Must-see hotels in Asia

  • Camellia Dwellings

    Hikkaduwa & Around

    The five rooms in this colonial-style villa are spacious and well tended, making it excellent value. Major pluses are the friendly owner and staff and the…

  • Cardamom Tented Camp

    South Coast

    Nestled deep in Botum Sakor National Park on the banks of the wildlife-laden Prek Tachan River, Cardamom Tented Camp is both a model ecotourism success…

  • Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge

    Chitwan National Park

    Chitwan's leading lodge is still on Top. Tiger Tops was the very first lodge in the park, before it even was one, and later helped lobby for the park's…

  • Three Camel Lodge

    The Gobi

    To experience Three Camels is to know the epitome of the upscale Mongolian ger camp experience. Visitors stay in luxurious gers, which are decorated with…

  • IkhNart Wilderness Camp

    The Gobi

    Nomadic Journeys operates this splendid tourist camp in the reserve, about 50km drive from Shiveegobi train station. Guided wildlife walks, multiday camel…

  • Tsuru-no-yu Onsen

    Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)

    The jewel of Nyūtō, Tsuru-no-yu is the epitome of the Japanese ryokan: discreet, atmospheric and sumptuous. At every turn there's another picture-perfect…

  • The Machan

    Maharashtra

    This astonishing choice hidden away in forested mountains 16km south of Lonavla buries the competition for the state's best hotel. The 28 pine and red…

  • Diphlu River Lodge

    Assam

    Easily the best place to stay in the Kaziranga area, this superb resort 15km west of Kohora near Bagori Police Outpost, combines fine luxuries and top…

  • Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

    Kathmandu

    No expense has been spared on this superb palace-style building, from the dramatic entrance of Newari water pools to the modern Malla-style architecture…

  • Nomad Homestay

    Sichuan

    Organised by the Khampa Nomad Ecolodge, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay with a genuine nomad family in their tent. Don't expect anything about…

  • Cove Eco Resort

    Raja Ampat Islands

    Centrally located from many of Raja Ampat's finest diving spots and land-based excursions, this year-old, intimate private-island resort simply has it all…

  • Dwarika’s

    Kathmandu

    For stylish design and sheer romance, this outstanding hotel is unbeatable; if you’re on your honeymoon, look no further. Over 40 years the owners have…

  • Panjim Inn

    Panaji

    One of the original heritage hotels in Fontainhas, the Panjim Inn has been a long-standing favourite for its character and charm. Run by the lovely…

  • Pig's Inn Bishan

    Anhui

    There is no better way to experience the extravagant villas of the Huizhou merchants than to spend a few days living in one, waking for breakfast…

  • Mesa Stila Resort

    Central Java

    Nestled in a 22-hectare coffee plantation, the Mesa Stila Resort is one of Indonesia’s most magical hotels. At an altitude of 900m, the forest gives way…

  • ITC Maratha

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    This five-star, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified hotel channels the most luxurious local character. The details are…

  • Songtsam Choskyi Linka Lhasa

    Lhasa

    Lhasa's most stylish accommodation comes thanks to the Songtsam chain, which runs seven boutique lodges in the Tibetan area of Yunnan. The 50 rooms here…

  • Neeleshwar Hermitage

    Northern Kerala

    This fabulous, plastic-free beachfront ecoresort consists of 18 sleekly designed thatch-roof cottages inspired by Kerala fishers' huts, with voguish…

  • Mystic Mountain

    Nagarkot

    The only five-star property in Nagarkot, the newly opened Mystic Mountain is a steal at this upper-midrange price. With the exception of some growing…

  • Raffles Makati

    Manila

    Two five-star hotels in one skyscraper. The Raffles consists of 32 stunning suites on the 9th and 10th floors. They feature high ceilings, wooden…

  • Raffles Hotel

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    The grand old dame of Singapore has seen many a famous visitor in her time, from Somerset Maugham to Queen Elizabeth II. It's a beautiful place of white…

  • Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    The grande dame of Mumbai is one of the world’s most iconic hotels and has hosted a roster of presidents and royalty. Sweeping arches, staircases and…

  • Tawaraya

    Downtown Kyoto

    Operating for more than three centuries, Tawaraya is one of the finest places to stay in Japan. From the decor to the service to the food, everything is…

  • Four Seasons Tented Camp

    Chiang Rai Province

    If you can fit it into your schedule (and budget), this safari-inspired resort is among the most unusual accommodation experiences in Thailand. The ‘tents…

  • Manila Hotel

    Manila

    One of Asia’s grand and regal hotels, where everyone from General MacArthur to the Beatles to JFK has spent the night. It’s more than 100 years old, yet…

  • Hoshinoya Tokyo

    Tokyo

    In creating this contemporary ryokan in the heart of Tokyo, Hoshinoya has barely put a foot wrong, overcoming a location boxed in by office towers…

  • Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge

    Bardia National Park

    Run by the same pioneering team as Tiger Tops in Chitwan, this top-end lodge is set on the southern edge of the buffer zone near Thakurdwara and offers…

  • Kyichu Hotel

    Lhasa

    The renovated Kyichu is a friendly and well-run choice that’s very popular with repeat travellers to Tibet. Rooms are comfortable and pleasant, with…

  • Ri Kynjai

    Shillong

    This superbly designed resort among lush woodlands is a gem of a getaway. Abundant use of wood, thatch and earth tones gives a soothingly rustic feel, but…

  • K's House Itō Onsen

    Izu Peninsula

    Hugely popular with travellers, this 100-year-old riverside ryokan is an architectural treasure and an absolute steal. Japanese-style private rooms simply…

  • Nishimuraya Honkan

    Kansai

    Running for seven generations, this is a fantastic ryokan for a splurge. It excels at everything: beautiful rooms arranged around a central garden; onsen…

  • Hotel Komune

    East Bali

    A resort in the true sense of the word, Komune offers everything needed for an active and enjoyable holiday. The surf here is among Bali's best, although…

  • Hive Hotel

    Manila

    The lower-budget sister of Cocoon is hardly a downgrade. Rooms are slightly smaller, but efficiently designed with open closets and lovely room dividers…

  • Six Senses Con Dao

    Con Dao Islands

    This astonishing hotel enjoys a dreamlike location on the island's best beach, 4km northeast of Con Son town. Its 50-or-so ocean-facing, timber-clad beach…

  • Makati Shangri-La

    Manila

    With a soaring lobby lounge punctuated by floor-to-ceiling bay windows and sequoia-sized columns, the Shangri-La wins the award for Makati’s most stunning…

  • Imperial

    New Delhi

    Classicism meets art deco at the Imperial, which dates from 1931 and was designed by FB Blomfield, an associate of Lutyens. Rooms have high ceilings,…

  • Raffles Hotel Le Royal

    Phnom Penh

    From the golden age of travel, this is one of Asia’s grand old dames, in the illustrious company of the Oriental in Bangkok and Raffles in Singapore. This…

  • Jalakara

    Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

    Easily the chicest place to stay in the Andamans, this ecoconscious British-owned luxe-boutique hideaway is built into a banana-and-betel-nut plantation,…

  • Hiiragiya Ryokan

    Downtown Kyoto

    This elegant ryokan has long been favoured by celebrities from around the world. Facilities and services are excellent and the location is hard to beat…

  • Oberoi Amarvilas

    Agra

    Following Oberoi's iron-clad modus operandi of maharaja-level service, exquisite dining and properties that pack some serious wow factor, Agra's best…

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