Best Hotels & Lodges

If you're after a Tokyo hotel that feels Japanese rather than just playing at it, this one hits the mark. A short walk from Shinagawa Station and split across 288 rooms, it sits on 20,000 square metres of landscaped grounds with over 210 cherry blossom trees - which is to say, this is less of a downtown hotel and more of an urban retreat (with a serious garden). The rooms deliver proper views and Japanese restraint - book the Executive Floor for lounge access and garden strolls. Two restaurants anchor the dining: Ciliegio does thoughtful Italian-Japanese cooking, whilst Nadaman Takanawa Prime trades in seasonal Japanese a short walk from Shinagawa Station. What sets it apart isn't the spa, pools or gym - it's that this feels like an real part of Japan's capital.

Beautifully stylish canvas rooms, spectacular 270 degree views and a truly fabulous location in the heart of the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, just outside the Masai Mara Reserve, are just a few of the reasons that we love Ol Seki. And then there’s the activities. The private conservancy is yours to explore as you wish and the game drives, night drives and walking safaris, all led by a team of fantastic local guides in their traditional red shukas, are intimate and private. And with only four other camps in 200 square kilometres, you see hordes of game, not hordes of tourists – just as it should be.

As you arrive at the Rosewood London, the noise of London's bustling streets seems to simply fade the background... Cross the courtyard, then sweep up an original marble staircase barely changed since the building's Edwardian heyday and into one of the capital's most reliably luxurious (and calm) hotels. Inside, the mood softens into something warm and residential with polished wood, deep sofas and flourishing bouquets at every turn, yet it really is in the thick of midtown, equidistant from the theatres of the West End and Covent Garden, as well as the buzz of the city. It's lavish yet refined and the service is, quite simply, impeccable.

This lovely stone and canvas lodge in private Onguma Reserve embraces a floodlit waterhole that can be seen from both the main areas and the suites. The camp (one of five lodges in the reserve – the others are Onguma Bush Camp, Onguma Tree Top, Onguma the Fort and Onguma Plains Camp) lies on the eastern edge of Etosha National Park, so there are great opportunities to see wildlife in both sanctuaries. Expect fresh decor, solicitous staff, varied animal and bird sightings and extraordinary views.

Surrounded by the towering structures of the Langsuan neighbourhood, the Hotel Muse has a top-notch location for exploring the art, history and culture of the area. You'll be lured out in a flash to see what Bangkok has to offer, from delicious cuisine to dazzling temples. The designers were certainly inspired when curating the interiors of the hotel; they have a distinct vintage elegance and rooms are filled with cherry-tinted wood, plush leather and velvet furnishings, and high-end amenities. Elsewhere, there is ample space to recline in between excursions including the Speakeasy Rooftop Bar, which enjoys vibrant views of the city skyline.

Northern Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is just 10 minutes by road from the main entrance of Volcanoes National Park, home to families of magical, and rare, mountain gorillas. Above you towers Mount Karasimbi, the highest volcanic mountain in Virunga massif. The lodge is comfortable, with roomy and comfortable accommodation (don't expect glamour), the food is good, the staff are warm and on hand, and the views are simply splendid. The management here is extremely aware of the hotel's privileged location, and takes every step to protect and support the environment.

Just 880 or so mountain gorillas remain in the wild, and Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with its 400-strong population, is one of just a handful of places you'll find them. An excellent launch pad for your excursion is Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, perched on a ridge overlooking the incredibly lush Kashasha River valley and the forested hill known as Nkuringo, inside the park. This is not a simple or cheaply accessible destination, but seeing gorillas in the wild is worth every cent.

Step through the Doric columns of this 1928 neoclassical beauty and you'll understand why Singapore chose to preserve it as a national monument. Once the bustling General Post Office, The Fullerton has traded postmarks for five-star pampering, though its barrel-vaulted ceilings and Egyptian temple-esque atrium still command some serious admiration. Perched right at the Singapore River's mouth, you're perfectly positioned for Marina Bay gazing, Merlion spotting, and hopping between hawker centres. Crowned with towering columns, the rooftop infinity pool has become a favourite spot for photos, while the Straits Club lounge delivers delicate afternoon teas and champagne breakfasts to rival the best of them.

Place des Vosges was inaugurated in 1612, which makes it the oldest planned square in Paris, and this is the only hotel actually on it. You arrive through a passage into a private cobbled courtyard, ivy-clad and strung with lights, one step removed from the arcades. Inside, the rooms sit among exposed beams, marble mantels, gilded mirrors and copper-coloured velvet. Restaurant Anne holds a Michelin star across 20 covers. The Chevalier family have run the place for three generations and it shows in the details: an honesty bar with snacks, bicycles you can borrow, free parking (a small miracle in central Paris).

A&K Sanctuary relocated and completely rebuilt its long-running camp, moving it onto an elevated hillside within the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area and trading forest cover for sweeping views across the Serengeti plains, some 25 minutes from the crater descent road. The 10 tented suites are fresh with polished hardwood floors and a private deck. Interiors are almost entirely Tanzanian-made, down to the three-metre chandelier strung from painted jacaranda seed pods. Think of it as a showcase of East African craft with a caldera on the doorstep.

Let's be honest - this one's a showstopper. Clinging to the cliffs above Positano's bustling Spiaggia Grande, this 19th-century marvel serves up the kind of views that Italian dreams are made of. The Li Galli islands float like mirages on the horizon, while the scent of lemon trees and salt air drifts up from the gardens below. The Savino family has perfected their craft here, creating an elegant retreat where the simple things - like sinking into a lounger by the infinity pool or demolishing a perfectly crafted pizza - become extraordinary moments.

Chobe Safari Lodge lies on the banks of the Chobe River, the artery of life for the Chobe National Park. The lodge is large (and popular, as its location dictates – this is where Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia meet), but its lovely setting in an area rich in indigenous flora and fauna, its comfortable accommodation and good food make this an ideal stopover for a few nights before or after a safari. The lodge has recently been renovated, and is an excellent launch pad for Chobe, Victoria Falls or the Caprivi Strip.

Gazing out from Dead Valley Lodge, the desert seems to go on forever and it truly feels like there's no one else in the world. Yet, you're also only a few minutes from the entrance into Namib-Naukluft National Park, making it one of the closest to the dunes of Sossusvlei. You'll easily be the first ones there in the morning! The lodge has borrowed its style from its ancient desert surroundings with gnarled wooden coffee tables and subtle, sandy tones. Plus, there are endless opportunities for adventure, from a trek up the 'Big Daddy' dune to a hot air balloon flight surveying the surreal scenes.