What moments are you manifesting for your travels this year? Whether it’s sipping mezcal by a private lagoon somewhere in the Mexican jungle, meditating creekside beneath Sedona’s red rocks, or dining on just-plucked artichokes in the Apulian countryside, these boutique stays offer immersive, considered experiences in carefully sought-out corners of the world.
1. Masseria Palombara Relais & Spa, Apulia - Italy
Set within sun-dappled olive groves and almond trees near Oria, Masseria Palombara Relais & Spa is a 2,700-year-old fortified masseria standing as a bastion of Apulian heritage. The spa lives within a vaulted granary, where Romanesque stone arches enfold a ritual suite — hammam, sauna, heated pool, and cold plunge all flowing beneath medieval buttresses. Breakfasts arrive on Grottaglie ceramics, dinners by hearth light showcase seasonal fare and local vintages. Expect long, unhurried meals, with organic homegrown produce, eggs from the hotel’s own hens and honey from the groves which encircle this agrarian haven.
2. L’Auberge de Sedona, Arizona - USA
Taking up restful residence beside Oak Creek and framed by Sedona’s soaring sandstone cathedrals, L’Auberge de Sedona features outdoor cedar showers, crackling fireplaces, and soothing L’Occitane amenities in each cottage. Spa offerings range from chakra-aligning rituals and desert flower massages to tarot readings by the water’s edge, using customised herbs, oils and botanicals. Post-treatment, guests drift into sunrise hikes, hot-air balloon rides, or reflective moments on private decks made for stargazing the night away. When dawn breaks over the canyons, slow down and embrace the tranquillity of Duck Beach, where you can mindfully feed the creek’s feathered residents.
3. Wakax Hacienda – Cenote & Boutique Hotel, Tulum – Mexico
Down a dusty road that winds through Tulum’s lesser-trodden jungle, Wakax Hacienda – Cenote & Boutique Hotel is a reimagined 18th-century estate with sun-baked arched façades painted in shades of ochre and chilli-red. A mystical, emerald-green lagoon sits at the centre of this sprawling complex, inviting guests to cool off in its calm waters with wild swims, paddleboarding sessions, and moonlit dips. Polished concrete, exposed timber, and artisan ceramics create a serene backdrop for regional cuisine served at Palapa El Cocal: think zingy ceviche, grilled octopus, and creamy guacamole. After a temazcal ceremony or bike ride to hidden Mayan ruins, settled into the hotel’s bar for mezcalitas served in handmade clay cups.
4. Hotel Lucia, Portland - USA
A living homage to Portland’s creative spirit, Hotel Lucia occupies a meticulously restored 1909 Whidden & Lewis building. Gallery-style interiors, featuring rotating prints by Pulitzer Prize-winning, Oregon-bred photographer David Hume Kennerly, sit alongside plush velvet armchairs and pops of vibrant orange. Stay here with four-legged friends who’ll enjoy VIP (very important pup) treats — from edible welcome kits and toys to comfy beds. Evenings hum with retro Penny Diner nights, craft-beer tastings, and lobby board games — while complimentary bikes and a make-it-happen concierge ethos ensure the downtown’s quirks are at your feet.
5. CoolRooms Palacio de Luces, Asturias – Spain
In the Asturian village of Luces, CoolRooms Palacio de Luces breathes new life into a 16th-century stone palace with frescoed arches, stone-walled lounges, and an indoor heated pool. Crystal-clear Crittall-style windows frame views of the mountains and coast in each rustic yet refined room. Dining at Tella revolves around homegrown produce from the kitchen garden and small, local suppliers — anchovies, cheeses, cider — served against a verdant backdrop. Beyond its calm-inducing walls, bespoke experiences include cliff-perch horseback rides, cheese-making workshops, anchovy tastings, and mending nets with local fishermen.
6. House of Hütter – Münchner Kindl, Munich
A flamboyant departure from Munich’s mainstream, House of Hütter – Münchner Kindl is maximalist to the core. Suites burst with bold florals, jewel-toned fabrics, fireplaces, and kitschy Bavarian accents. For the ultimate room service experience, order daily changing specials like apple-infused sausages with sauerkraut and veal brisket from the neighbouring Landersdorfer & Innerhofer. Otherwise, guests sip house-made Kir Royale before street-art bike tours, Dirndl fittings, or river-surfing sessions — each experience curated by intuitive hosts who embody Munich’s playful energy. This is equal parts art house and party haus.
7. Maya Hotel Courchevel 1850, Courchevel – France
Opening December 2025
Save this one for your winter wish-list. Ski-in, chic, and decidedly zen, Maya Hotel Courchevel 1850 merges stripped-back Japanese minimalism with high ailtitude refinement. Interiors by renowned architect and designer, Sylvestre Murigneux, are rendered in warm woods, Lalique crystal accents, and sunken soaking tubs. Its 14 rooms — including a slate-stone-haven Lalique suite with private massage room — are the essence of cocooning alpine design. Japanese-Thai fusion dishes keep the menu at MayaBay feeling fresh and flavourful, and offer a welcome dash of warming spice after days spent chasing powder in the French Alps.
Share this article
Latest stories
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
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 arrive. And while its culinary reputation has soared in recent years, nothing quite compares to tasting your way around the
