of the top 10 hotels on the planet, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undoubtedly one of the most opulent lodges in Africa. And yet, while no expense has been spared to ensure your every need is catered for, the main attraction is the lodge's setting – on the rim of the famous and archaeologically significant Ngorongoro Crater. Both lodge and crater lie at the heart of an 8,300-square-kilometre conservation area that is home to an astonishing selection of wildlife, including hippo, antelope, buffalo, black rhino, one of the highest carnivore densities in the world and plentiful bird species.

Looking like something out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, the luxurious Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt sits right on the most iconic avenue of the famed Recoleta neighbourhood. Surrounded by boutiques, exquisite cafés and trendy galleries, this not-so-little gem offers the ideal respite from the urban hustle and bustle. The two-building complex - which spans a Belle Époque mansion and a contemporary building - is surrounded by lush, peaceful gardens, and features a dreamy pool, renowned spa, three fabulous restaurants, a flower boutique… and the list goes on. If you’ve ever wanted to experience living in a palace, look no further. And don’t worry, the charming staff will make you feel right at home.

A lodge that lives up to its name, Namib Outpost lies in a remote location at Sossusvlei, in the southern Namib. If peace and natural splendour are your thing, and if you love sand dunes, then this is the place to come – Sossuvlei's large salt and clay pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world. The views are spectacular, especially at sunset, when the sand is rosy and you can hear geckos barking and hyaenas calling. Recently renovated, the lodge's atmosphere is relaxed, the accommodation is great and you can explore the desert on horseback.

Baraza Resort and Spa offers stunning facilities for guests to enjoy a range of watersports, a comprehensive spa with a lap pool and tennis court, cooking classes, cultural excursions and all on the most stunning stretch or Zanzibarian beach. Baraza showcases a fusion of Arabic, Swahili and Indian designs and rooms are adorned with beautiful antiques, handmade furniture and intricate brass lanterns. A gorgeous coral reef stretches along the coast, providing safe waters for swimming, snorkelling or kite surfing. This reef also ensures the finest powder white sand beach.

Casa Monti is the Rome you picture when you close your eyes — cobblestones, sage-green shutters, artisan workshops and gelato on every corner — yet inside, it's a different world entirely. An old 18th-century palazzo, Parisian designer Laura Gonzalez has turned it into a maximalist love letter to Roman craftsmanship. Think hand-painted frescoes, Murano glass, Pompeian-red tiles, artfully clashing fabrics and colour. All the colour! It's vivid and personal, and the location is just as fantastic. Slap bang in the middle of the city, on a quiet stretch of Via Panisperna, it's in the heart of the city's coolest boutiques, galleries and bars.

Imagine an exclusive private home in a neighbourhood far removed from your own. Instead, you're in a vast, vast wilderness, and your neighbours are wild – elephant, giraffe, zebra and rhino, and 300-odd bird species. Imagine riding on horseback through hills and savannas. Then make it real. Lengishu is a family-owned estate set in the 13,000-hectare Borana Conservancy in northern Kenya. It sleeps up to 12 in great comfort, attended to by a dedicated staff of chefs, housekeepers, and a private guide. Borana's boundary with neighbouring Lewa Downs Conservancy is unfenced, so there's plenty of scope to realise your dreams.

Kutali Camp is a realisation of the dream of Luke Evans and Kyle Branch, two young men who have spent the past decade guiding travellers throughout southern and East Africa's most sought-after sanctuaries. They've come to know the essential ingredients of a great bush experience. A truly wild, beautiful and productive wilderness – in this case, Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. Dedicated, knowledgeable guides – the owners themselves. And the atmosphere – there's certainly little to beat the under-the-stars campfire spirit, with good food and wine.