travel and leisure 2022 best hotels

Travel + Leisure Announces Its 2022 World's Best Awards Revealing The Top Cities, Islands, Hotels, Cruise Lines, Airlines + More

Oaxaca, Mexico Named World's Best City and Ischia, Italy Wins for Best Island Overall

Charleston, South Carolina Tops Best U.S. Cities List, with New Orleans Taking the No. 2 Spot and Santa Fe Coming in at No. 3

Best Resort Hotel in the Continental U.S. Is Pickering House Inn in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

NEW YORK, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel + Leisure announces the top travel destinations and companies in the U.S. and around the globe, according to the  World's Best Awards 2022 readers' survey. From cities, islands, national parks, and hotels to cruise lines, airlines, airports and more, the complete results of this 27th annual survey are now featured on  TravelandLeisure.com/worlds-best and in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 22.

The World's Best Hotel is  Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Montalcino, Italy.  Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection , in Santorini, Greece, is ranked second best hotel in the world, and  Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi  is third best among hotels globally.

Pickering House Inn in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is the Top Resort Hotel in the Continental U.S., followed by  White Elephant Palm Beach in Florida and  Under Canvas Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota, ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.  The Lowell in New York City is the Top City Hotel in the Continental U.S.; the Top Island in the Continental U.S. is  Mackinac Island in Michigan; and the Top U.S. National Park is  Yellowstone .

"As travel continues to rebound and people look for new trip ideas and inspiration, I'm thrilled to share this incredible resource of our readers' favorite places and companies," said Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Jacqui Gifford. "You'll find destinations that are transporting and offer a distinct sense of place–whether your focus is on reconnecting with nature or immersing yourself in local cultures. Congratulations to this year's honorees for their excellence in hospitality and for creating standout experiences that appeal to all types of travelers."

TRAVEL + LEISURE TOP 10 WORLD'S BEST CITIES 2022

1.  Oaxaca , Mexico 2.  San Miguel de Allende , Mexico 3.  Ubud , Indonesia 4.  Florence , Italy 5.  Istanbul , Turkey 6.  Mexico City , Mexico 7.  Chiang Mai , Thailand 8.  Jaipur , India 9.  Osaka , Japan 10.  Udaipur , India

TRAVEL + LEISURE TOP 10 U.S. CITIES 2022

 1.  Charleston , South Carolina  2.  New Orleans , Louisiana  3.  Santa Fe , New Mexico  4.  Savannah , Georgia  5.  Honolulu , Hawaii  6.  New York , New York  7.  Chicago , Illinois  8.  Alexandria , Virginia  9.  San Antonio , Texas 10.  Boston , Massachusetts

The Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards is a leading barometer of the places and companies that appeal to some of the most passionate and discerning travelers out there. In the 27 years that the World's Best Awards readers' survey has been published,  Singapore Airlines is the only honoree to be named a No. 1 winner in its category – World's Best International Airline — every year. For the first time,  Hawaiian Airlines wins for Best Domestic Airline, with newcomer  Breeze Airways coming in at No. 2 and  JetBlue Airways ranking third.

The 2022 results — featuring more than 100 lists including the Top 100 Hotels, Best Domestic Airlines, Best Islands in the World, Best Resort Hotels in Hawaii, Top Caribbean Resort Hotels, Best Hotels in Paris, Best U.S. National Parks, Best Domestic Airports, Best Mega-Ship Cruise Lines, and Best Safari Outfitters, among many others — are now posted on  www.TravelandLeisure.com/worlds-best . There are also several new regional hotel lists this year, such as Top Hotels in cities including Boston, Austin, Copenhagen, and Madrid, among others, as well as Top Resort Hotels in Montana and more.

TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD'S BEST AWARDS 2022 WINNERS OVERALL

WORLD'S BEST CITY:  Oaxaca , Mexico WORLD'S BEST HOTEL:  Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco , Montalcino, Italy WORLD'S BEST HOTEL BRAND:  Oberoi Hotels & Resorts WORLD'S BEST ISLAND:  Ischia , Italy WORLD'S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE:  Celebrity Cruises WORLD'S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE:  Disney Cruise Line WORLD'S BEST MIDSIZE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE:  Viking Cruises WORLD'S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE:  Paul Gauguin Cruises WORLD'S BEST INTIMATE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE:  Quasar Expeditions WORLD'S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE:  Viking Cruises WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE:  Singapore Airlines WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE:  Hawaiian Airlines WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:  Singapore Changi Airport WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT:  Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport , Georgia WORLD'S BEST SAFARI OUTFITTER:  Travel Beyond WORLD'S BEST TOUR OPERATOR:  DuVine Cycling & Adventure Co. WORLD'S BEST CAR-RENTAL COMPANY:  National Car Rental WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION SPA:  Rancho La Puerta , Tecate, Mexico WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC DESTINATION SPA:  The Ranch Malibu , California WORLD'S BEST U.S. NATIONAL PARK:  Yellowstone

Jacqui Gifford will host Toast & Post, a virtual celebration that kicks off tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET on Instagram Live  @TravelandLeisure to honor the World's Best Awards 2022 winners. Raise a toast to this year's honorees and post a picture using the hashtags #TLWorldsBest and #TLToast, and tag  @TravelandLeisure tomorrow and in the weeks ahead.

For more content about the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2022, visit @TravelandLeisure on Instagram and @TravelandLeisureMag on TikTok. 

For the complete World's Best Awards 2022 survey methodology, visit  travelandleisure.com .

ABOUT TRAVEL + LEISURE   Travel + Leisure is the preeminent voice for the sophisticated traveler, serving up expert intelligence and the most immersive travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the joy of discovering the cultural pleasures the world has to offer—from art and design to shopping and style to food and drink—and provides compelling reasons to get up and go. Reaching an audience of more than 30 million, the Travel + Leisure media portfolio includes the U.S. flagship magazine,  travelandleisure.com , newsletters, the  Let's Go Together podcast, the  World's Best Awards franchise, an extensive social media presence, and international editions in China, India, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. Launched in 1971, Travel + Leisure is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family and is owned by Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:  TNL ).

SOURCE Dotdash Meredith

The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2022

By CNT Editors

There are three great lists annually in  Condé Nast Traveler,  all of which have changed due to the events of the last two years: the Readers’ Choice Awards , which you, our beloved audience, select; the Hot List , which compiles the new and notable of the previous year; and this one, which is ultimately about the places and experiences our editors carry in their hearts. This year, when we say  our editors,  we mean  CNT ’s entire global crew, working in locations from California to Beijing; we’ve also expanded the parameters of the list to include not just the hotels and cruises you’ve seen in years past, but also the destinations we treasure. The Gold List is made by humans for other humans—something we need more than ever in this day and age. Here, our favorite hotels and resorts in the world.

Read the complete set of Gold List winners   here .

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

La Mamounia — Marrakech, Morocco Arrow

There’s a very particular effect exerted by La Mamounia, which seems to take hold the moment you head up the green tiled steps to this most bohemian of grandes dames. Upon seeing La Mamounia’s faded pink walls, Churchill was wont to ditch the suit and pick up his watercolor brushes; Paul McCartney wrote “Mamunia” (meaning “safe haven” in Arabic) during a 1973 stay; and Hitchcock, who filmed The Man Who Knew Too Much here, got his inspiration for The Birds from some overzealous finches on a jardin -facing balcony. La Mamounia was always a curious mash-up of Art Deco, Berber, and opulent Moorish, and the old place has had numerous facelifts over almost 100 years—from Jacques Majorelle’s bright stylings in 1946 to a theatrical noughties revamp by Jacques Garcia (Hotel Costes) and most recently a series of sly additions by Parisian futurists Jouin Manku, including a new cinema and teahouse. There are all the columns, foliage-filled courtyards, and mosaics of the most photogenic medina riad—except that there’s also the smoky Churchill speakeasy, an Asian-focused Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant with its sultry blacks and reds, and that legendary, vast square pool, around which I find the people-watching irresistible (bring dark sunglasses). There’s a reason that the actors and rock stars have kept coming; the fashionistas with kaftans and cigarettes. For all that it is woven into Marrakech like the knots in a Berber rug, La Mamounia has never, ever been boring.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve — Gansbaai, South Africa Arrow

For a long time, lodges in South Africa tended to be geared toward the Big Five . Grootbos, on the fynbos slopes near Walker Bay, south of Cape Town , is different. This 6,177-acre private reserve is about treasuring the smaller, finer things. With 889 plant species, seven of which are newly discovered, it is first and foremost a rare botanical treasure trove, in which owner Michael Lutzeyer has employed some of the Cape’s leading botanists and entomologists. The lodges are glassy and contemporary, but there’s a constant call outdoors—from the outside showers to tracking elusive aardvark and Cape leopard, or having lantern-lit dinners in a 1,000-year-old milkwood forest, all fairy-tale tangles. You can ride horses across the sands, past ancient sea caves; go on flower safaris, tree-planting expeditions, and whale-watching flights to see the calving Southern right whales that migrate inshore between July and December. Most of the food on the carbon-negative reserve is grown on site, and nothing comes from more than 30 miles away, with many of the staff graduates of the in-house hospitality academy. But the main takeaway of Grootbos is that just stopping and looking—at the interconnectedness and mad beauty of life—is the most mesmerizing thing of all. 

Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara — Liwa Desert, United Arab Emirates Arrow

Deep within Abu Dhabi ’s remote Empty Quarter, Qasr Al Sarab materializes from the sands like a fever dream. The fortlike compound, with its crenellated walls, faux watchtowers, and horseshoe arches, emerges at the end of a slick ribbon of tarmac that snakes through dunes the color of Earl Grey tea. Date palms shade its formidable perimeter, while small canals modeled on ancient Arabian falaj irrigation systems carry cooling water between courtyards. Inside, the details give just enough of a sense of place—Moroccan-style lanterns and intricate mashrabiya screens, and even the odd Bedouin artifact, such as a dagger or a brass coffeepot—which feels purposeful rather than hokey. Sienna-walled guest rooms are kitted out with wooden chests and plush-patterned rugs that offer tactile warmth in a desolate place. But the most intriguing aspect is that activity and idleness are in equal supply here. You can just as easily spend a day hopping over the dunes on a fat bike or lingering on the premises, perhaps being immersed in a sound bath. Every trip ends with a climb along the dunes , where you might catch some of the most mesmerizing sunsets of your life—the ocean-like sands constantly shifting as the winds carve waves into their surface; impermanent but, just for a moment, perfectly wrought. 

Jessica Puckett

María Casbas

CNT Editors

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach Arrow

There aren’t too many places that can offer a true beach and city break—but this elegant compound on Jumeirah’s crisp white shores manages to feel like part of Dubai while also being gently removed from it. Mostly, the hotel sits on the serene side of Middle Eastern opulence, with marble, Murano chandeliers, and gold-leaf ceilings cut through with calming, earthy tones inspired by the desert and Arabian Gulf. Staff around the curving, shadow-draped lagoon pools seem ever-ready with citrus shooters and blueberry muffins, and there’s often a procession of couples heading toward the orblike sculpture by the beach, firelit as the sun goes down. The spa has treatments designed by Swiss anti-aging guru Pauline Burgener, and much of the food runs fresh—from detox salads at vegetarian Folia to yellowtail ceviche at Sea Fu. But this is still Dubai, so there’s also room for the flash of Nusr-Et, the steakhouse created by divisive Turkish showman Salt Bae. Jumeirah is the closest beach to Downtown, and the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa still loom large, best viewed from the rooftop Mercury Lounge, with its Arabian archways framing the twinkling city. There's no better way to see and do Dubai. 

Lewa Wilderness — Kenya Arrow

Within a few hours of beginning my first game drive at Lewa Wilderness, a safari lodge and conservancy near the foot of Mount Kenya, I had seen all the animals in the “Big Six,” as my preternaturally chill guide Johnson Gilisho called them—the usual Big Five of buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino, plus a cheetah sunning itself on a termite mound. I had also seen a large antelope called an eland, a waterbuck, and several endangered Grévy’s zebras, whose numbers here constitute about one-sixth of the species’ remaining global population. Founded 50 years ago as an adventure camp by former cattle ranchers, Lewa has become one of the most successful community conservancies in the world, a model emulated throughout Africa and by America’s National Park Service. It’s also an extraordinarily pleasant place to stay, from the rustic thatched cottages overlooking the Western Marania Valley to the communal alfresco meals prepared with ingredients from the conservancy’s small farm, plus a pool, a clay tennis court, and a comfortable sitting room to play games and tell stories by the fire at the end of the day. Lewa owner Will Craig will take guests up in his rebuilt canary-yellow 1932 biplane, which you can spot Anthony Bourdain riding in during one of the final episodes of Parts Unknown (“Better than sex,” he is reported to have said off-camera), and countless other activities—including horseback riding and birding—are available. But nothing beats the game drives, or the crisp taste of a G&T at a sundowner, looking out over some of the most beautiful landscapes and creatures on the planet. Doubles from $1,400. —Jesse Ashlock

Shinta Mani Wild — Cambodia Arrow

There aren’t many hotel designers whose creations have genuinely made my face hurt from smiling. I first came across the work of Bangkok-based American Bill Bensley when I stayed at the Capella Ubud in Bali , a joyous feat of maximalist storytelling in the jungle. Shinta Mani Wild is an even deeper immersion into nature—specifically, the lush wilderness of southwestern Cambodia. To me, the most thrilling thing about the place isn’t that you arrive by army four-wheel-drive and then zip-wire over the forest canopy, your grins met with a Khmer G&T beside the rushing river. No, it’s the fact that Bensley bought an 865-acre swath of magical, orchid-rich rain forest between three national parks to protect it from logging, mining, and poaching. This meant I could properly enjoy one of the decadent, whimsically themed tents along the river, and the house-made herbal tonics in the thatched spa, against the happy background hum of the Raging Sister waterfall. I could thrill to the snappily dressed staff ushering me to take a river safari or eat wonderful foraged food in the main tent. Among scores of river- and forest-based adventures, the most fulfilling was joining an anti-poaching patrol team, whose sheer love for the minutiae of the jungle belied the AK-47s slung across their shoulders. Shinta Mani Wild is no airy piece of greenwashing. For all its grin-inducing whimsy, this is the real thing. Doubles from $920 (all-inclusive, minimum three nights). —Juliet Kinsman

Songtsam Lhasa Linka — Tibet Arrow

If I’m being honest, the main reason I went to the Tibetan town of Lhasa was to stay at the spectacular Songtsam Lhasa Linka. This sprawling complex, which clings to the hillside in pockets of stone and lime slurry, feels particularly suited to its surroundings, no doubt thanks to the hotel group’s zealous site-selection process: The location of each property is carefully staked out before one is chosen. (The Songtsam Shangri-La Lvgu Lodge, almost 100 miles east, sits on the grounds where the house of Baima Duoji, Songtsam Group’s founder, once stood.) And even then, it took nearly two years to manifest this mountain compound. For its construction, the brand tapped the craftsmen who helped to restore the neighboring Potala Palace, a magnificent 17th-century fortress, using some of the same techniques and materials. Inside, wood—used for the floors, walls, and ceilings—suffuses the hotel with a warmth that tempers the dramatic landscape beyond; handcrafted copperware and impressive Thangka paintings and tapestries hang from the walls. Though you could spend a day or two admiring the hotel’s many vantage points—which I’ve certainly done—Songtsam Lhasa Linka is also an ideal launchpad from which to explore this region. And the affable staff, made up of locals, can help facilitate activities to do just that, like hiking around the nearby sacred mountains and setting up excursions to Basong Tso, a gloriously turquoise alpine lake in eastern Tibet—experiences that to me felt both foreign and deeply familiar. Doubles from $197. —Vincent Wang  

Bvlgari Hotel Beijing Arrow

There aren’t many cities as intense as Beijing , with its ring roads like clogged arteries. Even its imperial core—the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Drum and Bell Towers—hums with frantic life. I’ve always found it a city to attack and then retreat from, which is what makes the Bulgari Hotel such a joy. Hugging the Liangma River, gently removed from the embassies and expat buzz of Sanlitun, it spills onto a manicured garden by Swiss landscape designer Enzo Enea—a bit of soft green zen in a city of so many grays. Inside there are Asian nods but mostly a certain luxuriant sleekness: crisp blacks and golds, with archival photographs and folding copper screens. I usually ask for a south-facing room, as high up as possible, looking through floor-to-ceiling windows not just to the sun but to the wonky skyline across the river. Everything is smoothly tactile, from leather-paneled walls to sliding wooden screens, fringed Bulgari-branded bedspreads, and velveteen sofas. Award-winning chef Niko Romito’s regional Abruzzo dishes, such as Wagyu tagliata and oyster risotto, are served under great geometric Murano chandeliers. The spa, with its pool seemingly hewn from black marble, was partly inspired by Rome’s ancient Baths of Caracalla. Outside, Beijing may be rushing by, but inside, a very Italian coolness reigns. Doubles from $583. —Vincent Wang

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Arrow

When I was a child, my mother would take me for afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental as a treat. We would sit in the Clipper Lounge, on the mezzanine floor overlooking the lobby, smearing rose-petal jam on plump scones delivered by waiters in white tunics—all amid a caravanserai of taipans and politicians, celebrities and royals, tourists and cheongsam-clad ladies. Forty years later, I continue the ritual with my niece. The Mandarin (as it’s affectionately known to all who’ve stayed) is an institution. Not the stale and stuffy kind. No, this hotel has always been fun—a celebration of Hong Kong’s unique identity. A place that zips along with the same energy as the horses that gallop around the Happy Valley racecourse—and not even 20 months of border closures have slowed its pace. There’s a terrific new bar, The Aubrey, an izakaya that pokes gentle fun at the 19th-century European trend for Japonisme with its wonderfully opulent design: dark wood paneling, jewel-toned velvets, walls of gilt-framed paintings, and trailing ferns above a puzzle of snugs and banquettes. And while Cantonese restaurant Man Wah has occupied the same spot overlooking the dome of the former Supreme Court since 1968, it’s been theatrically updated with China-blue walls, brass birdcage lamps, and calligraphy artwork (the dim sum remains as divine as ever). For the first time in its history, the hotel now also has a club lounge with cocktail hours and afternoon tea. But it’s not the new attractions that really matter. What counts is that the Mandarin Oriental remains a much-loved symbol of the city’s cosmopolitan history. Doubles from $330. —Lee Cobaj

Soneva Fushi — Kunfunadhoo Island, Maldives Arrow

The things that bring you here are never the ones you remember most after you leave. So not the slide that whooshes from the top floor of your overwater villa straight into the Indian Ocean , or the ice-cream room or the floating breakfast in your private pool. Of course, they’re fantastic—but the elements that draw people back to Soneva year after year, despite the steady stream of Maldives openings, seem significantly less sexy on Instagram. First, there’s the foliage: There’s as much tropical greenery as there is unending expanse of blue sky and sea. Then there are the little discoveries you make as you cycle to breakfast, such as the rabbits who come out for scraps and sit in the sand at your feet. Even more unforgettable is Soneva’s commitment to sustainability, which started way before it became a buzzword. Today, 90 percent of the island’s waste is recycled or reused. For every celebrity you will spot here (and you will), there are artists, sculptors, chefs, and jewelers who are invited to transform discarded cans or kitchen scraps into works of wonder. You will dine at Soneva’s plant-based restaurant, rooted in its organic garden, and leave with a great understanding of what lies beneath the waves (through its marine-conservation program) and above (with an astronomy session). It feels like a place to see the bigger picture; the wind, waves, and clouds are a reminder of how we are all connected to the Earth. This is perhaps Soneva’s greatest message: that even in the most indulgent environment it’s possible—no, essential—for there to be a mission. Of all the places I am dreaming of returning to in 2022, this is top of the list. Villas from $2,000. —Divia Thani  

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur — India Arrow

Umaid Bhawan is part of one of the world’s largest private residences, and still the occasional home of Jodhpur’s former royal family, so few hotels are as vast and unashamedly regal. Finished in 1943, the palace is a glorious blend of aesthetics: Partly inspired by Angkor Wat , its Rajasthani style was injected with notes of Art Deco by Polish artist–turned–interior designer Stefan Norblin, a famed illustrator in his home country who painted the striking frescoes as interpretations of Hindu mythology. But for all that its huge, pillared central dome can seem intimidating, as can those portraits of former maharajas, you'll feel at home here. That’s largely down to the warm staff in bright turbans, who make you feel entirely deserving of the Champagne breakfasts, raw-milk baths, and folk performances in the marble-columned pavilion. It isn’t, in the end, a place in which to be overawed—but to be embraced, and very happily spoiled. 

Aman Tokyo Arrow

Japan’s capital  is many things—sprawling, neon-lit, nocturnal—but one word not often used to describe it is relaxing. I registered this dissonance approximately an hour after I last checked into Aman Tokyo. More precisely, while floating 34 floors above ground, inhaling and exhaling with a meditation teacher in a white space, distracted only by vivid sunset views. Aman has, of course, long been a byword for a certain kind of crisp zen wellness. Yet there’s something extra special about discovering it among the skyscrapers of a megalopolis, surrounded by the impeccable geometry of the late Australian architect Kerry Hill, who was long inspired by Japanese design and considered this one of his finest works. Aman destinations have tended to focus on nature and heritage, so transplanting the concept to the big city in 2014 was a bolder move than it seems now. The lobby still turns heads, with its towering ceiling, abstract blooms, and kimono-clad musician plucking the strings of a koto. The bedrooms are filled with always seem to me more akin to mindfulness spaces, with their aromatic hinoki-wood, sliding screens and staggered levels. The food and the service are impeccable—of course they are—but the spa is the real scene-stealer, a place of complete sensory purity that hovers unperturbed over the fizzing city. The latest treatments cover everything from Shinto purification rituals to iaido sword training. But really it’s a form of therapy just being here, as Tokyo glimmers and growls below.

Six Senses Yao Noi — Ko Yao, Thailand Arrow

It begins with a subtle shift from indigo to violet, starlight fading in the night sky. Silhouettes of dragons appear on the horizon: the jagged limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay. The Andaman Sea is seemingly lit from beneath in a preternatural shade of cerulean. In a flash of scarlet and flame orange, the day arrives, greeted by the unfurling of lotus flowers and the calls of hornbills, kingfishers, and coucals. I’m not an early riser, but I would change the habits of a lifetime if every morning looked like those at Six Senses Yao Noi. The sunrises are just one of the reasons I’m always angling to return to this tropical-island resort. Others include the breezy villas with their driftwood canopied beds, sunken sea-view bathtubs, and decks large enough to cartwheel across; the sunny staff who make guests feel only-child special; and the communal half-moon infinity pool set high in the hills forming a crescent above the bay. Then there’s the spa, cleaved into the hillside and offering lemongrass teas, hot herbal massages, and wellness rituals (my favorite is the Signature Yao Noi Journey, with its coconut scrub and Thai herbal steam) that last for hours and leave me glassy-eyed, in a good way. The food mostly comes from local fishermen or the hotel’s gardens, mushroom hut, and chicken coop—poached Phuket lobster in coconut broth, perhaps, or hot-and-sour grouper curry. To spend time here is a joy—a reminder of the beauty of nature and the possibilities that arrive with each new dawn.   Doubles from $590. — Lee Cobaj

The Leela Palace New Delhi — India Arrow

The gilded furniture, the twinkling chandeliers, the silver tchotchkes—they overwhelm the senses. But what is truly golden about this hotel is the thoughtful, old-school hospitality, like transfers straight from the baggage carousel (save your judgments until after you have battled crowds at Delhi’s airport); the fact that they will leave the rooftop pool open for you should you need to get in some laps after hours; and the easy vegetarian hits on Megu’s menu, like a delicate cured-tofu sashimi that’s to die for and a heavenly chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries. This winter a garden-side izakaya is set to open. Call it an attempt to attract a younger audience, but the Library Bar will curate a range of music—traditional Sufi to EDM—and turn itself into a gin-focused cocktail bar. Ten years on and under new management, The Leela’s glitter game is still strong. 

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers — Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand Arrow

A 40-minute drive along the North Island’s South Pacific coast from the Art Deco town of Napier, this place is a 6,000-acre working farm in a rolling coastal landscape, but also a golf course, a wildlife sanctuary, and one of the most invigorating stays in New Zealand . As you climb a forested hill toward the farm’s lofty timber-and-stone lodge, there’s a sense of being let in on a beautiful secret (one shared by Benedict Cumberbatch, who spent lockdown at a neighboring house). There are soaring ceilings and agricultural tools in the main building and smart black-and-white photographs of animals in the 22 cottages with fireplaces, but the overall impression is of a crisply modern take on farmhouse style. This is also a sanctuary for the kiwi and ancient tuatara and, as I discovered on an off-road jaunt to the estate’s sea cliffs, a breeding ground for seabirds and seals. There are miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails across the glacial landscapes, and you always have the option to take picnic hampers to the beach. The Farm is one of those places where you meet other ruddy-cheeked guests over abalone-like moon shell clams and local lamb after a day’s adventures. I sleep better at this hideaway, as the gulls cry and the clouds roll in, than almost anywhere else on the planet. From $1,600. —Kendall Hill

Park Hyatt Sydney Arrow

Sometimes the job of a hotel is not to overwhelm or overpower but to smoothly facilitate. This, to me, is what the Park Hyatt Sydney has always done. Tucked beneath the Harbour Bridge , its sandstone exterior is unassuming, almost austere. But inside, the whole thing makes sense: Everything is geared toward the Sydney Opera House, the glinting bay, and those green-and-mustard ferries lolling into Circular Quay. None of the rooms and suites is smaller than 430 square feet, and each feels like the smartest waterfront apartment, with mirrors and deftly angled walls emphasizing space and pure Australian sunshine. The mosaic rooftop pool—almost unnoticeable from ground level—is one of the city’s great spots, and I’ve spied Bruce Springsteen reclining in the jet pool. For food, I tend to go for the more casual dining option, The Living Room, with cinematic views beyond Kirribilli Point, where a plate of local rock oysters and a Hunter Valley Chardonnay is all that’s required. Service is wonderful, in that crisply unforced Australian way, but really the Park Hyatt is about what’s outside. It is an eminently happy bubble, where it almost feels like I am floating on that shimmering ocean. Doubles from $770. —Kendall Hill

Anassa — Polis, Cyprus Arrow

There is a reason that Anassa has so many “superloyals,” as they call them at the front desk—guests who return on the same week, year after year. Life feels supremely comfortable in this series of immaculate white buildings tumbling down the hillside to the coffee-colored beach below. Still owned by the Cypriot Michaelides family, the 23-year-old hillside estate has always been classic, even after a renovation in 2016, when Parisian interior designer Joelle Pleot stuck largely to elegant creams and Hamptons nautical stripes. The spa—including a midnight-blue, glass-roofed thalassotherapy pool that stopped me in my sliders—is sensational. But the reason I really understand all those repeat guests is the seemingly effortless multigenerational appeal . On a recent post-lockdown visit, we were given beach baskets brimming with toys, and left our son to pottery lessons and treasure hunts at the brilliant kids’ club as we sauntered off for local rosé at the cavernous, adults-only Basiliko restaurant, with its sunken terrace. Anassa also offers babysitting services and a family photographer, yet none of it feels twee or forced. Instead, this is a place to dangle one’s feet over the edge of a sun-warmed pool, or wander through fragrant gardens against a soundtrack of crickets, wood pigeons, and gently lapping sea. It is a place, in other words, to keep coming back to. Doubles from $540. —Becky Lucas

Le Bristol Paris Arrow

Yes, Le Bristol is grand—the polished marble, the Louis XVI armchairs, the boiserie -paneled walls—but it has never felt cold or stuffy. I tend to go for Paris Fashion Week, and any sense of froideur is eliminated with one stroke of Fa-raon, the fluffy white Burmese cat and unofficial hotel mascot (he’s since had a son and heir, called Socrate)—usually draped over the concierge’s desk. Le Bristol has had a stylish insouciance ever since it opened on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1925, and it held on to its gilded soul after a six-year facelift that was unveiled in 2018 by its owners, the Oetker Collection. Suites are about chandeliers, Pierre Frey fabrics, and a very pure devotion to comfort overlooking the wonderfully serene enclosed garden by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, with its geometric lawns, fountains, and osmanthus topiaries. Eric Fréchon’s macaroni with black truffle and duck foie gras at three-Michelin-starred Epicure is a thing of wonder, as is Café Antonia, where the fashion crowd all seem to order the green bean, artichoke, and hazelnut salad. The spa by La Prairie does possibly the best massage in Paris.

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc — Antibes, France Arrow

The wisteria at the Hotel du Cap was planted the year the hotel launched. That was 1870, before a generation of restless pleasure-seeking writers and artists, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Marc Chagall, turned the classic winter retreat into a summer playground, escaping Prohibition and societal strictures after the Great War.

A century later, the 1970s were another turning point for the Riviera landmark, when the Oetker family bought the villa after sailing past and catching a glimpse of the iconic property. Thus began a new, heady, unbuttoned denim-shirted era, when social boundaries were crossed around the legendary swimming pool, which had been blasted out of basalt and fetishized in society photographer Slim Aarons’ colored images. Royalty and rock stars mingled with writers, rogues, and reprobates. After the jazz and jet ages, came the dot-com bubble buzz, and the brief oligarchization of the pool. All these eras are now past.

These days, it is as it should be—that Matissean “ Luxe, Calme et Volupté ”—at the Riviera recreation ground and landmark hotel, where the outside world is kept very much at arm’s length. Hotel du Cap has closed only four times in its long 150-year history, most recently during the pandemic, but when I returned last year, the influencers were back in force, posing along the cushiony Grande Allée that rolls out towards the sea. It is pure Instagram gold, of course: a ceremonial catwalk 650 feet long, trumpeted on both sides with pines, that leads from the 19th-century Napoleon III classic mansion, past the flirty palms, to the party terrace of Eden Roc jutting over the water like the prow of a ship. It’s a place to see and be seen—and yet nothing feels more private, peaceful and like a hideaway than a day spent sequestered in one of the 31 cabanas with a bottle of Whispering Angel rosé. These simple, rustic shacks are the heart and soul of the estate, positioned on the rocky outcrops of the seaboard beneath the whispering Aleppo pines.

Other ways to spend the day include wallowing in the Dior Spa, honing that serve on one of five clay tennis courts (which are assiduously hosed down before breakfast), or visiting the beehives and birdhouses. In a corner of the 22 acres of mimosa- and wisteria-scented parkland, there’s even a pet cemetery where regular guests have buried departed companions.

Although the Hotel du Cap moves with the times , it never gives in to the vagaries of fashion, and remains a classic. Anatole France’s plaque at the entrance of the path to the cabanas sums up, “What will be is what was.” The hotel still subscribes to the cherished adage that, in tumultuous times, living well is the best revenge. From $971. —Catherine Fairweather

The Vasilicos — Santorini, Greece Arrow

Almost every building overlooking Santorini’s sunken caldera has been converted into a luxury hotel. I’ve stayed at dozens of them, but surprisingly few live up to those famous views. The Vasilicos is a cut above the crowded competition for several reasons. All seven suites are spacious and secluded, their terraces cascading down the hillside with wide-open views of the infinite blue. Even when the island seems to be sinking under the weight of its popularity, serenity reigns at this former summerhouse. Designed for sun-drenched gatherings with family and friends, it was built in the 1980s by Vassilis Valambous, a Greek art collector and bon viveur, from a cluster of collapsed yposkafa —the island’s unique cave houses. The atmosphere still has the warmth, intimacy, and personality of a home. From the capsule library (curated by legendary local shop Atlantis Books) to the custom-made beach towels, every thoughtful detail bears the personal touch of the elegantly understated owner, Daphne Valambous. Her brother Yannis has transformed the vineyards he inherited from their father into Vassaltis, one of the most exciting wineries on Santorini. If I’m traveling solo, I like to pop a bottle of its sparkling pet nat to toast the sunset, an almost otherworldly experience that is never the same twice (the wines can also be paired with a personalized tasting menu at the sublime two-table restaurant). Open since 2015, The Vasilicos is already a timeless classic. Like most loyal guests, I’d almost prefer to keep this very private hideaway hush-hush. Doubles from $420. —Rachel Howard

Relais Borgo Santo Pietro — Siena, Italy Arrow

Last autumn—desperate for a sanctuary from living in locked-down Brooklyn with a newborn—I found an Edenic combination of escapism and reconnection here. Unlike at some resorts, visitors here don’t block out the destination once they check in. The 300-acre estate is in Chiusdino, on the more rugged side of Tuscany , and feels like a microcosm of the region itself. The ricotta at dinner comes from the sheep you’ve spied on long walks through farms and forests; the fields of lavender and marigold provide ingredients for the face oils at the spa. None of this is to say that Borgo Santo Pietro isn’t sharp. Everything is done with a very Italian elegance: the manicured gardens and landscaped pool; the staff who appear with a Spritz and silver tray of truffled chips simply because they thought you needed it (and I did); the Trattoria sull’Albero, with its thick oak tree rising in the middle. During the harvest season, guests can pluck and stomp grapes at Borgo’s tumble of vineyards. There’s a six-foot-deep swimming hole in the middle of a rushing stream. It’s on the property but open to use by the 30 or so locals from a nearby village. Closer to the guest villas is a tall canopied wall beside the vegetable gardens, along which pilgrims in the Middle Ages trekked to the nearby Abbey of San Galgano. My stay was an opportunity to explore a pocket of wild southern Tuscany, thrillingly alone and free, without ever needing to backtrack through the great wide entrance gates. Doubles from $760. —Erin Florio

The St. Regis Florence Arrow

There’s no shortage of elegant hotels in Florence , but something about The St. Regis keeps it a perennial favorite. It might be that, for a palazzo of 15th-century frescoes and crystal chandeliers, it is just so cozy, full of stained-glass-lit nooks in which to disappear for hours with a copy of La Repubblica . Of course, the Renaissance never feels far away. Filippo Brunelleschi, the brains behind the Duomo , designed the original palazzo in the early 1400s, and it became a hotel in 1866. If the exquisitely detailed cherubs on the ceiling of the Salone delle Feste ballroom could talk, they might tell tales that the wonderful staff here are mostly too tactful to divulge: of Botticelli and Amerigo Vespucci (the explorer who gave America its name), but also of Madonna and Keith Richards. Still, it’s not just the great and the good who are treated exquisitely: Clothes are magically unpacked and ironed, tickets awarded to skip the queues for the Diocesan Museum or Santa Maria del Fiore’s dome. Rooms, all brocades and canopied beds, mostly have views of the River Arno, while the Winter Garden restaurant is at the reverential end of Italian cooking, with dishes served under a great glass ceiling. Still, this is also a hotel that can let its hair down. Last Christmas, during the nightly Champagne ritual that kicks off with a waiter popping a bottle with a saber, a giant teddy bear was given pride of place by the fire. This is a hotel where the royal treatment is for everyone. —Sara Magro

Belmond Hotel Splendido & Belmond Splendido Mare — Portofino, Italy Arrow

The Splendido Mare, once a fishermen’s guesthouse, is the 14-room harborside sister of Belmond’s Splendido, a hillside hideout that started life as a Benedictine monastery before becoming a hotel in 1901, then a magnet for movie stars (Elizabeth Taylor had four honeymoons there). Its makeover, by in-demand Parisians Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay, is exquisite—local terra-cotta tiles and nautical nods, such as the knots woven into headboards in quietly lavish rooms, with Gio Ponti armchairs and rich Loro Piana fabrics. Everything is done subtly, almost unnoticeably, and there’s a deceptive simplicity to the cooking of brothers Enrico and Roberto Cerea. Their restaurant in Bergamo has three Michelin stars, but here they stick mostly to seafood and Ligurian classics, including a sublime pesto trofie . This is Portofino , after all, which is above all discreet—a place where the actors and the aperitivo-sipping locals don’t much bother one another. 

The Connaught — London Arrow

Some places just have magic in their bones: the whiff of a vast Cire Trudon candle in the lobby; the gleam of 200-year-old oak banisters; or the hum from a perfectly low-lit bar, where a martini trolley is being wheeled from table to table. The Connaught is a place where the original lifts still creak elegantly, rain patters on the roof, and solid walls make it feel like, whatever troubles befall the world, all will be well within. The setting is just right, too: spotless Mount Street, with its mustard-bright awnings, high heels click-clacking on the pavement, and line of shiny black taxis with yellow lights winking. Removed from the traffic but pin-sharp in the heart of Mayfair’s thrills, it is first and foremost a cocooning retreat, enveloping and deeply comfortable. But there’s also a buzz in spaces such as the new Red Room, a sly speakeasy hidden beyond a velvet-curtained doorway, and a sense that things are happening in some nook somewhere. For all that it does elevated Michelin dining, there’s also a corner to dive into for a late-night hamburger and frites . Bathrooms are wall-to-wall marble; some beds, such as the carved four-poster in the Prince’s Lodge, are so high off the ground they need steps to climb into. Everything is immaculate, spoiling, and just so damn smart. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama — Tenerife, Spain Arrow

Some large hotels can seem impersonal and lacking in character. Instead, The Ritz-Carlton, Abama—a monumental vision of faintly surreal, multilayered Moorish pink—feels more like a curious labyrinthine village; a place to get happily lost in, among all those palm trees, curving walkways, and aquamarine pools with sharp, dissonant angles. The sense of a total escape is helped by the fact that the hotel is a world unto itself: With views beyond the white-sand beach to the neighboring island of La Gomera , it is mostly surrounded by a golf course (owned separately), beyond which the volcanic Mount Teide looms ominously large. Flying and flopping may be unfashionable, but I can’t think of a better place to do just that of a European winter (Tenerife is T-shirt-warm all-year-round). There are more than eight restaurants and bars, including Michelin-starred Basque and Japanese fusion; the kids’ club, with art walls, is one of the biggest in Europe; and the spa takes opulent inspiration from Roman baths. But the joy here is just being: hiking along the rugged coast or floating from pool to pool, as the sun casts lines of shadows over pink stucco walls and eventually settles over the peaks of La Gomera. Doubles from $500. —David Moralejo

Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection — Barcelona Arrow

Smart hotels in this city often hew to a certain mod-minimal, design-agency template. The Cotton House in Eixample, though, is very different—a riot of neoclassical joy in a 19th-century cotton guild, which makes me smile every time. Interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán is well known for his designs across Barcelona , including the Edition —but it’s hard to think he’s ever had more fun than with the Belle Epoque features here, from its old parquet floors to the wood-paneled ceilings and grand spiraling staircases. The cotton theme runs through the orb-shaped chandeliers, like cotton flowers; the 300-thread Egyptian-cotton sheets in the more minimal rooms; and the fact that guests can order candy-colored, hand-stitched shirts from the very sharp concierge desk, which is known as the Gossypium (the Latin name for the genus of plants that produce cotton). The style is grown-up, but a chintzy wink is never far away. In the bar, which spills out onto a lushly foliaged terrace, the house Gossypium cocktail with Pisco and blue Curaçao gleefully throws out the prevailing vogue for Savoy classics. It is a reminder that hotels can grandly mine the past—but do it without taking themselves too seriously.

Finca Cortesin — Málaga, Spain Arrow

The international luxury names may be piling into Spain at breakneck speed, but none has yet achieved the status of the great Finca Cortesin. With 67 suites, Bali-esque pools, a Mediterranean-facing beach club, a vast spa, and a top-brass golf course, it’s a paradigm of perfection on the cusp of Casares, a typical whitewashed town near Marbella . Finca Cortesin is more than the sum of its parts, but each part has been created by someone of significant talent. Javier López Granados is the big-vision CEO-owner who pulls it all together; Rene Zimmer the consummate managing director, who also helms new sister property Grand Hotel Son Net in Mallorca. Architects Roger Torras and Ignacio Sierra conceived this take on a classic Andalusian finca, which gleams sparkling white against the deep-blue Med and vivid flashes of potted geraniums. The sleek public spaces, filled to the rafters with antiques, were originally curated by the late, distinguished Portuguese decorator Duarte Pinto Coelho (after his death, the baton passed to exuberant Madrid-based antiquarian Lorenzo Castillo). Landscaper Gerald Huggan planted the perfumed and palm-studded gardens, replete with jasmine and wisteria. The inviting suites are the work of interior designer sisters Ana and Cristina Calderón, who dressed high-ceilinged rooms with bright pieces, color feature walls, vibrant bouquets, and paintings. To dine with Lutz Bösing, chef at El Jardín de Lutz, is to take a masterclass in classic Spanish cuisine, especially seafood such as a rich mantis shrimp cream soup with lobster and basil. From $700. —David Moralejo

Heckfield Place — England Arrow

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Heckfield Place is your typically grand country-house hotel. There’s certainly enough of the usual elements to throw you off the scent: the sprawling grounds and manicured gardens, the impressive stately exterior, the sweeping staircase, and walls adorned with oil paintings. But all is not what it seems. For starters, there isn’t a hint of stuffiness or pomp. The team greet guests with a calmness that’s contagious, guiding you about the place with the kind of ease that never feels imposing. Even the uniforms, designed by cult clothing company Egg—all corduroy, linens, and flouncy blouses—are refreshingly unexpected. Bedrooms are stripped back and country comfy without leaning too heavily into the more ubiquitous country-pile aesthetic—creamy oatmeals, subdued greens and pinks and yellows, not a sniff of chintz. And then there’s the food. Both Marle and Hearth, the two restaurants, are overseen by starry chef Skye Gyngell. There’s a farm-to-fork ethos, drawing heavily on the estate farm and kitchen garden for the menus. The latest addition is The Bothy by Wildsmith, a serene, two-floor oasis enveloped in the hotel’s gardens. Years in the making, it’s a deeply soothing space with a gorgeous pool and treatment rooms for hours-long sessions that might include diagnostic kinesiology or abdomen massages. The hot tubs on the deck overlook the grounds, where, in the summer months, you can take a walk around the estate with a picnic or enjoy a dip in the misty lake. In the winter, follow up a session in the waters with a cosy afternoon curled up by the fire in the living room—aim for 4:00 p.m. and wait for a homemade cake to magically appear on a platter before staff dutifully place fat slices on plates to enjoy as a piano tinkles in the corner. From $695. — Sarah Allard

One&Only Palmilla — Baja California Sur, Mexico Arrow

Arriving at this spot on the very tip of the Baja Peninsula feels like coming home. Many of the staff are third-generation employees who remember not only your name but whether you prefer your margarita made with tequila or mezcal (and which brand), and where you like your yoga mat to be set up in your room. And those rooms. Whitewashed hacienda-style architecture brightened with hand-embroidered textiles, plus perks such as private butlers and, in the case of Villa Cortez, an exclusive fitness suite, spa room, and beach cabana reflect Cabo’s emergence as Latin America’s latest luxury hotspot. There is no shortage of glitzy new five-stars, but as the area’s first proper hotel, Palmilla has a serious advantage: real estate. Its secluded location on one of Cabo’s only swimmable beaches is unbeatable. In the ’50s, Hollywood’s elite flocked here, and today a fresh generation of A-listers does the same. A commitment to discretion and timeless glamour in an age of social-media noise, as well as constant reinvention (new wellness offerings from spiritual healer Alicia Kanxoc), have allowed Baja’s big hitter to continue holding court. 

Explora Valle Sagrado — Peru Arrow

There are many ways to experience this minimalist adventure-focused lodge on a former corn plantation in the mountain stronghold of the Incas. I was lucky enough to sample two of them on a recent visit: first as a solo traveler and then with a group of my oldest friends, who joined me after completing the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Alone, I hiked with a chatty local guide: past old Inca retaining walls and agricultural terraces on a pleasant trail near the town of Ollantaytambo, and then on the more arduous Cinco Lagunas trek, up into the mist at 15,000 feet with no one around but a few distant Quechua shepherds and their sheep. When my friends arrived, we went single-track mountain biking from Moray, one of the Sacred Valley’s signature Inca sites, to Salar de Uyuni , the world’s largest salt flat, where it feels like walking on clouds. The hotel gave me everything I needed and nothing I didn’t: My room had no Wi-Fi, minibar, or screens of any kind, but did have a magnificent bed, a lovely hot tub, and hot water left for muña tea—made from a mintlike Andean herb, which is helpful for combating altitude sickness and imparts a wonderfully tranquil feeling at bedtime. The menu, by acclaimed Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez, is exceptional, as are the addictive Urubamba corn-kernel snacks from the nearby fields, which I consumed by the fistful while drinking Pisco Sours. The building—low, simple, and unobtrusively modern—was designed by José Cruz Ovalle to exist in conversation with nature. At every turn, there is another view you could gaze at for days. But Explora ultimately isn’t about gazing: It’s about getting out there, into a land that’s still as pure and elemental as in the time of the Incas. Doubles from $750. —Jesse Ashlock

Nayara Springs — Arenal, Costa Rica Arrow

Rising with the sun is something I only do on holiday. At Nayara Tented Camp, I woke each day as the golden light stirred a colorful swath of jungle, with the smoking top of the mighty Arenal Volcano as the backdrop. The private plunge pool and the mug of steaming Costa Rican coffee help, but that view is enough to induce the earliest wake-ups. This is the third and most luxurious of Nayara’s trifecta of eco-retreats in central Costa Rica . Its hot-spring pools are carved non-invasively into the wild landscapes, and not a single tree was felled to make space for its 29 tented rooms, which take design cues from safari outfitters in Botswana. Reforestation is a cornerstone at Nayara, with an ongoing mission to plant fresh habitats for Costa Rica’s three-toed sloths. It means that you will spy these sluggish little guys all over the place, including Tony, the camp’s unofficial greeter, whose favorite spot during my stay was on the telephone pole by the entrance. The hotel grounds are also a sanctuary for jungle toads and morpho butterflies, which you’ll see on guided night walks. By day, Nayara is all about volcano-hiking, bird-watching in the thick rain forest, and getting up close with the grin-inducing creatures at the sloth sanctuary. The steak and Malbec at the wine bar tasted even better than they should—but the ultimate spot for a nightcap was back on my terrace, where the croaks of the tree frogs lulled me into a deep sleep, like nature’s own white noise. Doubles from $1,175. —Erin Florio

Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection — Los Angeles Arrow

Some hotels are scenes, while others are escapes. When you walk across the long footbridge that spans the Bel-Air’s Swan Lake (yes, there are actual swans gliding around) as the larks chirp among the palms and bougainvillea, there’s a sense of the whole sprawling megalopolis melting into the Santa Monica foothills. The Bel-Air has long been a sanctuary, a pastel-hued, Mediterranean-influenced refuge for the likes of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Old Hollywood credentials and tinkling fountains aside, the Bel-Air is no fusty heirloom. A 2012 revamp by New York–based designer Alexandra Champalimaud gave the place a very intentional but somehow apt mid-century brightness. Rooms—all creams, peaches, and ochres in the hotel’s Spanish Colonial style—now come with heated bathroom floors and private terraces with hot tubs and fire pits. Wolfgang Puck, who has been associated with the hotel for more than 30 years, continues to evolve the menu. An alcove overlooking the lake is the perfect setting for a 34-ounce prime porterhouse and a glass of bone-dry Champagne Henriot.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel — New York City Arrow

There are few acts that so capture a certain sepia-tinted version of New York City as sitting in the dimly lit Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, sipping a martini with a twist while listening to Earl Rose bring home “Begin the Beguine” on the piano. This hotel has always been different since it opened in 1930, starting with its location on the quiet corner of 76th and Madison, just off Central Park and a short walk from the Met. But while it has always been a class act, The Carlyle has never felt uptight. Take Ludwig Bemelmans’s whimsical murals on the walls of his namesake bar, which depict Madeline, a character from his beloved children’s books—or the ebullient Alan Cumming performances and intimate Debbie Harry gigs it's hosted over the years. The hotel also recently debuted a new restaurant, Dowling’s, that throws back to the 1940s with dishes like steak Diane, carving carts, and table side flambé, as well as a new spa by luxe Swiss brand Valmont. The great legends don’t fade away—they evolve. 

Eden Rock - St Barths Arrow

You can become a little numb to beauty in St. Barts , but even after having been on island for days, I think I squealed when I pulled into Eden Rock. It’s just so perfect—so chic, so glamorous, but in this easy, island-appropriate way. It’s the type of place that just being there makes you feel like the most glam, sun-kissed version of yourself. The hotel is almost entirely surrounded by calm, gin-bottle blue water that’s heavenly for a swim. There’s a diving platform a little ways out, and you can take out rafts and paddle around the point, and there’s a reef if you want to snorkel. The rooms are lovely and elegant, with a subtle Carib-meets-nautical vibe, at once bright and airy. When it comes to the food, rockstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is in charge of the menu at the main restaurant, and the resort’s breakfast spread is insane in scope and quality; don’t miss it. Sure, you could have a delightful breakfast by your private pool, but the people-watching here is too good—you’d be missing an opportunity if you stayed in. It’s a pretty diverse crowd in some ways, but the common denominator, to tell it straight, is money. This place is not cheap, but it’s one of the rare hotels that is absolutely worth it. The setting is unparalleled and the food, service, and design are top of the top. There is no way you’ll go and not dream (maybe nightly) about going back—it’s that special. From $1,554. —Rebecca Misner

The Peninsula Chicago Arrow

This high-rise hotel might be home to the city’s best-kept secret: a sprawling, 80-foot pool some 19 floors up, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view you can’t peel your eyes from. You could easily spend all day there in unperturbed bliss—block off a whole day to alternate between spa treatments and dips in the pool. Fortunately, there’s plenty of relaxing to be done in the guest rooms, many of which are more spacious than a Chicago apartment. You know a hotel is at the top of its game when the towels are so plush they feel as though they were woven on-site and there are neatly labeled amenity drawers so you don’t have to pry each one open to find what you’re looking for. Peninsula hotels are known for their intuitive technology (in-room tablets let you control the lights, request housekeeping, and check your flight status). If you’re in need of a good night’s sleep, spend a night at a Peninsula hotel.

Bellagio — Las Vegas Arrow

When this  Lake Como –inspired wonderland opened in 1998, it instantly become the model for the over-the-top Vegas extravaganza resorts that would follow; its fountains remain the biggest free show in town. The Strip icon could have rested on its reputation, but the Bellagio has taken the last couple of years to reinvest in the experience for its guests—not just those who walk in for the spectacle. The  Chicago  firm The Gettys Group Companies, in partnership with MGM Resorts International Design Group, oversaw a full renovation of all 2,568 guest rooms in the main tower, taking design cues from the fountains with natural stone and pops of aqua; in some rooms, vast showers replaced the old tubs. But even as it modernizes, the resort has smartly realized it can’t get rid of its icons. The hotel is currently renovating its Spa Tower to the tune of $110 million, in jewel tones Champalimaud Design is borrowing from Lake Como and the Alps; this is where to check in for a more residential feel.

Post Ranch Inn — Big Sur, California Arrow

Early Spanish settlers gave a name to the area where Post Ranch Inn now sits: ventana, or window. Not just a natural vantage point with jaw-dropping views (though that is true as well), but also an aperture into another world. A place so powerful you could almost touch the great beyond from it. Today, that sense of magic still floats and crackles about one of the most romantic hotels in the U.S. Perched 1,200 feet above the crashing waves of Big Sur, and sheltered from the outside world (namely Route 1) by rolling hillside and towering Californian redwoods, this is a place where relaxation and inspiration come hand in sumptuous hand. The 40 rooms are all either standalone cottages or tree houses balanced on stilts above the forest floor, with many having been completely renovated over the last 18 months. (The private outdoor hot tubs with oceanfront views are a particular treat.) The restaurant, Sierra Mar—a dramatic glass box on the headland with 180-degree views—is a destination in its own right, with fine Californian dining artfully prepared by Michelin-starred chef Reylon Agustin. But arguably the star of the show is the Post Ranch Spa, with its avant-garde menu ranging from all the usual pampering treatments to Shaman sessions, herbal spirit journeys, and a bespoke Post Ranch Sleep Program, which vows to take even the most frazzled insomniacs and turn them into world class sleepers. I can personally vouch for this point, because I was a fully paid-up member of the former group before I checked into Post Ranch Inn, and now I’m permanently one of the latter. The Spanish settlers had the truth of it: There’s a special energy in this ventana, and Post Ranch Inn has found a perfectly luxurious way to channel it. Doubles from $1,425. —Jonathan Thompson

Chatham Bars Inn — Cape Cod, Massachusetts Arrow

Eevery inch of the property’s 25 acres (CBI has quietly picked up more throughout the years) is intoxicating. There’s the cool Atlantic breeze hitting the bluff, a sand-swept wedding in the distance ( remember when? ), a private beach launch to a secluded sandy spot. Scattered atop a seaside bluff, the "charming New England–style cottages" have bay windows, fireplaces, and private decks or patios with views of the ocean, grounds, or golf course. There’s an oceanfront pool, downtown Chatham steps away, a lobby fireplace roaring upon your return. It oozes nostalgia, and that’s why guests return—kids a little older, parents a little wiser, grandparents in pearls taking in the view a little bit longer—to summer on the Cape. CBI has perfected the good stuff: views ( see the fishing boats at the pier, fog sitting on the water? ), a seaside spot to rest your head (nothing beats the ocean view cottages), and family fun. And that’s what the Cape is all about.

EAST Miami Arrow

A sleek, Blade Runner –esque tower with a lushly landscaped 40th-floor rooftop bar stands out in a city known for beachfront resorts. This 352-room luxury hotel nestled in the heart of the $1 billion Brickell City Centre designed by Miami’s Arquitectonica is in the middle of downtown. The elevator alone, with its infinity mirror, sets the posh, playful tone. The hotel, opened by Hong Kong’s high-end Swire Hotels, has touches like a soaring lobby outfitted in dark woods and a metallic palette of gold, bronze, and silver. Highlights include floor-to-ceiling windows in every guest room and the cloud-skimming rooftop oasis Sugar, with its Asian-inspired bar surrounded by hand-carved teak stools. Rooms are comfortable, but it’s the public spaces that feel most welcoming—the fifth-floor pool deck that seems carved from the concrete pillars of the building with rattan ottomans and the wood-fired Quinto La Huella, an outpost of Uruguayan Parador La Huella. It’s a reminder that Miami is vibrant, multicultural, and metropolitan, far from the beach. From $359.

Montage Kapalua Bay — Maui, Hawaii Arrow

Even when you live on Maui , traveling to the resort community of Kapalua on the far northern tip of the island’s west shore feels like a true escape. You know you’ve arrived when the hotel-packed shoreline gives way to immaculately landscaped wide-open spaces and roads lined with towering Cook pines from the resort’s plantation days when it grew coffee and pineapples. This exclusive 22,000-acre enclave fronts two marine reserves and is home to only two hotels. The 466-room Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is fantastic, but the Montage is in a league of its own. The smallest of its 50 residential-style accommodations clocks in at a palatial 1,250 square feet. And, should you understandably decide to stay put, you don’t have to miss out on any of the hotel’s perks. Dishes, like kanpachi and shrimp curry, from signature restaurant Cane & Canoe are available for room service, and the resort can arrange a full chef’s table experience with wine pairings and live music en suite. But it is worth throwing on a cover-up or a T-shirt over your swimsuit for a visit to the spa. With eight hales —freestanding outdoor treatment rooms surrounded by bamboo gardens—and an infinity pool with island views, it’s a destination in itself. Doubles from $1,250. —Jen Murphy

Four Seasons Resort Lanai — Hawaii Arrow

The lush tropical paradise is akin to a real-life version of Fantasy Island. With everything you could possibly want in one oceanfront destination, it's a place you'll never have to leave, unless of course, you want to. Apart from the on-site fitness center with ocean views, a private beach, and an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, there's no shortage of activities with up to 22 daily offerings. Complimentary classes include lei-making, a rancher's experience, and a resort cultural tour. There are 26 room types, including garden view rooms with modern-meets-island-style decor and private terraces, and Ohana suites that are best suited for families. The grande dame here is the two-bedroom Alii Royal suite with an open living and dining space, a formal seating area, a library, and three private balconies.

Rosewood Hotel Georgia — Vancouver, Canada Arrow

I am almost positive that during a recent stay, I stepped outside of the hotel to walk my dog, turned the corner, and practically ran into Jennifer Lopez. She was in town, after all, to film The Mother, and this is the spot someone like her would be—and not just for the oversized spa-style bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling views of the gorgeous Vancouver Art Gallery . The venerated establishment has been housing celebrities since its opening in 1927, when it quickly set the standard for opulence in the young city. It remains the beating heart of the downtown, in a metropolis now known as Hollywood North for the number of films shot here. (Eighty-five were in progress during my visit.) On any given night, smartly dressed Vancouverites fill the award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries beneath an enormous ceiling-length chandelier. Even the most well-heeled travelers pause in the grand lobby to take in the three-dimensional paintings by British artist Patrick Hughes, a delightful contrast with the Rosewood Hotel Georgia’s perfectly preserved historic architecture and original marble floors. In the 1927 Lobby Lounge, framed photos covering the dark wood walls remind you of who, exactly, has been here before—Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley. And yet, dimly lit and comfy and with perfectly executed cocktails, it all feels relaxed and welcoming without the slightest hint of pretension. Doubles from $335. — Jayme Moye

Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Arrow

With its sunlit atriums, indoor koi pond, and fountains and waterfalls in multiple locations throughout the resort, you’ll recognize immediately why this resort is the largest five-star resort in the world. When you walk into Wynn, it’s an otherworldly fantasy where retail boutiques have their own backyards and an entire, lush par-70 championship length golf course hides behind the resort—the only golf course on the Strip. Behind the marquetry doors of Delilah supper club, names you would know mingle under the soaring cast-brass palms that evoke icons like  L.A.’s  Cocoanut Grove and the Tropicana Club in Havana, while Casa Playa serves dishes from Mexico’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts to a packed house of beautiful people. The Overlook Lounge, meanwhile, is a sumptuous redo of the central lounge, and offers a menu of cocktails infused with edible perfumes. In the last several years, Wynn has been on a spree, opening a Gucci with the only Gucci Garden in the US, a jaw-dropping Louis Vuitton with exclusive objets, and even a supercar store by McClaren, and renovating rooms to the tune of $200 million. There’s a reason Wynn has remained the city’s resort gold standard since it opened some 17 years ago—and it continues to gild the lily.

The Dewberry Charleston — South Carolina Arrow

Since The Dewberry opened its doors in the fall of 2016, the fig ivy at its base has diligently advanced upward, clinging tightly to the ground-floor columns. Now the hotel appears to float on a garden. Which is just as founders John and Jaimie Brown Dewberry intended, bringing an unexpected lightness to the limewashed eight-story midcentury monolith. You'll love its JFK–era cool factor: Across the giant slabs of buffed marble, past the warm cherrywood paneling with unlacquered brass inlay, waits the popular Living Room, where guests can sink into a cozy leather high-back. Locals duck into the hushed spa for Natura Bissé facials and fill the outdoor patio for weekend brunch . But the largest draw will always be the rooftop for sunset cocktails, nibbles, and maritime breezes among the citrus and olive trees, with views of Charleston ’s harbor. The vibe is elevated and elegant but also fun and not too fussy. In one of America’s most historic cities, The Dewberry manages to pay homage to the past while feeling refreshingly au courant. 

The Moorings Village — Islamorada, Florida Arrow

While some travelers live for the joy of meeting fellow jet-setters when they go anywhere, others prefer to exist in seclusion. Guests of The Moorings Village fall into that latter category. Though it’s located on an 18-acre stretch of waterfront land, the resort only has eight private stand-alone villas, which truly makes it feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. (Not to mention the added privacy provided by more than 800 coconut palms, which works out to about 42.1 trees per villa.) With in-room perks like ocean views, porches with hammocks, king-size beds covered in pillows, and galley kitchens, we wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to leave. Throw in a private beach, complimentary bicycles, and on-site kayaks, and The Moorings Village really is the next-best option to owning your own oceanfront Keys villa.

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Travel + Leisure Readers' 500 Favorite Hotels and Resorts in the World

These properties scored the highest in Travel + Leisure's most recent World's Best Awards survey.

Sometimes a hotel is so special that it becomes a destination in its own right. If you’re on the hunt for a property worth planning a trip around, look no further than the T+L 500, our annual list of the hotels and resorts our readers love the most. 

Drawn from the results of the World’s Best Awards survey (voted on by our readers), these 500 top scorers deliver the bucket-list locations, outstanding design, and exceptional service our readers want to return to time and time again. 

The honorees are grouped into eight geographic regions: Africa and the Middle East; Asia; Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; Canada; the Caribbean; Europe; Mexico, Central America, and South America; and the United States.

Below, we highlight 10 properties that embody all of the spectacular charm and amenities one might look for when planning their next dream vacation. You can read the full T+L 500 list in Travel + Leisure 's May 2024 issue, on newsstands today, or digitally on Apple News+.

Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection

The name Etéreo , Spanish for “ethereal,” accurately describes this rejuvenating resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya. Known for its elevated restaurants, excellent Sana spa, gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea, and nearby cenotes , it’s no surprise this property is a family favorite, appealing to multiple generations.

Montage Los Cabos

Located on Santa Maria Bay in Los Cabos, Mexico, Montage Los Cabos has 122 guestrooms, suites, and casas, as well as 52 residences. Here, you’ll find fresh Baja-inspired cuisine — and, if your timing is right, the annual grey and humpback whale migration. 

Kokomo Private Island Fiji

A quick 45-minute flight from Nadi International Airport gets you to Kokomo , a private island resort in Fiji. Unspoiled and wildly luxurious, this secluded escape has some of the best diving and snorkeling around the world’s fourth largest reef. 

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

With a European address that overlooks Asia, this Four Seasons Hotel holds a unique position along the Bosphorus Strait. After a busy day of shopping in one of Istanbul’s trendiest neighborhoods, the heated outdoor pool is the perfect place to wind down and relax the senses. 

Six Senses Douro Valley

The restored 19th-century manor in Lamego, Portugal has 71 guest rooms with panoramic views of the Douro river, private balconies, and wooden bridges leading to tranquil, secret gardens. 

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

This top 10 best resort in Europe, according to our 2023 World’s Best Awards, lies in the heart of Santorini’s Imerovigli village. Whether you’re in the infinity pool or in the comfort of your private villa, it’s impossible to miss the bright orange sunset that sets its light over the Aegean Sea. 

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

Deeply rooted in Hawaiian history, The Ritz-Carlton Maui , which underwent a $100-million renovation last year, centers its design around the location’s culture and maintains the nearby Honokahua Preservation Site (a recognized wahi pana , or sacred site, where about 2,000 Hawaiians were buried between 610 C.E. and 1800 C.E.).

Nayara Tented Camp

If you’ve ever been to La Fortuna, Costa Rica, you know it's one of the most magical natural places in the world. At Nayara Tented Camp , not only can you revel in the surrounding biodiversity with highly trained naturalist guides, but after a busy day of sightseeing, you can return to your spacious tent with a private pool fed by the volcano’s mineral hot springs. 

The Little Nell

Aspen’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel has 92 rooms, a new luxury spa, two restaurants, three bars, extraordinary mountain views and, you guessed it — all things après-ski. 

White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection

Drive 90 minutes north of Boston to Kennebunkport, Maine, to find the effortlessly cozy and elevated White Barn Inn . Roomy waterfront cottages await with a fireplace, a large living area, and direct access to the heated infinity pool.

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Travel + Leisure 2022 ‘World’s Best’ wrap-up

The langham melbourne and fiji's namale resort take out top local gongs.

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Participants in the survey collected data from late October 2021 through to the end of February 2022. They rated hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, etc on numerous characteristics, with the option of rating excellent, above average, average, below average and poor. A minimum number of responses was necessary for a candidate to be eligible for Travel + Leisure ‘s World’s Best Awards.

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Top of the table in the 100 Best Hotels in the World for 2022 was, as to be expected, dominated by ultra-luxury properties. In #1 position was Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Montalcino, Italy with a score of 99.25, followed by Auberge Resorts Collections’ Grace Hotel in Santorini, Greece with a score of 99.22. In third spot was Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, in South Male Atoll of the Maldives. Other revered destinations that were in the Top 10 included Marrakech, Paris, New York, Madrid and Bali.

Travel + Leisure ‘s readers also voted for the Best Hotel Brands , which featured 25 brands and was lead by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts (97.50), One&Only (96.20), Oetker Collection (96.15), Raffles Hotels & Resorts (95.50) and The Travel Corporation’s Red Carnation Hotel Collection (95.32).

Speaking of The Travel Corporation, their luxury cruise product, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, sailed into third place in the 10 Best River Cruise Lines . That field was taken out by Viking (96.77), then Tauck (96.60).

Viking also took the crown for Best Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines (95.16), with Seabourn (92.84), Silversea (92.08), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (90.85) and Oceania Cruises (89.68) rounding out the Top 5.

The Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines (fewer than 150 cabins) category was Quasar Expeditions (98.69), followed by Overseas Adventure Travel, Variety Cruises, Ponant and SeaDream Yacht Club.

Closer to home, in Australia and New Zealand, Sydney scooped up four of the five Best City Hotels in the region – Park Hyatt Sydney (90.40), Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (88.30), InterContinental Sydney (87.76) and Shangri-La Sydney (86.40), however it was Melbourne that scored the fan’s favourite, with The Langham, Melbourne (92.53) retaining its coveted No. 1 spot.

Sydney did however place first in the Best Cities in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific , with its score of 86.40 slightly ahead of Hobart on 85.00. Also in the top 5 were Queenstown, NZ (83.59), Melbourne (82.70) and Auckland (82.52).

Within the same region, the Fiji Islands (92.38) were well clear of Moorea, French Polynesia (90.24) in the Best Islands category, followed by Bora Bora, French Polynesia (87.70), the Great Barrier Reef Islands (86.90) and Tahiti, French Polynesia (83.33).

In the air, the Best International Airlines were lead by Singapore Airlines (92.68), Qatar Airways (90.67) and Emirates (89.92), while the Best International Airports field went to Singapore Airlines’ home-hub, Changi Airport (94.80), Istanbul Airport (94.06) and Hamad International, Doha (93.80).

Some other interesting observations LATTE noted:

• Oberoi Hotels & Resorts had the most number of properties in the 100 Best Hotels in the World for 2022, with six. Taj Hotels & Resorts had five, while Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Auberge Resorts Collection and Shangri-La each had three.
• The only property in the Oceania region to feature in the 100 Best Hotels in the World was Fiji’s Namale Resort, Savusavu – positioned at 59th. Namale was the #1 Best Resorts in the South Pacific , followed by three ultra-luxury hotels in Bora Bora and in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
• Last year’s top hotel, with a score of 99.73, Virgin Limited Edition’s Mahali Mzuri in Kenya’s Masai Mara did not appear in the 2022 results, and missed out on a spot in the Top 10 Best Safari Lodges in Africa (which did include two other properties in Kenya).
• The USA had the highest number of properties in the 100 Best Hotels in the World, with 19 properties (a market where most votes in the poll would have derived, being a US-based publication, and the thriving domestic tourism travel scene due to the pandemic). India and Italy both had 11 properties.

A snapshot of all this year’s winner can be found below, or view them all on Travel + Leisure ‘s website here .

Lead image: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco/Source: Facebook

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These 5 Arizona hotels were just named among the world's best. Here's why they stand out

Five Arizona hotels were just named among the best in the world for 2024.

Travel + Leisure unveiled its 2024 T+L 500 list of the world's best hotels, compiled based on ratings from its readers, in its May issue. The list includes five Arizona hotels, including four that made T+L's 2023 best hotels in Arizona ranking .

Readers evaluate based on their levels of quality, luxury, service and amenities. Here's a look at which Arizona hotels made the Travel + Leisure 2024 best hotels list.

For more hotels recognized as being among the best of metro Phoenix, read about the honorees in  U.S. News & World Report's 2024 ranking ,  Forbes' 2024 Star Awards , and  Esquire's best new hotels in the world .

Five Arizona hotels selected by Travel + Leisure

Readers of Travel + Leisure, America's largest travel media brand, selected five Arizona hotels on its 2024 ranking of the world's best hotels:

• Castle Hot Springs, Morristown.
• The Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley.
• Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley.
• Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa, Paradise Valley.
• Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson.

“We’re honored to be recognized on the highly coveted T+L 500 List,” said Andrew Chippindall, general manager of Mountain Shadows Resort. “It’s a true testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional experiences for our treasured guests.”

How Travel + Leisure World's Best hotels 2024 were chosen

The T+L 500 list is derived from T+L's annual World's Best Awards, selected based on reader reviews and feedback. Readers were surveyed about their travel experiences around the world, including hotels, cities, islands, airlines, cruise ships and other experiences.

Readers rated hotels based on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and overall value. They scored each category on a scale from "excellent" to "poor."

The hotels recognized this year are favorites among the publication's readers, who named Castle Hot Springs the best Arizona hotel of 2021 and 2022 and the Hermosa Inn the state's best of 2023. All except for Tanque Verde Ranch were included on last year's list of the 10 best hotels in Arizona.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

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Greece's Largest Island Is Packed With Ancient History, Gorgeous Resorts, and a Stunning Pink-sand Beach

Get ready for plenty of fun in the Grecian sun.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Cities to visit, best things to do, best beaches, best time to visit, how to get there, how to get around.

Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure

Crete, Greece's largest island, clocks in at more than 3,000 square miles and offers plenty of ancient history, incredible food, and natural beauty to explore. But you don't have to take my word for just how special Crete is. 

"I often describe Crete as a compact, island version of California. We have surfing and backcountry skiing in winter. In summer, we have canyon hiking, mountaineering, and, my personal favorite, hidden beaches only accessible by boat. And the shoulder seasons are — chef's kiss — perfection," Anastasia Sotiropulos, a tour guide based in Chania, Crete, shared. "The real treasure of Crete, though, are the people. The farmers, cheesemakers, fishmongers, artists, restaurateurs, winemakers, musicians, and homemakers create unique experiences for those lucky enough to visit this incredible island." 

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• Stay at a hotel with stunning Mediterranean views, like Elounda Bay Palace or Domes of Elounda. 
• Explore the ancient Palace of Knossos. 
• Catch some sun on Elafonissi Beach, one of the world’s most beautiful pink-sand beaches. 
• Wander the streets of Chania’s Old Town to admire Venetian, Turkish, and Greek architecture. 
• Visit during the shoulder season to avoid the hottest temperatures and largest crowds.

Ready to start exploring for yourself? Here's everything you need to know to plan a trip to Crete.

Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure

Elounda Bay Palace

This luxury hotel has long been beloved for its mix of elegance and charm. The rooms and suites here open up to sweeping views of the azure Mediterranean waters, and the hotel's private beaches ensure you can always find a chair (and an umbrella). Make an appointment at the Chenot Spa, which offers massages, facials, and body treatments using science-forward ingredients and techniques. 

Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

Looking to stretch out? Domes of Elounda is the place to be. Known for its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and the historic island of Spinalonga, the resort is home to just suites and villas, which open to fantastic patios with private plunge pools. Yes, this hotel comes with its own spa, but guests can also indulge in an in-room treatment to truly never lift a finger. 

Courtesy of Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Blue Palace

Blue Palace was named a Travel + Leisure reader favorite in the 2023 World's Best Awards , and in 2024, it's getting a whole new look. The renowned hotel is reopening as a modernist boutique hotel with just 47 bungalows and suites, all with brand-new interiors and some with private plunge pools. But even if you don't book a room with a pool, that's okay, as the hotel sits just steps from the beach anyway. 

Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa

Find yourself in a 17th-century Venetian mansion-turned-boutique hotel at Casa Delfino . The hotel, located in the heart of Chania's Old Town, allows travelers to stay amid the action while also offering a retreat-worthy rooftop garden that comes with sweeping views of the sea. It's a perfect place for families thanks to its one and two-bedroom suites. 

A visit to Chania's Old Town is a must, thanks to its charming Venetian, Turkish, and Greek architecture. To make the most of your time in Old Town, book a tour with a guide who can show you all the best sights and all the prime spots to get a great meal. 

Get in a little more Venetian architecture at Rethymno Old Town , one of the best-preserved historical districts in Crete. The city is built around the Venetian fortress, which provides fantastic panoramic views from its hilltop location. Don't skip the artisan shops where you can find the perfect souvenir. 

No visit to Crete is complete without a visit to its capital, Heraklion . Here, visitors can check out numerous historic sites, the Archaeological Museum mentioned below, and all the city's bustling markets, cafes, and bars. And as a bonus, the Palace of Knossos is just a short drive away. 

Elisanth_/Getty Images

Explore the Palace of Knossos.

Dive into more than 4,000 years of Greek history at the Palace of Knossos , Crete's most iconic archaeological site. The ancient complex is absolutely massive, and it comes with a gorgeous view of the sea thanks to its position high on the hill. "Crete's most famous archaeological site is the great Minoan Palace of Knossos, the oldest, largest, and most elaborate of these sites," Peter Sommer of Peter Sommer Travels , shared. "In its wide courts, shaded colonnades, and intricate arrangements of room after room, floor after floor, one can really come to grips with a civilization from far back in the Bronze Age, and grapple with questions that are still hotly debated – what did these palaces look like, what were they for, who lived in them, and how did they function?"

Hike the Samaria Gorge.

Outdoor lovers will adore spending a day hiking through the Samaria Gorge, a lengthy hike through Crete's White Mountains. The hike stretches on for nearly 10 miles through ancient cypress and pine forests and the abandoned village of Samaria before ending at the sea. However, the most famous part of the hike has to be the "Gates," where the gorge is just 13 feet apart but is more than 1,500 feet high. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you plan to hike the entire trail. The park's official site estimates that it takes about five hours to complete the journey. 

David C Tomlinson/Getty Images

Visit the Old Venetian Harbor of Chania.

Take a stroll through the Old Venetian Harbor of Chania and take in all the colors of Greece. Travelers can walk past homes and buildings showcasing Crete's unique melding of history, including all its Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek influences. Shop in its boutiques, grab a frappe in a cafe, view the massive fortress, and dine on plenty of fresh ingredients (hello, Greek salads) at its waterfront restaurants. Just make sure to have your camera ready, as its colorful buildings make for the perfect Instagram backdrop. 

Learn something new at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

Get an even deeper education on the island's history with a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum , which houses the world's most comprehensive collection of artifacts from the Minoan civilization. Its most famous exhibit is the Phaistos Disc, a clay disc sporting more than 240 symbols that is said to be more than 3,000 years old. As the museum notes, "experts have not yet a definitive conclusion of the contents of the inscription," so maybe you can uncover what it all means during your visit.

Elafonissi Beach

Get ready to step foot on one of the world's most beautiful and romantic beaches, Elafonissi Beach . The stretch of shoreline is well-known for its pink sand — created by millions of crushed seashells —that disappears into shallow, turquoise waters. The beach, which is part of a nature reserve, is an ideal spot for families with small children thanks to the calm waters, but there are also plenty of spots for adults to put down their towels and umbrellas for a quiet day at the beach. 

Balos Lagoon

One more brilliant beach to visit is Balos Lagoon , a beach made up of brilliant white sand that's lapped by unbelievably blue water. "One of the most popular must-see places in the Chania region is the Balos Lagoon with hypnotizing turquoise waters and a panoramic landscape," Alonso Marly, a travel expert at Skylux Travel , said. "I suggest visiting the beach early in the morning to experience the lagoon at its most tranquil and skip the tourist crowds." 

Find a different style of landscape at Vai Beach , famous for the palm forest lining the coast. Once again, it's a spot where travelers can find warm, sandy beaches and beautiful blue waters, just this time with the bonus of tree shade for the perfect beach snooze. 

Related: 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Greece

The best time to visit Crete is from June to August when the weather on the island is at its prime. As WeatherSpark notes, the warmest weather can be found between early June and late September, when the average daily high temperature hits above 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Things get particularly hot in July, when the average temperature hits 84 degrees. 

"When it comes to the best times to visit Crete, keep in mind that the island is seasonal, and during winter months, most of its attractions are closed," Marly added. "However, throughout the high season, it is full of life day and night." 

But, if you're looking to escape the crowds, try plotting a visit during the island's shoulder seasons, which fall over April to May and September to early October.  

 "If possible, I recommend visiting the island during the shoulder season when it's not too hot and crowded – from April to June or September through October — to make the most of your authentic Greek holiday, full of sunshine and unforgettable experiences," Marly said.  

Crete is accessible via its international airports in Heraklion (Heraklion International Airport, HER) and Chania (Chania International Airport, CHQ). Heraklion is the island's busiest airport, and it is also the second-largest airport in Greece, just behind Athens. Several major airlines fly into the airport, including Emirates, Aegean, RyanAir, EasyJet, and KLM. 

For those looking to avoid the airport, there is a ferry option, but be warned: It's a long ride. Travelers can hop aboard a ferry from Piraeus Port in Athens to Heraklion or Chania, but the ride can take between nine and 10 hours.

Related: Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Perfect Greek Islands Vacation

The best and easiest way to get around Crete is with your own car. Remember, this is Greece's largest island, so if you want to explore more widely, you will need some wheels. There are a ton of rental car companies on the island, including big names like Avis, Budget, and Hertz, all ready to loan you a ride. 

Public Transit

Crete also has a robust public bus system that can get you to most points of interest. Just note the buses here tend to move more slowly than cars, but it's also a rather affordable option, with rides starting at just a few euros. 

Scooters are also a rather popular mode of transportation here, as they are in almost all of the Greek islands. Visitors do need a valid license to rent scooters and must wear a helmet while riding.