The hotel guides

Hotel Guides

Property-by-property reviews from real stays and site visits — no press trips, no sponsored placements. Work with me and you get Fora perks plus someone who knows these hotels personally and personalizes your stay, at the same rate as booking direct.

Greece & The Greek Islands

My 10 favorites from 38 hotels visited across seven islands — see the full ranking →

Canaves Epitome

Santorini · #01 · The best hotel I experienced in Greece

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Gundari

Folegandros · #02 · Unlike anything I've ever seen

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Canaves Oia Suites

Santorini · #03 · The classic caldera experience, perfected

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Parilio

Paros · #04 · A design lover's dream outside Naoussa

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Andronis Boutique

Santorini · #05 · Authentic cave-style luxury in Oia

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Bill & Coo Coast

Mykonos · #06 · Adults-only on a protected bay

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Kalesma

Mykonos · #07 · Cycladic minimalism above Ornos Bay

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Cali

Mykonos · #08 · The best hotel gym I've ever seen

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Cosme

Paros · #09 · Laid-back beach luxury in Naoussa

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Stamna

Sifnos · #10 · Design-forward calm on a foodie island

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More Santorini

The rest of the Canaves & Andronis portfolios, from my full Santorini ranking →

Andronis Luxury Suites

Santorini · The refined Andronis flagship, home of Lycabettus

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Canaves Ena

Santorini · 18 suites in 17th-century wine caves

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Andronis Concept

Santorini · The best spa I saw in the Cyclades

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Andronis Arcadia

Santorini · A true resort with the island's biggest pools

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Canaves Sunday

Santorini · A 10-bedroom villa + 8 suites — an 18-bedroom buyout

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Grace Hotel

Santorini · Above the fog line in Imerovigli

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Mystique

Santorini · Good bones, a prime caldera perch

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Katikies

Santorini · A storied setting awaiting its next chapter

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Napa & Sonoma

All nine from my wine country ranking — see the full ranking →

Meadowood

St. Helena · #01 · The benchmark of wine country

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Four Seasons Napa Valley

Calistoga · #02 · Consistently excellent, fits everyone

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Montage Healdsburg

Sonoma · #03 · My most-returned-to hotel, 20+ stays

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Solage

Calistoga · #04 · Iconic California design, real privacy

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MacArthur Place

Sonoma · #05 · The hidden gem you can walk to town from

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Stanly Ranch

Carneros · #06 · The most striking architecture in the valley

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Madrona Manor

Healdsburg · #07 · An estate, not a hotel — pure romance

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Carneros Resort & Spa

Carneros · #08 · True wine country, ready for its next chapter

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Alila Napa Valley

St. Helena · #09 · Sleek, modern, and walkable

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France & Montenegro

Featured properties from beyond the Aegean

Zannier Île de Bendor

Provence · A private island off Bandol, reimagined

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Aman Sveti Stefan & Mamula Island

Montenegro · Two firsthand property reviews

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Asia Pacific · First Looks

Researched briefs on properties I'm watching — clearly marked until I've walked them myself

Capella Sydney

Sydney · First Look · The heritage landmark to beat in the CBD

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More Greece & Athens

Deeper cuts across the islands and Athens — beyond the Top 10

The Dolli

Athens · Restored neoclassical mansion

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Four Seasons Astir Palace

Athens · Seaside urban resort

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Skinopi Lodge

Milos · Boutique hillside lodge

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Erēma, a Member of Design Hotels

Milos · Contemporary Cycladic estate

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Onero

Milos · New five-star hillside resort

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White Pebble Suites

Milos · Boutique village hotel

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NOS

Sifnos · Minimalist boutique hotel

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Andronis Minois

Paros · Relaxed luxury resort

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Vione

Paros · Adults-focused boutique hotel

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Jupiter

Paros · Private five-bedroom villa

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Fouquet's Mykonos

Mykonos · South-coast luxury resort

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Bill & Coo Suites

Mykonos · Boutique suites near Mykonos Town

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One&Only Kea

Kea · All-villa resort & private homes

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The Rooster

Antiparos · Wellness & lifestyle estate

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One&Only Aesthesis

Athens Riviera · Riviera beach resort

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Montenegro

The Adriatic’s quiet luxury coast

Aman Sveti Stefan & Villa Miločer

Montenegro · Historic island resort & villa

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Mamula Island by Banyan Tree

Montenegro · Historic fortress hotel

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One&Only Portonovi

Montenegro · Marina-front resort

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Italy & The Lakes

The Dolomites, Lake Como, the Riviera, Tuscany and Florence · Still to come: Venice, Rome and the Amalfi Coast

Miramalfi

Amalfi · Cliffside coastal hotel

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Le Sirenuse

Positano · Iconic family-run grand hotel

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Il San Pietro di Positano

Positano · Cliffside icon (Fora Reserve)

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Airelles Palladio

Venice · My number one in Italy

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Aman Venice

Venice · Private palazzo on the Grand Canal

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Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli

Venice · Restored Gothic palazzo

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The grand staircase at the Danieli, Venice

The Danieli

Venice · Grand hotel at San Marco (Four Seasons)

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Airelles Palladio: Suite del Doge

Venice · 4-bedroom penthouse, villa buyout

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Hotel Cipriani

Venice · Venetian legend (Belmond, Fora Reserve)

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Passalacqua

Lake Como · Historic villa showpiece (Fora Reserve)

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Villa d'Este

Lake Como · Grand renaissance estate (Fora Reserve)

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Splendido

Portofino · Riviera icon (Belmond, Fora Reserve)

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Grand Hotel Miramare

Santa Margherita Ligure · The real Italian Riviera (Virtuoso)

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Borgo Egnazia

Puglia · Village-style resort estate

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Grand Hotel Timeo

Sicily · Old-world grande dame (Belmond)

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Belmond Villa San Michele

Florence · Historic hillside retreat (Belmond)

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Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Florence · Palazzo resort (Four Seasons)

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Collegio alla Querce

Florence · Modern hillside retreat (Auberge)

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Portrait Firenze

Florence · Suites on the Ponte Vecchio (Lungarno Collection)

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Hotel Lungarno

Florence · Riverside boutique (Lungarno Collection)

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Hotel de Russie

Rome · Garden retreat (Rocco Forte)

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Hotel Eden

Rome · Romantic classic (Dorchester Collection)

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Orient Express La Minerva

Rome · Palazzo by the Pantheon (Orient Express)

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Bulgari Hotel Roma

Rome · Modern and lively (Bulgari Hotels & Resorts)

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Hotel Hassler Roma

Rome · Traditional grand hotel

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Hotel de la Ville

Rome · Colorful Roman palazzo (Rocco Forte)

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Casa Monti

Rome · Hip boutique hotel

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Corinthia Rome

Rome · Grand new opening (Corinthia)

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The St. Regis Rome

Rome · Belle Époque grande dame (St. Regis)

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Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Tuscany · Countryside estate (Rosewood, Three Michelin Keys)

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Belmond Castello di Casole

Tuscany · Hilltop castle estate (Belmond)

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COMO Castello del Nero

Tuscany · Converted castle retreat (COMO)

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Borgo Pignano

Tuscany · Hilltop borgo near Volterra (Relais & Châteaux)

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Il Borro

Tuscany · Medieval borgo in the Valdarno hills (Relais & Châteaux)

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Borgo San Felice

Tuscany · Restored Chianti borgo near Siena (Fora Reserve)

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Il Sereno

Lake Como · Modern lakefront design hotel

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Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Lake Como · Fun Art Nouveau grand hotel facing Bellagio

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Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Lake Como · Historic grand hotel in Bellagio

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Forestis

The Dolomites · Alpine wellness retreat above Bressanone

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Gardena Grödnerhof

The Dolomites · Renovated alpine hotel in the heart of Ortisei

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Aman Rosa Alpina

The Dolomites · Aman’s restoration of the Rosa Alpina, San Cassiano

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COMO Alpina Dolomites

The Dolomites · True ski-in, ski-out on the Alpe di Siusi

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Miramonti

The Dolomites · Quirky design hotel with an iconic pool above Merano

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Belmond Hotel Caruso

The Amalfi Coast · Clifftop palazzo (Belmond)

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The Lake Como EDITION

Lake Como · Contemporary design hotel (EDITION)

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Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como

Lake Como · Resort-scale garden estate (Mandarin Oriental)

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France

Paris palaces and the Riviera

Zannier Hôtels Île de Bendor

Provence · Private island resort

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Hotel Cap Estel

The French Riviera · Private peninsula hideaway

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Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

The French Riviera · Legendary Riviera grande dame

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Le Meurice

Paris · Classic palace (Dorchester Collection, Forbes Five-Star)

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The Peninsula Paris

Paris · Polished palace (Forbes Five-Star)

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Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's Paris

Paris · Glamorous modern palace (Barrière)

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Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

Paris · Storied palace (Rosewood, Forbes Five-Star)

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Cheval Blanc Paris

Paris · Modern palace (LVMH, 72 keys)

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Ritz Paris

Paris · The original grand palace (Place Vendôme)

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United Kingdom

London's great houses

Claridge's

London · Art deco grande dame (Maybourne)

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The Connaught

London · Discreet luxury house (Maybourne)

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The Lanesborough

London · Regency palace, butler service (Oetker)

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Raffles London at The OWO

London · Landmark restoration (Raffles)

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Switzerland

Alpine grande dames

Bürgenstock Resort

Switzerland · Alpine resort estate (Fora Reserve)

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Gstaad Palace

Switzerland · Alpine palace hotel (Fora Reserve)

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Mexico

Los Cabos and the Pacific coast

Montage Los Cabos

Los Cabos · Luxury beach resort (Montage)

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One&Only Palmilla

Los Cabos · Grande dame resort

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Chileno Bay, Auberge Resorts

Los Cabos · Contemporary resort (Auberge)

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Las Ventanas al Paraíso

Los Cabos · Celebration resort (Rosewood)

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One&Only Mandarina

Riviera Nayarit · Rainforest cliffside resort

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Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

Punta Mita · Adults-only tented retreat (Four Seasons)

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The St. Regis Punta Mita

Punta Mita · Residential beach resort (St. Regis)

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Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo

Costalegre · Secluded reserve resort (Four Seasons)

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United States

Desert, wine country, and the islands of Hawaii

Amangiri

Utah · Desert resort (Aman)

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Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Big Island · Classic beach resort

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Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Big Island · Luxury beach resort

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Four Seasons Resort Lanai

Lanai · Remote island resort

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Auberge du Soleil

Napa Valley · Wine country hideaway (Auberge)

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Japan

Kyoto ryokan-luxury and Tokyo towers

Aman Kyoto

Kyoto · Forest sanctuary (Aman)

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Capella Kyoto

Kyoto · Design hotel

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The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Kyoto · Classic luxury hotel

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Aman Tokyo

Tokyo · Urban sanctuary (Aman)

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Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Tokyo · Contemporary luxury hotel

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The Peninsula Tokyo

Tokyo · Classic grand hotel

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Maldives & Indian Ocean

Overwater icons and private-island escapes

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Maldives · Private-island resort (LVMH)

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Bawah Reserve

Indonesia · Private-island eco resort

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Soneva Jani

Maldives · Overwater private-island resort

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Joali Being

Maldives · Wellness private-island resort

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Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

Maldives · Contemporary design resort

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Six Senses Kanuhura

Maldives · Barefoot island resort

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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

Maldives · Classic island resort (Four Seasons)

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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Maldives · Flagship island resort (Four Seasons)

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Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Maldives · Intimate island resort

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Africa & Safari

Camps and lodges worth the flight

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Tanzania · Safari lodge (Four Seasons)

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Angama Mara

Kenya · Escarpment safari lodge

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Sanctuary Olonana

Kenya · Riverside safari camp

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Royal Malewane

South Africa · Flagship luxury lodge (The Royal Portfolio)

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Londolozi

South Africa · Family-run Sabi Sand reserve

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Mombo Camp

Botswana · Flagship Okavango camp (Wilderness)

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Ellerman House

Cape Town · Private-house hotel (Relais & Châteaux)

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More Escapes

Singular places that fit no category

Six Senses Ibiza

Ibiza · Wellness resort

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One question

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