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This luxurious private island hotel (located in the Pacific archipelago of Fiji) is a remote and refined place only accessible via boat, helicopter, or seaplane. The hotel consists of 21 open-plan villas that are only steps away from the beach and surrounded by 140 acres of lush forestry. And if you don’t want to swim in the ocean, each villa comes equipped with its own pool!
The Connaught is truly a bastion of refined elegance in the world of London’s luxury. The hotel is an art aficionado’s dream, as it is home to pieces from some famous artists (including Barbara Hepworth and Graham Sutherland). Yet, aside from world-class, in-house facilities that include a spa, The Connaught’s service alone has reeled in many of the world’s rich and elite.
Whether you’re arriving at Six Senses Zighy Bay by car or by paragliding in, the hotel offers a breathtaking introduction to the silvery bay that sits on Oman’s east coast. Each of the 82 private pool villas are nestled between date palms and pomegranate trees, and visitors are encouraged to refrain from wearing shoes or using technology.
Found in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, this luxurious getaway offers lodges that are seamlessly built into the rugged 15,000-hectare topography. Many of the lodges sit far above the Sweni River, giving visitors an unparalleled view of the wild African bushveld while retaining elements of luxury–a gym, spa, and even a wine cellar.
Set in Scotland’s Southern Highlands roughly 45 minutes from Edinburgh by car, all 232 rooms in the Gleneagles Hotel are positioned in a way that every guest can enjoy the sprawling beauty of the surrounding landscape. The hotel offers a myriad of activities, from golfing to salmon fishing, and even an off-road 4x4 experience that is followed by a time of unwinding in the hotel’s award-winning spa.
Royal Mansour is truly a physical manifestation of Moroccan culture. The hotel’s food, fabrics, and even the floor plan offer up an immaculate experience. Guests stay in private and palatial riads that are each equipped with a rooftop plunge pool and an open-air courtyard.
The signature red roof of Eden Rock juts out above its rocky perch in the center of St Barths in the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from the vista that overlooks the crystal-clear waters of Baie de St Jean, the resort features a world-class restaurant where newlyweds and families have been known to enjoy caviar while taking in the blissful beach views.
The Hotel Bel-Air is quite possibly one of the most renowned accommodations on this list, a place that the glitterati and the famous often frequent. The hotel has surprisingly retained its vogue supremacy since its opening in 1946. Its 103 rooms are scattered amid a dazzlingly beautiful garden.
Although many people believe that South Beach is the hub of Miami, the city’s Four Seasons Hotel will certainly change their minds. The hotel, located north of Miami Beach, consists of a 1930 Mediterranean–style building rising in front of a white sand beach. Pool cabanas and a fully-equipped lounge area will make any guest believe in the art of luxury.
In a mix of 1880s colonial architecture and lush forestry, Capella Singapore can be considered a tropical fairy tale. Whether guests stay in a room, suite, or villa, spaciousness is assured, and Capella’s renowned Cantonese restaurant provides much-needed cuisine that emphasizes culture and class.
Four Seasons Madrid is truly a breathtaking devotion to contemporary and Spanish artists, despite its residence within a heritage building. The public areas of the hotel are adorned with sculptures, photography, and installations that only seek to heighten the chic bedrooms.
Another one of Morocco’s elegant hotels makes it onto this list. La Mamounia was named the Best Hotel in Africa in 2023, and it isn’t difficult to see why. The hotel has seen 100 years of high-class hospitality and ultra-lux interiors, and the suites are the very definition of palatial splendor.
The Carlyle (pictured on the left) is an enduring symbol of elegance in a city that has become progressively modernized. The 35-story, 192-room property was opened in 1930, and its Art Deco aesthetic has offered timeless luxury to countless prominent figures, including the Kennedy family.
The Mount Nelson first opened in 1806 as a base for the first-class passengers of the transatlantic Union Castle Line. It has served as the British headquarters in the South Africa War, and has since become a prestigious hotel full of diverse rooms that mirror the hotel’s past. The hotel is renowned for its afternoon tea (which is booked up months in advance), as well as its nine acres of gardens nestled in the city center.
This hotel, positioned in the heart of Japan’s ancient capital, is a blend of contemporary Japanese design and tradition. The building sits low to the ground, with only a few floors above ground level, but guests are nonetheless treated to sweeping views over Kyoto’s tiled rooftops, coupled with the beauty of an in-house Zen garden.
The Lana in Dubai opened only in 2024, and already provides a peaceful luxury away from the bustle of Dubai’s center. Rooms and suites offer a myriad of different views, ranging from the dusty Dubai suburbs to the Burj Khalifa. Even the food is state-of-the-art, featuring a plethora of options that include afternoon tea and Basque cuisine.
Borgo Santandrea is gloriously nestled along Italy’s coastline, overlooking the sapphire Mediterranean Sea. The hotel features a chair-lined private beach and 52 luxurious rooms built into the rock face. In an ideal combination of contemporary sophistication and 1960s-era architecture, the hotel is truly an exemplary figure of classic Italian seaside charm.
Maroma is hidden in the jungle of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and it makes for quite the heavenly retreat. The hotel sports a warm, clean color palette inspired by the surrounding greenery and ocean, and guests would also be delighted to spend the day in the hotel’s signature spa.
In the heart of the French Riviera, Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc is a glittering, château-style accommodation that truly promises a romantic getaway. The hotel’s old-school elegance and sea-facing restaurants promise intimacy and world-class luxury, all while mixing antique furnishings and modernity.
This palatial residence is not only marked by historic architecture built in 1758, but it also offers 124 rooms that are bedecked with the timeless elegance and charm of Parisian life.
Bangkok’s Four Seasons Hotel is a riverside oasis that features Mediterranean-inspired gardens, an incredible wellness center, and a spa inspired by ancient Thai rituals. The hotel is nestled in the city’s up-and-coming creative district, which offers a buzz of life and activity.
This world-famous hotel has stood gloriously on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River for nearly 150 years. It features 393 rooms and suites over several wings, along with restaurants, bars, and a spa with a global reputation. The Mandarin Oriental has catered to many visiting authors (including W. Somerset Maugham and James Michener), and is drenched in a literary atmosphere.
Since it opened in 1856, Claridge’s has played host to many of Britain’s high society. It mixes English eccentricity with gleaming Art Deco to create a sense of calm and luxury. The hotel also features a Japanese-inspired 7,000 sq ft (650 sq meter) spa, as well as a gym and hair salon.
Atlantis The Royal is anything but understated. The hotel is home to 795 rooms and suites, as well as 17 restaurants, a 32,300 square foot (3,000 square meter) wellness space, and no fewer than 90 swimming pools. The spa itself is also hedonistic in its own way, with a salt cave, hydrotherapy pool, and charcoal sauna.
Soneva Fushi takes their “no shoes” policy quite literally. Once guests are ferried to the hotel in a seaboat, footwear is mandatorily removed and only reapplied upon departure from the island. Every aspect of Soneva Fushi caters to pure relaxation and detachment, and guests use bicycles as their single mode of transport among the foliage of the island.
Although Aman Tokyo sits in the sprawling megalopolis of Japan’s capital city, the hotel’s sleek and unwavering luxury offers an escape from the bustle of modern life. The hotel is a gem in the world of opulent accommodation, with its high ceilings and staggered layout, and every room features a window-side stone bathtub that overlooks the glorious cityscape.
The grand, white, neo-Renaissance building that is Raffles Singapore is but a glimpse into the luxury afforded on the sprawling property. Lush gardens occupy almost half of the entire estate, while a rooftop swimming pool offers an oasis for guests seeking relaxation.
The interior design of the Upper House in Hong Kong is a visual story of creativity and architectural glory. Artwork punctuates the space, with each piece chosen to bolster a sentiment of calm, and even the rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the city beyond.
Much like the other hotels on this list that can be found in Bangkok, the Capella is truly a masterclass in serenity and calm. The hotel boasts Japan-esque design, where space and light are integral features. The 101 rooms, suites, and villas each support a private garden and jacuzzi plunge pool.
Sources: (The World’s 50 Best)
See also: The hidden truths of hotels revealed
The 65-story tower that is Rosewood Hong Kong features 413 rooms that offer a restrained aesthetic that is designed to encourage a state of total zen. Eleven restaurants are housed within the hotel, all of which offer guests an international palate that extends from Italian cuisine to Indian charms.
The world of hospitality truly has a range of possibility. Some of the best hotels on the planet don’t just offer a place to stay—they craft an experience that leaves an imprint on the soul of every guest who walks through their doors. It isn’t just about lavish interiors or picturesque views; these accommodations try to elicit a sense of magic that cannot be found anywhere else. Whether it’s a jungle retreat or a grand urban palace, everything is designed with one word in mind: opulence.
Every year, the 50 Best brand releases a list of some of the world’s top restaurants, hotels, and bars—world-renowned places that everyone should try to visit. Click through this gallery to see some of the hotels that made it onto their list!
30 of the best hotels in the world
A separate realm where luxury and wealth collide
TRAVEL Accommodation
The world of hospitality truly has a range of possibility. Some of the best hotels on the planet don’t just offer a place to stay—they craft an experience that leaves an imprint on the soul of every guest who walks through their doors. It isn’t just about lavish interiors or picturesque views; these accommodations try to elicit a sense of magic that cannot be found anywhere else. Whether it’s a jungle retreat or a grand urban palace, everything is designed with one word in mind: opulence.
Every year, the 50 Best brand releases a list of some of the world’s top restaurants, hotels, and bars—world-renowned places that everyone should try to visit. Click through this gallery to see some of the hotels that made it onto their list!