Best Hotels & Lodges

We weren't at all surprised to hear that Kapama Karula actually means "place of peace." This ultra-luxurious lodge in one of South Africa's largest, privately-run game reserves, Kapama, is the definition of a relaxing and tranquil safari. So, what can you expect? Decadent accommodation and fine wining and dining both get big ticks, but even bigger ones for the wildlife experiences. Choose from elephant-back safaris through the bush, evocative hot air balloon rides, traditional Big Five game drives and walking safaris to complete a very memorable trip.

Located on the shores of Laguna Hedionda at 4,115 meters above sea level (a favorite haunt and habitat of pink flamingos) this eco-retreat it is surrounded by highland wilderness and protected by the Cordillera Real - an imposing mountain range within the mighty Andes. Inspired by indigenous motifs, such as Cruz Andina, all the hotel's infrastructure was built using materials from the region (mud, stone and wood). The hotel's aspect was designed specifically to enjoy sunrises and sunsets, ands leans on the characteristic colours of the surrounding desert.

The Grand Hyatt sits on the city's western tip, where the Corniche meets the Arabian Gulf. It's a polished city hotel with resort comforts. Its striking glass towers look out over turquoise water and the domes of the nearby Emirates Palace. Rooms are spacious and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Residences are a good fit for families and longer stays. Days are easy here: lounge by the pool, unwind at the spa, or explore restaurants serving everything from Middle Eastern to Asian flavours. Qasr Al Watan and the downtown sights are minutes away, which makes this an elegant, well-connected base in Abu Dhabi.

Tucked down a leafy cul-de-sac, just off Cape Town's famously buzzy Kloof Street, this collection of six beautifully-restored cottages and apartments is the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. With buildings dating back to the late 1870s, the décor is all about custom wallpapers, chandeliers and Cape Colonial colour palettes, with a good dollop of added South African warmth. There's no reception desk, no communal lobby and no fuss; just a dedicated concierge, impeccable finishing touches and a front door that opens onto one of the Mother City's best-fed neighbourhoods. Table Mountain looms above, Camps Bay's beaches are a quick drive away, and breakfast is a one-minute stroll to the end of the street.

Wayo Serengeti Green Camp is a seasonal camp which follows the main wildebeest events during the year. This camp is located in the southern regions of the Serengeti National Park and intersects the herds as they reach the lower plains for calving seasons. The ash beds set down by millions of years of volcanic action provide magnesium-rich grasses allowing for mothers to produce nutritious milk for their young whilst the wide, open plains provide a safe, open aspect to spot potential approaching predators. It is on these plains where Wildebeest mothers will give birth to over 200,000 calves in February and March. The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp features beautifully designed tents sewn by local teams located on the boundary of Arusha National Park. With a picture-window of mesh at the front of the tent, you can lie on your bed and enjoy breathtaking 180 degree panoramic views. Encased in a beautiful stretch canvas overhead, tents sensitively blend into the landscape whilst also providing shade and privacy. The ensuite bathroom is enclosed and covered with bucket showers and low-flush toilets. The camp prioritises adventure, authentic safari experiences, and ecotourism. You will love the personalised service and prime access to some of the world's best game viewing.

A boutique hotel with 8 spacious and luxurious suites: an ideal residence for wine lovers who can find here a wide and refined selection of over 1,500 references and a team capable of creating a tailor-made experience. Each Suite offers a personal wine cellar with a selection of wines to taste directly in the room with the Coravin system.

All the suites are very bright and characterised by a décor that recalls the Italian style of the Sixties. Each room features a fresco painted by Andrea Ferolla depicting iconic Roman landscapes and views. The particularly spacious bathrooms feature elegant black tiles and retro-style sinks.

At Trunk Yoyogi Park, the guest rooms offer you a compact yet luxurious urban experience. Expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows seamlessly blend the room’s interiorwith the surrounding park greenery and cityscape. Every room type embodies an urban sophistication born from the fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies, featuring unexpected material combinations and artworks that add a distinctive accent. Through every element—from the in-room amenities to the furnishings—you will get an experience of "Urban Recharge."

Appearing not quite real and almost a mirage reflected in the ice-blue Lake Pehoe alongside Torres del Paine's famous peaks, the Explora is a vision in white. Peppered with panoramic windows, the lodge shows off the park's fairytale vistas with little distraction - just as it should be. By far the closest accommodation to the Paine Massif, it's also well-positioned to explore the beauty of Patagonia and there are over 50 excursions on offer, all curated by the expert guides: visit frosted glaciers and ice fields, and explore never-ending pampas where endemic wildlife roams.

Set on a quiet and marvellously-regal Belgravia street, The Goring opened its doors in 1910 and is still the epitome of English charm today. The character is full-blown Edwardian with footmen in red livery at the entrance, a flock of life-size wooden sheep posted by the hearth, and a degree of fuss that feels gloriously out of step with modern-day London. The very hotel where Kate Middleton spent the night before her royal wedding, the Goring has generations of regulars return precisely because so little changes. This is a hotel where everything is the result of decades of reflection and study, from a pillow plumped just right to meals known across the city.