17 of the Most Beautiful Luxury Hotels in the World

2022-06-25 07:23:31 By : Ms. Zola Liu

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You’re going to need a new suitcase.

There’s much to be said for not visiting the same spot twice. With so many unique cultures around the world, it’s easy to keep seeking out fresh places to explore in search of new experiences and broadened perspectives. Sometimes, planning a trip may start with choosing your dream hotel, then building out the rest of your itinerary around it. These gorgeous stays around the world are sure to spark major wanderlust, from jungle treehouses to opulent palaces, historic mansions and remote island paradises. Here, we've rounded up 17 of the most beautiful luxury hotels in the world. Read on for some serious trip-planning inspiration.

Only a dozen glass “hauses” tucked deep into the woods at The Green O, a new adults-only resort from the same family behind The Resort at Paws Up, create an ultra-exclusive feel. Each home’s design is unique and designed to help you feel one with nature, from the Round Haus, with curvilinear windows, to the Green Hauses, with expansive skylights above the plush king-size beds to admire the stars.

Much consideration for the history and natural beauty of this region went into the design of eco-conscious luxury retreat One&Only Mandarina. Mexican art, crafts, and design are woven throughout the treehouse and cliffside villa accommodations, public spaces, and restaurants. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular spot to enjoy natural wines and cocktails than The Treetop bar at sunset.

The ocean really is this blue at North West Point Marine National Park adjacent Amanyara, a magnificent coastal resort comprised of 36 timber-shingled pavilions, with private terraces and sundecks, and 20 villas, each on 1.5 acres and with their own private chefs and hosts. Find ultimate luxury floating in the private infinity pool at the four-bedroom Tranquility Villa.

An easy drive from Savannah or Charleston, Montage Palmetto Bluff is Low Country hospitality and scenery at its finest. The resort is part of the 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff community that includes private homes and an expansive nature preserve filled with live oaks and Spanish moss. A wide range of accommodations, from large homes to rooms in the main inn, are rooted in traditional Southern architecture, with large porches built for slow afternoons.

You’ll never want to leave your overwater villa—one of the largest of its kind in the South Pacific—at St. Regis Bora Bora, bedecked with an Italian marble bathroom, large open-air living space and glass-paneled floor revealing the aqua-colored lagoon below. Catch a sunset with the majesty of Mount Otemanu as the backdrop and marvel at design details like sculpted columns and Venetian stucco wall treatments throughout the resort.

Part of Bailie Lodges, the luxurious Silky Oaks Lodge offers an unparalleled experience for guests seeking seclusion, nestled between Australia’s Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll feel part of the jungle itself tucked away inside nature-inspired, contemporary treehouses beneath the rainforest canopy. Freestanding outdoor stone bathtubs are a standout in each of the treehouse suites.

The Maldives is a bucket-list destination for many, and Joali Being, a new immersive retreat focused on wellness and art, is the first and only one of its kind in the area. Architecture and interior design in the 73-villa property blend with the natural elements of the island, with a focus on layered textures and integrating indoor living space with the outdoors. The on-site Joali Art Studio & Gallery features works from artists around the world as well as local artisans.

The breathtaking Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur has views of City Palace, an iconic symbol of grandeur constructed in the 17th century. Its majestic qualities are carried through to the resort, conceived as a traditional Indian Palace. Fountains and reflecting pools throughout the grounds pay homage to its location on the banks of Lake Pichola, while richly appointed guestrooms with private terraces (and some with swimming pools) are a perfect jumping-off point for exploring the surroundings of the world’s oldest surviving dynasty.

Opened in 1992 in the heart of Cape Town, the celebrated Ellerman House underwent a major renovation five years ago and emerged more spectacular than ever. With only 13 bedrooms in the main house, plus two villas ideal for families, it’s wonderfully intimate. View its private collection of contemporary South African art and enjoy wine on the expansive deck overlooking Bantry Bay.

Started by fashion designer Anna Trezebinski and her husband, Tonio, the boutique hotel Eden gives travelers an intimate connection to the Kenyan capital. Each of the property’s eight double bedrooms are outfitted in traditional patterns from the Samburu and Maasai peoples, layered with natural materials and European elements. There’s also an extensive private art collection on property, along with Anna’s design studio.

Netflix brought La Mamounia to the masses through the docuseries “Inventing Anna,” yet the in-the-know crowd knew of this palace-like hotel dripping in luxury long before. The property, originally an orchard, dates back to the 19th century and officially opened as La Mamounia 100 years ago. Its 135 guest rooms and 71 suites marry Moroccan architecture with Art Deco style, attracting a high-class clientele over the years with guests such Winston Churchill.

Surrounded by terrain that will make you feel as though you’ve landed on another planet, Habitas Alula is an immersive resort that embraces its natural desert location in the Ashar Valley. The Habitas brand uses sustainable materials manufactured in Mexico and assembled on-site to minimize environmental impact for all of its 100 capsule-style bedrooms and public spaces throughout the resort. Don’t miss the desert trampolines, the most fun you’ve ever had on sand.

As the luxury brand’s first hotel in South America, Rosewood Sao Paulo drew major accolades when it opened last year across two buildings: a meticulously restored historic structure in the city called Matarazzo Maternity (a former hospital, more than 500,000 Brazilians were born there) and a modern new vertical garden tower with 10,000 trees. It’s a symbol of uniting the city’s storied past and cultural future, earning major street cred from lead architect Jean Nouvel and artistic director Philippe Starck.

Opened 124 years ago in The City of Light, Ritz Paris was among the first hotels in Europe to provide en suite bathrooms, electricity and a telephone in each room. It underwent a major enhancement in 2016 and remains the epitome of luxury in Paris. Every design detail is immaculately executed, from gold swan faucets and peach-hued towels in the marble bathrooms to opulent canopy beds and striking chandeliers throughout its rooms and halls. It’s no wonder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel once made the hotel her home.

Featuring its own private beach, jetty, oceanfront pool, beach club and three restaurants overseen by a Michelin-starred chef, Borgo Santandrea embodies classic Italian charm. The design blends mid-century elements with Mediterranean style, including white and blue hues, antique furniture and pieces handcrafted by Amalfitano artisans. More than 31 different types of geometric hand-painted tiles can be spotted around property, which has 29 guestrooms and 16 suites with uninterrupted views of the sea.

Romantic photos of Greece proliferating on Instagram come to life at Katikies Santorini, where it’s entirely possible to sip Champagne from your private pool 100 meters above the dizzyingly blue waters. Embodying the iconic Aegean Cycladic architecture style, every staircase, bridge, cubist cottage and infinity pool at the hotel are pure-white perfection, complemented by astounding views of the Caldera.

On more than 600 acres beneath the Slieve Bloom Mountains, 90 minutes from Dublin, Ballyfin is old-world luxury at its finest, admired as one of the most lavish Regency mansions in the country. Its 21 individually designed rooms dating back to the 1800s are steeped in history, adorned with Irish art and antiques. Public spaces are equally as admirable, with the Gold Drawing Room—featuring a beautiful ceiling of rich stucco work—the grandest of all.