Best Hotels & Lodges

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is a nirvana for picky travellers and if ever the phrase, "there's really something for everyone" suited somewhere, it's here. Animal-lovers (in case the name didn't give it away), will be in heaven, interacting with local elephant and wildlife, budding gourmets can learn to cook northern Thai cuisine, fitness fanatics can work up a sweat with a muay thai boxing lesson or two, and seasoned loungers can, well, lounge amid the opulent surroundings. With restaurants to suit every taste, newly-renovated and beautifully-decorated bedrooms, a wine cellar, and a multitude of magical experiences, it would be impossible not to fall in love with this jungle spot.

For over half a century, Hotel Lungarno has been one of Florence’s most familiar addresses of hospitality. On the banks of the Arno, beside the Ponte Vecchio, it feels like an intimate house suspended over the water. With 66 rooms overlooking the city, white and blue interiors with nautical references, and a curated art collection, the experience continues with Borgo San Jacopo, the Michelin-starred restaurant above the river, and Picteau Bistrot & Bar, led by Executive Chef Claudio Mengoni.

Gazing out across the azure water of Lake Kivu, Cleo Hotel has all the makings of a laidback getaway on Rwanda's 'Riviera'. Every space enjoys far-reaching views of the lake but perhaps best of all is the restaurant right at the water's edge where a long lunch followed by a snooze in your private cabana is definitely in order. If you're keen to explore, there's plenty to do as well. Amble along one of the many trails, go kayaking on the lake (happily, it is entirely predator free) or take a tour of a local coffee farm. On your return, a deep tissue massage is just the ticket.

Creeper climbs the brick and stone here, so the whole front goes scarlet in October, and the oak woods behind are full of paths, two ponds you have to look for and dead-straight rides once cut for hunting. The Loire is a short drive south and invisible from every window, which makes the name aspirational. Inside runs to ebony bookcases, blue-grey walls and toile de Jouy, with candles and lit fires once it gets dark. The kitchen once held two Michelin stars and now holds none, and a chef in his late twenties is trying to win them back. Children are properly welcome, which is rarer than it ought to be.

This luxurious lodge is located in the game-rich Sabi Sand Reserve in the northeastern corner of South Africa. Built around the enormous boulder for which it is named, the lodge lies on the banks of the Sand River. No expense has been spared here: the lodge has been sympathetically built of wood, stone and thatch to blend with the environment, and incorporates modern and traditional influences in its design. It's a wonderful place to enjoy excellent service, accommodation, food, views and, most of all, diverse wildlife. Meet the stars of the show, the Big Five, particularly leopard.

Far from Dar es Salaam's bustling busyness, Nyerere National Park ('The Selous') is a 54,000-square-kilometre game reserve that's both the biggest in Africa and a World Heritage Site. Bailey's Banda lies in its southwest, blending into the landscape on a hill overlooking sister Beho Beho main camp. It's a lovely stone cottage, with just two bedrooms and a touch of oh là là about the atmosphere. Wildlife sightings in the area are splendid, and there's birding to satisfy the most demanding birders. If you're after exclusivity in the wilderness for your family, and some seriously dedicated service, you'll find it here in spades.

Belvedere Bellagio presents the authentic Lake Como experience, going beyond the overly grand stereotypes. Arrive with a head full of noise, leave with eyes full of color. The mountain greens and the lake blues.

Nestled on the serene Araújo Island, just a short boat ride from the historic center of Paraty, you'll find Paraty Marin. This 7-hectare property is a private paradise designed for tranquility and connection with nature, featuring lush gardens, scenic trails, and a private beach. Welcome to a paradise; where the untouched Atlantic Forest meets the sea.

Originally built in 1846 by Gervasio Newton, this country house has now become Casa Newton. An agriturismo that was designed to feel welcoming through the seasons by combining great design and excellent service. In a commanding scenic location near Pienza, between Montalcino and Montepulciano, the signature red walls define the original character of Casa Newton, which overlooks the quintessential UNESCO scenery of the Val d’Orcia.

Lake Kawaguchi is the most photogenic of the Fuji Five Lakes, the one where a still morning delivers Sakasa Fuji, the mountain doubled on the water. FUFU Kawaguchiko sits in pine forest above the shoreline, one of nine properties in Japan's small-luxury FUFU group and the only hotel in Yamanashi to hold Two MICHELIN Keys two years running. All 32 suites face the mountain and come with their own volcanic-stone hot spring, so nobody's queuing for a soak here. The whole place runs on a "borderless forest" idea: trees felled to make way for the build came back as furniture, the local stone as fittings. Deliberate, unshowy, and entirely 'of the place'.