Best Hotels & Lodges

Built high atop an old anthill, Nambu Camp is entirely elevated, offering soaring views across the Olifants West Nature Reserve. Sharing an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, wildlife is free to roam in their numbers and the camp's guides have a real talent for finding just what you're longing to see. With only six chalets, the camp has an exclusive and intimate feel, and there's ample space to relax and soak up the view – this includes a well-loved waterhole below where herds of elephant arrive to drink. The team is highly efficient and treats you like family, always ready with a smile.

Lying within a 765-hectare private bush estate near White River, Ndula Luxury Tented Lodge has it all – wide vistas, dynamic wilderness, wildlife, supremely comfortable contemporary accommodation, and breakfasts and dinners to linger over. Here, you're in the Lowveld, a region that incorporates the much-loved Kruger National Park, and overflows with sightseeing options, from rich wildlife to dramatic canyons and compelling history. Explore the estate to see giraffe, zebra, warthog, nyala, wildebeest, kudu, and a birder's wishlist of species. Need more? Kruger is a mere 45-minute drive away.

This intimate permanent tented camp is ideally positioned to catch the best of the Serengeti action along the Mara River, yet delightfully tucked away from the throngs of visitors. Set in the remote area around Kogatende, in the park's northern section, Nimali Mara sits on a small rise, tucked between boulders and a dappled forest. Expect elegance that in no way interferes with the raw beauty of the bush, and service and guiding so good that this could well be be your one-stop shop for exploring what's often regarded as one of the world's most magnificent wildlife-viewing destinations.

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.

In strolling distance of Ho Chi Minh City's sweeping boulevards and jam-packed markets, Fusion Suites is a finely-tuned home away from home, where the interiors are cosy and casual and the suites pristine and pretty. The in-house bakery provides cakes fresh out of the oven (flavours range from red artichoke flowers to rich chocolate - tell us more!), and after a day of exploring the city, a rooftop cocktail is the only way to top it off. Speaking of which, there are plenty of historic sights to discover and a whole lot of shopping to be done all in a stone's throw from the hotel.

Just five kilometres from the thundering Victoria Falls, Insika Lodge is beautifully situated in a safari-style wilderness of mopane woodland where warthogs and antelope casually wander past the infinity pool. The lodge's elevated wooden walkways and expansive decks maximise the woodland views, whilst the on-site spa, fine dining, and complimentary shuttles to the Falls ensure you're never far from either relaxation or adventure. With its own waterhole viewing deck and prolific birdlife, plus easy access to Victoria Falls' famous adrenaline-fuelled activities, it's perfectly positioned for those who want their creature comforts without sacrificing an authentic African experience.

If you were to dream up a rustic little treasure where you can get away from it all, Termas de Papallacta may just fit the bill. Sitting at a head-spinning 3,250 metres above sea level, the lodge is almost embedded into the Andes and as as you step out your front door, you'll be peering directly onto the snow-capped Antisana Volcano. As lovely as the accommodation is, the real drawcard of Termas are the incredible thermal pools, where you'll easily while away a few hours. When you fancy a touch more action, hike into the hills where the glorious vistas become clearer with every step higher.

Sitting on the banks of Chao Phraya, aka the River of Kings, the Riva Surya Hotel couldn't be in a better location for exploring Bangkok. Just a few minutes walk away is the pier where you can catch a ferry that will take you from one dazzling highlight to the next. The famous Khao San Road is also just next door. And whilst the hotel may be surrounded by the historic icons of Bangkok, it's a modern and trendy spot, ready to provide any comforts you seek in between busy days. And there's nothing like sipping on a cocktail as the sun sets over the river...

The fourth-largest island in the Seychelles archipelago, La Digue's beach appeal is the stuff of travel adverts, from its swathes of clean, palm-fringed sands to the outlying coral reefs. And this blissful place is the home of the unashamedly luxurious Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie. Lying just a few minutes' walk from the island's best beaches, the hotel is fronted by that jade-coloured ocean and embraced by lush gardens and hills planted with orange groves. If you've ever swooned over an ad for a super-stylish tropical barefoot beach holiday, book now. We know you'll love it!

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.

Mutanda Lake Resort's location deserves natural wonder status. Because there's something quite wonderful about a lodge that straddles a peninsula in a freshwater lake that's peppered with densely vegetated islands, and framed by the perfect triangular peaks of the Virunga Mountains. The resort itself is exceptional, with charming wooden structures set amid the lush forested lakeshores with ample water frontage. This remote setting is made all the more staggering by its impeccable hospitality. The staff are adept at making you feel comfortable, and mindful of the core purpose of your visit: the chance to encounter gorillas in the wild.

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.