In with the new: 8 boutique hotels for your 2025 wish list

The new year brings a renewed sense of adventure, with fresh hotels to check into and wish-list-topping destinations to discover. Our latest additions will have you looking (and bookmarking) ahead to game drives across Tanzania’s wild plains, sailing down the Nile, and getting under the skin of New York, Porto, Bangkok, and more.

1. Siringit Serengeti Camp, Tanzania

Journeying to this luxury campsite in the heart of the Serengeti is part of the adventure, with a chance to spot roaming wildlife as you wing your way across the Seronera Airstrip or approach from Naabi Hill Gate (by the Ngorongoro conservation area). The stylish tents at Siringit Serengeti Camp are kitted out with African textiles, game-viewing verandas, and ensuite bathrooms with all the creature comforts you’ll need after exploring the national park. Break for a picnic beneath the shade of an acacia tree on the vast plains, or head back to camp for fine dining under the stars.

4. Aqua the Dahabeya, Egypt

Step aboard Aqua the Dahabeya and seek out your cabin, one of just a handful on this exclusive vessel which glides between Luxor and Aswan. Egyptian cotton linens (what else?) and a refreshing breeze rippling across the Nile keep the temperatures balmy as you take in the river views and history-steeped surroundings from one of the three decks (including a terrace, solarium and plunge pool). With a completely tailorable itinerary, the crew are on hand to organise land-based activities too — from discovering ancient temples and tombs to dining by candlelight along the banks of the Nile.

8. Oriental Residence Bangkok, Thailand

Set within one of Bangkok’s most buzzing districts, Oriental Residence Bangkok houses serviced apartment-style suites which combine classic style with contemporary comfort. Striking Bangkok vistas unfold from each of the one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, and there’s a cabana-flanked pool up on the fourth floor for skyscraper level swims. When Bangkok beckons, you’re a short stroll from Lumphini Park, Sukhumvit Road, and the overground Skytrain for zipping over to street food stalls, night markets, and must-visit temples from the comfort of air-conditioned carriages.

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