From a world-class wellness hotel in Bali to a resort stretching across a clutch of islets in the Maldives, some far-flung destinations have won our team’s hearts this year. Though there is one country which proved itself a clear winner in the hospitality stakes for living la dolce vita. Here’s our travel writer’s favourite hotels of 2024.
Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy
Picked by: Travel contributor, Rosalyn Wikeley
Even those who aren’t usually enamoured by contemporary design fall head over heels for this hotel. Perched like an art installation on a little promontory on the lake’s eastern shore, Il Sereno’s cubic architecture deftly merges into its surroundings. Local timber (sliced into striking grills), sits alongside stone and glass, referencing the lake’s shades and textures, and those of the densely wooded mountains enveloping it. Inside, the prevailing sense is that you’re floating through a Milanese designer’s moodboard (which you are), particularly in the bedrooms where enormous, sleep-stealing beds are backed by a padded screen depicting the surrounding woodland. Bathrooms heave with green Italian marble, while uplit walnut panelling and rugs soften all the razor-sharp modernity. When not wallowing in the generously heated salt pool tipping over the lake, or pootling off in a Riva boat for Lake Como’s oldest villa (owned by the Il Sereno group), guests can check into the spa for therapies rounded off with a view of the lake through the Medieval arches. Drizzly afternoons here can be spent leafing through the library’s meaty coffee table books and lingering in its cosy, contemporary lounge space with a Negroni. serenohotels.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Fari Islands, Maldives
Picked by: Travel contributor and author of Britain's Best Boutique Hotels and London Hotels, Gina Jackson
Picked by: Travel contributor and author of Britain's Best Boutique Hotels, Gina Jackson
Naysayers might think The Maldives is an overrated or cliché destination, but in my opinion, you really can't beat it: what's not to love about sparkly blue waters and powder-soft beaches? I've stayed in a few Maldivian resorts over the years, and stand firm that the level of hospitality in this part of the world is unbeatable. With so many luxury resorts to choose from, it can be tricky to settle on just one, but a standout stay for me has to be The Ritz-Carlton Maldives. Stretching across a clutch of islets in the Fari Islands, this show-stoppingly slick resort takes high-octane design and seamless service to the next level. There are countless activities and restaurants to try, and 24/7 personal butlers are just a Whatsapp message away. ritzcarlton.com
Hotel Excelsior, Venice, Italy
Picked by: Travel contributor, Alicia Miller
It’s not new, in fact it first welcomed guests in 1908, but the way Venice’s Hotel Excelsior combines timeless glamour with contemporary style feels fresh. Its unique architecture, blending fanciful Moorish archways and tiling with Belle Epoque refinement, is very Wes Anderson, which is fitting given that this is a celeb favourite come late summer’s Venice Film Festival. As Venice’s only beachside hotel it’s a world away from the cruise ship crowds of San Marco square, with an elegant outdoor restaurant serving beautiful fish dishes overlooking the surf. And yet whenever you fancy exploring the city’s cultural riches, a private hotel boat will whisk you to the centre of the action in just 15 minutes. hotelexcelsiorvenezia.com
Stamba Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia
Picked by: Solo travel expert, Lydia Swinscoe
Once a publishing house, the brutalist building on Merab Kostava, now known as Stamba has fast become one of my favourite hotels, not only in Georgia but in the entire world. Centering around a leafy courtyard complete with a defunct electrical pylon, the 64 bedrooms are expansive and well-designed, with gorgeous antique parquet flooring, high ceilings, and unique works of art by local Georgian artists. But the hotel also plays host to a quirky café complete with mint green and pale pink decor, elaborate chandeliers and vases of fresh daisies on every table. Plus, there’s a chocolaterie, funky outdoor amphitheater and a set of amazing micro ‘space farms’ where the hotel grows its very own leafy greens, edible flowers, and miniature vegetables on site, too. stambahotel.com
COMO Shambala Estate, Bali, Indonesia
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Picked by: Freelance Lifestyle Editor, Hayley Spencer
If it’s peace of mind you’re looking for, it doesn’t get much better than the iconic COMO Shambala Estate. Set in 23 acres of breathtaking jungle, near the island's cultural hub of Ubud, it is a tranquil sanctuary offering bespoke, holistic programmes to cater to everything from gut concerns to weight loss. Though this isn’t evangelistic wellness, nor bootcamp vibes. Think: benevolent advice from the Ayurvedic doctor, daily massages in the heavenly spa, and the freshest menu of Indonesian-inspired dishes, which are so moreish you’ll forget you’re on an exclusion diet. After a few days, expect to have been soothed and pampered into feeling like the very best version of your yourself. And as of January 2025, some of the residences will have a techy new look — adding yet another check against this world-class wellness destination's name. comohotels.com
The Cipriani, Venice, Italy
Picked by: Travel contributor, Mary Lussiana
The Cipriani needs no introduction. But I should tell you it is as good it gets; worth saving for, foregoing fine wines and fast cars for — if, like me, you love hotels. Of course, it has the advantage of Venice as its shimmering backdrop, but that aside, it still wins my vote. In August, my room there came with a balcony from where, Bellini duly delivered, I could watch the sun set over San Giorgio Maggiore, as the church bells tolled. Dinner was one night a tagliolini and ham gratin with Venice twinkling across the lagoon, water lapping at our feet; another a risotto of nettle and morlacco cheese surrounded by contemporary art in Michelin-starred, Oro. I woke to morning dips in that pool and fell asleep in crisp linen to the muffled sounds of a watery world so long immortalised in art and literature — and forever in my heart. belmond.com
