Japan

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

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

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

Where to stay in September: 6 boutique hotels to book now

Every seasoned traveller knows September is the month to move. Peak season has passed, but the beauty and warmth still linger — Kyoto’s sun-dappled temples, vineyards primed for Mendoza’s spring

1 September 2025

From Patagonia to Paris: 6 boutique hotels on our editor’s wish-list

In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and automation, there remains something oh-so-sweet about the art of personalised hospitality. For the discerning traveller, it’s not just about where you go

1 August 2025

Editor’s picks for June: from the Himalayas to Cape Cod

Far-flung corners of the world have long held appeal, bound by a sense of seclusion and an immersion in nature that leaves you feeling restored and reconnected. Our latest arrivals

1 June 2025

Where to go on holiday in 2025

Whether your holiday planning is already well underway, or you’re still searching for inspiration, we’ve got the answers for every ‘right’ direction — after polling our SLH Club Members for

13 January 2025

This reimagined ryokan is Kyoto’s most stylish stay

A lovingly restored ryokan found within the mysterious maze of the ancient city of Kyoto, Sowaka artfully fuses the time-honoured tradition and artisanal design with 21st century comforts. Check in

28 October 2024

The Plettenberg

Our favourite travel photographs from last year’s archives

A year in pictures to inspire your 2024 travels From traditional teahouses in Kyoto and snow-blanketed cabins in Swedish Lapland to palm-fringed villas on Brazil’s Cocoa Coast, our brand content team surfed, sledded, and snapped their

11 January 2024