Sure, your new year’s resolution could be to quit one of your naughtier habits or schlep down to the gym – or you could just stay resolved to keep doing the fun stuff. Like, say, planning where to stay in 2024. Perhaps enjoying Olympian feats of hospitality in Paris, hanging out on Leonard Cohen-loved Hellenic isle Hydra, immersing yourself in Cartagena’s faded charms, or chasing seasonal scenery and kaiseki feasts in Kyoto.
Don’t just look at your calendar longingly – start filling the days with look-forward-to getaways. Luckily, as die-hard hotel enthusiasts, we’ve ideas aplenty, and here’s where we’re obsessing over in 2024…
EUROPE
ENGLAND
England’s green and pleasant lands are made even more pleasant by this trio of brilliant British boltholes we’ve recently added to our books. First up, Margate House, an artful residence dolled-up in velvet and candy stripes, with a kiss-me-quick palette of rust and rosé. Just steps away from the seafront, the glamorous drawing room of this four-storey stay is the place to retire to with a cocktail after dizzy days out at Dreamland or playing critic at Turner Contemporary.
Albion’s avant-garde streak continues at Estelle Manor, a 60-acre Jacobean estate where antique armoires and restored panelling sit alongside contemporary artworks and mid-century furnishings. Later in the year they’ll be adding a Roman spa with a tepidarium, multiple pools, couples’ suites and thermal cabins. And, scattered across a lacustrine Cotswolds estate, Lakes By Yoo makes a fine escape for families its with a kids’ club, tennis courts, nature trails and a vertigo-inducing activity tower for white-knuckled mums and dads.
SCOTLAND
Home to moss-green mountains, pine forests and freshwater lochs, Scotland’s Perthshire Highlands have a lot in common with the wilds of Scandinavia. This hasn’t escaped the notice of the owners of the Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart, a former railway hotel just outside the historic town of Pitlochry. Tartan, thistles and other twee trappings are conspicuously absent here, supplanted by a soothing Nordic design scheme of landscape-inspired paints, timber panelling and sleek mid-century furniture, all washed in soft light from low-hanging bulbs. Every morning, the whisky-slinging Tully bar is transformed into a coffee shop and bakehouse, supplying a last hygge hug before you head out kayaking, fly fishing or gorge walking in the stark beauty of the Cairngorms National Park.
Sister stay Ballintaggart Farm, a pair of two-bedroom cottages and a six-bedroom farmhouse, adds in even more quiet and solitude. It’s just two miles from the main hotel, meaning dishes from the Grandtully’s restaurant can be delivered on request – rather handy if you get in from a hike to find your motivation to cook has evaporated like morning mist in a glen.
PARIS
On your marks, get set: we’re welcoming a summer of sport in the city of love. Leading the way for a top-score stay is the Norman Hôtel, not least because of its location (the Arc de Triomphe is, rather triumphantly, a hop from your doorstep). Stylish panelling is paired with psychedelic patterns and carpets with graphic designs, plus many of the rooms have terraces primed for surveying the streets below. And while you might not be competing, we won’t judge you for hours spent in the spa, where plunge pools, a soothing sauna and naturopathic treatments will aid recovery post-games (or post-gins).
Time to pass the baton to the Rosewood Hôtel de Crillon, an iconique front-row stay given its prime Parisian address. You needn’t go far for gold here: take the dangling aureate chandeliers, gilded cherub statues, and a subterranean pool glittering with 17,600 scales in – you guessed it – more gold. Rooms are all 18th-century opulence, there are three restaurants (plus a street-level pâtisserie), and personal butler service to boot. Turns out all that glitters is gold.
THE DOLOMITES
South Tyrol is best known as a winter playground for skiers and boarders. But it’s not all about the Dolomites – it has fabulous towns, too, which you can explore via our trio of newcomers. In Bolzano, the region’s capital, Parkhotel Mondschein is a restored, centuries-old stay that hosts a dynamic programme of events including restaurant pop-ups, alfresco art and music gigs, plus artists in residence (BYO beret…).
For an adults-only retreat set in a magical walled garden and loaned hotel frills by its next-door sister stay, head to Villa Arnica in Lana. And if it’s all about the food, Fink Restaurant & Suites, in Brixen’s old town, is a bolthole of chic barely-dressed suites with a top-notch Tyrolean restaurant.
SPAIN
Spanish region Asturias relishes its more undiscovered ‘outsider’ status, even if it’s pitched as the ‘real’ Spain (after all, the Reconquista started here many years ago). Its landscape caters to surfers and hikers alike; its food is heartily traditional; and its villages have held onto their historic charms. Get a sense of its timelessness, natural beauty and comfort eating at Solo Palacio hotel, a series of centuries-old buildings overlooking a nature park.
Then there’s the Balearics; themselves a bit bijou. Nobis Hotel Palma is housed in a 12th-century Islamic palace, whose rooms are kitted out with custom bed frames, one-of-a-kind artworks, and designer furniture. Over on Ibiza, it’s difficult to not be drawn to Petunia, given its view of Es Vedrà island: allegedly the third most magnetic place on earth. This fab finca’s 42 rooms all with feature private terraces or rattan-shaded gardens for ultimate pin-drop privacy.
MUNICH
Rosewood Munich takes very few cues from the city’s annual beer-guzzling bedlam – sure, you’ll be poured an expertly crafted lager in October as well as the rest of the year, though you’d be remiss not to order an exquisite margarita from its Lola Montez-inspired bar (the Spanish dancer was mistress of King Ludwig I). Instead, this former baroque palace is a hotel of consummate taste and poise, marrying elements of the city’s opulent architecture with its modern, measured look. Not that this is a sober stay… There’s fun to be had throughout, not least between the Rivolta Carmignani linen sheets in its regal rooms and suites.
GREECE
Greece seems to grow in sophistication every summer, although that didn’t stop Barbie herself (well, Margot Robbie at least) enjoying the beaches of up-and-coming Sifnos last summer (even if Ken was absent). Mostly famed for its gastronomy, the island recently added its own scene-stealing hotel in the shape of Nós, whose sleek suites are steps from the shore, and where massages are enjoyed with a view of the neighbouring islands.
Over on Serifos, Nostos is a boutique hotel above Livakadia Beach with neutral interiors in the way Greek islands do best. And in the so-lesser-visited-you’ve-probably-never-even-heard-of-it isle of Kastellerizo in the Dodecanese, Casa Mediterraneo is the colourful, charming vision of an architect turned hotelier. Opposite Paros is the isle of Naxos, once most famous for its potatoes, but now home to Ayiopetra. And, calling all Leonard Cohen fans: Hydra, where he met Marianne, still has no cars, just donkeys. Here we recommend live the Hellenic dream at Mandraki Beach Resort.
ICELAND
Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag us away from Torfhús Retreat, a romantic, rural stay in the heart of Iceland’s Golden Circle. And, even if they could, the majestic steeds you’ll find here are a gentle bunch, interested in grazing as much as they are galloping, but saddle-up and explore the retreat’s 50-hectares like a modern-day Viking before letting off steam in the basalt-stone geothermal pools built into the earth.
The retreat’s charming turf houses have cosy, chalet-style interiors and are made from local stone and reclaimed wood. Depending on the season, you’ll have views of mossy green plains, white blankets of snow, or a carpet of purple lupine flowers, with saw-tooth mountains zig-zagging on the horizon. And if you’re lucky, they’ll be lit-up in otherworldly shades of green – the area’s low light pollution makes it a lucky spot for glimpsing the elusive aurora borealis.
NORTH AMERICA
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Vacation like American royalty in 2024 with a trip to timeless summer playground, Martha’s Vineyard. Ready to receive guests once the season kicks into swing (just before Memorial Day), the Sydney, the Christopher and the Edgartown Inn are all in the harbourside hub of Edgartown, with incredible restaurants, cute boutiques, art galleries and historic captain’s houses all within walking distance. Also located along the town’s cobblestone streets are Faraway Martha’s Vineyard and charming bed and breakfast the Richard.
NEW YORK STATE
Instead of heading for the Hamptons in 2024, take Long Island’s North Fork to the summery town of Southold or historic sea-hub Greenport. Here be the kind of adventures you reminisce about through a hazy lens: shucking fresh oysters with an ice-cold sauvignon from a local vineyard in hand, tucking into two-hander lobster rolls, rides on antique carousels… At the Shoals, you’ll also get your own boat slip, so you can sail out into the Shelter Island Sound, and Sound View Greenport is a motel whose stilts step out over a stretch of private beach, and both have a retro sun-kissed feel.
Alternatively, head further upstate to Lake Placid, which – with its silent waves of mountains and new coat of colourful foliage each season – is far more peaceful than the toothy horror movie of the same name would have you believe. Both Bluebird and Eastwind Lake Placid have a chic cabin-y feel, ideal for s’mores by fire pits and perhaps the odd ‘kumbaya’ after a day out on the trails. And if you’re craving some city-based excitement, hit the road via NYC to gaze out at Lady Liberty from the immensely elegant Casa Cipriani, or revel in Aman New York’s sleek sophisticated minimalism, and its seductive three-storey spa.
TEXAS
The Lone Star State still has plenty of rowdy rodeos and barbecue joints to go around; but these days, Texas is better loved for its creative locales, craft breweries and indie restaurants. In art-focused Austin the Loren at Lady Bird Lake and Bingalow both impress with their restorative features (the former boasts a view-blessed rooftop pool; the latter, a spa area with twin hot tubs) and lakeside locations. Just a little further south, in its eponymous neighbourhood, South Congress Hotel has entered Austin’s scene on a strong note, with its mid-century-modern decor and an omakase-style cocktail bar.
Over in Fort Worth, Hotel Dryce (a portmanteau name nodding to its former life as a dry-ice factory) has shone a light on the city’s local talent – young artists of colour were commissioned by non-profit partner Art Tooth to create the work adorning the bar’s walls, and refined furnishings were all hand-crafted by the Cultural District’s artisans. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s Ranch Motel & Leisure Club plans to take things back to the Fifties with vintage interiors, a mezcal bar, and a vinyl-laden listening room.
CALIFORNIA
To get a feel for the wider Golden State, we’d suggest heading northwest to historic Los Olivos, where you’ll find the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. Named after its original 19th-century inhabitants – Swiss immigrants Felix and Lucy Mattei – this ranch-inspired retreat fills cosy cottages with Old Western touches and four award-winning restaurants with plates of Californian classics and locally grown chardonnays.
MEXICO
No trip to Oaxaca state, Mexico’s mezcal mecca, is complete without sampling the famed spirit; and where better to try it than Casa Silencio, a desert distillery and hotel with six sultry suites. Design inspiration is drawn from the surrounding sierra’s earthy tones, and raw materials are sourced from the local landscape, creating a self-sustaining retreat. A distillery tour and mezcal tasting are included in your stay – you’ll soon see how Oaxaca’s spirit, in all senses, flows freely here.
Over on the Yucatán peninsula, nature-swathed Boca de Agua sits on the banks of Bacalar’s seven-shades-of-blue namesake lake (which is conveniently within diving distance). Forget whatever image comes to mind when you hear ‘treehouse’ – these conscientiously constructed jungle casitas bring sustainable Japanese wabi-sabi design to lagoon-side living. There’s Mayan magic here, too (and not just because Bacalar is a protected pueblo mágico) – from the hotel’s foliage-framed cenote to the otherworldly stargazing platform.
SOUTH AMERICA
COLOMBIA
If you’ve read Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, you’ll remember that the characters never seem to be able to leave their oddly enchanting little village. Go to Cartagena, queen of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, and you’ll understand their intoxication. As vibrant as the flowers that cascade from almost every balcony and rooftop, the old city looks like something Márquez made up – such is its mystical beauty and air of faded charm. We’ve the perfect pairing in the form of two glorious (and family-friendly) villas: Casa Manatial in the heart of the old city, and coastal hideaway Casa Ceiba, gracing a wayward stretch of coastline on the Isla Barú.
To the south in Andean foothills close to Medellín is Cannúa, where the glass-walled rooms look out across an undulating stretch of cloud forest. It’s not merely a feast for the eyes but the senses too: the French-Colombian restaurant has a bold and hyper-local menu featuring foraged ingredients you’ve likely never tasted before. Equally arresting is Casa Yahri, a tiny hotel set in Barichara, a quaint, colonial-style town which proved a hit with the producers of Disney’s Encanto when they visited on a research trip. There are only four rooms, so you’ll feel like a pampered member of a tiny village. Just mind you don’t end up staying 100 years…
ASIA
INDONESIA
We’ll be heading to Indonesia’s islands in 2024, a firm favourite for postcard-perfect holidays. In big-hitter Bali, Stone House feels off the beaten path, even though it’s close to cultural capital Ubud. Each room is individually designed – sleep among the stars in the Treehouse or gaze out to paddy fields from the Longhouse. And, you can ditch your Calm app – you’ll drift off in no time listening to the surrounding jungle sounds.
For more screensaver-worthy scenery, Gili Air island is a hop, skip and short ferry ride away from Lombok. Sandwiched between beach and jungle, Villa Tokay’s sweeping bamboo structures are an artisan-crafted architectural feat. Each of the seven indoor-outdoor villas – inspired by shells, leaves and other natural forms – has a private pool, where days can start with a floating breakfast (because, let’s be honest, did you even go to Indonesia if you didn’t start your day this way?).
THAILAND
In 2023, Thailand has been dishing out some serious come-hither signals with a fresh haul of resorts for us to coo over. First up is Cielo Boutique Hotel & Spa, a honey-hued wellness retreat with thatched villas edging powder sands, tucked into tropical greenery on Koh Samui’s Bophut Beach.
On the west coast, bordering the bluest of lagoons, the Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort (coming soon) has similar barefoot appeal, set in quiet seclusion and yet only 20 minutes from Ao Nang. Completing the trinity is soon-to-launch addition, Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai, a holistic hideaway of restored teak dwellings, geographically close to the city but, thanks to the serenity of its setting, figuratively a world away.
KYOTO
What leaf-peeping is to New England, cherry-blossom-seeking is to Japan and this year foliage fans can get their fix in Kyoto, where the pink sakura petals are especially in bloom come spring. The super-boutique (as in four suites) Shinsho-An is usually by invitation only, but luckily the extended Smith family is on the list. The temple-like rooms are supremely peaceful, with an onsen-style bath tub for authentic Japanese ablutions, Italian furniture elevating the interiors and comfortable clothing for guests to borrow so that their own off-brand trackies and leggings don’t interfere with the Zen.
Shinsho-An has one of the best restaurants in Kyoto, too. Ogata’s bookings open a year in advance but as hotel guests, you’ll get priority access to the chef’s masterful kaiseki cooking.
NEPAL
There was a time when the magical Nepalese kingdom of Mustang was forbidden to tourists, but now you’re very welcome to come explore soaring mountain passes and lofty temples, ride Mustang horses through rocky scenes, spy Pallas cats or Tibetan wolves and more, with a stay at stylish boutique basecamp Shinta Mani Mustang. Big-deal designer Bill Bensley’s added fun and thoughtful local touches to luxury here, such as tiger-shaped rugs, handwoven throws, stools topped with yak fur, and drawings of local scenes by his artist friend Robert Powell – although you’ll likely be laser-focused on the otherworldly panoramas from every window. Over a five-night stay you’ll have peak picnics, meet the locals, seek herbal wisdom from an 11th-generation amchi (doctor), and feel welcomed like never before.
AFRICA
MOROCCO
Le Jardin Majorelle, with its acid-bright villa and cacophony of plant life is one of Marrakech’s most visually arresting spots, and as de rigueur a stop for visitors to the city as Djemaa El-Fna market square. If you missed your chance to snap up Yves Saint Laurent’s former home here when it was sold by Sotheby’s in 2022, well, Maison Brummell Majorelle has just moved in next door.
An oasis of a whole different kind awaits an hour southwest of the city at Caravan by Habitas Agafay, where the hubbub quiets into Atlas Mountain-backed scenery, camel trains silhouetted against soaring dunes and nights carpeted with stars. Habitas has a holistic approach to the ways you can pass time here, with meditation on the sand, interpretive dance classes, calligraphy lessons, evening tea ceremonies and other pursuits that dig a bit deeper.
ZIMBABWE
If you want to see Victoria Falls in full furious flow, don’t listen to Toto’s advice – avoid rather than bless the summer rains, planning your trip between February and May after showers have stopped. Then, place yourself close enough to the Zambezi that you can see the high-water spray and hear the ‘smoke that thunders’ roar in the distance as you drift off to sleep. Victoria Falls River Lodge has a promising perch, with the full falls a short transfer away, as well as romantic indoor-outdoor style; alfresco bath tubs from which you might spy wandering elephants, and sundowners with one hell of a view.
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST
Sydney’s a great place to get your new year rolling, and if you stay beyond your hangover, celebrations segue into the Sydney Festival from 5 to 28 January, when there’ll be days of live music, DJs and art happenings by Darling Harbour and Walsh Bay. Then Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour swings into town from 23 to 26 February – but even if you have bad blood with official resellers because tickets are gone, you can shake it off in style at urbane hangout the Ace Hotel Sydney or vintage-school-made-cool Capella Sydney.
And, take a cue from Tay and send yourself on tour up the coast for a spell at bucolic hideaway Bask & Stow, which brings mid-century modernism to Byron Bay. It’s an ideal spot for exploring the city’s shiny new Queen’s Wharf, come April. And three hours further north, Essence Peregian Beach has Noosa National Park and Biosphere as its back yard.
