Every year Condé Nast Traveller publishes a Gold List of their editors, picks of the best hotels in the world. What a job!! Sign me up right now!!! 

What makes a great Hotel experience? And why do we do it when there are a million options you can stay in in any one city or location? The answer to these questions is different for everyone. You may be the person who chooses to take an Air BNB to really feel like a local, or maybe you prefer to grab a small bolt hole in the most buzzy and electric part of a city so you can immerse yourself entirely in its sights and sounds. 


Me – I absolutely adore staying in fabulous hotels! It’s such a privilege to arrive at one of the great and unique properties of the world. To experience these amazing destinations and to become immersed in their history. I love staying at Hotels with an interesting story or past. Maybe people whisper that this is the place where Jackie Kennedy and Gianni Agnelli started their affair. Or maybe the Hotel has attracted a steady stream of A listers over countless years, perhaps drawn in by the grandeur and opulence, or the unique and private location. Or maybe, the Hotel just speaks to your soul, in a way that you can’t quite put your finger on. Something feels like home, taps into your emotional core and just feels right. These are the reasons I seek out these world class beauties. 


These are my Top Ten Hotels globally;

Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes


This is old world glamour on the sun-soaked French Riviera. Hotel Du Cap, situated at Cap D’Antibes, has been playing host to the worlds rich and famous since it first opened its doors in 1889. The Hotel is renowned for its fabulous pool perched on the edge of the Mediterranean, the perfect place to show off your trapeze skills on the ropes and ladders suspended over the ocean. It is also the lodging of choice for Hollywood heavyweights during the Cannes Film Festival. From the huge expanse of front lawn, to the extensive gardens of roses and lavender, to the brilliantly orange clay Tennis courts and to the Pétanque lawns, and the private cabanas nestled amongst the gardens away from prying eyes and paparazzi lenses, the Hotel offers a myriad of haunts and hideouts. 


Given that avoiding the lenses of the waiting papps is not something I have to deal with (!!), I have written a list of my absolute favourite things to do at Hotel Du Cap;

  • Breakfast on the terrace! This is beyond divine. Imagine sitting on the back terrace of this magnificent mansion, gazing down the Grand Allee that bisects the garden to the spectacular blue of the Mediterranean, usually dotted with huge yachts. It is quite simply breath-taking. And all of this, while you are served superb coffee and buttery flaky croissants which taste even more perfect than you might expect given you are perched on the French Riviera
  • A day at the pool! Ok, this does require you to either book a pool lounge well in advance or slip the pool staff an obscene amount of cash to ensure you have a front row pool seat with picture perfect views of the Med. The horizon pool below the sunning terrace is salt water and simply sublime. The trapeze adjacent to the pool makes for hours of entertainment and is honestly just impossible. Don’t even try it! And the people watching is something else. Get ready to flaunt your tush in an incy wincy teeny weeny polka dot bikini, ideally matched with a fabulous designer beach throw and hat. Oh yes darling, this scene is poolside glamour with a slice of lemon!!!
  • Dinner on the terrace at Eden Roc. Candlight, white jacketed waiters, French bubbles, superb cuisine and the soft sound of waves crashing below the deck. This is quite simply – heaven! 
  • The chocolate pot. This is mutually exclusive to the incy wincy bikini recommendation, as one rather affects the other!! But, if you are lazing in house, you absolutely must order the chocolate mousse in a jar with gold leaf on top. There are no words, other than to say, it’s worth staying in for!!!
  • Burgers on the terrace at Eden Roc. Hopefully you have just disembarked from a huge glistening white yacht to be deposited onto the deck with gorgeous people, all dressed in swimmers and diamonds, partaking in freshly shucked oysters and burgers. It’s laid back – ish with a hint of glamour, and is a perfect long lunch, chilled Domaine Ott afternoon plan. A word of advice – try the trapeze before the Domaine Ott!!

Belmond Hotel Caruso, Amalfi Coast


Imagine walking under a vine covered arbour, the air heady with the scent of lemons, and with dizzying views down to the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is The Caruso Hotel at Ravello on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Steeped in history with roots dating back to the 11th Century, The Caruso is old world glamour with a side of truffle pizza. Humphrey Bogart, Greta Garbo, Jackie Kennedy and countless others have all donned their head scarves and swimmers at this majestic hotel over hundreds of years. 


With original vaulted ceilings, stone fireplaces, painted frescos and traditional terra-cotta tiles, the Hotel and it’s rooms retain the original charm of a bygone era. The views from the terraces are simply spectacular, and made even more so at night time with the beautiful lights of the hill top towns below creating a breath taking vista. Ravello often holds musical concerts in its many spectacular gardens or town square, so if you are sitting on your terrace taking in these extraordinary views, there may be beautiful melodic notes of classical music filing the air with a sense of romantic grandeur and sensuality. It’s romance with a capital R, as only the Italians know how to deliver. 


Here are my Caruso Hotel favourites;

  • Spend a day at the pool. This is essential. The horizon pool is literally perched over the Amalfi Coast with views that are just breath-taking. Divine white columns covered in sprays of spectacular pink bougainvillea complete the picture perfect pool side setting. You will of course need a head scarf and Missoni wrap to fling around your swimmers for lunch at the pool restaurant. Serving superb seafood and perhaps the worlds most delicious truffle pizza, this is a perfect laid back lunch with some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.
  • Order a Bellini in the Hotel bar. With soft piano music playing, and waiters serving arguably the best Bellinis anywhere, this is not to be missed. The Peach nectar is just extraordinary, made from freshly picked sun ripened peaches and mixed with delicious sparkling Prosecco. Trust me when I say, if you don’t drink, this is the time to start!! They’re beyond divine.
  • Visit the Gardens of Villa Cimbrone. If you can drag yourself away from the truffle pizza and Bellinis, you absolutely must visit these gardens. They’re a little bit of a walk through the town with rather a large number of steps, but given you will be fueled by truffle pizza, this should be a cinch. Wear comfortable walking shoes and definitely take a camera. This is something special. Imagine stone busts dotted along the cliff faces with dizzying vertical drops to the ocean below, surrounded by spectacular gardens dating back to the 11th Century. It’s awe inspiring in its beauty. Don’t miss it, and if you’ve been planning to pop the question, this is definitely the place to get down on one knee!!

J.K. Capri 


If hotels were fashion, then JK Place on the beguiling island of Capri in Italy would be classified haute couture. The Hotel is located on the edge of the island of Capri affording each of the rooms panoramic views over Sorrento, Naples and Vesuvius.

This uber-chic boutique hotel exudes a sense of understated glamour and elegance. No detail has been overlooked in the interior design of this intimate space under the talented eye of Florentine designer Michelle Bona. Stylish rooms house elegant four poster beds dressed in superb cream and navy Italian linens, gorgeous sculptures and enviable collections of hard back design books. The main hotel terrace, lined with comfortable Gloster lounges, has views over the craggy cliffs above Marina Grande. The pool and gardens are truly beautiful, and hard to leave! JK has that intimate home away from home feeling, whilst delivery sharp service and Italian style in spades. We have stayed here almost every year since the hotel opened, and plan to return to this idyllic hotel on the Med for many more years to come.


My J.K. favourites are as follows;

  • Drinks on the terrace. The perfect spot for an evening Aperol Spritz while the cliffs over Marina Grande are washed in golden light as the sun sets over the ocean. Truly spectacular.
  • Days by the pool. This really is heaven! An enormous pool surrounded by lounges draped in blue and white striped JK towels, staff in crisp linen blazers serving superb poolside refreshments and the spa behind offering divine treatments after long days lazing in the Italian sunshine. Heaven indeed.
  • Shopping!! Wandering the cobblestoned streets in the town of Capri is the perfect late afternoon escape after a long day of boating or sunning. The shopping in Capri is fabulous – from stunning Prada and Gucci shop fronts, to small and local designers showcasing beautiful Italian linens and cashmere’s, to hand made leather sandals while you wait, there is definitely plenty to keep you entertained for hours. Or at least until cocktail hour on the terrace of the Quisisana Hotel watching the world walk by!
  • For all the rest of my favourites around Capri and the Amalfi Coast refer to my blog on this region!

Singita Sasakwa Lodge – Tanzania


Sasakwa Lodge in Tanzania is the jewel in the crown of Singitas conglomerate of game lodges and private reserves spread across three African countries. Set on 140,000 hectares on the border of the Serengeti, Sasakwa is the grandest of them all. The main hotel is an enormous manor house with huge open verandahs and spectacular views over the plains of the Grumetti Reserve below. The rooms are filled with Persian rugs, stone fireplaces, elegant chandeliers and sumptuous linens and leathers. The decor exudes a sense of old world grandeur whilst still maintaining a feeling of warmth and coziness you would expect from a hotel of this calibre. 


Whether you’re dining in the gardens on sumptuous cuisine whilst watching the ever enthusiastic antics of the local monkey community as they wreak havoc on the delightful hotel staff, or you’re lazing in the library reading ‘Out of Africa’, the overall experience at Sasakwa Lodge is one of utter contentment and warmth. It feels like you’ve come home, to the most magical landscape ever experienced.


My Sasakwa favourites are ;

  • The game drives. The thrill of heading out into the wild African landscape as the sun peeks over the horizon is equally exhilarating and life affirming. The opportunity to see the magnificent animals of this region in their natural habitat is simply breathtaking, and an experience you will never forget. 
  • Out of Africa. Ok, so this may sound a tad corny, but curling up in the divine hotel lounge with Out of Africa playing on the big screen and a glass of red in your hand transports you to a time and place akin to the entire African experience. It’s kind of amazing, and definitely made me want to ‘buy a farm at the foot of the Ngong hills’!!
  • Take a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti. If I’m being completely honest, I absolutely planned to do this, but chickened out at the last minute!! I’m blaming the windy weather for my pulling the rip cord, but it might have just been nerves. I wasn’t sure I wanted to float down right on top of a pride of lions. It’s still on my radar though – there’s always next time!!

Il Pellicano, Tuscany


Made famous by the iconic and evocative images captured by Slim Aarons, Il Pellicano is as alluring and chic today as it was fifty years ago. Situated above the sea, near the picturesque Italian coastal town of Porto Ercole, Il Pellicano is one of the great seaside bolt holes of the world. Porto Ercole is a small fishing village, however it has always attracted A listers due in part to its handy location en route from Sardinia or Amalfi to The French Riviera. Ernest Hemingway was a regular to this part of the world as were the international jet setters of the Golden years. In short, anyone who was anyone in the 60’s and 70’s headed to Porto Ercole and Il Pellicano for the opportunity to relax and party in privacy. 

The hotel is surrounded by traditional Tuscan gardens of cypresses and olives. The rooms have a strongly Tuscan vibe with the original terra-cotta tiles being retained as they have been revamped over the years. Dinner at the two Michelin starred restaurant on the terrace is a divine experience, and the food showcases the local produce of the Tuscan countryside.


My favourites at Il Pellicano are;

  • Diving from the famous board into the ocean. This is iconic Il Pellicano stuff. A day lounging down on the edge of the ocean, diving into the beautiful blue waters of the med. It’s picture perfect!
  • Don your whites! A morning of tennis in the beautiful gardens at the hotel followed by an alfresco lunch on the terrace with Negronis and fresh seafood. Sign me up!!

Chateau Saint-Martin, Côte d’Azur 


Chateau Saint-Martin is located in Vence, 24 km from Nice. A part of the famous Oetker Hotel Group, which includes some of the worlds most fabulous properties, such as Hotel Du Cap, Eden-Roc, and the Bristol in Paris. All the efficiency of a German company with the style and flair of a French location. 

The hotel is a 12th Century Knight Templar Castle situated on a hilltop in Provence with views out over the Mediterranean. This idyllic retreat is perfectly positioned amongst the French countryside surrounded by olive groves, and rocky hills, however is little more than a stones throw from beautiful towns such as Nice, Cannes, St Paul, Vence and Antibes. The rooms are Provençal in style, and exude a sense of country charm, with breath taking views and divine terraces.

The Hotel is also renowned for its world class spa which is carved into the cliff face and offers treatments utilising La Prairie or Bamford! It’s yum indeed!! The pool is exquisite and unique in its location beneath the hills of Provence. The Michelin starred restaurant on the upper terrace of the Hotel is superb with incredible views and dining under the stars!!


My favourites at Chateau Saint-Martin are;

  • Indulge in a massage. The Hotels iconic spa offers a massage with fresh roses from Vence under a jasmine draped gazebo!! What could be more Provençal or more delightful than this!!
  • Dinner on the terrace! Michelin starred chef Jean-Luc Lefrancois delivers deceptively simple dishes bursting with flavors of the region. Beautiful food, superb wine and views to write home about!

The Byblos, Saint Tropez


The Byblos Hotel is nestled between the citadel and The Place des Lices in the picturesque town of Saint Tropez on the French Riviera. The Hotel, not unlike the village itself can be very polarising to first time visitors. But beneath the glitz and glamour and often ostentatious displays of wealth, both the town and the hotel offer exceptional and friendly service in impeccable surroundings.

Opened in 1967, the Byblos is the place to see and be seen in Saint Tropez. The concierges are maybe the best in what is arguably a town with the hardest tables to secure. It is definitely advisable to commit some serious time and energy to befriending Giuseppe and his team if you are even a chance of booking a table at one of the famous beach restaurants such as Club 55. The Byblos is also renowned for its underground night club called Les Caves Du Roy. A fabulously fun spot to kick up your heels til the wee hours. 


Here are my Byblos favourites;

  • Get poolside!! The pool is absolutely divine and managed by Frederique with an arrogant nonchalance only experienced in France. In short, unless you tip Frederique a hefty sum , you may find yourself sans pool lounge!
  • Explore the markets. These are huge and held every Tuesday and Saturday in Place des Lices, which is literally just down the stairs. Fabulous foods, divine cashmere and vintage Louis Vuitton bags. Have cash ready as many stalls are not keen on cards.
  • Grab a lounge in the evening! The pool side scene makes for fabulous people watching and delicious drinks and nibbles. If you have one too many tipples you may decide to stumble down the stairs to Les Caves, the most famous nightclub in Saint Tropez. You’ll need to make friends with Johnnie who runs the door in an ex-SAS style!! Never cross Johnnie and you’re in for a blast!
  • Take a shower in the Steam room. This is definitely required if you have been in Les Caves the previous night. No words, just do it!! And be prepared for the most exhilarating shower ever!

The Beverly Hills Hotel , Los Angeles


The BHH is as legendary as the Hollywood history that surrounds it. The hotel first opened its doors in 1912, two years before the city of Beverly Hills was incorporated. From its instantly recognisable and iconic sign to its famous red carpet entrance, and banana leaf wallpaper, the hotel exudes an old school hollywood swagger. From power deals signed and sealed over martinis in the Polo Lounge, to secret affairs played out in the Bungalows, the Hotel has provided a home base for Hollywood’s elite for over 100 years.

In 1960 John F Kennedy kept a Bungalow for entertaining (!), Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned in the Bungalows in 1964, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey met in secret in her hotel suite in the 1940’s, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono were reputed to have spent an entire week in bed in the 1970’s!!! The stories surrounding the BHH are endless and rather fabulous. 


Amid twelve acres of lush gardens, banana plants, bougainvillea and hibiscus, the hotel has twenty-one private bungalows and 210 rooms, a huge pool with cabanas, a superb La Prairie day-spa, a coffee shop almost as famous as the hotel itself, called the Fountain Room, and a world famous bar known as The Polo Lounge. 

My BHH favourites are;

  • A McCarthy salad at the pool. This is as iconic as the hotel itself. The hotel’s Polo Lounge has served this chopped salad since the 1940s, when it was created for frequent guest and local polo player Neil McCarthy. It’s been on the menu ever since, and the hotel serves nearly 600 McCarthy Salads each week. The locals like to ‘hold the bacon’ !! As if, that’s the best part!! I prefer it with balsamic dressing, and some ranch on the side 😂.
  • Order a McCarthy salad by the fire in the Bungalows. There’s not nearly enough cold weather in LA to really appreciate the beautiful fireplaces in the private Bungalows. But, if you’re lucky enough to be staying in house when a chill rolls in, I would strongly recommend donning the signature pink striped BHH pj’s, and snuggling up by a crackling fire with a famous McCarthy and maybe an old Elizabeth Taylor movie to set the scene. It’s beyond corny, and my perfect night in!
  • Drinks in The Polo Lounge. This is essential. It has a dark cozy atmosphere, and is generally packed full to the brim with fabulous and interesting people sipping cocktails while the piano plays. If you’re meeting Brad Pitt for a beer, this is the perfect spot.
  • Brekkie at the Fountain room. The seats at the curved breakfast bar below the stairs are anchored to the ground, so you will probably find yourself shoulder to shoulder with Nicole & Keith as you partake in the best cheese toastie on planet earth.
  • Shop til you drop. Rodeo Drive is a stones throw away and perfect for a days shopping, or you could take a car over to Robertson which is lined with fab boutiques. Lunch at The Ivy between shoe shops is a must !

Huka Lodge, New Zealand

Without question, when someone asks me which are my favourite places to stay in the world, Huka Lodge always makes the list. And I’m not alone in this thought. In fact I’m in very good company, very royal company! This magnificent property, nestled along the banks of the Waikato River in New Zealand has played host to no less than the Queen, the Duke & Duchess of Sussex, Prince Edward, and a number of other key members of the Royal Family. Good company indeed!!


Huka Lodge is situated on 18 acres of manicured gardens just upstream from the picturesque Huka Falls. We stayed in the Owner’s Cottage on one occasion and the Allan Pye Cottage with lovely friends on another.

The interior design at Huka is absolutely perfect and totally my style. Muted linen-covered chairs with cashmere throws draped over them, gorgeous bathrooms, huge iron chandeliers, and open fireplaces with copper hoods.

There are a plethora of nooks dotted around the gardens and within the wine cellar and the main lodge for escaping in private and enjoying dinner under the stars or by candlelight deep within the cellar.

If you can imagine yourself cosied up under a Burberry cashmere throw under the stars while sipping a glass of red by an outdoor fire after a long day fly-fishing, then Huka Lodge is definitely for you. This truly is one of the most elegant retreats in the world.


My Huka Lodge favourites are ;

  • Chopper in! Ok, this sounds ridiculously extravagant, but trust me when I say this is beyond incredible. And let’s face it, if you’ve booked a room at Huka Lodge you have already decided to blow your budget, so why not go all out. As the helicopter skims above the spectacular Huka Falls and gently lands on the sloping perfect lawn in front of the lodge, you feel pretty much like The Queen herself!! It’s incredibly beautiful scenery, and one of those remember forever moments!
  • Lunch by the falls – This really is one of the great tables of the world. Sumptuous food served in a picture perfect setting with views over the river and the sound of the water cascading down. It’s idyllic! 
  • Dinner in the cellar – candlelight, stunning wines, superb food, and an ambience to write home about. This is hard to beat.

Le Bristol, Paris

Choosing your favourite hotel in a large city is often difficult. Perhaps this is because you are spoilt for choice. Take Paris for example. There are a myriad of options in the luxury hotel market in Paris, and I often struggle to settle on which one to stay at. The Plaza, The George V, the Mandarin and Hotel Costes are but a few , and they are all unique and extraordinarily beautiful, but my home in Paris will always be The Bristol. 


Located on Rue Du Faubourg Saint Honore, the Bristol is a short stroll from some of the best shopping in Paris. Maybe it’s the hotel cat, FA-Raon often found lounging on the reception desk welcoming guests or relaxing in the huge open courtyard where staff serve flaky croissants and pain au chocolate to die for!!

The Bristol exudes a sense of old world glamour. From its polished marble hallways dotted with spectacular floral displays, to the stunning curved Winter dining room rich in its sumptuous decor and its history. To its spectacular crystal chandeliers, softly lighting walls lined with 17th century antique tapestries, the hotel is quintessentially Parisian.


My Le Bristol favourites are ;

  • The croissants – Breakfast at the hotel is a not to be missed affair. Exquisite china, melt-in-your-mouth French pastries, eggs served in silver egg cups , and a view over the French-style garden lined with ornamental parterres. It’s glamorous and absolutely delicious.
  • Book a facial – The La Prairie spa at the hotel offers an extensive menu of heavenly treatments all designed to wind you down after a long flight or a long day shopping the street outside!! And let’s face it , no one does a facial quite like the French! Tres magnifique!!
  • Book dinner at Epicure – With three Michelin stars, Epicure is one of the great dining experiences in Paris. The restaurant serves traditional French fine dining, with dishes such as stuffed macaroni with black truffle and young pigeon with orange honey and caramelised onion.
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