Best Hotels & Lodges

Built around a waterhole that attracts hundreds of animals daily, from elephant, cheetah, lion, wobbly-legged giraffe, antelopes (including kudu) and warthog to snakes and many birds, Phinda Zuka is a heavenly lodge. There are just four cottages tucked into the bush and densely wooded hills, so Zuka is the ideal getaway for a honeymoon party or family groups of up to eight. It's an exclusive-use lodge with a dedicated host and ranger, tracker, butler, chef, and private safari vehicle. This upmarket destination is not cheap, but a visit is worth every cent.

Furnirussi Tenuta sits at the heart of Europe's largest organic fig plantation — 4,500 trees across 20 hectares of Salento countryside, 12km inland from Otranto. The De Santis family built it from bare land in 2006, and the result is unusually distinctive for the region: clean-lined, minimal and contemporary, where most masseria peers go rustic.

Twenty-nine suites open onto private courtyards or panoramic terraces. There's a lake-shaped 1,000sqm bio-pool, a rock-cut hammam, and a kitchen working straight from the farm next door.

This friendly guesthouse, with superb facilities, is located in the leafy suburb of Klein Windhoek, just 45 mins drive from the international airport. A former family home, it has been renovated into a contemporary, eleven-roomed guesthouse, complete with a large shaded terrace, open-plan kitchen, small plunge pool and a wellness treatment room. It shares the same views of the olive grove and city skyline, as its neighbour, the Olive Exclusive. The food and wine list are fantastic, especially for a property of this size and price range. The staff are attentive and welcoming, providing a warm start to your Namibian adventure.

Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge is set on the banks of the Mluwati River in the heart of the Kruger National Park. It is one of only three luxury lodges in the 10,000 hectare Mluwati Concession. The lodge celebrates local Tsonga culture, from its traditional round rooms to the splashes of tribal decor and earthy tones in its interiors. Hoyo Hoyo offers a uniquely African way of life and a perfect blend of earthy luxury and superb service. The world-class cuisine at Hoyo Hoyo is served with a delicate balance of traditional African and western dishes.

Kanazawa often gets called "Little Kyoto," but this castle town on the Sea of Japan has a charm entirely its own — think gold leaf artisans, preserved geisha quarters and one of Japan's most celebrated gardens. Positioned right in the thick of it, this contemporary hotel (the brand's first in the Hokuriku region) puts Omicho fish market five minutes away on foot, with samurai streets, Kenrokuen Garden and the castle all within easy reach. The real draw? A design that weaves local craft into every corner — Kaga Yuzen fabrics, Wajima lacquerware touches, lighting edged in gold leaf — and a rooftop bathhouse overlooking the greenery of the castle park.