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
How to spend a weekend in Girona
This pocket-sized city couldn’t be more different to its same-coast cousin, Barcelona. Comfortingly walkable and distinctly Catalan, what Girona lacks in size is made up for with its abundant food
24 November 2025
The ultimate Vilnius city guide
With a complicated political past (and present), Lithuania might not typically be top of mind when brainstorming a European getaway. But Vilnius, the country’s vibrant capital, is a burgeoning hub
6 October 2025
The ultimate Madrid city guide
Sometimes overlooked by other European capitals, Spain’s biggest city has so much to offer from world-class museums and galleries to talking-point architecture and a lively music scene. Madrileños also take
11 September 2025
The ultimate Istanbul city guide
The call to prayer rising above the Bosphorus, the scent of spices drifting through centuries-old bazaars, the shimmer of mosaics inside Byzantine domes — Istanbul is a city that stirs
26 August 2025
How to spend a weekend in Cape Town
At the southern tip of Africa, where the iconic Table Mountain tumbles into the formidable Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find Cape Town. It’s as striking as it is energetic, and it’s
11 August 2025
Amsterdam turns 750: why now is the moment to visit the Netherlands’ capital
In 2025, Amsterdam marks a historic milestone: its 750th birthday. A city of canals and contradictions, where Golden Age architecture rubs shoulders with cutting-edge design, Amsterdam has always been a
6 August 2025
A pocket guide to Amoreiras: Lisbon’s leafy, lesser-known neighbourhood
In a city as photogenic and storied as Lisbon, it’s easy to get swept up in the tiled façades of Alfama or the café culture of Chiado. But venture just
16 July 2025
How to spend a weekend in Bordeaux
Often described as Paris’ little sister, Bordeaux is a city for people who don’t like cities. It’s noticeably peaceful, much of the city centre is pedestrianised, and it’s picture‑postcard pretty.
14 July 2025
Top things to do, see, and eat in Cefalù: plus, where to stay in Sicily
As you drive into Cefalù, the dramatic Rocca di Cefalù towers over the town’s sandy-hued buildings, setting a history-steeped scene for this once-humble fishing village. While tourism has certainly made
30 June 2025
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
Elevated wellbeing escapes: 5 mountain retreats made for meaningful rest
When the world feels too fast paced, the mountains offer the ultimate antidote. Blanketed in winter snow, these high-altitude hideaways invite a deeper kind of rest.
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
The must-know boutique hotels of 2025: SLH award winners revealed
As SLH marks 35 years of celebrating independently minded stays, this year’s awards spotlight the hotels redefining boutique luxury around the world. Handpicked by our travel experts and voted for
20 October 2025
A deliberately slow, solo adventure through magical Bhutan
Several goblet-like lamps flicker within the colourful, ornate prayer hall at Gangtey Gonpa, a 17th century monastery on a mist-shrouded ridge overlooking Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley. Filled with clarified yak butter,
4 September 2025
Turning nature into nourishment on a remote Norwegian island
On a small island a short boat ride from Herdla, where salt carries on Arctic winds, sustainability isn’t a slogan — it’s the rhythm of life. At Lilløy Lindenberg, the
23 October 2025
6 eco-friendly hotels offering ethical wildlife experiences
If you prefer your wildlife encounters without the crowds — and with a side of serious sustainability — SLH’s Considerate Collection has you covered. And with World Wildlife Conservation Day
4 December 2025
Itineraries
The art of doing nothing, perfected in the Maldives
In a world that praises packed itineraries, early-morning flights, and the humblebrag of needing a vacation from your vacation, slow travel can feel almost counterintuitive. It’s a conscious shift away
28 October 2025
Caribbean island-hopping in the Lesser Antilles: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda
There’s no rule that says your Caribbean escape has to be a one-island affair. Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda are close enough to link in a single trip — and different
22 September 2025
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
Independent Minds
Independent Minds: the Kestelli family, KestelINN Alaçatı
In the sun-dappled village of Alaçatı, where time moves to the rhythm of cicadas and the scent of olive groves hangs in the air, KestelINN stands as a quiet testament
30 July 2025
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
Inspiration
10 boutique hotels SLH Club members can’t wait to visit in 2026
This year, we skipped the crystal ball of travel trends and went straight to the source. Surveying SLH Club members on their most-wanted hotels for 2026 revealed a neatly edited
12 January 2026
How bathing culture boosts health: saunas, onsen and contrast therapy
Saunas have been a way of life in the Nordic and Baltic countries for generations, as have Japanese onsen and soaking in geothermal hot springs everywhere from Iceland to Italy.
8 January 2026
Wildly restorative: 5 nature-immersed wellbeing retreats
When life feels overstimulated and ungrounded, nature has a way of calling us back to ourselves. From jungle canopies and thermal rivers to rice paddies and seaweed-wrapped coastlines, these wellbeing
5 January 2026
From Nordic cabins to cave suites: top boutique hotels for January
January has a way of sharpening the senses — a moment to pause, take stock and choose travels that feel intentional. Some escapes offer deep calm in dramatic landscapes, from
1 January 2026
A foodie guide to Ireland: from coastal catches to country kitchens
With Guinness as rich as its landscapes are green — and whiskey never far from reach — Ireland’s charms can be drunk in and eaten up from the moment you
18 December 2025
The natural highs of hiking solo in Costa Rica’s cloud forest
Out of nowhere, a stark yet melodic chirp punctuates the dense moss-heavy virgin forest, halting me in my tracks with its hypnotic, unadulterated beauty. I later discover it was likely
15 December 2025
Hotel Norman, Paris: design-led luxury steps from the Champs-Élysées
There’s no shortage of glamorous hideaways in Paris, but few manage to bottle an era quite like Hotel Norman. Steps from the Champs-Élysées, this newcomer channels the seductive polish of
9 December 2025
6 eco-friendly hotels offering ethical wildlife experiences
If you prefer your wildlife encounters without the crowds — and with a side of serious sustainability — SLH’s Considerate Collection has you covered. And with World Wildlife Conservation Day
4 December 2025
From vineyard valleys to hot springs: top boutique hotels for December
Across continents and climates, location leads the experience at these boutique escapes. A monastery where the cloisters still set the pace, a mountain retreat content to drift with the clouds,
30 November 2025
How to spend a weekend in Girona
This pocket-sized city couldn’t be more different to its same-coast cousin, Barcelona. Comfortingly walkable and distinctly Catalan, what Girona lacks in size is made up for with its abundant food
24 November 2025
Latest stories
10 boutique hotels SLH Club members can’t wait to visit in 2026
This year, we skipped the crystal ball of travel trends and went straight to the source. Surveying SLH Club members on their most-wanted hotels for 2026 revealed a neatly edited mix: safari camps that migrate with wildlife, mountain retreats that prioritise wellbeing, and rainforest hideaways that rethink the villa concept.
How bathing culture boosts health: saunas, onsen and contrast therapy
Saunas have been a way of life in the Nordic and Baltic countries for generations, as have Japanese onsen and soaking in geothermal hot springs everywhere from Iceland to Italy. Whether you choose to submerge yourself in mineral-rich spring water or bake in a sauna (traditional, infrared or steam), raising
Wildly restorative: 5 nature-immersed wellbeing retreats
When life feels overstimulated and ungrounded, nature has a way of calling us back to ourselves. From jungle canopies and thermal rivers to rice paddies and seaweed-wrapped coastlines, these wellbeing retreats invite a slower, more intuitive kind of restoration — one shaped by landscape, culture and ancient ritual. Part of
From Nordic cabins to cave suites: top boutique hotels for January
January has a way of sharpening the senses — a moment to pause, take stock and choose travels that feel intentional. Some escapes offer deep calm in dramatic landscapes, from Norway’s island edges to Sri Lanka’s mist-wrapped highlands. Others inspire with vineyard views in South Africa’s wine region, stone-carved suites
