Best Hotels & Lodges

Résidence de l’Evêché is a historic landmark in the heart of Pondicherry. Situated in the French Quarter, it takes you back in time to the colonial era when the Archbishop’s house was located on the street, earning the name, Rue de l’Evêché. The villa has existed since the 1790s and has been home to several owners, one of them being the prominent Goubert family, after whom the popular Goubert Market is named.

A reliable, well-run business hotel two minutes on foot from JR Okayama Station, the Mitsui Garden sits squarely in the practical-but-pleasant sweet spot. Rooms are tidy and comfortable — Serta mattresses, in-room baths, free Wi-Fi — and the buffet breakfast pulls in a solid spread of Japanese and Western options to fuel a full day out.

The standout is the large public bath on the 10th floor: a hinoki cypress tub overlooking a small garden, open from 15:00 through to 9am. It's not a hot spring, but after a day on Naoshima or trawling Kurashiki's canal district, it does the job beautifully.

Surrounded by a coral reef and pristine national Park, ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort is a luxury beach resort off the coast of Okinawa Island. Experience white sandy beaches and emerald green waters on a refined private beach. Indulge in treatments at the award-winning spa, enjoy flavorful food with local ingredients from the skilled culinary team while enjoying Manzamo sunset views, and slow down your days while you relax and rejuvenate at the tranquil seaside resort.

Choose from nine different room types to suit your travel style and group size. From the moment you wake up in the morning until you fall asleep at night, you can relax and watch the changing colors of Eef Beach from your room. At night, gaze at the starry sky from your balcony.

At EN RESORT Kumejima EEF Beach Hotel you can wake up a little earlier than usual and start your day by watching the sunrise. The sun rising over the horizon gradually gives color and brilliance to the sea in front of you, and just watching the changes is soothing. Feel the sun, feel the sea breeze, feel the island breeze, relax, and just zone out.

*Closed for extensive refurbishment from 18 March to 20 September 2024* This well-appointed and intimate tented camp is located in Ngala Private Reserve within Timbavati, the first private nature reserve to remove the fences that separated it from its neighbour, Kruger National Park. This satellite camp to Ngala Game Lodge is set beneath giant shady trees on the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River, and is known for its Big Five and wild dog sightings. Game, walking and photographic safaris are led by expert guides and trackers, who make sure that no rock is left unturned in pursuit of the animals.

Sabi Sand Game Reserve is the oldest private reserve in South Africa, sharing a 50-kilometre, fenceless border with Kruger National Park. It offers, almost indisputably, the best Big Five game viewing in the country and there are an abundance of predators. Here, tucked tastefully in the mature bush, is newly renovated Cheetah Plains, a collection of superbly stylish stand-alone homes. Expect a contemporary design, clean lines, carefully chosen natural materials and modern fixtures. This is a place that promises a luxury experience of the highest order.

Toro River at Toro River Lodges is an authentic African bush lodge located within the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. This Big-Five safari destination presents guests with a legacy experience, characterised by unique, rugged beauty. Set along the Makhutswi River, Toro River epitomises the connection between untouched African landscapes and responsible human intervention, with a commitment to ongoing conservation efforts that aim to preserve the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. Designed to integrate into its natural environment, Toro River exists as a blend of modern comforts and untouched wilderness.

Nkuwa Wilderness Camp is a serene bushveld retreat nestled within the expansive Selati Game Reserve. This exclusive tented camp, consciously designed to minimise environmental impact, offers a unique sanctuary beneath the majestic canopy of a Sycamore Fig Tree. With just four luxury ensuite safari tents, guests are ensured a personal and undisturbed experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of your surroundings for an authentic wilderness encounter.

This is a luxury urban hotel offering a special space away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The spacious guest rooms on the 39th floor and above feature interiors that incorporate Japanese traditional culture and views overlooking Tokyo. On the top floor, you can spend time reconnecting with yourself with 360-degree panoramic views in the Sky Private Villa, which offers unique culinary experiences in an unparalleled space, a spa where you can experience the blessings of Japan's nature, and five penthouses.

Soho isn't where you'd expect to find a moment's peace, which is rather the point of Ham Yard. Step off the noisy streets and you land in a tree-filled pedestrian courtyard ringed with small independent boutiques, a Tony Cragg bronze at its heart - a pocket of calm most Londoners never know is there. Inside, Ham Yard is a riot of creativity: an art collection on every wall and interiors layered with the confident, eclectic eye of designer Kit Kemp, all wrapped in the sociable spirit of the West End it calls home. Playful, grown-up, and unmistakably itself.