In the great davenport of hospitality, there are rare sanctuaries that redefine the essence of accommodation. In some 50 years as an author and traveler I have delved deep into the heart of what makes a hotel truly exceptional.
Whether you seek a tranquil mountain escape, a bustling urban oasis, or a historical gem, this curated list promises to inspire your next adventure.
1898 The Post, Belgium - 1898thepost.com
A boutique hotel set in a historic post office building in Ghent.Alpenhof Lodge, USA - alpenhoflodge.com
A cozy lodge in the heart of Teton Village, perfect for skiing enthusiasts.Alila Jabal Akhdar Hotel, Oman - alilahotels.com/jabalakhdar
Luxury hotel perched high in the Al Hajar Mountains offering breathtaking views.Amansala, Mexico - amansala.com
A beachfront wellness resort in Tulum known for its yoga and fitness retreats.Amanzi Lodge, Zimbabwe - https://amanzi.co.zw/
An exclusive lodge set in a lush tropical garden in Harare.Ameriha House, Iran - https://www.sarayeameriha.com/
A historical house turned luxury hotel in the heart of Kashan.Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa, UAE - anantara.com/en/eastern-mangroves-abu-dhabi
An urban sanctuary overlooking the mangroves of Abu Dhabi.Ashford Castle, Ireland - ashfordcastle.com
A magnificent castle hotel offering luxurious accommodations in County Mayo.Bagan Thande Hotel, Myanmar - bagan-thande-hotel-old-bagan/
A riverside hotel surrounded by ancient temples in Bagan.Ballyfin Demesne, Ireland - ballyfin.com
A lavishly restored 5-star country house hotel in County Laois.Birkenhead House, South Africa - https://www.theroyalportfolio.com/birkenhead-house/
A luxurious cliff-top retreat in Hermanus offering stunning ocean views.Boscolo Prague, Czech Republic - www.autograph-hotels.marriott.com/hotel/boscolo-prague
An elegant hotel housed in a stunning neoclassical building in Prague.Byblos Sur Mer, Lebanon - byblossurmer.com
A luxurious hotel located on the coast of the ancient city of Byblos.C2 Hotel, France - c2-hotel.com
A chic boutique hotel in the heart of Marseille.Ca' Maria Adele, Italy - camariaadele.it
A romantic boutique hotel set in a 16th-century palazzo in Venice.Cape Grace, South Africa - capegrace.com
An elegant hotel situated on a private quay in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront.Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe - chilogorge.com
A luxury lodge offering spectacular views over the Save River and Gonarezhou National Park.Cuatir Private Reserve, Angola
angola-uncharted-safari.com/cuatir-conservation-project
An exclusive wildlife reserve offering private safari experiences in Angola.Dome Hotel, Latvia - domehotel.lv
A luxury boutique hotel located in a 400-year-old building in Riga.Eden Au Lac, Switzerland - https://www.lareserve-zurich.com/
A grand hotel with stunning views of Lake Zurich.El Rey Court, USA - elreycourt.com
A historic roadside motor court turned hip boutique hotel in Santa Fe.Epupa Falls Lodge, Namibia - epupafallslodge.com
A rustic lodge overlooking the stunning Epupa Falls on the Kunene River.Esperanza Resort & Spa, Lithuania - esperanzaresort.lt
A luxury eco-resort set in a pristine natural environment near Vilnius.Esplanade, Croatia - esplanade.hr
A historic luxury hotel located in the heart of Zagreb.Explora Lodge, Chile - explora.com
An adventure-focused lodge offering unique excursions in Patagonia.Fish River Lodge, Namibia - fishriverlodge-namibia.com
A lodge perched on the edge of the Fish River Canyon offering breathtaking views.Fitzwilliam Hotel, Ireland -www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com/
A stylish hotel located on St Stephen's Green in Dublin.Fraai Uitzicht 1798, South Africa - fraaiuitzicht.com
A historic guesthouse and vineyard offering a serene retreat in the Robertson Wine Valley.Gorgeous George, South Africa - gorgeousgeorge.co.za
A trendy hotel blending modern and vintage styles in Cape Town.Grand Bahia Principe, Jamaica - bahia-principe.com
A beachfront all-inclusive resort in Runaway Bay.Grand Hotel Portovenere, Italy - portoveneregrand.com
A charming hotel overlooking the picturesque harbor of Portovenere.Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa, Mexico - palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/riviera-nayarit/grand-palladium-vallarta-resort-spa
An all-inclusive resort set on the stunning Pacific coast of Mexico.Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, France - fourseasons.com/capferrat
A luxurious Four Seasons hotel on the French Riviera.Greenhorn Ranch, USA - greenhornranch.com
A guest ranch offering authentic Western experiences in California's Sierra Nevada.Hotel 41, UK - 41hotel.com
A luxury boutique hotel located opposite Buckingham Palace in London.Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Germany - kempinski.com/en/berlin/hotel-adlon
An iconic luxury hotel at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.Hotel Ambassador à l'Opéra, Switzerland - ambassadorhotel.ch
A refined hotel located near Zurich's opera house.Hotel Avani Avenida Liberdade, Portugal - avanihotels.com/en/avenida-liberdade-lisbon
A contemporary hotel situated on Lisbon's prestigious Avenida da Liberdade.Hotel das Cataratas, Brazil - belmond.com/hoteldascataratas
A luxurious Belmond hotel located within Iguazu National Park.Hotel Ecológico Cabañas del Lago, Guatemala
facebook.com/ecohotelcabanasdelago/?locale=es_LA
An eco-friendly hotel offering stunning views of Lake Atitlán.Hotel El Ganzo, Mexico - elganzo.com
A unique art-focused hotel in Los Cabos.Hotel Heritage, Belgium - hotel-heritage.com
A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Bruges.Hotel Indigo Larnaca, Cyprus -ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/larnaca/lcaas/hoteldetail
A stylish hotel offering modern accommodations in Larnaca.Hotel Indigo, Poland - ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/warsaw
A contemporary hotel located in the vibrant center of Warsaw.Hotel Max, USA - hotelmaxseattle.com
A hip boutique hotel in downtown Seattle.Hotel PACAI, Lithuania - hotelpacai.com
A luxury hotel housed in a historic Baroque palace in Vilnius.Hotel San Marino iDesign, San Marino - hotelsanmarinoidesign.com/en
A modern design hotel with panoramic views over San Marino.Hotel Yak & Yeti, Nepal - yakandyeti.com
A heritage hotel offering luxury accommodations in Kathmandu.Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Monaco - metropole.com
A prestigious hotel located in the heart of Monte Carlo.Isla Palenque, Panama - www.islapalenque.com
A private island resort offering eco-luxury accommodations in the Gulf of Chiriquí.Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel, UAE - jumeirah.com
A luxurious hotel with stunning views over Abu Dhabi's skyline.Kafue River Lodge, Zambia - Kafue_River_Camp
A remote safari lodge offering exceptional wildlife experiences in Zambia.Kanonkop Guest House, South Africa - kanonkop.co.za
A luxury guesthouse overlooking the Knysna Lagoon.Kempinski Cathedral Square, Lithuania - kempinski.com/en/vilnius
A luxurious hotel located in the heart of Vilnius.Kempinski Residences & Suites, Qatar - kempinski.com/en/doha
A sophisticated hotel offering serviced residences in Doha.Klaus K, Finland - klauskhotel.com
A stylish design hotel inspired by Finnish mythology in Helsinki.Le Louise Hotel, Belgium - www.le-louise-brussels.com
A modern luxury hotel located in the fashionable Louise district of Brussels.Lindner Hotel Am Belvedere, Austria - lindner.de/en/hotel-wien
A contemporary hotel situated near the historic Belvedere Palace in Vienna.Loews Hotel 1000, USA - loewshotels.com/hotel-1000-seattle
A chic urban hotel located in the heart of downtown Seattle.Lough Erne Resort, UK - lougherneresort.com
A luxury golf and spa resort set on a picturesque lake in Northern Ireland.Magic Castle Hotel & Club, USA - magiccastlehotel.com
A family-friendly hotel located near the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.Maison Nomade Eco B&B, Chile - nomadepucon.com
An eco-friendly bed and breakfast located in the picturesque Chilean countryside.North Island Okavango, Botswana -naturalselection.travel/camps/north-island-okavango/
Nestled on a secluded private island, the safari camp is enveloped by a dazzling mosaic of neighboring islets and wildlife.Mayflower Park Hotel, USA - mayflowerpark.com
A historic hotel located in the heart of downtown Seattle.Mineral Springs Hotel, USA www.riversandroutes.com/directory/mineral-springs-hotel/
A historic hotel known for its natural mineral springs in Alton, Illinois.Moon Palace Cancun, Mexico - moonpalacecancun.com/
An all-inclusive luxury resort offering a variety of activities in Cancun.Murrayshall Country Estate, UK - murrayshall.co.uk
A luxury country estate offering golf and scenic accommodations in Scotland.Nile Safari Lodge, Uganda - nilesafarilodge.com
A luxury eco-lodge offering stunning views of the Nile River and Murchison Falls.Norton House Hotel & Spa, UK - handpickedhotels.co.uk/nortonhouse
A luxury hotel and spa set in a Victorian mansion near Edinburgh.Nubian Rest House, Sudan - Karima_Nubian_Rest_house
A charming guesthouse offering traditional Nubian hospitality in Karima.Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, USA - ojaivalleyinn.com
A historic luxury resort nestled in the scenic Ojai Valley.Onduli Ridge, Namibia - ultimatesafaris.na/our-retreats/signature-retreats/onduli-ridge
A luxury tented camp offering stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape.Pine Ridge Inn, USA - pineridgeinn.com
A boutique hotel offering comfortable accommodations along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon.Portmarnock Resort, Ireland - portmarnock.com
A luxury golf resort located on the scenic coast of Dublin.Portola Hotel & Spa, USA - portolahotel.com
A waterfront hotel located in the heart of Monterey, California.Quin Hotel, USA
hilton.com/en/hotels/nyccpgv-hilton-club-the-quin-new-york/
A sophisticated hotel offering luxurious accommodations in New York City.Quail Lodge & Golf Club, USA - quaillodge.com
A premier golf resort offering serene accommodations in Carmel, California.Red Mountain Resort, USA - redmountainresort.com
A wellness resort offering outdoor adventures and spa services in St. George, Utah.Riverhouse Lodge, USA - www.riverhouse.com/
A charming riverside lodge offering comfortable accommodations in Bend, Oregon.Ritter Farm, Namibia
www.rittersafaris.com/accomodation.html
A rustic farm offering a unique getaway experience in Namibia.Rooms Hotel, Georgia - roomshotels.com
A trendy hotel offering stylish accommodations in Tbilisi and Kazbegi.Royal Block Hotel, USA www.theroyalblock.com
A boutique hotel offering comfortable accommodations in a historic building.Royal Isabela, Puerto Rico - royalisabela.com
A luxury resort offering private casitas and a world-class golf course on Puerto Rico's northwest coast.Royal Mustang Resort, Nepal - Royal-Mustang-Resort
A luxury resort offering stunning views of the Mustang region in Nepal.Seal River Heritage Lodge, Canada - https://churchillwild.com/our-lodges/seal-river-heritage-lodge/
A remote ecolodge offering ground-level polar bear encounters and unique wilderness experiences in the Canadian Arctic.
Sextantio Albergo Diffuso Le Grotte della Civita, Italy - sextantio.it
A unique hotel offering cave dwellings turned luxury accommodations in Matera.Sheraton Djibouti, Djibouti - marriott.com/hotels/travel/jibsi-sheraton-djibouti
A luxury hotel offering stunning views of the Gulf of Tadjoura.Shore Hotel, USA - shorehotel.com
A stylish eco-friendly hotel located steps from the Santa Monica Pier.Sofitel London St James, UK - sofitelstjames.com
A luxury hotel located in a historic building near Trafalgar Square.Solitaire Mountain Lodge, Namibia- www.solitairenamibia.com
A rustic lodge offering a unique desert experience in Namibia.Spring Creek Ranch, USA - springcreekranch.com
A luxury ranch resort offering stunning views of the Teton Mountains.Stamba Hotel, Georgia - stambahotel.com
A trendy hotel located in a former Soviet printing house in Tbilisi.Starved Rock Lodge, USA - starvedrocklodge.com
A historic lodge offering comfortable accommodations in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois.Swissôtel Tallinn, Estonia - swissotel.com/hotels/tallinn
A luxury hotel offering panoramic views of Tallinn's skyline.Table Bay, South Africa - suninternational.com/table-bay
A luxury hotel located in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront.Thamo Telele Lodge, Botswana - Thamo_Telele
A charming lodge offering safari experiences in Botswana.The Alexander, Armenia - www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/evnlc-the-alexander-a-luxury-collection-hotel-yerevan
A luxury hotel located in the heart of Yerevan.The Airways Hotel, Papua New Guinea - airways.com.pg
A luxury hotel offering stunning views of Bootless Bay.The Alvear Palace Hotel, Argentina - alvearpalace.com
A grand luxury hotel located in the heart of Buenos Aires.The Antiq Palace Hotel and Spa, Slovenia - antiqpalace.com
A historic boutique hotel located in the center of Ljubljana.The Casa Grande Mountain Retreat, Puerto Rico - casagrandepr.com
A serene eco-resort nestled in the mountains of Utuado.The Eagle Harbor Inn, USA - theeagleharborinn.com
A charming inn our “petit hotel” on Bainbridge Island in Washington.The Editory Riverside Santa Apolonia, Portugal - editoryhotels.com
A stylish hotel located in a historic building by the river in Lisbon.The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Canada - fairmont-waterfront.com
A luxury hotel offering stunning views of Vancouver's harbor.The g Hotel & Spa, Ireland - theghotel.ie
A stylish hotel offering luxurious accommodations in Galway.The Greenbrier Resort and Bunker, USA - greenbrier.com
A historic luxury resort offering a variety of activities in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.The InterContinental New York Barclay, USA - www.icbarclay.com
A luxury hotel located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.The Lodge at Blue Sky, USA - aubergeresorts.com/bluesky
A luxury retreat offering outdoor adventures in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.The Lodge at Torrey Pines, USA - lodgetorreypines.com
A luxury resort located on the cliffs of La Jolla, California.The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, USA - mandarinoriental.com
A luxury hotel offering world-class service in various locations across the USA.The Monkey Tree Hotel, USA - themonkeytreehotel.com
A retro-chic hotel located in Palm Springs, California.The Palace Hotel, USA - sfpalace.com
A historic luxury hotel located in downtown San Francisco.The Plaza Tirana, Albania - plazatirana.com
A contemporary hotel offering luxurious accommodations in the heart of Tirana.The Premier Hotel OR Tambo, South Africa - premierhotels.co.za/or-tambo
A convenient hotel located near Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, South Africa - 12apostleshotel.com
A luxury hotel offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain.The Willows Lodge, USA - willowslodge.com
A rustic-chic lodge located in the heart of Washington's wine country.The Woodmark Hotel and Spa, USA - woodmark.com
A luxury waterfront hotel located on the shores of Lake Washington.Thompson Hotel, USA - hyatt.com/thompson-hotels
A luxury boutique hotel brand with locations across the USA.Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, Costa Rica - tortugalodge.com
A luxury eco-lodge located in Tortuguero National Park.Trapp Family Lodge, USA - trappfamily.com
A luxury resort offering Austrian-inspired accommodations in Stowe, Vermont.Victoria Hotel Letterario, Italy - victoria-hotel.it
A stylish boutique hotel located in the heart of Trieste.Villa Astra, Croatia - villaforesta.com
A charming villa offering luxurious accommodations on the coast of Lovran.Viceroy, USA - viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
A luxury hotel brand offering chic accommodations in various locations.Vinters Resort, USA - vintnersresort.com
A luxury resort located in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country.W Bellevue, USA - marriott.com/hotels/travel/seawb-w-bellevue
A trendy hotel offering modern accommodations in Bellevue, Washington.W, USA - https://w-hotels.marriott.com/
A luxury hotel brand known for its chic and contemporary design.Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Canada - wedgewoodhotel.com
A luxury boutique hotel offering elegant accommodations in Vancouver.Whitney Peak Hotel, USA - whitneypeakhotel.com
A modern hotel located in the heart of downtown Reno, Nevada.Wildwaters Lodge, Uganda - wildwaterslodge.com
A luxury lodge located on a private island in the Nile River.Xigera Safari Lodge, Botswana - xigera.com
A luxury safari lodge offering unique wildlife experiences in the Okavango Delta.
Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or a touch of historical charm, these hotels promise to elevate your travel experience to new heights.
