Editor’s picks for April: from Colorado to Pakistan

Spring has well and truly sprung. If the idea of frolicking through Belgian forests or Colorado’s flower-carpeted hills appeals, read on for hotel inspiration to see you through the changing of the seasons (and beyond).

1. La Butte aux Bois, Belgium

Fringed by pine forests and purple flowering heathland, La Butte aux Bois is a rural retreat in the heart of Hoge Kempen National Park, the largest woodland and nature reserve in Flanders. Originally built for the Belgian knight, Sir Lagasse de Locht, the hotel is now owned by high jewellery designer, gemstone collector, and natural history enthusiast, Jochen Leën, who was behind the top-to-bottom transformation to celebrate the property’s 100th anniversary in 2024.

Side tables inlaid with amethyst fragments sit alongside dinosaur fossils, petrified wood, and fine sand sculptures, all displayed above a private dining room designed to resemble the surface of the moon. The stuff-of-dreams theme continues in the Moonlight Suite, where you can watch the celestial sky projected onto the 9-metre-high ceiling from your bed. From the moon to the two Michelin stars of Restaurant Ralf Berendsen, La Butte aux Bois balances an otherworldly atmosphere with near-constant nature immersion.

4. Nobu Hotel Warsaw, Poland

As the first restaurant-led hotel in the Polish capital, the queues for Nobu Hotel Warsaw since opening night are showing no signs of dwindling. The ever-popular black cod with miso is a must-order, but other highlights on the menu like the wagyu beef and foie-gras dumplings with spicy ponzu are drawing a gourmet crowd too. Inside, it’s a blend of Art Deco details and Nobu’s trademark Japanese aesthetic, with rooms and suites spread across the original building a newly added, industrial-chic wing.

Honouring Japanese tradition, particular attention has been paid to the bathing spaces, where sleek surfaces and waterfall showers pair perfectly with Natura Bissé cosmetics. After hitting up downtown Warsaw’s smart boutiques and food halls, return for a sauna session, local vodka-based cocktail, or sip your way through the dedicated sake bar until your dinner reservation.

7. BESPOKE Tulum, Mexico

Tucked away in Tankah Bay, residences at BESPOKE Tulum blur the boundary between indoors and out on a secluded shoreline (yet just a 10-minute drive to the holiday hot spot). Picture sleek lines, subtle earthy tones and organic textures, fringed by dense jungle and the insanely blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Whichever beautifully appointed villa or apartment you choose, stretch out in barefoot, home-from-home comfort.

Flit between the hotel’s infinity pool and rooftop plunge pool, grazing on Mayan dishes in the sunshine. The chef is on hand for authentic cooking classes and guided mezcal tastings, and the friendly team can point you in all the right directions when it comes to exploring the Riviera Maya’s natural and archaeological treasures.

8. The Townhouse, Pakistan

Thanks to the hotel’s grab-and-go scooters and complimentary buggy rides around Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital unfolds before you at The Townhouse. A refreshing, restorative contrast to the city’s bustling streets, light-filled rooms overlook the skyline or the rolling Margalla Hills, and marble-clad bathrooms are kitted out with rainfall showers and L’Occitane goodies. There’s round-the-clock room service and an on-call concierge, plus a natural Bali stone dipping pool and Nordic sauna crowning the rooftop wellness deck. On your way out, nab some artisanal coffee and pastries from Filter Coffeehouse, or sit down to a leisurely brunch at Nordic-inspired Antler.

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