From a secluded hideaway in the Himalayas to a private island resort in Fiji, here are the top luxury hotels in 2022.
A report by LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence has named the best luxe properties for 2022.
Properties undergo rigorous evaluation to make the cut, including the brand’s passion, commitment, ethos and values as well as customer service and management.
Here, we reveal the top 12 and why they are the best places to pick for your next luxurious getaway.
1. Six Senses
Six Senses takes out the number one best luxury hotel for the third year, with its continuous delivery of wellness, sustainability, warm hospitality and crafted guest experiences.
With 21 hotels spanning Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa and The Americas, it truly is a worldly luxury hotel.
Big on wellness including down to how you sleep (think handmade mattresses and organic bedding), it also has a strong focus on the earth beneath your feet. It has leading sustainability practices like the farm-to-fork initiative. The organic garden produces fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables for the hotel’s kitchens, spas and Alchemy Bars.
With two highly anticipated properties launching in early 2023 in Switzerland and Rome, it continually offers guests the opportunity to make memories in stunning destinations.
2. Mandarin Oriental
From Michelin-star restaurants to contemporarily designed hotels, resorts and residences, the Mandarin Oriental is a portfolio fusion of luxury meets oriental charm.
Unique adventure, culinary, wellness and arts and culture experiences are all part of the offering for the modern discerning travellers. From exclusive cocktail masterclasses to a private onsen day trip, Mandarin Oriental’s range of activities is curated to ensure you dive deeper into discovery.
Whether you want to stay in a historic hotel, a city escape or a wellness haven, there are a myriad of options for the well-travelled.
3. Rosewood
With a philosophy to reflect the local culture and spirit of a destination, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is known for its authentic and personal touch.
The collection includes some of the world’s most legendary luxury hotels and resorts like The Carlyle in New York, as well as new classics like the Rosewood Hong Kong.
A top choice for golf enthusiasts wanting to practice their swing, Rosewood has a selection of golf resorts and famed championship courses including Rosewood Castiglion Del Basco’s. It’s set within a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site where guests can drive one home on a one-of-a-kind course.
4. Auberge
Auberge Resorts Collection is a sophisticated portfolio of refined resorts and vacation homes that offer privacy, personal service, plus all the assured luxury of resort amenities. From spacious and private homes like Mauna Lani Residence in Hawaii and romantic escapes in Santorini to family ski trips in Aspen, there’s a stay and an experience to meet all your travel needs.
Embark on a culinary journey as you taste the local flavours of exotic destinations like fresh produce in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Take a cocktail workshop at Selva Oaxaca Cocktail Bar and discover the art of crafting Latin libations. Or share a memorable meal with a loved one at Michelin-starred Harbor House on the Mendocino Coast. Led by Chef Matthew Kammerer, it’s a meal, and a moment, to hold onto in years to come.
A chic, new beachfront getaway just opened in Punta De Mita, offering guests a laid-back Mexican retreat. There are also eight new luxury hotels soon to join the extensive portfolio.
5. Aman
A brand known for creating a home-away-from-home experience, Aman is one of the world’s pioneering resort, hotel and residence brands, stepping into remote destinations like Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Since its launch in the 80s, the brand has developed properties to be sanctuaries, for discerning travellers. The collection of 34 properties resides in or close to UNESCO-protected sites, with each reflecting its surroundings, through inspired cuisine, wellness journeys and curated stays.
Travel in complete privacy with Aman’s private jet and yacht. On board Amandira, a custom-built, two-masted Phinisi vessel, explore Indonesia’s Flore Sea, UNESCO-protected Komodo National Park and the magnificent coral reefs of Raja Ampat.
Aman is set to launch a 50-suite luxury motor yacht, Project Sama, is 2025.
Expanding beyond property, Aman has also extended into the beauty and skincare industry, creating fragrances, candles, clothing and accessories. Explore the range here.
6. Oetker Collection
Dating back to 1872, the Oetker Collection holds a timeless elegance in its portfolio of magnificent properties. The opulent hotels and villas are grand, tucked away in the folds of nature, spanning across Europe and the Caribbean.
The portfolio features centuries’-old castles and island hideaways, such as the 1850s L’Apogée Courchevel, perched in the breathtaking French Alpines, and Eden Rock – St Barths in the French West Indies.
Escape to the West Indies and bask in the grandeur of private island getaway Jumby Bay Island. Or, for a charming French village backdrop in the South of France, choose the Château Saint-Martin & Spa where every room has fabulous views across the Côte d’Azur.
7. One&Only
One&Only prides itself on its adventure and cultural experiences.
The luxury hotels are overflowing with handpicked destinations in some of the world’s most inspirational locations.
Indulge in authentic cuisine from celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs such as Yannick Alléno at One&Only The Palm. His eight-course Savour menu at STAY will treat you to a taste of his masterful European cuisine.
Discover tailored excursions and spectacular spaces such as the majestic mountain Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda. Or perhaps the laid-back beachside oasis at Le Saint Géran in Mauritius is more your calling, with its exclusive location, swim-up bars and private cabanas for day-long lounging.
8. Belmond
For more than 40 years, Belmond has been curating a unique collection of hotels, trains, river cruises and safari lodges in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
Embark on the ultimate train tour through South East Asia on board the Eastern and Oriental Express. The six-night adventure will take you through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands and Huay Ya, showing off some of Asia’s most spectacular scenery and culture.
Offering a range of exceptional tours in pioneering destinations across the globe, thrilling adventures dripping in luxury are synonymous with Belmond.
From lounging at the Khwai River Lodge at Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana to journeying on the Oriental Express through Asia, luxury slow travel never felt so good.
9. Four Seasons
From the seaside to snow-covered peaks, Four Seasons provides a grandeur getaway for every occasion with unforgettable guest experiences. Explore the UNESCO-protected Indian Ocean at Private Island at Voavah. The five acres are yours to explore from diving, relaxing at the luxurious spa or witnessing the resident pod of dolphins. Or for the ultimate wild getaway, join a guided tour of Serengeti, uncovering the wildlife sanctuary’s majestic landscapes and animals.
The luxurious private jet and soon-to-launch yacht take the travel possibilities to endless. With bespoke itineraries, you can see the world in your own way. Initially travelling to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, the 207-metre-long yacht is expected to hit the high seas in 2025. It features 14 decks, 95 spacious suites, as well as a private wading pool and dedicated private spa area.
10. Viceroy
Sophisticated and fun, the Viceroy collection features a splash of colour and creativity unique to each destination. Artists, painters and musicians, sculptors and photographers create original, site-specific work which features at every Viceroy hotel.
The trendsetting brand is located from the mountains of Serbia to the beaches of Santa Monica, offering guests lavish, vibrant and urban getaways.
Explore Washington DC with its charming neighbourhoods before returning to your boutique hotel, Viceroy Washington DC. Or, if a rebellious urban stay is calling your fancy, the Hotel Zetta in San Francisco, might be for you. You’ll find repurposed artwork decking the walls, a giant Plinko game in the lobby as well as Alexa voice assistants and smart TVs for the tech-savvy travellers.
11. Rocco Forte
Decadent in elegance, culture and European charm, the Rocco Forte portfolio is rich in personality. The stylish hotels, resorts, villas and restaurants are timelessly designed.
Interiors by Olga Polizzi draw inspiration from the location, history of the building and the culture of the city, meaning each sojourn is unique to its surroundings.
With more than 25 bars and restaurants across Europe, the culinary opportunities with Rocco Forte include dining on irresistible classics reinvented under Michelin-starred Chef Adam Byatt at Charlie’s in London, to sampling botanical bistronomy at Sophia’s in Munich.
From Edinburgh to St Petersburg, guests can taste their way around the world through each elegant and arousing establishment.
12. COMO Hotels and Resorts
From Bhutan to Bali, COMO Hotels and Resorts have a focus on wellness as well as world-class cuisine. Like Plantation House at COMO Laucala Island – where the Thai-influence and pan-Asian gastronomy dishes only use produce locally grown on the island.
For couples, families, surfers and divers, COMO Maalifushi is the destination to linger. With world-class surf breaks, diverse marine life and ark underwater caves just begging to be explored, it’s a playground for the adventurous. It’s also the only resort to open in the Maldives’ Thaa Atoll, offering the ultimate private getaway.
For a grand and cultural vacation, COMO Castello Del Nero beckons. The twelfth-century castle nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany features Michelin-starred dining, Renaissance frescoes and 740 acres of estate to explore.
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