The Most Romantic Hotels in the World

These hideaways and flamboyant resorts provide something for every couple, regardless of whether they wish to prioritize rest or action.

Travel is inherently romantic Hotel, whether it’s the silence of an adults-only hideaway, the way an infinity pool disappears into the distance, the sound of champagne glasses clinking on an outdoor patio, or the peaceful intimacy of snorkeling beside one another in the crystal-clear ocean. Here, exploring a new place together may make the world seem like it’s all yours. Selected hotels across the world provide these experiences and elevate them to a new level.

There are places all over the world that are made to accommodate lovers, even though some places are unquestionably Most Romantic Hotels in the World than others. Examples include candlelit dinners in the French countryside, overwater bungalows in the Maldives, a private retreat in Portofino, and cliffside plunge pools in Santorini. Whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or just a well-earned getaway, we’ve compiled a list of the world’s most romantic hotels that create the perfect backdrop for life-changing experiences. Experience is the key to true romance: Try something new together, take chances, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

The Bay of Hermitage, Antigua

2018 Readers’ Choice Awards $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018 2021, 2022

Antigua’s Hermitage Bay is a romantic haven, a veritable pocket of tranquil paradise. The 30 light-filled, modern villas include large patios, private plunge pools, and unhindered views of the ocean. You two can savor unlimited gourmet meals, fresh sushi, and expertly made beverages at an all-inclusive getaway. have a spa treatment as a pair at the Garden Spa on the hill, have cocktails at sunset on the beach, or go snorkeling in the pristine seas. Take a paddleboard or private boat hire in the serene cove for some adventure.

Greece’s Mandarin Oriental

$$$ | 2024 HOT LIST

The Mandarin Oriental is nestled amid the unspoiled Costa Navarino coastline of Greece, surrounded by dunes, secret coves, and gardens teeming with oleander and rosemary. The 48 pool villas and 51 suites, which are adorned with local plants, provide seclusion and peaceful elegance. Evenings are spent at Tahir over wood-fired pizza or velvety baba ghanoush, while mornings begin with milk cake and pistachio-studded yogurt on Oliviera’s balcony. It’s ideal to spend the day boating between isolated coves or lounging in the citrus-colored spa. In this type of setting, time seems to slow down just enough.

Spain’s La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel

$$$ | 2021, 2022, and 2024 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Nestled in the foothills of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies La Residencia, a charming haven that seems both spacious and private. This Belmond collection property, which was once owned by Richard Branson, combines historic structures with contemporary amenities to provide 71 rooms with individual terraces, some of which have plunge pools, and views of the village and the glistening ocean. From romantic dinners at El Olivo, which offers a variety of Mallorcan cuisines, to private boat excursions around the coast, love is evident everywhere.

The Maldives, namely the Nautilus

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2021

The Nautilus Maldives is romantic in every way. The property offers unmatched intimacy with just 26 individual bungalows, some of which are situated on the beach and others that sprawl out over the pristine ocean. Every villa has a separate living room, a private pool, and a personal butler who is ready to create your ideal retreat. This is a unique location where the everyday disappears, leaving just you and your significant other to unwind and enjoy, whether it’s champagne served in bed, a breakfast sail on a lavish yacht, or an afternoon swim with manta rays.

Austria’s Hotel Motto in Vienna

$ | 2022 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS HOT LIST

Vienna, why not? With a hint of Parisian decor from the 1920s, Hotel Motto in the Austrian city offers a new, cozy interpretation of the city’s modern charm. With its striking murals of bellhops in pink suits and suites with art deco accents, the chic hotel welcomes couples to relax in an environment that blends classic elegance with chic, contemporary comfort. Start your day with a crêpe and activated charcoal latte, or travel to the top-floor Chez Bernard, covered in cascading foliage, for classic bistro fare and local cocktails in the evenings. Tucked away on the seventh floor, the tiny wellness area provides a calm spa experience, making it the ideal refuge for a romantic getaway.

Ireland’s Adare Manor

$$ | Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | GOLD LIST 2020, 2025 | HOT LIST 2018

Adare combines the old and the new in a delightful way. One of the nearest country manors in Ireland for an ultra-green, romantic break is only 30 minutes from Shannon Airport for US visitors. (From Dublin, it’s also a simple two-hour trip.) Adare’s fantastical gargoyles, truly friendly staff, vast and private areas, and incredibly comfortable rooms, all while maintaining an old-school, aristocratic atmosphere, make it a place that is unmistakably and distinctively the Ireland of today—with a renovated golf course,

provided by professional architect Tom Fazio, along with falconry. The 365 leaded windows, 52 elaborate chimneys, four towers, and seven stone pillars that represent the days, weeks, and seasons of a year as well as the number of days in a week are also noteworthy. (It was constructed in the Neo-Gothic “calendar house” style in 1860.) Isn’t that a sign of enduring relationships?

French Polynesia’s Brando

$$$ | HOT LIST 2015 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 | GOLD LIST 2019, 2025

While filming Mutiny on the Bounty, Marlon Brando fell in love with Tetiaroa, and his vision continues to this day at The Brando. With only 35 thatched-roof houses, each with a private plunge pool and direct beach access, this remote atoll in French Polynesia is nonetheless pristine and surreal. Explore the island’s untamed splendor by hiking past historic Polynesian temples, snorkeling with colorful reef fish, or taking in the resort’s innovative conservation initiatives up close. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience romance in its most authentic form, a location that seems both incredibly connected and incredibly remote.

Guatemala’s Casa Palopó

$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE IN 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021

At Casa Palopó on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, romance flourishes in the little things. It offers an intimate setting ideal for couples, with just nine suites, each distinctively decorated with modern luxury and traditional Mayan influences. The lake’s glistening waters and volcanic peaks provide a striking background for peaceful mornings or sunset drinks, and the views are expansive from every suite. Spend your days together, strolling around neighboring villages, studying the local way of life, or just lounging by the lake. It’s a remote sensory experience where culture and environment combine to offer the ideal backdrop for a romantic (and possibly less expensive) retreat.

France’s Auberge Resorts Collection’s Domaine des Etangs

$$ | Readers’ Choice Awards 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; GOLD LIST 2020, 2024; HOT LIST 2016

The perfect example of art de vivre is Domaine des Etangs, where romance, nature, and history all coexist. Surrounded by 2,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, and pastures populated with Limousin cattle, this 13th-century château overlooks a tranquil lake in the French countryside, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale. The cozy suites, created by Isabelle Stanislas, combine the château’s historic charm—stone walls, antique furnishings, and gargoyles—with contemporary elegance. It’s a haven for couples: enjoy the farm-to-table food, stroll around the grounds, or row across the lake with a picnic. This is romantic, serene, and timeless leisurely luxury.

Italy’s Rocco Forte Hotel, Villa Igiea

$$$ | 2023 HOT LIST GOLD LIST The 2022 Reader’s Choice Awards

The aperitivo hour, which takes place on a cool outside terrace with a jazz pianist playing, is the focal point of life at this lesson in subtle elegance. Villa Igiea transports visitors to a bygone era when a couple would dress up merely to see one another, and the passion that is permeating this Italian atmosphere is only heightened by being around other couples who are doing the same.

Create an evening where you can spend time with your significant other while seeing those who have come for the same emotion—couples who have been together for decades sipping their hundredth martini, young loves from wealthy households snatching away for a weekend, etc. “This resort is so timeless and elegant that you almost feel nostalgic for a Sicily that never even existed during your lifetime,” executive editor Erin Florio wrote in her assessment.

Kenya’s Angama Mara

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2021 HOT LIST 2016

Redefining the safari experience, Angama Mara is situated on the Oloololo Escarpment and offers expansive views of Kenya’s Mara Triangle. With 15 tented suites each, the two camps combine glass and canvas to provide unbroken views of the savanna, even when taking a shower. With its sophisticated Italian accents and a pavilion that houses a library, store, gym, and infinity pool, this is not your typical safari setup. The main show, however, is outside, whether it’s hot air ballooning before dawn, game drives across grasslands filled with lions, or just taking in the Great Migration below. With a touch of cosmopolitanism, it’s safari romance at its most cinematic.

Mykonos’s Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2017–2018–2019–2020–2021, 2023–2024–2025 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2023

Shannon McMahon, a destination editor, traveled here for her honeymoon and has no regrets about it. She considers it a hotel “to plan your entire trip around,” in fact. The Santa Marina stands out from other island hotels for more reasons than only being the only sandy section of private beach on Mykonos, which also happens to be the only place on the island where you can be sure of some prolonged peace and quiet from endless crowds of partygoers.

There is a large spa with hammam-style treatments, as well as swimming from an impossible-soft sand beach into unusually serene Mykonos settings. Both of the eateries are Packed with mild aphrodisiacs—one offering a plethora of Asian-fusion seafood, while another offers grilled octopus and slow-cooked lamb in the taverna style. But don’t worry—the Dionysian date nights continue to have a lively party at the beachside bar into the early hours of the morning.

Italy’s Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018, 2020, 2023

The Grand Hotel Tremezzo has been in family ownership since its founding in 1910 and is very magnificent. Situated right on the shores of Lake Como, it’s a spot that has long been setting the standards for European luxury hotels—it’s difficult to find the hotel reviewed or mentioned without a nod to the ever-updating, always-on-their-game staff and facilities (they do, after all, shutter every winter for renovations).

Don’t get me wrong, it’s really formal, but this is a space that’s meant to be occupied by you all day—Sleep on silk linens and a feather mattress topper, swim in the pool that floats on the lake, enjoy a digestivo on the terrace of TBar, and eat Lady and the Tramp-style at La Terrazza with homemade pastas and shaved truffles.

Greece’s Perivolas Lifestyle Houses

The Gold List of the 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, which includes the following years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

A more subdued, tranquil version of Santorini’s well-known cliffside views can be seen at Perivolas Lifestyle Houses. The property’s rooms, which are made of brushed concrete and have arched doorways and curving ceilings that feel like an extension of the surroundings, stand out from the more crowded, well-known hotels on the island. Floor cushions and bougainvillea are two colorful accents that add coziness to the otherwise simple design. Nestled next to the pool, the restaurant serves straightforward yet expertly prepared regional cuisine, and the tiny spa is flooded with natural light. Here, there is a lasting sense of tranquility and a gentler pace that contrasts sharply with the island’s tourist-driven bustle; there is no frantic luxury.

Italy’s Forestis

$$ | 2021 HOT LIST

Situated on the south-facing slope of the Plose mountain in South Tyrol, Forestis is the result of a century-old sanatorium that was transformed into a modern spa resort. Every moment is enveloped in the unadulterated beauty of the Alps thanks to the property’s simple, nature-inspired design, which is dominated by pine, larch, glass, and stone and offers expansive vistas of the snow-capped Dolomites. In this context, wellness is fostering a connection with nature: consider evergreen wood massages and contemplative forest walks. After a substantial supper, guests congregate around a firepit beneath the stars every evening to enjoy cocktails laced with herbs.

Portofino, Italy’s Splendido, A Belmond Hotel

Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2025

Splendido, a Belmond Hotel perched above Portofino’s dazzling harbor, is a classic hideaway that elevates romance to the level of art. Originally a Benedictine monastery, this famous retreat has attracted celebrities like Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor due to its seamless elegance and picture-perfect surroundings. Its furnishings are now glowing in gentle pastels after a multi-year makeover, and the Ligurian Sea is reflected in the saltwater pool. Couples can wander down to Portofino’s quaint piazzetta, stay for a while enjoying spritzes at La Terrazza, or wake up to the sound of birdsong and the dawn over the cliffs. Splendido is an absolute paradise for anyone looking for unadulterated romance.

Iceland’s Deplar Farm

$$$ | READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2019, 2021 | GOLD LIST 2019, 2023

The Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland—don’t let the name make you think of monsters—is one of the country’s most beautiful mountain ranges. Sheep outnumber people here, and this remote location is completely romantic—as if you and your significant other have fled to a mist-covered Eden, and as long as you are there, you are unconcerned with the problems of the outside world.

With only 32 guests allowed at a time, the former farm is always peaceful and reflective, and the variety of activities offered during the winter months is especially amazing. Fly-fishing and heli-skiing pristine slopes are only two examples of banner trips.Trekking to Langhus Farm offers views of the Arctic Circle over the Greenland Sea and the opportunity to ride Icelandic horses.

Puerto Rico’s Royal Isabela

$$$

Royal Isabela is a beautiful coastal haven that combines history, nature, elegance, and of course, romance. It is perched on a cliff with a striking stone tower overlooking Puerto Rico’s west coast. The main structure of the property, La Casa, was inspired by an old sugar mill and looks out over 426 acres of seaside land that are kept as a golf course and nature preserve.

With an organic farm supplying the restaurant and rainwater recycling, sustainability is crucial. See humpback whales (January–April), sea turtles, and a variety of birds that inhabit the trees and the cliffline. Couples can enjoy fresh farm-to-table meals, explore beautiful pathways, or enjoy expansive views of the ocean from their private casitas (near the exclusive adults-only pool).

Couples can order a ride out through the western caverns, a snorkeling tour, or a private picnic on the beach through a new experience service that was developed in collaboration with one of their Experience Specialists. Without being very busy, Royal Isabela is one of the most romantic Caribbean destinations due to its untamed beauty and cozy ambiance.

California’s Post Ranch Inn

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2022, 2025

Big Sur’s Post Ranch Inn is a masterwork of fusing luxury with the unadulterated force of nature. The 40 accommodations, which range from treehouses to clifftop suites, are set against spectacular cliffs and provide breathtaking views of the neighboring Pacific Ocean or the untamed mountain range. The main goal of the design is to blend in with the surroundings and create a haven that feels like it belongs there rather than above them. Hiking paths, exploring the chef’s garden, or even taking falconry lessons are ways for couples to get more involved.

Bora Bora’s Four Seasons Resort

The Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

This is a puzzle for you: What’s better than doing absolutely nothing? Bora Bora, doing absolutely nothing. This French Polynesian paradise feels worlds away from the ordinary grind, whether you’re a parent in need of a vacation or on your honeymoon. With kilometers of crystal-clear waters to gaze upon, you and your significant other will have very nothing to divert your attention from one another. Numerous multi-bedroom beachfront villas and overwater bungalow suites (with views of the lagoon or mountains) are available at this upscale Four Seasons resort.

However, we would advise reserving one of the specialist overwater bungalow suites for the entire experience;(with views of the mountains or the lagoon) to pick from. For the complete experience, however, we would recommend reserving one of the speciality overwater bungalow suites; these one-bedroom configurations provide almost 1,600 square feet of space for movement, along with a private plunge pool or a terrace that extends the length of the house. Reserve a couples’ treatment at the overwater spa suite to really up the romantic ante. The outdoor tub overlooks neighboring Mount Otemanu, and the beds are situated above glass panels on the lagoon.

& Outside of Mozambique’s Benguerra Island

$$$ | Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2019, 2024; GOLD LIST 2020, 2021; HOT LIST 2016

Flying from Johannesburg to Vilankulos and then taking an eight-minute helicopter ride to Benguerra Island is the most efficient way to reach this resort off the coast of Mozambique, in the breathtakingly sun-dappled Bazaruto Archipelago. But the extra work is worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. You’ll discover a quiet haven with lots to discover once you get there—Additionally, you’re virtually as likely as anybody else to see the local wildlife because there are only 10 casinhas, two cabanas,

and one three-bedroom casa, and there are about 140 different species of birds, ranging from flamingos to kingfishers. In addition to horseback riding, sunset cruising on a traditional dhow, and big game fishing, you’ll want to spend days relaxing on its immaculate beaches with views of the nearby lagoon. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the flamingos that live in a nearby freshwater lake—especially if you bring a “castaway picnic” to go with you. From there, you may continue on to a totally isolated beach.

South Africa’s Lion Sands Game Reserve

The Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

This opulent 10,000-acre resort, which includes two villas and four lodges, is situated on the banks of the Sabi River. The cream and beige suites at River Lodge feature freestanding tubs and both indoor and outdoor showers, while the ivory and ebony Ivory Lodge rooms feature African antiques and views of the reserve and its residents from private terraces with plunge pools. With lanterns, candles, the stars, and the moonlight, the three distinct treehouses—Chalkley, Kingston, and Tinyeleti—cannot be more lovely. After taking open jeep safaris to see lions and elephants, savor traditional Boma cuisine,then spend the night there while listening to the far-off roars of lions, hyenas, hippos, and leopards.

Cliff Walk, Rhode Island’s The Chanler

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

We wager that the Age of Innocence started and continued in this lavish beach resort, offering a genuine flavor of American history. You would have probably run into a Vanderbilt at The Chanler at Cliff Walk in the late 1800s, as Newport has historically catered to the top class of the nation. These days, rooms are furnished in a variety of historical styles, each one being more ostentatious than the last.

Our favorite is the Martha’s Vineyard villa, a stunning oceanfront home with prim blue chairs, a mantled fireplace, and a full-canopied four-poster king bed with a hardwood frame that is exquisitely carved.Reserve one of its three private yurts for the summer so you can have a light, prix-fixe meal (think whitefish crudo and fresh tomato salad) while taking in the sea breeze. This location has frequently been chosen as America’s most romantic hotel for a reason—or 10.

Bali’s COMO Shambhala Estate

Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018

When you arrive at COMO Shambhala Estate, a designer health retreat nestled in the jungle on a series of hilltops above the Ayung River on the island of Bali, you are met with breathtaking views. For almost twenty years, COMO Shambhala has been a five-star haven for affluent tourists hoping to bid stress a fond farewell and welcome spiritual growth. Each of its 30 rooms, suites, and pool villas blends East and West, with tasteful antiques and hand carvings adorning their otherwise minimalist decor.

(Retreat Villas with one bedroom have their own treatment rooms, whereas standalone villas have private pools.) There’s a reason COMO Shambhala is among our readers if you’re interested in wellbeing.preferred resorts in Asia: it’s more elegant and opulent than traditional spas; it’s more calming and transforming than corporate chain resorts; and it has every tropical scene worthy of an Instagram post.

Chile’s Tierra Patagonia

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2018/2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 | GOLD LIST 2023, 2025

There’s something inherently romantic about feeling as though you’re on the edge of the world, yet with the person you love. You and your significant other will also feel as though you are truly out there at the 40-room Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, which is located on the outskirts of Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. The low-slung hotel, which is banked with dirt and covered in lenga beechwood, winds for 650 feet down the base of a bluff.

Its aerodynamic shape hardly breaks up the gales that blow in from Patagonia’s Southern Ice Field. The guest rooms are simple, with simple wood, wool, and leather decor. all to highlight the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding peak and pampa. After touring the park for the day, get return to your superior suite to continue admiring the views from the warm waters of a deep-soak bathtub. The hotel provides guided tours both inside and outside the park, including hiking and horseback riding.

Mexico’s Hotel Esencia

$$ | READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2019, 2024, GOLD LIST 2018, 2019, 2023

Esencia is one of those hotels that bohemians in the know talk about in whispers, and nobody wants to share this secret. It is located right on Xpu-ha Beach, the best stretch of white sands on this section of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. However, those who do manage to arrive find a tiny, unspoiled beauty of setting on a palm-swaying estate on the brink of the crashing sea. In addition to hammocks for relaxation, there is a dimly lit spa with custom blends that are prepared from elements gathered from the Caribbean’s waters and the nearby Mayan jungle and crushed into poultices to help untangle knots.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is only a five-minute hop on the hotel’s boat for snorkeling among rainbow-colored fish. Feeling peckish? A wooden beach bar under a two-story palapa serves the greatest margaritas in Mexico, while Mistura, a restaurant with views of the moon-dappled sea, offers tacos and ceviches. Then, of course, there are the rooms: A study in white, the Jungle Suites feature beach suites and plunge pools (some indoor, others outdoor), while the interiors of the home, which was originally constructed as a refuge for an Italian duchess, feature splashes of 1950s art and spacious bedrooms with ample balconies.

Japan’s Aman Kyoto

Readers’ Choice Awards 2020, 2022 | GOLD LIST 2025 | HOT LIST 2020

Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and the cherry blossoms that bloom every spring are just a few of the many sights and activities to be found in medieval Kyoto. However, the Aman, which is located in the northern suburbs of the city, is the place to go if you want a stronger dosage of nature to go along with your daily dose of culture. The point is that it feels worlds apart from the strains of ordinary life, surrounded by hilly woodland and crisscrossed by flowing streams and moss-covered trails. As soon as you leave the city.

You may enjoy the resort’s incredibly serene atmosphere, stroll through the lush garden where camellias bloom in the winter and azaleas appear in the summer, and explore the forested slopes that it shares with the nearby Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a protected UNESCO site. A thoughtful, almost unanticipatedly romantic journey that gives you both the opportunity to unwind and re-connect on your own terms is what you’ll find when you combine meditation sessions with a zen Buddhist monk with the opportunity to take a dip in the resort’s onsen bathing pools’ mineral hot springs.

Antigua’s Jumby Bay Island

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018, 2023

Only in the Caribbean can one find the comforts of this 300-acre private island off the north coast of Antigua. There is a “no cars, no keys” rule in place, and the area is untamed and rocky, teeming with lizards and devoid of any vehicles that aren’t walking. From your villa or suite, you can come and go as you like, visiting the three restaurants, the spa, the several beaches, and other locations throughout the island. There is plenty of space to play house whether you choose the villa or the suite. Each suite has a bright entry courtyard with wicker chair swings and a terrace with a view of the ocean.

Cap Juluca, Anguilla’s Belmond Hotel

$$$ | GOLD LIST 2021 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2017–2018–2019–2020–2021–2022–2023–2024

When Cap Juluca initially opened in 1988, it immediately gained popularity among the jet-set, who were attracted by the immaculate Maundays Bay sands and the spacious, Moroccan-style domed houses that line them. An renovation was long needed by the time Belmond purchased the property in 2017; however, Hurricane Irma devastated everything but the sugar-cube villas a week after they closed. With five villas, two new eateries (including a renovated Pimms), and a sparkling spa,

it reopened in late 2018; nevertheless, LVMH revealed a few days after that it had signed an agreement to buy Belmond. undoubtedly a hint that the elite will keep coming to this opulent resort in Maundays Bay for years to come. Although you will undoubtedly spend a lot of time lounging on the beach, don’t completely abandon the villas during the day. Equipped with four-poster beds, linen curtains that open when the door is opened, and plush Beni Ourain carpets, these villas make a late-afternoon nap enjoyable without the associated guilt.

California’s Malibu Beach Inn

Readers’ Choice Awards for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2023 HOT LIST 2017

With its location along the row, Malibu Beach Inn democratizes the renownedly gorgeous “Billionaire’s Beach” in the Los Angeles area. The inn invites you to stay the night and take in the views that our neighbors have paid unimaginable sums of money for. The rooms are clean, with lots of neutral colors and warm-finished wood, but you’ll want to spend as much time outside as you can. By the way,

it’s not just what you see; the whole sensory experience includes the sound of breaking waves that can be heard from the terrace restaurant and your own balcony, as well as from almost everywhere else. and the cool, salty air lulling you into an unbreakable calm. See Wales, eat some branzino, drink a local wine, and simply have fun. The hotel has recently reopened after being miraculously unaffected by the fires in Los Angeles.

Portugal’s Douro Valley: Six Senses

$$ | READER’S CHOICE AWARDS 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 GOLD LIST 2018 2020

If you follow other health-focused retreats’ austere, alcohol-free programs, wellness and wine might not seem like a good combination. However, they complement each other well at this hotel, which is surrounded by undulating vineyards in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Enjoy a deep tissue massage or an antioxidant grape facial in one of the spa’s ten treatment rooms after spending your days in the sun and relaxing by the outdoor pool (or indoor one, if the weather isn’t cooperative); or enroll in one of the dozens of activities available, such as a trip to the nearby villages (via Tesla).

where you may tour Quinta Viscondes da Várzea, an 18th-century manor house, and take a cookery class in its former school kitchen after seeing the restored Cistercian monasteries of S. João de Tarouca and Salzedas from the 12th century. Helicopter flights, kayaking on the eponymous river, and even traditional tree climbing with climbing equipment are just a few of the activities available to get you fully outside. Naturally, there are plenty of chances to taste the local wine both on and off the property.

For the former, schedule a time in the hotel’s wine library to learn the fundamentals of winemaking and sample a few for yourself; for the latter, plan a visit to some of the local boutique wineries.

Hawaii’s Hotel Wailea

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Our readers say that one of Maui’s greatest resorts isn’t on the beach. The 72 suites at Hawaii’s only upscale adults-only resort, which spans 15 acres and has 180-degree vistas of neighboring Lanai and Kaho‘olawe, really make that a plus. Make sure to entrust your holiday to the amazing personnel, even though there is a bus to the beach (and workers to assist you with umbrellas, towels, and the like once you hit the sand).

Let them plan a picnic on the beach—a wonderful meal to savor at dusk.Aerial yoga, sunset sailing, and kiteboarding courses are also available. Do you like old cars? Experience the drive of your dreams in the 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster replica at Hotel Wailea—that is, if you know how to drive a manual.

France’s Hôtel du Palais Biarritz

$$ | Readers’ Choice Awards 2017–2018–2023 GOLD LIST

When Napoleon III acquired a seaside property at Biarritz and built a massive holiday residence as a testament to his love for his wife, Empress Eugénie, in 1854, the bustling resort town gained international attention. This palace was converted into the Hotel du Palais in 1892, and following an incredibly ambitious four-year makeover, the hotel reopened in 2021.

The feeling of sweet and decadent dedication not only endures but also triumphs after all these years and changes. Imagine a lavish bar illuminated by a 900-pound crystal chandelier, and a ballroom decorated with fairytales that are ideal for a waltz.The most exquisite of them is the enormous Guerlain Imperial Spa, which bears the name of the perfumer who created a unique scent for Eugénie. Everything in these walls has been individually designed for you as a present.

LUCIA, JADE MOUNTAIN

Jade Mountain has been praised as the most romantic hotel in the Caribbean since its opening. Jade Mountain is the result of architect Nick Troubetz koy’s expansion of his philosophy of creating in harmony with Caribbean nature. Jade Mountain is one of the most captivating resort experiences in the Caribbean because of its daring architectural design, which includes individual bridges that connect to magnificent infinity pool retreats and rocky, stone-faced columns that rise towards the sky. The property’s location is unparalleled, as it rises majestically above Anse Chastanet’s exclusive estate. Its 600 lush tropical acres surround two soft,

beautiful coral reefs off the coast of Caribbean beaches with sand. The 29 apartments (referred to as “sanctuaries”) atop Jade Mountain, which lack the fourth wall, are stage-like locations from which to take in the full splendor of the twin peaks of St. Lucia, the Pitons World Heritage Site, and, of course, the everlasting Caribbean Sea.

• Website for the hotel: Jade Mountain
• Additional honors: Jade Mountain is included in my top ten rankings of the world’s greatest honeymoon resorts, the best hotels in the Caribbean, the best hotel suites with the nicest views, and the best resorts with private plunge pools.
• When making a reservation with Virtuoso, take advantage of free VIP benefits including a room upgrade, daily breakfast, early and late check-ins, and a $100 USD hotel credit.