The Best Hotels in the World
Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Photo by George Fakaros
The Best Hotels in the World
More than 300,000 of our trusted Travelers voted in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards,
sharing tales—and tips—from their vacations in Santorini, or weekends
spent at Italian palazzos in Ho Chi Minh City. Get ready: These are the
50 best hotels in the world, say our readers, where service, style, good
eats, and sublime views make for a memorable stay. Want to change the
results this year? Vote now in our 2018 Readers' Choice Awards survey.
Photo by Matthew Hranek
1
hotel
La Réserve Paris - Hotel and Spa, France
When
we imagine Old World opulence—like, say, wood-paneled libraries,
19th-century furniture trimmed in velvet, and Haussmann-style apartments
outfitted with brocade silk wallpaper and fresh flowers—it's La Réserve that first comes to mind. A stay at this 40-room hôtel particulier,
just a block from both the Champs-Élysées and the rue du Faubourg
Saint-Honoré, is a splurge, but you'll get Carrara marble bathrooms,
anti-aging spa treatments, and two Michelin-starred restaurant, Le
Gabriel, in exchange.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Leading Hotels of the World
2
hotel
The Lodhi, New Delhi, India
New Delhi’s The Lodhi
is a city hotel, though you’d never know it. Surrounded by seven acres
of landscaped gardens and abutting the Delhi golf club, this self-styled
Indian palace fortress is just a ten-minute walk northwest of the
buzzing Nizamuddin neighborhood, and a quick, eight-minute drive from
Humayun’s tomb, one of the city’s more popular historic attractions.
Guest rooms range from a 1,350-square-foot deluxe room with a private
balcony to two-bedroom suites that are twice the size, with views of the
city and the golf course. But the real highlight is the plunge pool,
lined with jade-green Khareda stone and flanked by a large daybed, on
the private terrace of eight of the 11 different room offerings.
3
hotel
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Somerset, United Kingdom
Hard to believe this 99-room, five-star hotel
once housed a hospital. Refurbished with the help of
Portuguese-American design star Alexandra Champalimaud in 2015, it was
rechristened in honor of the British Old Master painter who once lived
nearby. Its new interiors encourage you to look up, with soaring
ceilings, extra-tall windows, and two-poster beds that come with the
ultimate retro touch: an antimacassar with a countrified Gainsborough
scene. The hotel’s standout asset, though, is the private water reserve
drawn from the same spring that also fed the town’s ancient Roman baths.
Book one of three Bath Spa Rooms where bathrooms come with an extra
tap, pulling directly from the reserve.
Powered by Skylark
Watch This
The Best Hotels in Paris
Courtesy The Reverie Saigon
4
hotel
The Reverie Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Built like an Italian palazzo, the Reverie Saigon
brought in a level of luxury previously unseen in Ho Chi Minh City when
it was opened in 2015. Everything about the hotel is over-the-top
opulent, from the the palatial, marble-clad lobby to the rooms, done by
top Italian decorators with Carrara marble and plush Italian silks.
There are three upscale restaurants—French, Cantonese, and Italian (of
course)—plus a 157-foot bar that’s so long, it stretches from Dong Khoi
Street all the way to Nguyen Hue Boulevard two blocks over. Not to be
outshone, Reverie’s spa is a two-level, 13,000-square-foot affair with
two open-air Jacuzzis and an Olympic-size swimming pool, naturally.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
5
hotel
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa, Dorset, United Kingdom
The feeling that you've stepped into a 19th-century novel is no accident. Beyond the fact that the hotel
is Thomas Hardy designed, the 24 rooms are decorated in florals,
fabrics, and wallpapers to provide a homey English setting like no
other. A stroll through the adjacent deer park will complete the
literary fantasy, as will expert, unobtrusive service.
Courtesy Royal Mansour
6
hotel
Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco
You can bet that just about every detail at this palatial hotel,
which took more than three years and 1,200 master craftsmen to build,
aims to please. Each of the 53 individual three-story riads has a mini
courtyard (with a canopy that automatically unfurls if rain is
detected); a dazzling living room and bedroom with silk-covered walls;
and a private rooftop terrace with a fireplace and heated plunge pool.
You'll be tended to by a gracious staff, in particular a genie-like
butler who appears silently through the riad’s kitchen service entry
(staff travel unseen via an underground tunnel system). Although Djemaa
el Fna, Marrakech's main square, is within walking distance, there’s
much to keep you from leaving your sanctuary, including indoor and
outdoor swimming pools, a magnificent spa, and two superb restaurants,
La Grande Table Marocaine and La Grande Table Française (both overseen
by chef Yannick Alléno from Paris’s Le Meurice), as well as the
indoor-outdoor La Table, which serves a formally presented breakfast and
lunch—by white-gloved staff.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy The Royal Portfolio
7
hotel
La Residence, Franschhoek, South Africa
This wine country hotel
was constructed on a grand scale: triple-height ceilings,
black-and-white marble floors, enormous chandeliers, wide verandas and
mountain views. The 16 extravagant suites are layered with French and
Asian antiques, fantastic local art, and Persian carpets, and each has
its own personality—from a girly boudoir in pink and lime green to a
palatial honeymoon suite in white marble. The large pool backed by palm
trees wouldn’t look out of place at a beach resort but does here amid
vineyards. Guests dine alfresco during the day, while dinner is a
theatrical event with candlelight, high-backed ruby banquettes, and
local wines paired to the simple but well-executed menu.
Courtesy Leading Hotels of the World/Photo by Daniel Pinheiro
8
hotel
Fasano São Paulo, Brazil
Set in the fashionable Jardins district, and close to the wallet-busting shops of Rua Oscar Freire, the Fasano
is a magnet for all that's young and fresh in this South American city.
To wit: The lobby, you'll notice, is a popular meeting spot for local
glitterati, though if that’s not quite your scene, the terrace at Nonno
Ruggero restaurant, overlooking the neighborhood, is a better bet. Those
exhausted by the hours of conversation will relish the spa on the top
floor, which has a heated pool, two ofuro bathtubs, and Hans Wegner
chaise—or they can retire to one of 60 spacious rooms or suites, and
beds that have Egyptian cotton linens and goose-down pillows.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Archipelagos Hotel/Photo by Christos Drazos
9
hotel
Archipelagos Hotel, Mykonos, Greece
Less than a quarter mile from the golden-sand Kalo Livadi beach, one of the longest on the island, the Archipelagos Hotel
is about as idyll a retreat as you’ll find, despite sitting on one of
Greece’s more popular spits of land. Take in a Cycladean sunset from
your post on the pool deck, or, if you prefer, from the comfort of your
room—designed like an amphitheater, many of the set-ups offer views of
the region’s azure waters. Come breakfast, stake out the buffet, a
princely spread of fresh pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, and dried
fruit to sustain you for the day ahead—whether that means a hike up the
isle’s rocky crags, or one parsing past issues of The New Yorker by the pool.
Courtesy Hilton Hotels & Resorts
10
hotel
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, Netherlands
Six grand 17th- and 18th-century townhouses were combined to create the 93 stylish rooms of this Waldorf
on the Herengracht canal, just a ten-minute walk from Museumplein
(Museum Quarter). The architects kept the beautiful historic details of
the interiors, like the dramatic lobby stairway, but added the most
contemporary details, such as massive flatscreens hung above fireplaces
in the suites. A private garden helps to supply the hotel's restaurants,
including the swanky, two Michelin–starred Librije's Zusje Amsterdam
and the Goldfinch Brasserie, though we'd sooner skip the food and go
straight to the Guerlain Spa. A little post-flight facial never hurt
anyone, right?
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Faena
11
hotel
Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Florida
To say that Faena Hotel Miami Beach is over the top might not be hyperbolic enough. A stay at this glossy beachfront pad
(designed in part by Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Catherine Martin) is
like taking a trip down a wacky, if well-curated, rabbit hole, where
common areas tend toward the fantastically theatrical. The lobby, dubbed
the “Cathedral,” glitters with gold-leafed columns and floor-to-ceiling
murals teeming with imagery of wild animals and religious
allegories—rooms offer more of the same. A 22,000-square-foot spa,
dubbed 'Tierra Santa Healing House,' a bi-level 220-seat dinner theater,
and prolific art installations don't feel at all out of place.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy COMO
12
hotel
COMO The Treasury, Perth, Australia
A fitting emblem of the new Perth, The Treasury
is part of the ambitious Cathedral Square development, a $580 million
reinvention of a cluster of 19th-century state treasury and Anglican
Diocese buildings on the edge of the Central Business District, which
sat empty for more than 20 years before the COMO outpost moved in.
Almost every detail in the hotel (which primarily occupies the top
floors of three 140-year-old buildings) has been returned to its
original state, from the reinstalled dormer windows to the roofline’s
copper trim. Of course, this being Australia, all things begin and end
with food. Check out Wildflower, the hotel's glassed-in rooftop
restaurant, for a taste of this pioneer city's thriving food scene,
courtesy of executive chef Jed Gerrard, and David Thompson’s Thai
street-food joint, Long Chim, just downstairs from the hotel.
Courtesy Ballyfin Demesne
13
hotel
Ballyfin, Co. Laois, Ireland
If you’ve ever dreamed of summering at a country house, you couldn’t do much better than this stately, 20-room Georgian home,
about an hour and a half north of Dublin. Beyond the regal four-poster
canopy beds, gilded mirrors, and richly textured wallpapers, there are
614 acres of secluded private gardens begging to be strolled. But the
real highlight? Having a butler row you out on the lake before enjoying
lunch at the picnic house.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Inkaterra
14
hotel
Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, Peru
Cusco’s
architectural heritage of Incan stone walls topped with colonial white
stucco is echoed in this 16th-century building on a square steps from
the main plaza. With just 11 suites, La Casona
has the intimacy of a private home, with a grassy courtyard encircled
by rooms on two levels, though the building’s colonial charms come with
smart modern touches such as iPods and iPod speakers. Inside, a grassy
courtyard is surrounded by rooms on two levels. Owners Denise and Joe
Koechlin have fussed over every antique- and craft-strewn square foot of
the place, and exquisite pillars, retablos, and benches have been
sourced from all over Peru, including Pre-Colombian textiles and murals.
The excellent restaurant—don’t leave without trying the quinoa
pancakes—delivers a generous helping of Andean hospitality.
Courtesy Inkaterra
15
hotel
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes, Peru
Village recreations can seem a little hokey, but this Inkaterra outpost
deftly carries off the conceit. Set amid waterfalls and gardens at the
foot of Machu Picchu, whitewashed casitas with eucalyptus beams are
strewn along stone paths. Rustic rooms, lined with tile floors, are
furnished with colorful Peruvian blankets, local art, and views of the
gardens of the Vilcanota River, and manage never to feel tacky. But
nature, not performance, is the real draw of this hotel: Amid its
12-acre grounds are 214 identified bird species, including the
golden-headed quetzal, and the world’s largest native orchid collection
(372 species) have been registered.
16
hotel
The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
The Fullerton Hotel,
which occupies a grand neoclassical building just off the water, has
played a singular role in Singapore’s history: Built in 1928, it has
housed a post office, the Exchange Room and Exchange Reference Library,
and the Singapore Club, though its polished legacy lives on as one of
the city’s premier hotels. Guests arrive at a colonnaded entrance that
leads to the soaring lobby, and stick around not just for the top-tier
rooms but for the views of the water and the world floating by. Check
out the aptly named Post Bar, which incorporates the original pillars
and ceiling of the hotel’s former charge, or the Lighthouse Restaurant
and Rooftop Bar, an Italian number serving up gnocchi and risotto, plus
views of the skyline, atop the building.
Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Photo by George Fakaros
17
hotel
Mystique (Luxury Collection), Santorini, Greece
Building
a hotel into the face of Santorini’s dramatic sea cliffs lends an
immediate advantage: The location alone is enough to make it a
showstopper. Happily, the 39-room Mystique,
under the same ownership as the island’s highly regarded but viewless
Vedema Resort, lives up to its stunning site. The free-form rooms,
decorated in what might be called cave-art style (driftwood for
headboards, a dining table and chairs that appear to be made of
egg-shaped boulders), are carved directly into the cliff, and the
views—toward the town of Fira—are magnificent. Mystique is accessed by a
heart-poundingly steep staircase in one of the most private locations
in Oia. Guests can take advantage of the splendid isolation by whiling
away their afternoons poolside, then sitting down to a grilled lobster
dinner under the stars at the open-air restaurant.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Hacienda de San Antonio/©Michael Gilbreath
18
hotel
Hacienda de San Antonio, Comala, Mexico
Picture
this: You’re in the middle of a tiled, two-story courtyard, where
potted plants reach up toward archways, their emerald leaves in contrast
to the salmon-colored walls. And that's just the view inside the courtyard. Hacienda de San Antonio,
set at the foot of the Colima Volcano in the midst of a 5,000-acre
nature reserve, feels like Gatsby went to Mexico and never left. The
120-year-old estate is like an ornately designed cosmopolitan residence
in the middle of nowhere, with a garden-facing bar and vaulted common
rooms, where plush couches inspire shoulder-to-shoulder socializing.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
19
hotel
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates
Dinner
in a two-person cabana that seems to float above the pool; beds adorned
in Egyptian cotton sateen linens; a stretch of private beachfront. At this towering complex
on Jumeirah, you’re liable to feel like royalty, even without a title.
Book one of the Waldorf Astoria’s signature "Unforgettable Experiences,"
which, in this case, include a three-night stay, a couples’ massage, a
hot air balloon ride, and a camel ride that culminates in a desert
dinner for two. Even if you’re feeling less ambitious, there’s still
plenty to enjoy—may we suggest Afternoon Tea at the Peacock Alley
lounge, overlooking the gardens?
Courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts/©Christian Horan
20
hotel
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
This
is what they mean when they say "French Riviera glamour." Set on 17
acres of landscaped gardens, on a peninsula overlooking the
Mediterranean, this visually stunning hotel
from the Belle Époque era is perfect for a romantic getaway. (Fair
warning, though: It's a bit remote, so you definitely need a car to get
around.) The marbled lobby, aside from being beautiful, has a rotunda
designed by Gustave Eiffel. Adding to the hotel's pedigree are
reproductions of artwork by artists who have stopped by, including
Matisse, Chagall, and Picasso, lining the beige and white rooms, though
one of the more fun details is the glass funicular in the garden, which
will take you down to the swimming pool.
Courtesy Belmond/Photo by Tyson Sadlo
21
hotel
Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy
Checking
into a hotel on Giudecca, an island across from the thrall of St.
Mark’s Square, might seem like a challenge—but one of the perks of
staying at this stylish, off-course retreat
is the hotel’s complimentary ferry across the Venetian lagoon to the
famous piazza. The hotel is completely over the top visually: Surrounded
by gardens, its pastel rooms look out over both the lagoon and the
greenery, though a small number of them are in the adjoining Palazzo
Vendramin and come with butler service. A swim in the pool's filtered
seawater is memorable. You can also catch us at Oro, the Adam
Tihany–designed, gold leaf–domed restaurant, where we’ll be sampling
cuttlefish carpaccio and foie gras bruschetta.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Hotel d'Angleterre, Geneva/Photo by Jack Hardy
22
hotel
Hotel d'Angleterre, Geneva, Switzerland
Set
on the picturesque banks of Geneva's Lake Leman, every room in this c.
1872 family-run boutique hotel offers views of the lake or Jet d'Eau,
Switzerland’s largest fountain. Its 39 guest rooms and six suites are
decked out with plush fabrics, colorful furnishings, and eclectic
artwork. Enjoy smoked salmon with caviar and foie gras at the hotel’s
lakeside Windows restaurant, followed by a guided whisky tasting—there
are more than 50 kinds offered—by the fireplace at the cozy Leopard Bar
Room. Remember to check out the tables, repurposed from vintage Louis
Vuitton suitcases.
Courtesy Mulia
23
hotel
Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia
The Mulia Senayan
has the distinct ability to make an otherwise stodgy business hotel
into an actual, enjoyable destination, starting with 40 stories of
clean-lined elegance that rise high above the heart of Jakarta.
Noteworthy for actual vacationers, though, are “The Suites”—floors 38
and above, which offer butler service along with sweeping views of the
dynamic Jakarta skyline. Missing home? Hop down to the The Café, a
24-hour, multi-cuisine restaurant where the food is more Michelin than
cafeteria-style.
Courtesy Sun Rocks
24
hotel
Sun Rocks, Santorini, Greece
Maybe
you think this is just another Santorini hotel, with the same
white-washed Cycladic architecture, vaulted ceilings, and views of the
azure waters as its worthy neighbors—but you’re wrong. To start, the hotel
is carved into the side of a volcanic cliff, and has spellbinding views
of the caldera below, but that’s hardly all: It’s also a foodie
paradise, where gourmet meals are tantamount to setting in importance.
At Elea, the in-house restaurant, dishes range from the starkly
traditional, like the creamy, risotto-like trahanoto, to the
Aegan-inspired, with a twist, like the rockfish tartar. It’s hard to go
wrong—just don’t miss the Pavlova, served with Rose ice cream.
25
hotel
Rambagh Palace (Taj), Jaipur, India
Guests may be surprised to hear that this exquisitely restored 1835 palace,
with all its courtyards and pageantry, wasn’t built for a queen—but
rather, for the queen’s favorite handmaiden. Later on, it was used as a
royal guesthouse and hunting lodge, though it’s since comfortably taken
its place as one of Rajasthan’s most luxurious hotels. Its rooms have
four-poster beds and walk-in wardrobes; the Sukh Niwas Suite comes with
arched stonework, textured drapes and fabrics, crystal chandeliers,
gold-leaf frescoes, and large windows that open onto the gardens and
views of the Aravalli hills. Enjoy an evening of champagne, moonlight,
and candles in a private dining tent illuminated by flaming torches and
pitched on the palace greens, and make sure you get to the Steam bar,
which occupies a restored train.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Kos Aktis Art Hotel
26
hotel
Kos Aktis Art Hotel, Greece
The
Greek island of Kos is famous for its abundance of Greek and Roman
landmarks—Hippocrates’s shady tree has its home here—and you could make a
strong case for Kos Aktis
being added to the list. Its minimalist décor is a far cry from the
fanciful flourishes of temples or forums, but what it lacks in flair, it
makes up for in features like floor-to-ceiling bedside windows, and
tasty, traditional Greek breakfasts comprising local favorites (try the loukoumades, sticky, honey-covered bits of fried dough, for a true taste of the island).
Courtesy Fogo Island Inn
27
hotel
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada
Looking
out at the wind-whipped North Atlantic from Fogo Island, you feel like
you’re on the edge of the world: just you, the icebergs, and utter
silence. Not surprisingly, getting here takes effort—a flight to Gander
(in far north Newfoundland and Labrador), followed by a drive and a
ferry ride—but there are few places worthy of this trek. The hotel is a
modern spin on the fishing-shacks-on-stilts that dot the island, and
everything from the furniture to the quilts was created by members of
the community. The 29 rooms all have floor-to-ceiling ocean views (and
their own pair of binoculars). But the best thing about coming so far is
how you’re made to feel at home: Guests are paired with “community
hosts,” who show you around the island.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Canaves Oia Santorini/©Christos Drazos
28
hotel
Canaves Oia Santorini, Greece
There’s
so much more to Santorini than clear blue skies and craggy hillsides
awash in pristine white homes—though we’re certainly not complaining
about either of those. At Canaves Oia Santorini,
the draw extends to a cliffside infinity pool that overlooks the
Aegean, and dinners whipped up from freshly-caught fish, plus a sampling
of some of Greece’s finest wines.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Accor Hotels/Photo by Chris Kewish
29
hotel
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, Cartagena, Colombia
This former 17th-century convent
mixes elements of its past (exposed wood ceilings, beautiful arched
walkways) with modernity in a very graceful way. Set within walking
distance of the Palace of the Inquisition and about a seven-minute walk
to the beach, it's a super-sized hacienda, complete with a courtyard
toucan. Rooms are either contemporary or colonial-style; the newer ones
offer views of the pool or the Caribbean, while colonial suites have
antique furniture and overlook the Old Town or interior gardens. To play
at being pious, check out Restaurant 1621, once the Clarist nuns’
dining room, that now serves French-inflected cuisine.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Langham Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Michael Weber
30
hotel
Langham Place, New York, Fifth Avenue, New York
Three blocks north of the Empire State Building on Fifth Avenue, this polished hotel
has spacious rooms starting at a generous-for–New York 400-square-feet
that are filled with natural light. All units have walnut furnishings,
wondrously comfortable Duxiana beds, and deep soaking tubs, while the
apartment suites each have a full stainless-steel kitchen. The hotel is
also home to several original paintings by New York City artist Alex
Katz—the lobby is a great place to start learning about his work.
31
hotel
Capri Tiberio Palace, Capri, Italy
On one of Capri’s quieter backstreets, away from the day-trippers but only a five-minute walk from the Piazzetta, the 46-room Capri Tiberio Palace
capitalizes on its Mediterranean views. Light-filled, one-of-a-kind
interiors meld comfort with humor and style. Bright hand-glazed local
ceramic tiles and one-off vintage pieces draw from the island's rich
design coffers, while patterned textiles and geometric wallpapers
provide a bright, modern touch. Fans of vintage kitsch will want to book
the Pan Am Suite, a (tastefully done) shrine to the glamour that was
once air travel. A feature you might not expect? An on-site kosher
restaurant serving up Mediterranean dishes and wines from Israel.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Sereno Hotels
32
hotel
Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy
This sister property of the design-driven St. Barts original, Il Sereno
shows that some things do run in the family. The hotel, which opened in
2016, stands out among lakeside grande dames with its 30 sleek,
oversized suites, all with their own furnished terraces and unobstructed
water views. Set along 450 feet of lake in Torno—a one-church,
one-restaurant village on Como’s south shore—Sereno channels its Alpine
setting with regional stone and local walnut and vertical gardens with
260 native plants. Though you'd be hard pressed to find a bad angle in
the hotel, one of its best can be found in the lobby, where a staircase
made of walnut appears to float.
Courtesy Design Hotels
33
hotel
Hotel Unique, São Paulo, Brazil
Don’t
laugh: This São Paolo pad really is one of a kind, from its crazy
crescent shape (it looks like the hull of a ship, portholes and all) to
its champagne check-ins. The décor is decidedly modern—think high
ceilings, clean lines, and immense floor-to-ceiling windows that allow
for maximum natural light—but its quirky touches, like angular, magenta
chaises, and gray cameo carpeting, plus a killer rooftop bar and
green-weathered copper facade, are what really set it apart.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Leading Hotels of the World
34
hotel
The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel, Santiago, Chile
An offshoot of a dramatic Patagonia lodge, the Singular Santiago Lastarria
lives up to its name. In the heart of the city’s lively Lastarria
neighborhood, known for its restaurants and nightlife, the neo-classical
building is firmly a part of the scene with its own buzzy rooftop bar,
but guests find calm in the spacious rooms, muted with a color palette
of cream and gray, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. Bird
print-bedecked Bar Merced is the perfect pre-dinner spot for a drink—try
the Clover club, a mix of Bombay, lemon juice, raspberry puree,
albumin, and a dash of syrup—though the rooftop bar is where to take the
party, post-meal.
35
hotel
Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The word ‘oasis’ may suffer from overuse—but in this sense, it’s a perfect fit. This Shangri-La hotel
not only sits on a private stretch of beach overlooking the strait that
separates Abu Dhabi Island from the mainland, but the entire complex
floats above a winding waterway, connected by abras
(traditional Arabic boats). It’s also conveniently bordered by a souk.
So barter for bracelets and homewares before you sink into a treatment
at CHI, The Spa—an Arabica coffee scrub, perhaps, or a rose and honey
milk linen wrap—before you settle onto your private balcony or terrace
(every room has one).
Courtesy Small Luxury Hotels of the World
36
hotel
Le Pavillon de la Reine, Paris, France
In Paris, it's easy to find a private paradise—such is the case with Le Pavillon de la Reine,
an ivy-covered home in the city’s third arrondissement. If you’re
really intent on turning up the French charm, book the Marais hotel’s
Suite de la Reine: With original 17th-century Versailles parquet floors,
a chandelier commissioned from designer Alexander Logé exclusively for
the suite, and an antique fireplace dating back more than 400 years,
every exquisite detail—even the second-floor Japanese garden—is elegant,
yet understated, quite like the French themselves.
37
hotel
Hotel Bristol (Luxury Collection), Vienna, Austria
If you’re looking for a taste of the ornate design style that so epitomized early 20th-century Vienna, book a night at the Hotel Bristol.
The building itself, which dates to 1892, has 130 rooms (including a
count of 24 suites) that are excessive in all the right ways: Baroque
and Art Nouveau bones, richly patterned carpeting, lacquered furniture,
glinting chandeliers, and brocade chairs. It's an incredibly
Instagrammable interior—just don’t miss the city’s famed opera house,
across the street.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Auberge Saint-Antoine/Photo by Francis Fontaine
38
hotel
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Québec City, Canada
To get up close to Québec’s wealth of history—and some killer views—visitors make for Auberge Saint-Antoine,
right in the Old Port neighborhood. Comprised of three historic
buildings, the hotel is decorated in antiques and photographs that
reference their past, drawn from a stash of hundreds of French and
English artifacts found during an archaeological dig on the property.
Book a Luxe Terrace room with a view of Québec City or the St. Laurence
River and enjoy turn-down service, heated bathroom floors, and your very
own historical artifact, accompanied by a brief explanation of its
significance.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine
39
hotel
Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine, Valladolid, Spain
A two-hour drive north of Madrid will get you to this massive converted Baroque-Romanesque abbey surrounded by vineyards. Abadia's
aesthetic feels medieval (in a good way), with vaulted ceilings, thick
stone walls, and a silent cloister, but no drafty bedrooms, ash-littered
fireplaces, and drab brocade curtains. In their place are bright and
airy pieces of modern furniture accenting by warm wood, and soaring
windows, plus a one Michelin-starred restaurant, Refectorio. Examine the
peeling frescoes while you make your way through a prix-fixe menu that
might include smoked cauliflower soup and roasted squab with an
artichoke and olive confit.
Courtesy The Umstead Hotel and Spa
40
hotel
The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, North Carolina
Next to Umstead State Park and ten minutes from Raleigh, the Umstead Hotel and Spa
has 150 rooms furnished in golds and greens, ribbon windows from floor
to ceiling, and balconies with top-notch views. Our recommendation? Take
lunch on the lakeside terrace at the hotel's signature Forbes Five Star
restaurant, Herons—the lobster roll comes on a buttery bun with
house-made pickles and chips. The spa is the main event, though; take a
deep breath in the outdoor meditation courtyard before settling in for a
moisturizing buttermilk and honey wrap or a deep tissue massage.
Courtesy COMO Hotels and Resorts
41
hotel
COMO Uma Punakha, Bhutan
At the far reaches of the Punakha Valley, on the Mo Chu River in central Bhutan, is this COMO retreat.
The 11-room hideaway gives harried guests views of terraced rice
fields, the temple of Khamsum Yuley Namgay, and snowcapped Himalayan
peaks. The restaurant Bukhari, so named for the traditional Bhutanese
fireplace, might be the best place to savor these vistas. Park yourself
on the outdoor terrace, preferably by a smoking, standing fireplace, for
a seasonally driven dinner made with local organic ingredients—red
rice, hand-ground buckwheat flour, apple cider vinegar, and hand-moulded
farm cheese.
Courtesy Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
42
hotel
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Japan
If room views made up their own category, this Ritz-Carlton,
set along the shores of the Kamogawa River, would be in a class all its
own. Beside its prime real estate by the water, the hotel also offers
views of the nearby Higashiyama mountains (you can also opt for views of
a traditional Japanese Zen garden, or the city of Kyoto itself). Rooms
have impeccable detail, like shippo (a type of cloisonné, or
painted metalwork that the city is proudly known for); try the Garden
suite, where you can sit on the balcony after a soothing bath with
Shabonya handmade soap, and kick back in your Imabari bathrobe and
slippers.
Courtesy Finca Cortesin
43
hotel
Finca Cortesin, Malaga, Spain
A few miles inland from the Mediterranean, this 67-room hotel
on Spain's Costa del Sol is the elegant centerpiece of an ambitious
real estate project that includes private villas and a top-rated golf
course. The Finca Cortesin took its cues from traditional Spanish
farmhouses—low, whitewashed, terra-cotta-tile-roofed, and built around
interior courtyards that often have Moorish decor. Where past and
present break stride is the hotel’s scale: If fincas are cozy, the Finca
Cortesin is a brilliantly spacious place with three restaurants, a
superb spa with an indoor saltwater pool (there are two outdoor pools), a
high-tech gym with Med views, a hammam, and a Finnish-style snow room.
Powered by Skylark
44
hotel
Taj Diplomatic Enclave (formerly Palace), New Delhi, India
If the aim of diplomacy is to manage all sorts with grace and charm, then this hotel
lives up to its name. Sitting on six acres of manicured grounds, about a
ten-minute drive from the city’s parliament house and business
district, this stately, boomerang-shaped behemoth offers easy access to
the city’s frenetic downtown. Or, if you'd rather, just stay inside for a
day of Swedish or Balinese treatments at the Java spa. When you arrive,
drop your bags in one of the 403 rooms or suites, and grab a drink at
the Blue Bar, a moody, poolside boîte that’s perfect for that cure-all
cocktail.
Courtesy Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces
45
hotel
Umaid Bhawan Palace (Taj), Jodhpur, India
Even the most inflexible jaws will drop on arrival at this imposing royal residence turned luxury hotel
in the northern Indian city of Jodhpur. In fact, the royal family still
occupies one wing, and it’s easy to understand why: With endless marble
corridors, expansive, expertly manicured gardens, and outstanding food,
we’d be hard-pressed to leave, too.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts
46
hotel
St. Regis Singapore
Near the shopping destination of Orchard Road, this elegant refuge
for business travelers houses a 70-plus-piece private art collection,
including a sculpture by Botero and a sketch by Joan Miró. Besides
glimpses of the downtown skyline, rooms have original art and rich
fabrics, a mix of avant-garde opulence and 21st-century accents.
Decanter's wall of wines stocks more than 1,500 labels from around the
globe, and the restaurants are wonderful—Cantonese spot Yan Ting serves a
killer weekend dim sum brunch. Work on your backhand on the
air-conditioned indoor tennis court, or take a dip in the outdoor spa
pool, which features a sculpture by Taiwanese artist Li Chen.
Courtesy Raffles
47
hotel
Raffles Jakarta, Indonesia
There’s a lot happening at the Raffles Jakarta—but
it’s still a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of this busy
capital city. Sitting in Jakarta’s Golden Triangle, a monument- and
memorial-laden area in the southern edge of the city center, the hotel
hugs the upscale Lotte Shopping Avenue and the Ciputra Artpreneur
Center, an art gallery and theater complex. Let the bellman in the
spiffy getup take your bags and usher you in to the marbled lobby, which
also pulls double-duty as an art gallery: Works by Hendra Gunawan, an
Indonesian artist, line the walls with bursts of color in an otherwise
glossy, cream-colored space. Other standouts include the Writers Bar—a
spinoff of the hotel’s famous Singapore outpost—which celebrates
Jakarta’s art, literature, and history, and the guest rooms'
floor-to-ceiling windows.
Powered by Skylark
Courtesy Small Luxury Hotels of the World
48
hotel
Château La Chenevière, Port-en-Bessin, France
There's
nothing bad about checking into an 18th-century Norman
chateau—especially not when it comes on 30 acres, with a heated outdoor
pool, apiary, and a restaurant supplied with ingredients from the home’s
own vegetable garden. Like most things native to Normandy, though, Château La Chenevrière
does harbor its own history: It was occupied by the Germans during
World War II, and then the Americans after the D-Day landings before
being fully restored in 1988.
Courtesy Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
49
hotel
Kimpton EPIC Hotel, Miami, Florida
The Kimpton EPIC Hotel,
housed in an elliptical 52-story curved glass tower, is just the right
distance from the crowds. It sits on the water, where the Miami River
meets Biscayne Bay, removed from the frenzy of downtown. Each
sophisticated room—though closer to a suite in size—has its own private
balcony, and most enjoy memorable views of the bay or city. Go for a
swim in the rooftop pool up on the 16th floor (the other pool is
reserved for hotel residents), and reserve a private cabana for extra
seclusion. Editor's note: The pool is currently under renovation,
and is only open Saturday and Sunday. The hotel is providing gratis
transportation to its sister property, the Kimpton Surfcomber, for
guests who'd like to use the pool during the week (it's about a
15-minute drive).
Courtesy Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
50
hotel
Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas—An Oberoi Resort, India
Wildflower Hall is set on 22 acres of untouched pine and cedar woods, home to the flora that gives the hotel its name. Interiors feature Burmese teak panels, fireplaces, polished parquet floors protected by oriental rugs, and arched picture windows—all the better to take in your surroundings (which, did we mention, are at the top of a mountain, 8,250 feet above sea level?). Get an Ayurvedic treatment at the hotel’s top-notch spa, and finish up with a ritual aromatic bath overlooking the Himalayas
About guglietech
Posts
No comments
Post a Comment