WE’VE SCOURED THE PLANET TO BRING YOU THE BEST NEW AND IMPROVED HOTELS, FROM A BEACHSIDE PAD IN SRI LANKA TO A MOUNTAIN LODGE IN NORWAY. WHETHER YOU WANT UNIQUE INTERIOR DESIGN, WORLD-BEATING FOOD, INCREDIBLE VALUE OR SIMPLY A CHANCE TO ESCAPE THE WORLD FOR A DAY OR TWO, YOU’RE GUARANTEED A MEMORABLE STAY AT EVERY ONE OF OUR 42 WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP
THE WINNERS
CAPELLA SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
UNDER CANVAS BRYCE CANYON, USA
SIX SENSES CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND
BOTANIC SANCTUARY, BELGIUM
ANANTARA CONVENTO DI AMALFI GRAND HOTEL, ITALY
AHU BAY, SRI LANKA
ALEENTA RETREAT CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
CAP KAROSO, INDONESIA
CANFRANC ESTACIÓN, SPAIN
BOYS HALL, ENGLAND
SOMMERRO, NORWAY
LIFE HOUSE, BERKSHIRES, USA
LEVEN, ENGLAND
DE DURGERDAM, NETHERLANDS
The judging panel of travel writers
JULIA BUCKLEY
LEE COBAJ
ZOEY GOTO
CAMILLA HEWITT
BEN LERWILL
ALICIA MILLER
JOHN O’CEALLAIGH
DANIEL STABLES
KERRY WALKER
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) TEAM
CITY STAR
FULLY IMMERSE YOURSELF IN URBAN LIFE AT THESE THREE STYLISH SPOTS
A painstaking labour of love brought Capella Sydney into being: it was formed from the city’s heritage-listed Department of Education building, a striking sandstone monolith in the financial district dating from 1912. Period features are complemented throughout with works by First Nations artists and tasteful design touches like vintage cocktail sets. Respite from the clamour of Sydney is promised at guest-only spa Auriga, which features locally inspired spa treatments. Visitors are actively encouraged to explore the wider city, too. The hotel team enthusiastically curates itineraries that range from private Champagne cruises along the harbour to foraging for endemic foods with Aboriginal Australian guides. From A$690 (£358), B&B. capellahotels.com
Runners-up
The kitschy-cool decor here spans the public spaces and 95 guest rooms, but the star of the show is the rooftop pool, with views of Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills. From $225 (£173), room only. palisociety.com
This hotel in Rome is an exercise in good taste. Vintage design touches complement magnificent period features, with mid-century modern furniture beneath goldfrescoed ceilings. From €820 (£707), B&B. palazzovilon.com
REMOTE ESCAPE
GET AWAY FROM IT ALL AT PROPERTIES THAT OFFER A TRUE ESCAPE FROM THE WORLD
Those yearning to get far, far away from it all should venture to the fiery red rocks of southwest Utah. Set on a plateau surrounded by 3,000m-high mountains are the 5
