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.
2. Sitzmark Vail, Colorado
Blink and you could be in the Bavarian Alps at Sitzmark Vail, an all-year adventure hotel burrowed into the treeline along the banks of Gore Creek. The ski season runs from November to April, and this last month is a seriously underrated time to hit the slopes of Colorado’s largest ski mountain. Just a hop, skip and slalom away from Vail Valley’s Gondola One, Sitzmark Vail is primed for winter action, and offers an exclusive shipping service for your ski gear, transporting everything you need for the slopes from your home to the hotel (and back again). Once the snow melts, hike and bike through aspen-filled forests, browse bustling farmer’s markets, and fly-fish along Vail Valley River in pristine wilderness.
3. Hotel Urban Madrid, Spain
The Spanish capital might be in the name of Hotel Urban Madrid, but this fashionable address with a terrace pool takes its inspiration from far-flung corners of the world. The owners’ private collection of artifacts and jewellery from Papua New Guinea and the Far East are on display throughout, alongside exotic natural materials like Guatemalan green marble and tropical teak.
Located within the city’s museum triangle, Hotel Urban Madrid puts you just a few minutes from Puerta del Sol, and the historical Habsburgs Madrid. The 11- and 16-course tasting menus at Michelin-starred CEBO restaurant soon beckon you back for memorable dinners, including what’s been awarded the world’s best croquette (masterfully filled with Joselito ham and Calaveruela cured sheep milk).
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.
5. The Retreat Koh Chang, Thailand
As season three of HBO’s The White Lotus draws to a dramatic close, it’s time to continue your Thailand fix (outside of the screen) at The Retreat Koh Chang. Only accessible by boat, there’s a real castaway feel to the wave-lapped terraces, portable teak poolside bar, and suites overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. For the full TV star experience, opt for The Retreat Duplex Pool Villa, a split-level stay with a jade-green pool and outdoor deck, all accessed via its own private entrance.
Alternate between the spa’s sauna, volcanic sand bath, and three oceanside pools, and banish any jetlag with a Thai massage and herbal compress. Board the Considerate Collection resort’s traditional fishing boat for an afternoon of island hopping and cruising through mangrove forests, then return for sundowners and sea-to-table dishes.
6. HUANG YAN 36 Hotel, China
Set just a short ferry ride from Xiamen on Gulangyu Island (known as China’s ‘island of music’), check into HUANG YAN 36 Hotel to the vintage sounds of a record player. Minnen stained glass windows and South Asian patterned tiles strike a soothing tone, and you’ll soon be sipping tea from your outdoor slipper bath, gazing out towards the city framed by traditional arched windows and flourishing kapok and longan trees.
Gulangyu is a car-free tropical island, so any exploring is done on foot or electric buggy along Banyan tree-lined trails. Ask the hotel about curated tours to encompass golden beaches, historic gardens, and Amoy Deco Style architecture.
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.
Share this article
Latest stories
Independent Minds: Susanne Hulbekkmo, Skýra Retreat
In the stillness of Finnish Lapland, beside the waters of Lake Norvajärvi, Susanne Hulbekkmo has created a restorative retreat centred on the constantly changing light and temperament of the landscape that surrounds it. Housed in a painstakingly restored Fifties village school, Skýra Retreat – part of the Wellbeing Collection –
10 of the best hotel rooftop bars to take in the views
There’s a particular pleasure in seeing a city or a landscape from above. Rooftops offer a different perspective on familiar streets — whether that means a cocktail in Soho, a pool overlooking the rooftops of Seville or a table with the Mediterranean stretching out beyond it. From polished hotel bars
Surfing holidays: where to stay for the best waves
From Costa Rica and Brazil to Bali and Spain, the world’s best surfing destinations combine serious swells and beginner-friendly breaks with a laidback lifestyle and nature. This is our pick of seven top spots around the globe for catching waves – and the boutique hotels to stay at.
The Wellbeing Collection turns one
As the Wellbeing Collection celebrates its first anniversary, we take a closer look at some of the hotels shaping the world’s most restorative wellness experiences. Each is deeply rooted in its sense of place, with the surrounding landscape, local traditions and cultural heritage shaping everything from treatments and food to
