Hotels can be a form of escape, whether from the metropolis, work-related stress or, simply, other people. What better way to get away than with properties in mind-blowing settings, complete with knockout views. Take a trip round the globe via these seven stunning destinations
The mountaintop retreat: Forestis Dolomites, Brixen
@forestis.dolomites
Soak in the best of the Dolomites – the discreetly superior cousin to the Alps – from the indoor or outdoor pool or spa at this summit-perched sanctuary. In fact, almost every room in the property enjoys extraordinary panoramic views of the South Tyrolean forests. Run on renewable energy, the hotel is at one with the landscape, which can be explored by foot or bike in summer and on skis in winter.
Palmschoß 22, Brixen, Dolomites, 39042
The jungle immersion: Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape, Ubud
@banyantree.escape
This 2002 addition to the Banyan Tree Escape’s enviable portfolio is so much a part of the Balinese jungle that is has a ‘no walls, no doors’ ethos. Each plunge-pool equipped villa, constructed from reclaimed materials with wooden frames draped with curtains and bamboo shades, provides a dose of secluded decadence, where guests can listen the soundscape of the local inhabitants.
JL, Buahan Kaja, Payangan, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, 80572
The floating idyll: Taj Lake Place, Udaipur
@tajhotels
This mesmerising floating hotel glimmers in the centre of Lake Pichola, a wedding cake-white palace of arching windows and domed turrets that shimmer, mirage like, above the water. With its mountain vistas and the ivory-hued architecture of historic Udaipur itself just across the water, guests at the Lake Palace feel part of Indian history. Full butler service, a fleet of on-call water taxis and painstakingly preserved Indian elegance in the rooms add to the romance.
Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001
The wildlife wonder: Singita Kwitonda, Musanze
@singita_
Kwitonda Lodge lies on the border of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, with gorilla and monkey trekking among the prime draws to visit the misty location. Knowledgeable guide-drivers, private trek vehicles and personalised itineraries ensure that visitors can see hundreds of native species. Back at base, massive timber-framed windows provide unrivalled views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes, plus Instagram-worthy sunsets and sunrises.
Singita Volcanoes National Park, Nyange Sector, Musanze, Northern Province, Rwanda
The Renaissance palace: Villa D’Este, Lake Como
@villadestelakecomo
A literal palazzo, Villa d’Este dates from 1542 and has since been home to a Napoleonic general, a future Queen of England and a Russian empress, among others. Sitting majestically above Lake Como, the villa retains an indulgent Renaissance ambience: grand staircases, ornate headboards and gilt-framed oil paintings abound; while its terrazas offer the perfect place to sip espresso before venturing out onto the lake in one of the hotel’s own sailboats.
40 Via Regino, Cernobbio, Lake Como, Como, 22012
The desert escape: Banyan Tree AlUla, AlUla
@banyantree.alula
Deep within the ancient Ashar Valley, this retreat is set in an otherworldly desertscape punctuated by rugged rock formations, canyons and date-palm plains. To say AlUla’s setting is ‘dramatic’ is to do a disservice to such an unfathomable scene. By day, desert escapades undulate from rock climbing to ziplining, heritage sites to hiking. Alternatively, you could always just lounge poolside; set between two majestic cliff faces, the pool itself is perhaps one of the world’s most memorable.
Wadi Ashar, Tabuk Road, AlUla, 43563
The fragrant farm: Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Garden Farm, Albuquerque
@lospoblanos
The scent of lavender fills the air at Los Poblanos, offering an invitation to ease into the comfortable pace life that pervades the Rio Grande Valley. The 25-acre lavender farm and historic inn includes 45 rooms, each with its own unique personality inspired by the surrounding fields and numerous farm animals. Architecture fans will revel in the meticulously preserved historic details found throughout the property, many of which communicate a quiet sense of Southwestern soul.
4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87107
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