Comprehensive reviews of the world's finest hotels, resorts, and travel experiences
LVMH's Parisian flagship inside the restored Art Deco Samaritaine on the Seine — Peter Marino design, 72 vast rooms and suites, Arnaud Donckele's three-Michelin-starred Plénitude, a rooftop brasserie, the first Dior Spa, and a spectacular 30-metre pool.
A discreet five-star on a quiet square behind the Palais-Royal, seconds from the Louvre, where the balcony suites look out over the zinc rooftops. Intimate, central and thoroughly Parisian.
The grande dame of the Place de la Concorde — a genuine 18th-century palace, restored by Rosewood in 2017, with marble grand salons, a Michelin-starred table and a rare, light-filled indoor pool.
Philippe Starck's Madrid debut for the Evok Collection — a 57-room design hotel on Gran Vía styled as an artist's apartment, full of Spanish art and curated cabinets, with showpiece speckled-marble bathrooms, a spa and pool, and a glamorous 1920s-style café downstairs.
Mandarin Oriental's Barcelona flagship on Passeig de Gràcia — a Patricia Urquiola–designed sanctuary a step from Gaudí's Casa Batlló, with 120 calm, design-led rooms and suites, private terraces with outdoor tubs in the top categories, a moody subterranean spa and pool, and a proudly Catalan breakfast in the Mimosa Garden atrium.
A green, design-led Kempinski beside Lumpini Park — opened in 2020 in the Sindhorn Village enclave, with a dramatic raw-concrete-and-garden setting, an award-winning lobby lounge, the Resense spa, a 25-metre cantilevered infinity sky-pool, and unusually spacious residential-style suites with kitchens and laundry — superb for families and longer stays.
Madrid's grande dame reborn — the 1910 Hotel Ritz reopened in 2021 as the Mandarin Oriental Ritz after a three-year restoration. A Belle Époque palace on the Plaza de la Lealtad in the Golden Triangle of Art, steps from the Prado, with a show-stopping gilded rotunda, the glass-roofed Palm Court, 153 rooms and suites, five Quique Dacosta dining concepts and — a first for the hotel — a spa.
Rosewood's debut in Spain — the storied 1972 Villa Magna on the Paseo de la Castellana, reborn in 2021 as a residential-style Salamanca retreat by Australian firm BAR Studio. Apartment-like rooms with dressing rooms, a preserved 1970s stained-glass staircase, a glazed garden courtyard, Michelin-pedigree dining from Jesús Sánchez at Amós, and a serious wellness floor in Sense, A Rosewood Spa.
A 19th-century Basque villa turned intimate boutique hotel, and one of the most characterful stays in San Sebastián. Built in 1898 on the leafy Avenida de Ategorrieta and now a Small Luxury Hotels member, it keeps its high-ceilinged salons, fireplaces and carved staircase across just 25 rooms — 15 in the villa, 10 in the converted stables — set among gardens by the city's royal gardener. Classic British-villa interiors, a bold checkerboard bathroom and a generous homemade breakfast, minutes from La Concha.
An Aman sanctuary of pink marble and Mughal cupolas, set in a walled oasis in rural Rajasthan on the site of a Maharajah of Alwar's hunting retreat — moments from the storied 'haunted' ruins of Bhangarh and a world away from the Golden Triangle's crowds.
A polished urban base in one of China's most historic cities, pairing contemporary comfort and a 180-degree rooftop bar with easy access to the Terracotta Army, the ancient City Walls and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
A serene 'green village' of stilted wooden villas among twenty acres of working rice paddies on the edge of Siem Reap — pared-back rural Khmer luxury, a short drive from the temples of Angkor.
A design-led boutique hotel steps from the Petronas Towers, where Malaysian craft, rattan and warm woods meet a cantilevered infinity pool with skyline views. 'RuMa' plays on rumah — Malay for 'home'.
The new flagship Ritz-Carlton inside One Bangkok on Wireless Road, opened in late 2024 with walking access to Lumpini and Benjakitti parks and the city's newest mall. Solid service and a strong Club Lounge — but facilities that already feel a little rushed.
A sculptural Ploen Chit landmark in arguably the best location in Bangkok — directly on the BTS, steps from Central Embassy and the city's densest concentration of dining. Recently awarded two Michelin Keys, with enormous suites, a standout pool deck, and an exceptional Cantonese restaurant in Nan Bei.
A masterwork of contemporary Asian design by Jean-Michel Gathy on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, where nearly nine acres of landscaped gardens create an urban sanctuary of extraordinary ambition. Experience world-class dining, one of Asia's finest hotel art collections, and service that sets the benchmark for modern luxury hospitality.
A serene mountain retreat at the base of sacred Qing Cheng Mountain, where traditional Chinese architecture meets Six Senses wellness philosophy in the misty foothills of Sichuan. Experience authentic cultural immersion, exceptional cuisine, and transformative spa treatments in this peaceful sanctuary near the panda research center.
A remote beachfront paradise nestled in the Musandam Peninsula, where you can arrive by speedboat, road, or paragliding into one of the world's most dramatic coastal settings. Experience barefoot luxury, pristine beaches, and sustainable Six Senses wellness in this spectacular Omani retreat.
A striking contemporary hotel where bold modern architecture meets refined Chinese hospitality in the heart of Beijing. Experience dramatic perforated facades, sophisticated urban luxury, and world-class wellness in this architectural landmark near the Temple of Heaven.
A palatial Art Deco masterpiece on the iconic Bund, where Shanghai's golden age elegance meets contemporary luxury. Experience world-class dining, legendary service, and breathtaking views overlooking the Huangpu River and Pudong skyline in one of China's most historic buildings.
An iconic landmark of timeless elegance in the heart of China's capital, where legendary Peninsula service meets imperial grandeur and contemporary luxury. Experience world-class dining, the signature Rolls-Royce fleet, and refined sophistication steps from the Forbidden City.
A remarkable beachfront retreat nestled against ancient rainforest, where distinctive illuminated pavilions and exceptional service create an unforgettable Malaysian escape. Experience world-class dining, pristine beaches, and refined luxury on one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful islands.
A stunning hillside retreat where private villas with thatched roofs blend seamlessly into the lush tropical landscape overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Experience world-class wellness, pristine beaches, and sustainable luxury in one of Thailand's most breathtaking island destinations.