Many hotels around the world claim to offer luxury, but far fewer truly deliver it. Luxury may, by definition, be non-essential, but if you’re going to indulge, you might as well do it the right way – in the words of Karl Lagerfeld, “luxury is the income tax of vanity. But it is so pleasant.” But a little bit of vanity never hurt anyone, especially when it leads to life-changing stays on private islands, Florentine villas and safari lodges. Fluffy robes are just the starting point here.
The hotels on this list span six continents, from the remote islands of Madagascar and Fiji to city escapes in Florence, New York and Hong Kong, as well as unforgettable adventures in South Africa and the Galápagos. Whether you’re looking for barefoot island living, an iconic grand hotel or a secluded safari lodge, each combines remarkable surroundings with service so good you’ll never want to leave.
Chalet Falk
Austria
Chalet Falk exterior
All the comfort and luxury of a five-star boutique hotel, and yet entirely, exclusively private. At Chalet Falk, high up in the Austrian mountains in Carinthia, contemporary Alpine-Japandi architecture meets reclaimed wood and unspoiled nature. Designed for families and groups of friends, the chalet can host up to eight and offers a private spa with a panoramic sauna, a heated outdoor pool and, best of all, over 1,600 square metres of private grounds beside the Oswalder Bach.
Rates from £1,020 per night for 2; chaletfalk.at
Voaara
Madagascar
Beachside residence at Voaara
Voaara is designed to feel more like a private residence than a resort, with just seven standalone bungalows and one three-bedroom villa spread across a 1.5-kilometre stretch of pristine sand on Madagascar’s Sainte-Marie Island. The architecture blends wabi-sabi minimalism with locally crafted design, and it’s the perfect base for mixing luxury with adventure, where slow island living meets mountain biking, deep-sea fishing, diving, and daily wildlife excursions.
Rates from £860; voaara.com
Hoshinoya Okinawa
Japan
Sunset at Hoshinoya Okinawa
A world away from the assault on the senses that is a visit to Tokyo, Hoshinoya Okinawa embraces the slower-paced side of the country. Inspired by the islands’ Ryukyu heritage, the oceanfront retreat combines minimalist architecture with expansive sea views, private terraces and a calming connection to nature. Days can be as active or relaxed as you choose, from whale watching, horse riding and cultural workshops to long afternoons beside the pool or walks along the white-sand shoreline.
Rates from £795; hoshinoresorts.com
The Fifth Avenue Hotel
New York
Room at Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York
Occupying a restored Gilded Age mansion alongside a striking contemporary tower, The Fifth Avenue Hotel brings old-world glamour to one of Manhattan’s most iconic streets. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the interiors are rich with colour, art and theatrical detail, while Café Carmellini has quickly become one of the city’s most sought-after dining rooms. Beyond the hotel, guests enjoy privileged access to exclusive shopping, private cultural experiences and the historic Flatiron District, making it an ideal base for discovering New York at its most stylish.
Rates from £713 per night; thefifthavenuehotel.com
Old Government House Hotel
Guernsey
Seaview king room at The Old Government House Hotel
Perched above St Peter Port, The Old Government House Hotel is Guernsey’s only five-star hotel, combining grand island heritage with a personal approach to hospitality. Once the residence of the island’s governors, the historic property now offers elegant rooms and suites, many with views across the harbour towards Herm and Sark. Its spa, outdoor pool and sun terrace provide a tranquil retreat, while dining ranges from relaxed brasserie fare to refined seasonal menus. With Castle Cornet and the harbour just moments away, it makes an ideal base for exploring Guernsey’s beaches, coastal paths and neighbouring islands.
Rates from £295 per night; theoghhotel.com
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Maldives
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Spread across two islands in the South Ari Atoll, this is the height of barefoot luxury, and particularly special for underwater enthusiasts. Dine beneath the ocean at Ithaa, the world’s first undersea restaurant, or stay in The Muraka, whose underwater bedroom places guests face-to-face with the reef. Beyond the villas and turquoise lagoons, there’s a focus on marine conservation, with opportunities to dive alongside whale sharks, snorkel with manta rays, and join coral restoration projects led by the resort’s resident marine biologist.
Rates from £851; conradmaldives.com
La Sultana Marrakech
Morocco
Pool at La Sultana Marrakech
La Sultana is stitched together from five beautifully restored riads, with only 28 individually designed rooms set over hidden courtyards, lantern-lit corridors, and peaceful terraces, creating a calm oasis just outside the city’s buzzing souks. The rooftop – one of the largest in the Golden Triangle – delivers sweeping views of the city and out towards the Atlas Mountains. Alternate between exploring Marrakech’s labyrinthine streets and retreating back to the hotel for traditional hammam rituals, long lunches focused on traditional Moroccan dishes like cockerel tagine and Dakhla lobster at La Table de la Sultana, and afternoons beside the palm-tree-shaded pool.
Rates from £568; lasultanahotels.com
Kokomo Private Island
Fiji
Infinity pool at Kokomo Private Island
Fiji has long been synonymous with luxury, and Kokomo lives up to the billing by offering up an enviable slice of South Pacific paradise. Encircled by the Great Astrolabe Reef, one of the world’s largest barrier reefs, this exclusive island retreat pairs luxury with a commitment to sustainability and authentic Fijian culture. There are just 21 beachfront villas and five exclusive private residences, while keen divers will be treated to doorstep access to untouched reef systems and marine life to explore. It’s the perfect place to spend days snorkelling, sailing, or hiking through the nearby jungle.
Rates from £2,043 a night; kokomoislandfiji.com
Ultima Hotel Courchevel
France
Ultima Hotel Courchevel
Set in Courchevel, the heart of alpine glamour, Ultima offers a ski-in, ski-out retreat that will have you just as excited to return from the slopes as to head out onto them. Rather than conventional guestrooms, the hotel comprises individual Alpine chalets designed to offer the privacy and generous proportions of a residence alongside the service of a five-star hotel. Two mountain-facing spas extend across the hotel’s north and south areas, where swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and a host of other wellness offerings soothe the body after a day on the mountain, while private chefs prepare bespoke evening menus.
Rates: Dependent on stay; ultimacollection.com
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
South Africa
Logde at Sabi Sabi
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge reimagines the classic safari experience through striking contemporary design. Sculpted into the landscape within the Greater Kruger, the lodge’s architecture allows the surrounding bushveld to remain centre stage, with every suite opening onto a private terrace and plunge pool overlooking the reserve. Twice-daily game drives bring guests close to the Big Five, while walking safaris reveal a slower, more intimate side of the wilderness. Between wildlife encounters, afternoons are reserved for the spa, exceptional South African wines and dinners beneath star-filled skies.
Rates from £1,138; sabisabi.com
The Brando
French Polynesia
Residence at The Brando
Set on Marlon Brando’s former private residence on the South Pacific atoll of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, The Brando is the benchmark for all-inclusive luxury. Designed with Polynesian-inspired architecture, the resort features 35 villas, each with a private beach and plunge pool. Michelin-level dining from Guy Martin, Polynesian cultural experiences, paddleboarding, spa treatments, and guided marine excursions are all part of the stay, and impressively, the resort is largely powered by renewable energy.
Rates from £1,665 per night; thebrando.com
Nay Palad Hideaway
Philippines
Beach dining at Nay Palad
If luxury means escape to you, Nay Palad Hideaway, out on the south-eastern tip of the island of Siargao in the Philippines, fits the bill. The brainchild of Bobby Dekeyser, former goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and founder of furniture company Dedon, it is a solar-powered oasis with just ten villas, handcrafted with local materials. Everything from island-hopping adventures and scuba diving to family yoga and cooking classes and farm-to-table dining is on the agenda in this remote paradise.
Rates from £960 per night; naypaladhideaway.com
Badrutt’s Palace
St Moritz, Switzerland
Dining at Badrutt's Palace with mountain view
Overlooking Lake St Moritz, the grand neo-Gothic landmark has defined the area for more than a century, welcoming royalty, Hollywood legends and winter sports enthusiasts along the way. Founded in 1896 by Caspar Badrutt, it has helped turn a mountain village into a premier luxury destination, offering 163 rooms, including 47 suites, along with several high-end restaurants and bars, ready to welcome skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer.
Rates from £730 per night; badruttspalace.com
Il Salviatino
Florence, Italy
Villa at Il Salviatino
Housed within a beautifully restored 15th-century villa in the hills above Florence, Il Salviatino sits in the peaceful Tuscan countryside just 15 minutes from the city’s Renaissance treasures. Set within 12 hectares of gardens, the hotel’s individually designed rooms boast sweeping views across rolling hills to Brunelleschi’s famous Duomo. Gallery-hop in Florence before returning for holistic spa treatments, aperitivi on the terrace and dinner at Da Giacomo al Salviatino.
Rates from £595 per night; salviatino.com
Eden Roc Cap Cana
Dominican Republic
Golf course at Eden Roc
Eden Roc Cap Cana combines Caribbean beach living with polished Relais & Châteaux hospitality. Spacious private villas come with their own pools, golf carts and dedicated Villa Assistants, while the resort’s white-sand beach, twin infinity pools and natural limestone cenote provide endless places to unwind. Away from the shoreline, guests can tackle the Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada Golf Course, get stuck into yoga and spa treatments beside the cenote or dine across three distinctive restaurants, from refined Mediterranean cuisine to freshly caught seafood overlooking the Caribbean.
Rates from £635 per night; edenroccapcana.com
OKU Bodrum
Türkiye
Lounge chair by the sea at Bodrum
Set on a secluded hillside overlooking the Aegean, Oku Bodrum is designed for slow living and long summer days by the sea. With just 58 rooms and suites, all facing the water, the adults-only retreat combines earthy, minimalist interiors with reclaimed stone, Turkish craftsmanship and a thoughtfully curated contemporary art collection. Between afternoons beside the pool, sunset cocktails on the jetty and Nikkei-inspired dinners at Teyo, the pace remains blissfully unhurried. Wellness is equally central, with traditional hammam rituals, breathwork sessions and seafront spa treatments completing the experience.
Rates from £418 per night; okuhotels.com
Chablé Yucatán
Mexico
Pool at Chable Yucatan
Hidden within 750 acres of jungle outside Mérida, Chablé Yucatán is a retreat that focuses on ancient Mayan traditions. Casitas come with private pools and hammocks suspended beneath the trees, while the headline attraction is the spa, built around a sacred natural cenote where treatments draw on centuries-old Mayan healing rituals. Dining is equally memorable, from Mexico’s largest private tequila collection at Ixi’im to produce harvested from the estate’s own eco-farm.
Rates from £822 per night; chablehotels.com
Gleneagles
Scotland
Gleneagles Hotel
Set beneath the Ochil Hills in the heart of Perthshire, Gleneagles has been Scotland’s most iconic country estate since opening in 1924. Spread across 850 acres of rolling countryside, the hotel is renowned for championship golf, country pursuits and exceptional dining, while its award-winning spa provides a welcome place to unwind after a day outdoors. Whether you’re trying your hand at falconry, walking the estate’s woodland trails or simply settling in for afternoon tea, Gleneagles captures the timeless appeal of a classic Scottish escape.
Rates from £450 per night; gleneagles.com
The Upper House
Hong Kong
Bar lounge at the Upper House
Designed by acclaimed architect André Fu, The Upper House rises above Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, placing guests within easy reach of Central’s gleaming skyscrapers, the street food and markets of Wan Chai and the city’s iconic ferries, trams and hillside escalators. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views across Victoria Harbour, while warm, minimalist interiors offer a welcome sense of calm after a day exploring one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. Thoughtful service and an understated residential feel have made it one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated hotels.
Rates from £527 per night; upperhouse.com
The Connaught
London
Red Room at The Connaught
James McDonald
One of London’s most storied hotels, it balances iconic design with a second-to-none food and drink offering that includes the city’s most famous Martini and the three-Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze restaurant. Taken together, The Connaught is London luxury at its finest. Yet despite its illustrious reputation, the hotel retains an understated elegance, where discreet service, impeccable attention to detail and a distinct sense of refinement have made it a favourite with royalty, creatives and discerning travellers for more than a century.
Rates from £930 per night; maybourne.com
Finca La Bobadilla
Spain
Lobby at Finca La Bobadilla
Hidden among the rolling hills of Andalucía, Finca La Bobadilla is a rural retreat where contemporary design meets traditional Spanish craftsmanship. Recently reimagined by Único Hotels, the estate showcases natural materials, handcrafted ceramics and bespoke furnishings that reflect the surrounding landscape, while spacious rooms and suites open onto generous terraces overlooking the countryside. Days are best spent exploring the region’s villages before returning for long lunches and quiet afternoons by the pool.
Rates from £333 per night; fincalabobadilla.com
