10 destination hotels to plan an unforgettable trip around
Travel wish-lists are nothing new — and in our case, never ending — but what about turning a trip on its head, and making the journey for a hotel so special that it’s become a destination in its own right?
City Guides
The ultimate Austin city guide
A city that has pledged to keep itself “weird,” Austin is artsy, outdoorsy, progressive and Texan in equal parts. Here, pour-over coffee, Western wear, barbecue and even Mexican free-tailed bats
16 June 2025
The ultimate Budapest city guide
Baroque buildings, thermal baths and generous helpings of goulash. What’s not to love about Budapest? Long regarded as a drinking stop on every gap year youth’s interrailing itinerary, the Hungarian
27 May 2025
The ultimate Verona city guide
Known the world over as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, this storybook city goes beyond its literary fame with well-preserved Roman monuments and lively piazzas. Conveniently located between
25 March 2025
A photographer’s pocket guide to Nice
A lively coastal haven adorned with a rich cultural tapestry, Nice seamlessly blends sparkling sea views with a retro sense of holiday charm. As France’s fifth-largest city and gateway to
14 March 2025
The best bakeries & pâtisseries in Paris
It’s impossible to explore the streets of Paris without being bombarded by the city’s abundance of bakeries and pâtisseries. These institutions of Parisian culture serve freshly baked goods to grab
4 March 2025
The ultimate Milan city guide
Its roots might run back to ancient times, but Milan embraces modernity with its Art Nouveau and contemporary architecture mixed in amongst classical buildings. In contrast to the slower pace
4 February 2025
How to spend a weekend in Stavanger
Come with your heartiest appetite, because Stavanger’s multi-Michelin-starred dining scene is bringing a lot to the table. Alongside its bounty of in-demand restaurants, Norway’s oil (and fish canning) capital is
28 January 2025
The ultimate Porto city guide
Built upon the banks of the River Douro and framed by Gustave Eiffel’s double-decker iron bridge, this hilly city with its colourful riverside promenade, winding cobbled streets and baroque churches
27 November 2024
A ceramicist’s guide to Copenhagen
See the Danish capital through the eyes of local artist Malene Knudsen, as she takes us on a tour of her favourite studios, showrooms, and exhibition spaces in one of
13 November 2024
Venice in monochrome: see The Floating City in black and white
From its historic buildings and artistic masterpieces to the very reflections shimmering on its waters, Venice has long captured the imagination as a city of colour. Here, see The Floating
28 October 2024
Independent Minds: Xiaoran Zhou, Kaipuu Hotels
As the first luxury hotels in China to be certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Kaipuu on the Reef and Kaipuu Belfry are setting the eco-friendly bar in the history-steeped seaport of Quanzhou. The Jin River has welcomed
We hope you’re sitting comfortably, ideally in a swoon-worthy setting, with all the time in the world to linger over — and get lost in — these thoughtfully curated travel stories.
Editor's Picks
Where to go on holiday in 2025
Whether your holiday planning is already well underway, or you’re still searching for inspiration, we’ve got the answers for every ‘right’ direction — after polling our SLH Club Members for
13 January 2025
How to spend a short break in Syros, Greece
The Cyclades are known for their rugged beaches and iconic blue-and-white stucco buildings — until you arrive in the main town of Hermoupolis on the Greek island of Syros, that
10 April 2025
The dreamiest private villas to rent in Europe
Searching for a have-the-place-to-yourself holiday with room for everyone? These villa-style stays are stylish, spacious, and ever so secluded, with all the added extras of boutique hotel service included. Read
7 April 2025
Reforesting the world with Max Renaudin, Founder & CEO of Tree-Nation
On a mission to plant a trillion trees by 2050, Tree-Nation is making reforestation accessible to everyone through transparent, easy-to-track technology. As one of the most effective solutions to the
21 March 2025
Itineraries
Cancale to Cap Fréhel: Brittany’s Emerald Coast
Get swept away to France’s far western shores, an enchanting region where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to dramatic tides and wind-sculpted headlands. Here, the pace slows, the landscapes stretch
26 June 2025
On the road in Provence
Fragrant lavender fields, sun-dappled vineyards, rocky Mediterranean coastlines, and buttercream-coloured hilltop villages weave a tapestry of natural beauty across Provence. From idyllic markets to ancient Roman ruins, this itinerary takes
2 April 2025
Adventures in Andalusia: Moorish architecture, majestic mountains, and sun-baked beaches
A 10-day itinerary from Seville’s colourful streets to Marbella’s glitzy beaches Andalusia is one of those heart-stoppingly beautiful destinations which will have you dreaming of your return – before you’ve
10 August 2023
Italy by train: a scenic rail itinerary for slow travellers
Six iconic Italian cities in two weeks, from Milan to Naples Much like its straight-from-the-vines wine and nonna-coddled cuisine, Italy is a destination best savoured at a leisurely pace if you really want
1 April 2023
Bold, bohemian, and barefoot: a mini guide to Mexico
A 10-day itinerary from Mexico City to Tulum with La Valise Hotels A vibrant country bursting with colour, Mexico promises sensory moments at every turn – whether you’re navigating a maze of
21 January 2023
The best of Ireland & Northern Ireland: an Emerald Isle itinerary
How to see the Emerald Isle in style in under two weeks Whether you’re strolling along storied streets, roaming the rugged coastline, or cosying up in a rural pub, it’s
22 August 2022
The ultimate French Riviera road trip
How to spend two weeks on the Côte d’Azur, Europe’s glitterati summer destination Sparkling sea views framed by fragrant umbrella pines, striped parasols shading stylish sun loungers, and pastel-painted villas
21 June 2022
Magical Mallorca: from coast to countryside
An idyllic island itinerary taking travellers beyond the beaches of Mallorca Fringed by cliffs and heavenly beaches, with long stretches of fragrant countryside – peppered with olive trees and citrus
9 May 2022
Costa Rica: on the path to pura vida
A 10-day itinerary through a volcanic land of charcoal sands and tropical rainforest With miles of pristine coastline and luscious rainforest, you’re never far from world-class diving, surfing and yoga
28 April 2022
Crete: from the wild west to idyllic east
A seven-day sun-soaked itinerary taking in the highlights of Greece’s largest island At once a paradise and a paradox, Crete is one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, but one of
5 April 2022
Independent Minds
Independent Minds: Xiaoran Zhou, Kaipuu Hotels
As the first luxury hotels in China to be certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Kaipuu on the Reef and Kaipuu Belfry are setting the eco-friendly bar in
22 May 2025
Independent Minds: Steven Riseley, Castle Elvira
Crumbling castle it might have been for over a century, but Steven Riseley and husband, Harvey B-Brown, are writing their own contemporary fairy-tale at Castle Elvira in Puglia. Following a
11 April 2025
Independent Minds: Loes Dingemans, Pillows Hotels
As discerning travellers know all too well, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to ‘understated luxury’. It’s carefully crafted, and close attention is paid to the smallest
21 January 2025
Independent Minds: Snow Yang, The Dawn Luxury Hotel
For Snow Yang and her parents, Fuyun Yang and Yanping Bai, preserving the past of their 128-year-old property near the mist-shrouded peaks of Weibao Mountain, while looking to the future,
18 December 2024
Independent Minds: Angela O’Connell, Chalets at Blackheath
Alpine adventures await in Australia’s Blue Mountains at this ruggedly refined chalet resort In the midst of the Blue Mountains’ UNESCO-listed beauty, adventurer Angela O’Connell came across the perfect setting
25 November 2024
Independent Minds: Agapi & Costantza Sbokou, Phāea Blue
Crete is a myth-steeped land of natural wonders and cultural treasures, and across the sparkling waters of Mirabello Bay from the storied island of Spinalonga, sisters Agapi and Costantza Sbokou
28 October 2024
Independent Minds: Pedro Oliveira & Alicia Valero, Hotel das Amoreiras
Lisbon’s most restful retreat has an urban heart with country house soul Husband-and-wife team Pedro and Alicia are first and foremost aesthetes, who find joy in beautiful moments and beautiful
25 October 2023
Independent Minds: Jeanette Mix, Ett Hem
Welcoming guests into the warm embrace of a well-loved home, Swedish owner Jeanette Mix has created an inimitable feeling of informal elegance at her Arts and Crafts townhouse in the
30 September 2023
Independent Minds: Juliana Ghiotto, Barracuda Hotel & Villas
As one of Brazil’s best kept secrets along the ‘Cocoa Coast’, Itacaré blissfully enjoys an under-the-radar existence – surfers plant their boards on pristine palm-fringed beaches, locals paddle through mangrove-entangled
29 September 2023
Independent Minds: Christopher & Farina Kingsley, Wa Ale Resort
Castaway to an eco-conscious island which is making waves with its conservation and community-minded efforts On a remote archipelago off the coast of Myanmar, Wa Ale Resort is redefining the private island
27 September 2023
Inspiration
Cancale to Cap Fréhel: Brittany’s Emerald Coast
Get swept away to France’s far western shores, an enchanting region where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to dramatic tides and wind-sculpted headlands. Here, the pace slows, the landscapes stretch
26 June 2025
Hotel Lungarno: Ferragamo’s stylish Florentine stay
Bedding down in one of the Tuscan capital’s most fashionable addresses, Chloe Frost-Smith reflects on a long weekend spent riverside in the Ferragamo family’s Hotel Lungarno — with plenty of
13 June 2025
Nurture through nature: 5 restorative hotels in Portugal to press pause at
In Portugal’s wild corners, luxury stays are carving out space for stillness, slowness, and something that’s increasingly sought after: a deep connection with nature. In Aljezur, where the cliffs tumble
10 June 2025
Coral planting and ocean conservation at Nanuku Resort, Fiji
Overlooking the shimmering waters of Beqa Lagoon in Fiji, home to one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, Nanuku Resort has become a living laboratory for marine conservation,
8 June 2025
Editor’s picks for June: from the Himalayas to Cape Cod
Far-flung corners of the world have long held appeal, bound by a sense of seclusion and an immersion in nature that leaves you feeling restored and reconnected. Our latest arrivals
1 June 2025
10 destination hotels to plan an unforgettable trip around
Travel wish-lists are nothing new — and in our case, never ending — but what about turning a trip on its head, and making the journey for a hotel so
20 May 2025
10 of the best hotel beach clubs in Europe
The key ingredients to the perfect hotel beach club? Somewhere far from Europe’s sun-seeking crowds, yet close to the cooling water’s edge—we’re talking a few barefoot steps, or even better
16 May 2025
Spain photo diary: from Madrid to Mallorca
From Mallorca’s rugged Serra de Tramuntana, and Gaudí’s wonderfully whimsical architecture in Barcelona, to the mouthwatering tapas served down tiny side streets in Madrid’s city centre, Spain truly has something
12 May 2025
How to spend a slow weekend at Nomad Mykonos
Known for its bustling beach bars and affluent nightclubs, Mykonos also has a slower side to its Cycladic shores, found in luxurious yet minimal boutique hotels such as Nomad, tucked
8 May 2025
This refashioned farmhouse hideaway embodies Tuscany’s timeless beauty
Overflowing with rustic charm and evergreen allure, guests of Lupaia inevitably fall head over heels for every cossetting corner of this Tuscan countryside escape. Pair homely comforts with five-star service,
5 May 2025
Latest stories
Cancale to Cap Fréhel: Brittany’s Emerald Coast
Get swept away to France’s far western shores, an enchanting region where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to dramatic tides and wind-sculpted headlands. Here, the pace slows, the landscapes stretch wide, and the towns feel wonderfully unspoiled. This four-day road trip traces the curve of Brittany’s Emerald Coast, beginning in
The ultimate Austin city guide
A city that has pledged to keep itself “weird,” Austin is artsy, outdoorsy, progressive and Texan in equal parts. Here, pour-over coffee, Western wear, barbecue and even Mexican free-tailed bats (more on them later) all exist in perfect harmony. Rent kayaks or pedal boats and cruise along Lady Bird Lake.
Hotel Lungarno: Ferragamo’s stylish Florentine stay
Bedding down in one of the Tuscan capital’s most fashionable addresses, Chloe Frost-Smith reflects on a long weekend spent riverside in the Ferragamo family’s Hotel Lungarno — with plenty of Ponte Vecchio-peeping from the Arno-adjacent rooms and sun-drenched terraces included.
Nurture through nature: 5 restorative hotels in Portugal to press pause at
In Portugal’s wild corners, luxury stays are carving out space for stillness, slowness, and something that’s increasingly sought after: a deep connection with nature. In Aljezur, where the cliffs tumble into the Atlantic and time seems to drift with the tides; in Comporta, where pine forests guard miles of deserted
