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Jan 03, 2024

The 50 Best Luxury Hotels in the World (2023)

Every year, Robb Report scours the world to unearth the best new luxury hotels from the last 12 months. Candidates to spotlight in the annual Best of the Best must be splashy, five-star debuts that

Every year, Robb Report scours the world to unearth the best new luxury hotels from the last 12 months. Candidates to spotlight in the annual Best of the Best must be splashy, five-star debuts that are instantly earmarked to be globetrotters’ staples. Each of those new openings is hoping not only to make an impactful start, but also to ascend to a rarefied pantheon: the roster of classic hotels that transcends trends, properties with a permanent place on speed-dial for any discerning traveler.

Those esteemed hotels vary wildly: They might be centuries old or have opened just a few years ago, city center hideaways or country estates, exemplars of bleeding-edge, contemporary design or reassuringly retro. But they share one thing: a commitment to exemplifying the best in luxury hospitality. For that reason, they are, inarguably, the World’s Greatest Hotels—and for the first time, Robb Report has compiled a list of the top 50 such properties across the globe.

Think of this rundown as a cheat sheet or shortcut to a guaranteed stellar trip: Every hotel, safari camp or resort endorsed here has been tried and tested, again and again, by the world’s pickiest travelers. Year in and year out, they’ve consistently earned accolades and loyalty in equal measure.

Our methodology for this list was rigorous but simple: Few specialists in the world are deft and connected enough to earn the endorsement of Robb Report; just 21 of them, in fact, can be considered true Travel Masters, a mark of the caliber of their expertise and clients. This brain trust of the travel industry’s five-star experts has first-hand knowledge of every need-to-know room around the world, so who better to tap for nominations.

We asked each of them for up to 10 properties which they vouch for, and regularly recommend to clients, explaining in detail what makes that hotel, resort or ranch a true standout. Unsurprisingly, there were many overlaps, with multiple properties receiving endorsements from several operators—these are the hotels which earned a spot in the top 10. The rest we have organized by geography for ease of reference.

Some of the winners aren’t unexpected—the European classics, for example, will be familiar to most—while others are more off-beat, like a cell phone service-free lodge in Alaska. There are some glaring omissions, too: No property in New York or Miami made the Travel Masters’ list, nor anywhere in vacation mainstays Mexico and Hawaii. It’s a call to action for hoteliers there, we hope, to rally their efforts and maybe, just maybe, squeak onto next year’s list.

If Judi Dench were a hotel, she’d be Claridge’s—this grande dame of the London hotel scene is a beloved, determinedly British institution that’s been part of English life for decades yet retains a youthful vigor. The hotel, which opened in 1812, outpaces even the almost-90-year-old acting legend—in fact, it just added a subterranean wellness center kitted out in signature zen wood and limestone by designer André Fu. What other hotel can count both the late Queen Elizabeth II, a regular, protocol-stretching lunch guest and Mick Jagger as devotees? The Maybourne-operated property is a sister to sites in Beverly Hills and the French Riviera, as well as another London spot, including the Connaught, but it outstrips them all—book in at the Mews Terrace for a charming only-in-London experience on a discreet back alley. Unique Properties and Events co-owner Cedric Reversade calls the entire place “perfection” and recommends truffle French fries in the foyer washed down with a dry martini, and the service of the “divine concierges, Nigel or Martin” whenever you leave its walls. Ashley Isaacs Ganz of Artisans of Leisure puts it more simply. “It’s my home away from home in London.”

Doubles from $1,493

The Oetker-operated Bristol sits in one of the best spots in the City of Light, per Red Savannah’s Edward Granville. “It’s the ultimate location in the city boasting amazing views across the skyline, including Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower,“ he says, of the property on the Faubourg St Honoré. The hotel has its own appeal, too: Don’t miss the trompe l’oeil decorated swimming pool on the sixth floor, and make sure to pause to pet Socrate, Le Bristol’s most important permanent resident—its in-house cat. Book dinner, too, at Epicure, its gourmet restaurant overseen by Michelin favorite Eric Frechon—try the macaroni stuffed with black truffle, artichoke and foie gras or the onsite chocolate factory, which focuses on grand cru cocoas from around the world.

Doubles from roughly $2,054.

Think of La Mamounia as a Moroccan fantasy made real, a too-much-is-never-enough maximalist fever dream that just underwent another refresh during the pandemic. Come here to idle in the gardens, nibbling on a Pierre Hermé macaron, or sashay round the sceney pool in a couture kaftan; make sure to book a room that overlooks the gardens and that pool and sip a glass of Champagne or two on the balcony. It’s been a boldfaced bolthole for decades, whether acting as the de facto winter home of Winston Churchill or as a shorthand for tasteful luxury for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and, more infamously, Anna Delvey. “It’s iconic and legendary, but it still stays current,” says Isaacs Ganz. “I love the Moroccan design throughout, the colorful tiles, the gardens where Churchill painted, the hidden courtyards and the traditional hammam.” Bonus points for its location, a few minutes’ walk from the souk.

Doubles from $570.

The name to know here? Audrey Huttert. Kevin Jackson of EXP Journeys says the GM of this property is the reason he recommends it to so many clients. It was only the second Aman to open stateside, after Jackson Hole, and it took seven painstaking years of planning to workshop the footprint of the property, nestled in 600 acres of the southwestern desert like a series of concrete boxes half-concealed in the landscape. Come here for outdoors adventuring aplenty amid the national parks of Bryce Canyon, sunrise hot air ballooning and trails on horseback. Camp Sarika is the latest addition to the complex, with 10 one- and two-bedroom glamping tents (known as pavilions) scattered around 55 acres onsite as an alternative to the hotel proper. “The guests have a sense of luxury in a remote place with spectacular food and scenery,” Jackson raves.

Doubles from $4,200.

If you thought that Bill Bensley’s retro-maximalist interiors at the Capella Ubud in Bali were amazing, you’ll squeal for this all-inclusive, 15-tent resort deep in the jungle of Cardamom National Park in southwest Cambodia. Combing bold textiles and retro décor on the banks of the raging Timor River, a stay here is all about being transported to another time and place. But the “wild” part of this five-star camp isn’t just about the decor, the forest-to-table dining or even the location. The adventure begins as soon as you arrive via the 400-meter zip line over the forest, river and waterfall. When you land, your butler will be waiting. Drop off your bags and dig in. Go orchid-hunting. Join a motorcycle patrol with the jungle rangers. Visit butterfly sanctuaries. Kayak down narrow streams. Strap on your binoculars and search for tropical birds and butterflies. Hit the mountain biking trails. Or simply lace up your boots and trek like the explorers of yore. “It’s luxury but not for the faint hearted,” Christopher Wilmot-Sitwell of cazenove+loyd says.

Tents from $1,900 per night.

A unique lodge situated deep within the Southern Alps with just four guest chalets and accessible only via helicopter, Minaret Station mixes luxury service and accommodations with rugged adventure. Each day you’ll take in this iconic slice of the great outdoors while mountain biking, backcountry fishing, setting out on guided hunts, eating up chef-prepared picnics on a mountain top or even heli-skiing. Speaking of helicopters, they’re an important part of the experience here: Namely flying through Milford Sound, a spectacular, world-renowned fjordland. “It’s a gateway to a collection of exclusive adventure experiences enjoyed in total privacy within some of the most remote locations in New Zealand (if not the planet!),” says Stuart Rigg of Southern Crossings.

Doubles from roughly $2,000, plus roughly $1,650 per person for helicopter transfer from Queenstown.

Knocking Bali down a peg or two as the go-to tropical island in Indonesia, Sumba is finally getting all of the attention (and investment) it deserves. But that all started with NIHI Sumba. It consists of just 27 thatched villas (with private swimming pools and traditional Indonesian architecture) spread across 667 acres of minimally developed island splendor. While It was once best-known for its world-class surfing, today the resort offers so much more: from chocolate making to beach rides on (and therapy with) Sumbanese stallions. Owned by investor Chris Burch (ex to the famed fashion designer Tory Burch), the resort also “connects guests with purposeful experiences through the Sumba Foundation,” said John Clifford of International Travel Management. “It’s the leader in eco-conscious luxury. It walks-the-walk of giving back.”

Doubles from $1,795 in the high season.

Australia’s harsh red center isn’t known for its luxuriousness, but Longitude 131 is the exception to that rule. With direct views of Australia’s most iconic site, Ayers Rock (Uluru), the resort is composed of 16 five-star tents or “guest pavilions” that are every bit as nice as a room at the Ritz. Each tent features a private outdoor deck that can be set up with a super-comfortable deluxe “swag” (Aussie for a single-person camping bed) and a fireplace. Once the burning sun sets and the air cools, it’s time to set up your little camp within a camp and gaze into the night sky. The Southern Cross looks like it’s been lit with LEDs. “We love the romance of the canopied pavilions and waking up to views across the outback to Uluru,” said Rigg. “But the stand-out experience is sleeping under the Outback stars.”

Luxury tents from roughly $2,600, all-inclusive.

Botswana is the undisputed luxury safari destination, thanks to a forward-thinking decades-old tourism policy that both prioritized high-end, low-density visits and aggressively protected its impressive roster of animals against incursions by poachers. There’s a distinctive appeal, too, thanks to the affect of the local Batswana and the human heritage that intertwines here, as embodied by Selinda itself. “It’s an architectural trifecta of three cultures: European, Mokololo and Bayei,” says Uncharted’s Sandy Cunningham of the camp. A hotel in the second largest game concession in Botswana, this is undeniably passion project for photographers and conservationists Beverly and Dereck Joubert. Though the pair owns a dozen or so camps around sub-Saharan Africa, this four-year-old property is a standout, located in the northern reaches of the country that emphasizes sustainable tourism in inventive ways—think crushing empty bottles to provide sand for buildings in local villages rather than trucking them away as trash. Stay in the two-bedroom Selinda Suite for the best experience, says Cunningham: “It’s themed to resemble the thatched villages of Sangwali, who loaned the great explorer David Livingstone 200 men during his travels. It’s reachable via boat along the Selinda Spillway—the ultimate 007 arrival.”

Doubles from $11,088 in the midseason.

The darling of Six Senses mastermind Sonu Shivdasani opened way back in 1995, Soneva Fushi is the Maldives’ most enduring hotspot. With just 72 sprawling villas, the resort gives every guest direct beach access within a UNESCO biosphere reserve. So whether it’s diving, snorkeling, water sliding directly into the Indian Ocean or just lazing, no other resort in the region does the barefoot-luxury-beach-holiday concept as effortlessly or with as much panache. But the secret to its success is service, according to Jules Maury of Scott Dunn: “I cannot really put into words how their staff and butlers create this magic, or how their chefs provide such food experiences. The barefoot ethos of the place just soothes the soul.”

Villas from $2,000 per night.

Whether you’re putting on the Ritz or sucking up the sun in Italy, Europe’s time-honored hotels practically invented the white-glove service we’ve come to expect. The brands and ownership may have changed over the years, but nearly all of our guide’s favorite stays are Grand Dames fit for royalty.

Sure, this five-star, 232-room resort in Perthshire an hour or so outside Edinburgh might be considered golf’s spiritual home: It has three landmarks, 18-hole courses, and a storied history as the site of the first playoff between Brits and Americans that’s now better known as the Ryder Cup. But you don’t have to be a putt-prone golf devotee to stay here, according to Isaacs Ganz, who calls it a “destination in and of itself for anyone who wants a luxurious getaway in the beautiful Scottish countryside.” Come to hike—the 11-mile Blackford route is a bracing way to explore the rolling landscape nearby—and for a snifter or two of whisky; Perthshire’s roster of distilleries may not include many household names, but some of Scotland’s oldest distillers are a short drive away, including Glenturret, which claims to be the oldest still-working site dating back to 1775.

Country rooms from roughly $800.

Winston Churchill wasn’t just a war-winning British national hero—he was also a hotel connoisseur. “I don’t stay in a hotel. I stay in Brown’s,” he reportedly said, the ultimate accolade from the ultimate prime minister. No wonder the martini on offer here—hold the vermouth, heavy on the gin—served at the bar is named in his honor. Jonathan Alder of Jonathan’s Travels agrees. “It will feel like home as soon as you arrive,” he says, “And it’s dangerously close to all the best shopping.” The 115-room Mayfair property opened in 1937, but the current interiors are more evocative of the 1940s, all overstuffed chairs and vintage bric-a-brac decorating the rooms. Its literary associations are impressive, too, as everyone from Dylan Thomas to Agatha Christie is said to have stayed here and been inspired by the site. Alder often books clients into the Rudyard Kipling suite, named after another author who dashed off a novel in situ.

Doubles from roughly $1,000.

Sure, it’s a cliché, but for good reason: The Ritz has been synonymous with effortless Parisian glamor for decades, an insouciant ultra-luxe spot for the world’s most glamorous travelers since Cesar Ritz and chef Auguste Escoffier first opened it in 1898. It was the backdrop to not one but three Audrey Hepburn moves in the 1950s and 1960s, yet still retained enough rockstar cachet to be the place where Johnny Depp and Kate Moss decided to fill a bathtub with Champagne (the recently retired head bartender here, Colin Field, was in charge of cocktails at the model’s later wedding to Kills guitarist Jamie Hince). Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal of Fischer Travel calls it a “crown jewel hotel” and recommends the Coco Chanel suite, named after its most famous resident—the designer lived here for more than thirty years, and often used the staff entrance to access her apartment here for complete discretion.

Doubles from roughly $1,540.

Mention San Remo, and few could mark it on a map, and that’s just how this under-the-radar, upscale coastal resort town likes it, a last gasp of la dolce vita along the Ventimiglia coast before hitting the border with France. Its standout hotel is this five-star, 127-room property, a wedding cake-like landmark that sits on a hill overlooking the beach front (the suites here all have wraparound, ocean view terraces). The hotel opened in 1872, and the interior artfully retains much of the original, Imperial-era grandeur—think winter gardens, lashings of inlaid wood and Phantom-worth chandeliers—while adding impressive, more contemporary touches like the 172,200-square-foot park in which it sits was master planned by the architect Gio Ponti. “It has a timeless charm—this is an opportunity to experience a traditional Italian summer with all of the trimmings,” raves Jennifer Schwartz of Authentic Explorations.

Doubles from roughly $468.

How many hotels have an alter ego? This 114-room, glamor-drenched spot on the Côte d’Azur certainly has: It was such an inspiration to writer F. Scott Fitzgerald that he immortalized it as the Hôtel des Etrangers in Tender is the Night, and the hedonistic Americans who lived there morphed into the novel’s party-loving protagonists. Since then, the sprawling property, which sits on 22 pine tree-dotted oceanfront acres, has lured everyone from the Kennedys to Liz Taylor, who spent one of her many honeymoons here; it was Slim Aarons’ snapshots of in the 1960s on its grounds that epitomized the jetset of that era, mostly centered on the Art Deco-era annex blasted out of the cliffs with dynamite, that features one of the world’s most appealing infinity pools. “It’s a legendary and timeless hotel,” says Fischer-Rosenthal.

Doubles from roughly $1,500.

Come here for “old-world elegance and incredible, lake-view rooms, not to mention close proximity to the Lavaux wine region” says Isaacs Ganz. Lausanne might be a minnow compared to Geneva on the same lake—it’s barely half its size—but as a destination, it’s far more appealing than that cash-and-cachet-powered city, with an emphasis on good living and luxury that’s epitomized by this hotel (and many of its past regulars, who included the Duchess of Windsor). None of the 95 rooms at this palatial property, which first opened in the 1860s, is the same, and the décor is an eccentric mishmash that combines every era since then, from Victorian fripperies to sinuously streamlined Art Nouveau. The modern spa is a major plus, with its own full hammam and indoor and outdoor pools—though why not just take a swim in the lake, where the water’s disconcertingly clean?

Doubles from roughly $577.

Gary Portuesi of Authentic Explorations says that staying at this hotel is “like going to visit a Greek friend’s family on a lesser traveled island in the Cyclades, who transformed their traditional farmhouse to a luxurious resort.” Certainly, Paros is less well known than Mykonos next door, but it has the same sugar cube-pretty architecture offset with a less frantic pace of life. This 33-suite hotel sits right on the northeastern coast between Kolymbithres Beach—one of the most appealing and well run on the island, and just 20 minutes’ walk away—and the main fishing village of Naossa. Book in at the 430-square-foot Sun Suite, with its own private patio and private pool.

Doubles from roughly $295 per night.

Few hotels manage to become instant icons, but the newest property from Grand Hotel Tremezzo owner Valentina de Santis has pulled it off just a year after she rebooted a private villa from the 1780s on the shores of Lake Como as this 24-room hotel. “It goes above and beyond any other place in Italy,” says Jaclyn Sienna India of Sienna Charles—and she warns visitors not to oversleep and miss the exceptional maritozzi or whipped cream-filled donuts served up every morning at breakfast. It has the largest suite on the lake, too, in the 2,700-square-foot Bellini, named after the composer who once played the piano here as well as delightfully playful touches, like a series of tunnels that lead to the new spa, which is accessed by a secret staircase.

Doubles from roughly $2,660.

New York? Los Angeles? Sorry, it’s all about the great outdoors for our travel masters and their discerning clientele. From five-star farms to ritzy ranches, you’ll want to pack your hiking boots for these escapes (or swap them for flip-flops if you are heading for a certain famed Caribbean society seat).

The property in eastern Alaska’s Wrangell-St Elias National Park began as a log cabin built by a nature-loving schoolteacher not long after World War II; it was his son, Paul and his wife, Donna, who saw the potential in building a full-scale lodge for those craving an Alaskan adventure with minimal modern-day interruptions (think no phone, TV or cell service). Fishing aficionados can expect memorable catches, especially salmon, from the rivers here. Come in fall if you’d like the chance to glimpse the Northern Lights. Adrenalin specialist Henry Cookson of Cookson Adventures recommends it without reservations. “The nearest paved road is 100 miles away, so you have the dramatic scenery all to yourself,” he says, noting that the 14-guest capacity makes it an ideal buyout for families or a group of friends. “We loved the Super Cub planes for an aviation experience like no other, flying through breathtaking mountain valleys and over glaciers.”

$12,500 per person for four nights, double occupancy.

This high-end camp in the remote forest of Vancouver Island sets a benchmark in barefoot luxury, with tented camp rooms that don’t skimp on conveniences (think heated floors in the bathrooms) that act as the perfect perch for adventuring round the untouched landscape: Expect days filled with whale-watching, bear-spotting, biking and rainforest trekking. Its isolation is core to its appeal, the hard-to-reach resort worth the 45-minute plane ride from the city. “Arriving by float plane is always exciting,” says Maury, “And we saw bears, whales, eagles and more as we took zodiacs around deserted beaches and sleepy backwaters in this extraordinary area.” Conservation is core to its mission, too: For more than 20 years, it’s worked with the government and local indigenous people to help bolster native salmon stocks in and around the waters here—the more of these fish found in the river, the better the overall health of the ecosystem.

Doubles from roughly $9,070 for three nights.

Call it the Big Deal of Big Sur. The one time motel sitting on the PCH was reimagined as an upscale, 30-room hotel 30 years ago, and has become a mainstay of luxury hospitality in the three decades since (as well as adding 10 more rooms). Those are impressive, of course, slickly designed with their own private hot tubs, and the restaurant onsite serves up delicious, modern Californian food. But who comes to this region for the resort itself? The spectacular setting is its real draw, perched 1,200 feet above the crashing waves of the Pacific—think Big Little Lies meets Castaway. “Early one morning I breakfasted alone looking down the Pacific Coast blinded by the cobalt sea, aquamarine skies, and emerald green and taupe shaggy coastline,” Maury says. “Sunset was arguably even more spectacular.” There’s no issue too big or too small for the superstar GM here, Tim Lee, to tackle, she adds.

Doubles from $2,200.

The original luxury Relias & Chateau farm resort that lured private jets to East Tennessee, Blackberry Farm is still on top of its game after decades. Spread over 4,200 acres, this much-imitated, family-owned, working farm property offers just 68 five-star rooms. But farm means food, and food is what keeps guests coming back year after year. Lauded chefs Cassidee Dabney and Sarah Steffan run dinner spots the Barn (a James Beard Award winner) and the Dogwood, respectively, and if you want a taste of the action, you’ll have to check in because seatings for outsiders are rare. Thirsty? The Barn’s cellar stocks 9,000 different wine labels and 300 whiskies and brandies. “Their local flare and over-the-top high-end service deliver the ultimate in luxury,” says Jackson. “The property has redefined farm-to-table food, and the wine cellar, attention to detail in every room and the grounds are amazing. But for us, it’s the sense of place, warmth of the staff and southern hospitality that sets it apart.”

King Historic Rooms from $1,345 and suites from $2,245 per night.

There’s a frisson of je ne sais quoi to this 34-room hotel in the Francophone Caribbean, a burst of witty subversiveness amid the po-faced pantheon of luxury. Look for its signature scarlet color everywhere—think bright red rubber ducks and nail varnish in bathrooms—and décor that’s quirky and off-beat, with the latest wood paneled suites drawing direct inspiration from an old school superyacht. Credit superstar GM Fabrice Moizan with striking such a distinctive note, which combines an insouciant geniality with an obsessive attention to detail that means nothing’s ever overlooked. Clifford calls it “the best of the best on the island” right on St Jean Bay and recommends Villa Rockstar, the six-bedroom standalone penthouse suite, complete with its own full-sized private pool and recording studio.

Doubles from 945 euros (around $1035)

Patagonia has emerged as a safari alternative for those who have been there and done that. But the varied hotels and experiences our western continental neighbors to the south (and the deep, deep south of Antartica) have to offer prove that there is a lifetime of stylish exploring to do in our own backyard.

This is the first luxury mountain resort in this Central American country—its name means “heaven” in the indigenous Chorotega language—and Cookson recommends it unreservedly. “We love the views from this property overlooking Mombacho volcano, and the experiences—horse riding, quad bikes and near-endless mountain bike adventures,” he says. Don’t miss the rope course on property, created especially for guests, and request La Residencia, the four-bedroom villa that’s the standout option for overnighting. Think of the all-inclusive, 20-person spot as an African safari camp transported to the wilds of Nicaragua by its owners, Alfredo Jr. and Theresa Pellas—the 2,400-acre estate here is so vast, it’s more like a reserve in the bush. If you find it even more energizing than expected, credit the building protocols, enacted to feng shui principles to maximize its energy flows.

Doubles from $1,775.

This 11-year-old, centrally located hotel sits in its own gardens, with rooms ranged around the property, the décor a winning collision between Inca-referencing stone walls and gold-heavy details that nod to its colonial-era origins as a private home. The redeployment of this onetime convent emphasized some of its most endearing quirks, too, retaining many of the murals painted on the walls—look for one suite, with a coffered ceiling festooned with pink roses, which is believed to have been where the Mother Superior would have slept. And no detail has been overlooked: don’t worry about fitful sleep at 12,000 feet above sea level in a suite at this hotel—oxygen’s piped into the 55 rooms to improve the air quality. Jean Sanz Bernay of JSB Journeys sums it up this way: “beautiful city views, personal butlers and pisco classes on the terrace.”

Doubles from $1238.

The 40-room, sleek modern horseshoe-shaped property sits right on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, and it makes the most of its unique perch: floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, overlooking the Paine Massif provide an all-natural alternative to screens (there are no TVs or WiFi in rooms). Activities here are understandably outdoorsy: hikes, horse-riding, birdwatching, and boating aplenty. No wonder that for Kevin Jackson, it’s a regular booking. “The indoor pool here looks out over the Torres, and from the opposite side of the lake you could barely tell the property is even there—it blends in so well with the landscape,“ he says of the decade-old spot. The plot is so large it’s easy to transfer by helicopter, which Jackson recommends (the drive from Punta Arenas is a bone-aching four hours)—and bring a satellite phone, as all connectivity to the outside world here can be patchy.

Doubles from $1,950 with a minimum three-night stay.

Four hours’ drive from Rio de Janeiro, think of this sprawling property as part country-estate, part-safari camp, a chance to decompress from daily grinds and reconnect with nature. It’s the brainchild of a Carioca businessman, Renato Machado, who started buying land here more than two decades ago, attempting to preserve the landscape around Ibitipoca National Park. Now, his project also employs more than 200 people caretaking guests at a cluster of reconditioned properties ranged around his 16,000 acres—the standout is Fazenda, an eight-bedroom terracotta-roofed lodge from the 1700s. Wilmot-Sitwell calls out this property as a pioneer in true sustainable luxury. “The local community has been part of the planning here since the purchase of the Fazenda do Engenho in 1984,” he says, “Their welcome is part of any stay in Ibitipoca, from cooks to guides to villagers.”

Doubles from roughly $459.

White Desert’s pioneering South Pole properties are a truly unique offering: dashing adventurer turned hotelier Patrick Woodhead has earned widespread plaudits for his impressive attempts to provide overnighting on the uninhabited tundra there. Clifford’s particularly fond of its third complex, Echo Camp, calling it “a space age, ultra-luxe, chic boutique eco-pod collective. Who says you have to rough it at the end of the world?” It only launched last season, but the fiberglass pop-up structures offer floor-to-ceiling views of the all-white world beyond; the camp’s amenities, including shower pods, lounge and dining room are in a separate communal area. Every guest commutes here via private jet from Cape Town—toast the experience on landing with a martini, chilled to perfection with 10,000-year-old ice.

Five day stays including transport and all activities from $65,000 per person

New Zealand’s Southern Alps are as hot with high-end travelers as they are cold. That’s thanks to the growing demand for eco-friendly excursions, which also benefits the greenest of Polynesian escapes.

A volcanic, reef-circled spec in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, Lord Howe Island is famous for its hair-raising 2,900-foot-long runway (just a fraction longer than St. Barth’s 2,100-foot shorty). Australians have long coveted this under-the-radar holiday hideaway, and its top stay is Capella Lodge, part of the five-star Luxury Lodges of Australia group (not to be confused with the Capella Hotel brand). “There is no mobile phone reception, bicycles are the preferred mode of transport and visitor numbers are strictly limited,” says Riggs. “There is so much to love about this place, including the thoughtful, friendly, first-name service with welcoming hosts, Libby and Mark that allows you to truly unwind in sophisticated yet relaxed surrounds.”

Villas from roughly $1,290 per night.

One of the most lauded openings of 2022, this authentic working sheep station sits on 36,000 acres of pristine South Island wilderness. While the first guests arrived last September, the homestead property actually dates back to 1857. Today, it can accommodate just one group of one to eight at a time. It comes with a private chef (who will fully customize your menus), glass-wall views of the Southern Alps and an action-packed itinerary of activities—including hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, caving and stargazing. You’ll probably want to board a helicopter, too. And when they say working farm they mean it: there are 11,600 sheep and 450 head of cattle here. You can even play farmer for the should you choose. “The clincher: It’s right next door to Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti in Maori), also known as the birthplace of the gods to the pioneering voyagers from Easter Island (the Rapanui),” says Sandy Cummingham. “It was described by the Dalai Lama as the spiritual center of the universe.”

Rooms from $7,300 per night, two-night minimum

Proudly located at “the bottom of the habitable world“ in the Ahuriri Valley on New Zealand’s South Island, the Lindis is a five-suite, three-pod, five-star eco-lodge on 6,000 acres. So while the playful architecture and only-in-New-Zealand-quality food and wine inside make it hard to leave, guests here know that the real adventure here is outside its walls. “World-class activities are in abundance,” says Edward Granville of Red Savannah. You’ll find world-class fly-fishing, paragliding, e-bikes, stargazing and hiking. And if isolation is what you’re after, consider a night in one of the mirrored glass-walled pods. Ask managing director William Hudson to organize your helicopters to and fro, suggests Jules Maury of Scott Dunn.

Suite doubles from roughly $1,896. Buyouts from roughly $14,126

In the era of reef smashing, litter and Tiki Bars—long before “sustainability” became a marketing buzz word—the one-and-only original Hollywood activist Marlon Brando made it his mission to preserve the atoll of Tetiꞌaroa with a 99-year lease. Brando is no longer with us, but his mission lives on today in the form of a LEED platinum certified, all-inclusive, 36-villa resort, opened in 2014. Each of those villas — beyond sustainable construction – is built for quiet, so that when the windows are closed, you’re in your own private sanctuary. In fact, thanks to the space and privacy, it’s easy to feel like you’ve rented out a private island. “This is where the epitome of indulgence and sustainability come together seamlessly,” says Rigg. “You can enjoy the ultimate extravagances here with a conscience as clear as the waters that surround you.”

Villas from $4694 per night.

With just 25 villas, this 4.6-square-mile island claims to be one of the world’s largest private island resorts. Each of its “residences” features a lounge, private pool, sundeck and outdoor bath. But its most picturesque accommodation is Udu, which sprawls over multiple structures high on a rocky perch, surrounded by lush plants and overlooking the tropical sea. Private islands, of course, mean big names. In this case it’s the late Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder of Red Bull, who bought the island back in 2003. “At this ultra-luxe tropical island resort every residence offers privacy and privilege—in addition to the totally instagrammable glass-walled resort pool!” says Rigg. “This is the kind of place where you can completely control the agenda.”

The Plateau Residence starts at $5,800 per night.

Naturally, on a continent the size of Asia, the flavors of its ultra-exclusive stays are as varied as its cuisines. From the palaces of Rajasthan to the modern miracles of central Tokyo, there’s a little something for everyone here.

Soaring over the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, Aman Tokyo occupies the top six floors of a modern, 38-story, mixed-use tower in one of the city’s most central locations. Its 84 rooms and suites are some of the largest (if not the largest) in the Tokyo and they’re dripping with modern luxury. But that doesn’t mean that this hotel lacks a sense of place: Notice the engawa in the lobby—a wooden detail seen in the flooring of traditional Japanese residences that divides inside from out. There’s plenty more where that came from. “It’s the best option in Tokyo for travelers who want a world class luxury hotel that also incorporates traditional Japanese style and design,” says Ashley Isaacs Ganz of Artisans of Leisure.

Doubles from $1,875 per night.

The original structures on the site of this hotel 20 minutes outside the center of Jaipur—the “Pink City” capital of Rajasthan—dates back some 280 years. Today, the fort-like structure has 54 rooms and 14 extravagant tents and three sprawling villas. “It’s jaw-dropping opulence,” says Catherine Heald of Remote Lands. Hand-painted gold leaf walls by master muralist Ghanshem Nimbark adorn the walls and original paintings by famed contemporary artist Paresh Maity are hanging around. After you’ve taken that in, stroll the property’s extensive flower gardens for another show of maximalism.

Doubles from roughly $575.

Constant motion isn’t always a good thing. This majestic floating antique in the center of Lake Pichola in Udaipur (as seen in Bond flick Octopussy) was constructed in the 1740s as a summer palace for Mewar royalty, and it still boasts the same white marble and the same magnificent gardens that it always did. While it has seen changes—including the creation of 65 rooms and 18 grand suites—its last update was way back in 2000. According to Tanya Dalton of Greaves UK there’s nothing to fix. “I find it hard to resist the charms of an antique palace hotel floating on a mirrored lake, surrounded by the romantic white city of Udaipur.”

Doubles from roughly $900 per night.

A Relais & Chateau resort perched 4,100-feet above sea level in Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea region, has just five historic tea planter bungalows. The period furnishing, cuisine and butler service are all designed to create a “non-hotel ambiance.” When you aren’t relaxing or drinking tea in the garden, you’ll be on the trails, as the name implies. Set out on foot with a naturalist-guided hike, or take in the scenery at a breezier pace by bike. “My favorite residence has to be Dunkeld Bungalow for the views,” says Alex Wix of Wix Squared.

Doubles from at $919, off peak.

Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle—where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and the Mekong Rivers—may have yesteryear connotations of opium production, but that’s a shame: It should be synonymous with natural beauty. The best way to take it in, according to the experts at Fischer Travel, is from the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. “It offers a unique, immersive experience, blending nature and luxury,” said Max Rosenthal of Fischer Travel. The resort’s 15 fully air-conditioned tents and “Explorer’s Lodge” are designed to create the atmosphere of a 19th century tropical expedition.

Tents from $2,500.

While you may be able to rent one of the six beachfront villas a la carte, Banwa is also a true private island rental capable of housing up to 48 friends of one billionaire. Situated in the Philippines’ eastern Palawan province, the island is surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Sulu Sea—ideal for diving or a casual snorkel. The villas — smart, modern, white structures with pools — sleep two to eight. Dinning here is al fresco and chef’s menus of world cuisine and Filipino classics change daily. “This is one of the world’s most exclusive private islands,” says Cookson. “It’s set in a marine-protected sanctuary and we love it for its incredible diving—it’s possible to scuba alongside whale sharks as well as encounter the rare Hawksbill turtle and black tip reef shark.”

Villas from $2,650 per night with a three night minimum. Full island rental rate upon request.

Whether you are in Bali to eat, pray, love or party, the “most dramatic entrance & soulful” way to do it is to check-in to Amankila, says Jaclyn Sienna India of Sienna Charles. One of Aman’s earliest resorts (it opened in 1992) and located in the off the beaten path in the hilltop village of Manggis, the property has 31 suites, 12 of which have private pools. Balinese touches in the Ed Tuttle-design abound and give the setting a “spiritual” and “enchanting” feeling, according to India. More important still: “The service and food is to die for,” she adds.

Doubles from $1,270.

Luang Prabang is Southeast Asia’s “secret treasure,” says Alder. “By far its best hotel is the Belmond.” Set on a hilltop looking towards the historic city where crowds gather to watch the monks parade each morning, the resort contains just 32 junior suites and two suites within colonial-style buildings blended with traditional Lao touches. A stunning view from the swimming pool may be the property’s real showstopper. Alder adds: “With service that excels with ease, it’s located in the perfect spot over the Mekong to explore this most amazing city.”

Junior suites from $350 per night.

Saudi Arabia has more five-star hotels in the pipeline than probably anywhere else on planet earth. But it’s not on this list (yet). Instead, perfect hotels in milder locales made the grade.

Turkey is famous for its ancient underground cities, but this is your only chance to stay in one in style. Opened in 2003, this Relais & Chateaux-endorsed “living museum” is built into ancient ruins and caves and is filled with historical monuments from the Hittite, Roman, Seljuk,and Ottoman periods, which are all registered with the Nevşehir Museum. Located in Uçhisar at the pinnacle of Cappadocia — a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the famed Derinkuyu underground city — none of the 34-rooms at the resort are the same. Pick between, for example, the sexy “Harem Cave” or the “Divine Suite,” which has the best views in the region. “The biggest and best suites even include large swimming pools inside,” says Alder, adding that the resort is full of perks that will delight even those without an interest in ancient history. “The breakfast is amongst the best I’ve ever had in my life and the dinners are so good you won’t even want to consider another restaurant. They even have their own winery offsite, truly making the entire experience remarkable.”

Doubles from roughly $720.

Widely recognized as Dubai’s swishest stay since opening in December 2017 on the manmade, seahorse-shaped Jumeirah Bay island, Bulgari managed to up the ante in this already ridiculously ritzy emirate. Designed by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel as an “urban oasis” resort, the hotel has 101 rooms and suites, 20 Bulgari villas, as well as, the brand’s first Marina and Yacht Club, capable of housing 50 boats. Everything here is on a grand scale, including the spa, which weighs in at over 18,000 square feet. “It has the best rooms, linen, spa design and facilities,” says Deborah Calmeyer of ROAR Africa. It also has the best Italian food in Dubai, with Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito under the toque.

Doubles from roughly $530 per night.

Since welcoming its first guests last June—with an opening ceremony starring His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein—the Ritz-Carlton Amman has become a fast favorite. Rising 20-stories high, and offering western styling views, the hotel features 228 guest rooms that claim to be the largest of any hotel in Jordan. For something even bigger, check-in to one of their 34 sprawling suites. The hotel’s interiors were designed by Wimberly Interiors London, which gave it its Art Deco flourishes, while a series of vignettes show the ancient monuments of Petra (the reason you are probably here). Further contextualizing this new property within the cradle of history are architectural features that serve as “modern reinterpretations” of Roman and Nabatean motifs.

Doubles from roughly $350 per night.

The mountain getaway in the Middle East’s most welcoming nation, Alila Jabal Akhdar is famous for its vistas and minimalist architecture. The property offers incredible views from every room. But while its location high in the Al Hajar Mountains, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Muscat, might sound intimidating for those who like their feet on horizontal ground, this 84 suite, two villas resort also offers literally grounded wellness programs. “It has fantastically challenging hikes, and a via Ferrata [climbing section] just in front of your room,” Wix says.

Doubles from $800 per night.

There’s no where else like it, so go ahead and turn on the Toto. Southern Africa stole the show this time around, but we dare anyone to snoot at the Kenyan setting for Out of Africa.

Rising 11 stories above Cape Town’s Victoria and Albert waterfront, this former grain silo complex (once the tallest structure in Sub-Saharan Africa) was transformed into a five-star hotel by starchitect Thomas Heatherwick. “The Silo is an all glass, luxury hotel offering the most spectacular, uninterrupted views of the city, Table Mountain and the ocean,” says Julian Harrison of the Royal Portfolio property. While it has hot trappings—28 rooms in six categories, including a 2,012-square-foot penthouse, and a sky terrace with obligatory rooftop pool—this is no mere hotel. It’s a cultural hub with buzzing bars and restaurants and even its own contemporary art museum (Zeitz MOCAA).

Doubles from roughly $955.

It might be the private jet-based arrival—the hotel has its own, for quick shuttles to and from Fireblade FBO in Johannesburg. Then again, it could be the vastness—Tsawlu Kalahari sits on the largest privately protected wildlife reserve in South Africa, with the lowest ratio of guests to the wilderness, just 40 in total. Perhaps it’s the trio of camps dotted within its boundaries, each offering a different way to enjoy the bush: The standout’s undoubtedly the 10-person private villa, the Tarkuni Homestead, once used by the reserve’s owners, the Oppenheimers, as a private home. The clincher, though, per Maury, is the people. “Wendy in guest relations has been there for twenty-five years, and makes sure you lack for nothing,” she says, “And Freddy the head waiter and sommelier is charismatic and knowledgeable.”

Rates from 35,000 ZAR (around $1,800) per person per night.

Angama’s perch on a clifftop almost 1000 feet up overlooking the Mara make it one the best safari lodges in the world—make sure to spend time idling in the firepit-like sofa at this prime spot for unforgettable sunsets. “The views are untouchable,” Alder says. There are 15 standalone tented suites, each with wide, floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize those views. The décor is a departure from what’s become a safari default, all leather and colonial khaki—think of the scarlet-accented interiors here as African Art Deco, bursting with joie de vivre. But don’t worry, you can still indulge some throwbackish fantasies here—many scenes from Out of Africa were shot right here, and the hotel will set up lunch, on request, at the exact spot where the movie’s poster image was shot.

Rates from $1,490 per person per night.

This hotel sits at the heart of 320,000-acre private Malilangwe Reserve in southeastern Zimbabwe, an already-dreamy locale bolstered by its specific perch. “Its setting is right on a hill, surrounded by boulders, a dam, yellow and gold masa trees and 1000-year-old baobabs,” says Calmeyer, who counts it among her favorites in the continent. The reserve teems with wildlife, including lions and leopards, elephants and hippos and several rhinos—both white and black, thanks to determined anti-poaching efforts, and it’s a particular highlight to track them on foot with the hotel’s guides. There are just eight suites, each with its own private infinity pool, plus one five-bedroom villa here, so there’s little risk of any wildlife spotting being ruined by a raft of jeeps clustered together.

Rates from $2,075 per person per night.

The 14-villa property on its own private island off the northeast coast of Madagascar is a Brigadoon-like vision, shimmering into view on the helicopter transfer from nearby Diego Suarez as if out of nowhere. Villas are contemporary in style, with plunge pools, outdoors showers and sleek, aqua-accented furniture that’s more Saint-Tropez than Out of Africa. Roam around the island on quad bikes, or take a boat trip to another in the archipelago for tern-spotting and al fresco picnic; the water sports center is fully equipped, and the wind pattern here makes it especially appealing for surfers of all kinds. Don’t be deterred by the logistics of getting here: the hotel now runs its own private jet service from Johannesburg, an approximately four-hour jaunt on a Learjet 45. “A paradise on the edge of a world caught up in time from the original Portuguese explorers until now. Still untouched,” says Maury.

Rates from $3,400 per person per night.