The Best in Travel, From the Surrey in N.Y. to Six Senses’s La Sagesse

Be prepared fora sensory feast when you arrive at this nine-room, adults-only mountain hideaway by ski lift—and not just because every room faces west, offering spectacular sunset views over the Alps. There’s a tactile experience to be had at every turn: Some rooms have bathtubs hewn from whole tree trunks, while the whimsical Do Not Disturb signs are made from rock and string. The massage oils used in the spa are produced in town using herbs from the mountains, and the superb no-menu dining concept—which dreams up dishes like baked Jerusalem artichoke or porridge topped with crispy corn—is equally seasonal and local. When you inevitably find yourself luxuriating in the spa, equipped with two saunas, pause to look at the poured-concrete floor. The irregular pattern comes from the footprints of a neighborhood fox, who became a mascot of the site during construction. The owners decided to preserve its contribution to the design, the ultimate nod to nature nearby. From $1,770 

Milele’s views willstop you in your tracks. It sits in an extraordinary location, perched on the slopes of Sasakwa Hill overlooking the 350,000-acre Grumeti reserve, which bleeds into the Serengeti. The five-suite property, primed for buyouts, is elevated even for ultra-luxe operator Singita. The accommodations are swathed in earthy tones, with woven-grass wallpaper and textured furniture; those cork chairs and lampshades were designed by South African studio HK. Mornings and afternoons are spent in a 4×4 romping in the bush, scouring for lions and elephants with your private safari guide. A midday meal is usually served on the sun-dappled deck where bright watermelon and zippy green salads are spread across a James Mudge–designed dining table. In the evenings, gather your group for fireside stargazing (there’ll be telescopes on hand) and a glass of Pinot Noir from the wine cellar. If the weather turns, don’t worry: There’s a private cinema room, too. From $27,300 for up to 10 people 

The aptly named Royal Mansour, owned by King Mohamed VI, has been a fixture of Marrakech for 15 years, but the brand is aggressively expanding around the country. If this, the first satellite outpost in the White City, is a benchmark, that’s welcome news. An Art Deco–era skyscraper (far enough from the Grand Mosque that it has been granted a liquor license, unlike its only neighborhood rival, the Four Seasons) was rebuilt from the ground up over eight years. The result is a five-star fun palace oozing maximalist glee that doesn’t skimp on finicky details. To wit: There’s a watch winder in every closet. Standout among the 149 rooms are the private apartments, based around themes such as music and literature, with books to browse and quirky decorations including a turntable and plenty of vintage vinyl. Make sure to spend one supper at La Grande Table Marocaine, which has rapidly become a see-and-be-seen spot for locals. From $650 

This Upper East Side grande dame, which will celebrate its centenary in 2026, has undergone an extraordinary overhaul thanks to Malta-based Corinthia Hotels. The group took over operations here as part of its worldwide expansion after Reuben Brothers bought the property. A mere minutes’ walk from Central Park and around the corner from the just-reopened Frick Collection, this is the kind of place where you stay to blend in, not stand out. Designer du jour Martin Brudnizki didn’t bring his signature glitzy sparkle to this project. Instead, his approach channeled the aesthetic of a classic six into the 100 rooms here, with calming wood-toned walls, marble double vanities, cozy Frette bathrobes, and homey touches like a vase of fresh flowers on each desk and house-made dog treats. Don’t worry about honking horns and urban hubbub, either: Even on the lower floors, the soundproofing is superb and the hotel seems insulated from the outside world. There’s also an oasis-like 2,500-square-foot Sisley spa, with distinctive touches including a regenerative salt wall. From $1,000 

New Jersey may have been nicknamed the Garden State, but that has never quite persuaded picky travelers to choose the countryside here over the Hamptons or the Hudson Valley. That all changed when Pendry founder Alan Fuerstman built a 66-room hotel next to a Gilded Age Tudor-revival mansion about an hour’s drive from downtown Manhattan. It clearly owes a debt to Tennessee’s lauded Blackberry Farm, which has become a template for many country retreats, but instead of Southern etiquette, the service you get here is refreshingly at ease. Ingredients sourced from the property’s farm inform the seasonal menus at the Ninety Acres restaurant—which also hosts cooking classes—and even some of the treatments offered at the two-floor 19,000-square-foot spa. You can work up an appetite (or earn your massage) by hiking the riverfront trails that lace through the surrounding 500 acres of protected parkland. From $675 

Where does ahotel end and the neighborhood begin? It’s an apt question at this, the brand’s second outpost in the Chinese capital, where it’s not at the lobby’s threshold. Scattered around the labyrinthine backstreets of a historic hutong just south of the Forbidden City, its 42 sprawling suites—all silk embroidery, lacquered wood, and brass accents—take over some of the traditional alleyways’ century-old courtyard homes, but much of the locale remains the domain of Beijingers who’ve lived here for generations. 

That setup means stays here make you feel like a local. You might pass a pipe-smoking centenarian lounging on his doorstep when you return from afternoon tea in the teakwood-trimmed lobby lounge. Even better, chief concierge Bob Shi, who grew up a few doors away and knows the area like no other, can point you to the best dumpling joints, arrange guided walks, or orchestrate tastings of rare oolong in your suite. From $1,500 

This 107-room property, which sits on a 1,400-acre estate of tropical forest, lets you take your pick of low-key relaxation or over-the-top indulgence. It’s fine to amble over to its sandy beach, crack open a coconut Castaway-style, and enjoy the extraordinary waves. Then again, you could head out to catch a break or two—this is a spectacular surfing spot—or spend an entire day exploring the 27,000-square-foot spa. Marinate in the hydrotherapy pool there with the sound of waves crashing below and toucans and parrots squawking in the background. The array of restaurants is intriguing and inventive: Grab a nightcap at the “secret” speakeasy Cooper’s, a plush space with blue tub chairs hidden behind a velvet curtain, or watch the sunset at Ambar, a tree house perched in the lush canopy overlooking the ocean. From $2,390 

Far from the hobnobbing crowds of Harbour Island, the Potlatch Club offers a more blissed-out Bahamian escape. It’s set on a former pineapple plantation on neighboring Eleuthera and was originally opened as a hotel in the 1950s by a trio of New York socialites. (Greta Garbo stopped by back then.) It has been reimagined as a 12-acre resort by Caribbean-born entrepreneurs, and though only a handful of the original structures remain, Nassau-based designer Amanda Lindroth has preserved its midcentury aesthetic while adding a touch of contemporary beach-chic style. Her breezy signatures flow through the 11 guest rooms, outfitted with white shiplap ceilings, pops of coastal blue, and coral floors. The top suites are the stand- alone oceanfront cottages, each with a private veranda opening onto a seven-mile stretch of pink sand. Don’t hesitate to ask general manager Kezang Dorji, once Brangelina’s personal butler, for whatever you need. From $775 

This retreat is tucked into the lush cliffs of southeastern Grenada and delivers a sun-soaked five-star experience that doesn’t compromise on comfort or style. All 56 suites include private lap pools, and the spacious interiors feel more like homes than hotel rooms. 

Here, “sustainability” isn’t a trendy buzzword; it’s a guiding principle embedded in every element of the resort’s design and operation. Among other things: Solar panels provide a low-carbon source of hot water, there’s a natural saltwater lagoon, and the landscaping is focused entirely on indigenous greenery. 

Of course, you won’t find a single plastic bottle on the property—the resort, Six Senses’ first in the Caribbean, bottles its own water in recycled glass. Taking things one step further, the Earth Lab here offers the ultimate upcycling option: Guests can visit to turn crushed glass into handmade art for souvenirs. From $700 

Amangani, the O.G.of Jackson Hole’s luxury resorts, has owned bragging rights for over 25 years, mostly for commanding the valley’s most staggering views from its perch atop East Gros Ventre Butte. Its reign is now over, thanks to the arrival of a neighbor that’s even more intimate and determinedly low-profile. The city’s first adults-only hotel opened last August and delivers perfectly framed vistas of the Teton Range at every turn. You can ogle the fang-like mountains from the spa’s heated infinity pool, while dining on short-rib bao buns at Olivia’s restaurant, or simply from the privacy of your room. There are 36 modern accommodations, but you want a Grand Teton Suite for the best sights. And despite the sense of off-the-grid tranquility, the area’s main attractions are all within easy reach. High-touch staff can arrange everything from hard-to-score dinner reservations downtown ( just 10 minutes away) to exclusive tours of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. From $1,200 

The 1950s Sissi film trilogy, starring Romy Schneider as Empress Elisabeth of Austria, made this hunting lodge in the mountainous Salzkammergut region famous. Its two-year renovation under Rosewood’s guidance may well put it back in the headlines. The historic schloss has been reimagined as a 98-room retreat with alpine-style lodgings, including eight rooms and suites tucked inside the property’s medieval tower. Days unfold at a leisurely pace: You can expect hikes through wildflower-covered hills, deep-tissue massages in the wood-paneled spa, and afternoons lounging beneath striped parasols at the Mediterranean-style “beach” club, where a ladder drops into the glacial waters. A highlight is the castle’s fishery—the only one licensed to fish Lake Fuschlee—where guests gather around picnic tables on the water’s edge to enjoy the daily catch paired with a glass of local Grüner Veltliner. From $1,020