The Most Luxury Resorts in the World – Extraordinary Hotels

This specially curated guide reveals fourteen of the world’s most extraordinary resorts. These destinations promise unforgettable luxury and one-of-a-kind experiences. We’ve curated the list for those who seek the pinnacle of indulgence. This list is your credible resource for an exclusive getaway.

1. Viceroy Bali Luxury Resort — Bali, Indonesia

Viceroy Bali Luxury Resort is a boutique jungle resort in Ubud. It stands out for its distinctive luxury and highly personalised experiences.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Located in Ubud’s heart yet far from the town’s noise. 

• Features 40 five-star villas and suites. Each comes with a heated private infinity pool with stunning jungle views. 

• Known for 24/7 personalised attention. The staff arranges excursions, Balinese spa treatments, and thoughtful evening turn-downs.

• Houses two world-class fine-dining restaurants and one speakeasy bar:
  • Apéritif Restaurant: A fine dining restaurant, offering tasting menus and a curated wine selection.
  • CasCades Restaurant: Serves gourmet dishes with stunning valley views.
  • Pinstripe Bar: Offers masterful signature cocktails within an intimate setting.

• One of the few jungle resorts with a private helipad for a grand arrival.
• Has received numerous international recognition and awards. Viceroy Bali is frequently featured in Bali’s best luxury resorts guides and The World Luxury Hotel Awards List.

2. Hotel Eden Rock — St Barths

Hotel Eden Rock is an ultra-luxe resort perched on a rocky point in St. Jean Bay, St. Barths. Opened in the 1950s, it’s a top destination for travellers seeking exceptional hospitality.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Features 37 individually styled rooms, suites, and villas. Each is adorned with rich materials and fine art.

• Includes a private beach, spa services, and an art gallery. These amenities enhance the experience.

• Has two world-class restaurants by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten:
  • Sand Bar: Offers fancy dining with stunning views.
  • Rémy Bar: Provides a relaxed atmosphere for cocktails and light bites.

• Has a rich history as the first hotel on the island.

• Known for hosting Hollywood celebrities over the decades.

• Offers easy access to shopping, dining, nightlife, and water sports on the swanky St. Barths.

3. Four Seasons Resort — Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru is located in the Baa Atoll — a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s a perfect choice to experience untouched nature with luxe hospitality, conservation, and wellness. It has won numerous travel awards.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Set in the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, it provides direct access to pristine beaches and vibrant marine life.

• Offers lagoon-side villas and speciality suites. Each blends Maldivian charm with modern luxury.

• Offers round-trip shared seaplane transfers for two guests.

• Features exceptional dining options across cuisines —  Italian, Arabian, Asian, and local, including Michelin-inspired dining.

• Invites you to join conservation efforts like coral reef restoration and turtle rehabilitation at the Marine Discovery Centre. These initiatives bring purpose to your stay.

• Offers holistic naturopathic wellness treatments at the AyurMa Spa, including Ayurvedic therapies and yoga.

4. Singita Faru Faru Lodge — Tanzania

Singita Faru Faru Lodge is a luxury safari lodge. It’s in the 350,000-acre private Grumeti Reserve. The lodge uniquely blends contemporary design and natural beauty. It gives guests an immersive wildlife experience.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Offers exclusive access to abundant wildlife. You can witness the annual wildebeest migration up close in a private, crowd-free setting. 

• Features contemporary suites with panoramic views of the Serengeti plains. The design connects you fully to the landscape. You’ll also enjoy serene views of the Grumeti River and spot wildlife right from your room.

• Offers gourmet meals made with fresh, local ingredients. Meals are complemented by a selection of fine wines.

• Offers two swimming pools, a wellness and fitness centre, and a boutique gallery. You can join guided walking safaris and visit local communities.

5. Six Senses Zil Pasyon — Seychelles

Six Senses Zil Pasyon is nestled on the private Félicité Island in the Seychelles. It offers unmatched island indulgence.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Set amidst white-sand beaches, palm-fringed shores, lush wilderness, and sweeping ocean vistas.

• Offers spacious villas and residences with private infinity pools, creating a serene, private retreat.

• Serves fresh seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine with ingredients from the resort’s organic garden. Every meal has a unique, local flavour.

• Offers exclusive wellness experiences at the Six Senses Spa, like treatments, yoga, and meditation to unwind in the island’s natural beauty.

• Provides conservation efforts like coral restoration and turtle preservation. These activities add a meaningful, eco-friendly aspect to your stay.

• Offers water sports, scenic hikes, and island-hopping adventures. The resort balances excitement with relaxation, tailored to your preferences.

6. Soneva Jani Luxury Resort — Maldives

Soneva Jani sits in the tranquil waters of the Noonu Atoll. It offers the ultimate blend of luxury and expansiveness, making it a one-of-a-kind Maldivian setting.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• One of the world’s lowest-density resorts, ensuring exclusive space and privacy.

• Offers the Maldives’ largest and most luxurious overwater and beach villas. Each has private pools and direct lagoon access for an immersive ocean experience.

• Provides retractable roofs for stargazing and private water slides into the lagoon. These features make your stay exciting.

• Serves exceptional dining options with menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs.

• Offers eco-friendly initiatives like coral restoration and waste-to-wealth programmes to make the luxury experience sustainable.

• Provides unique experiences with vibrant marine life, including snorkelling, diving, kayaking, and paddleboarding, plus sunset dolphin cruises, private beach dinners, and starlit movie screenings at the open-air cinema.

7. Jade Mountain Resort — St Lucia

Jade Mountain Resort is designed to offer you unparalleled luxury and natural immersion.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Offers open-wall sanctuaries. Each open-wall sanctuary is accessed by a private bridge and features a private infinity pool framed by soaring stone columns. These architectural marvels offer unobstructed views of the iconic Pitons and the vast Caribbean Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The setting is stunning, secluded and tranquil. 

• Serves the unique ‘Jade Cuisine’ that blends local and international flavours. 

• Offers various spa treatments at the Kai en Ciel spa. You can also choose to have treatments in the comfort of your own sanctuary. Each option offers a deeply personalised relaxation.

• Provides additional amenities at the nearby Anse Chastanet Resort, including two beaches, a PADI 5-Star scuba centre, and hiking and biking trails for a well-rounded adventure.

8. Badrutt’s Palace — Switzerland

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is a landmark of luxury in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Established in 1896, this hotel carries a legacy of exceptional hospitality. 

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Awarded the prestigious Three MICHELIN Keys. This distinction recognises it as an extraordinary place to stay.

• Features 157 rooms, including 37 suites. Each is uniquely designed to combine comfort with style. You can enjoy panoramic vistas of the Engadine Alps and Lake St. Moritz. The setting promises an unmatched Alpine experience.

• Offers Michelin-recognised dining. 

• Includes a wellness centre with an indoor pool, fitness facilities, and spa services.

• Offers activities for both winter and summer. In winter, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding. In summer, you can try hiking, mountain biking, and lake sports.

• Recognised as one of Switzerland’s top luxury hotels, with awards from Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes, and Tripadvisor.

9. Kisawa Sanctuary — Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Kisawa Sanctuary is a 300-hectare resort on the southern tip of Benguerra Island. It’s a sanctuary of forest, beach and sand dunes. It offers a harmonious blend of nature, culture, culture and personalised service.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Features 12 one-to-three-bedroom bungalows. Each has a private beach, infinity pool, and open-air deck. The eco-friendly design combines traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. It ensures a minimal environmental footprint.

• Dining options include a beach club and several restaurants. Each offers high-end meals with stunning views.

• Hosts the Natural Wellness Center, which specialises in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic treatments. Amenities include a yoga studio and a lap pool.

• Situated adjoining the National Marine Park. This wildlife park is home to some of the richest and least explored subtropical ecosystems in the Indian Ocean.

• Offers snorkelling, diving, and guided nature walks.

10. Bedarra Island Resort — Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Bedarra Island Resort is an all-inclusive private retreat within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Queensland, Australia. 

For the unversed, the Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest coral reef system. It’s home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Bedarra is part of the Great Barrier Reef Island Resorts Rejuvenation Program, creating luxurious travel in sustainable ways.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Australia’s most unique resort. It offers the ultimate in laid-back, barefoot luxury.

• Features twelve private villas spread across 45 hectares of tropical rainforest. Some are steps from the beach, while others have infinity plunge pools, outdoor rainforest bathrooms, or large sundecks with daybeds. Each villa has uninterrupted ocean views.

• Serves a daily-changing high-end menu complemented by handpicked wines.

• Offers unique experiences like candlelit dinners on private beachfront decks and fancy picnics on nearby deserted islands.

• Gives direct access to the Great Barrier Reef, with snorkelling and diving charters departing right from the island.

11. Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort — Turks & Caicos

Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort sits on the southeastern edge of the Turks and Caicos Islands, surrounding the world-famous Caicos Banks. This luxury resort is located on a 1,100-acre private island and promises an exclusive Caribbean getaway.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Offers 17 beachfront bungalows and nine private villas. The experience is intimate and bespoke. Each accommodation features a private heated plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, and direct beach access. 

• Provides complimentary round-trip private air transfers from Providenciales International Airport, ensuring a seamless arrival and departure experience.

• Includes à la carte dining at Calico restaurant. You can enjoy a variety of fancy dishes prepared to order. Meals are complemented by top-shelf spirits.

• Offers non-motorised water sports, tennis, pickleball, onshore fishing, and hiking at no additional cost. 

• Features spa treatments, providing a top-notch relaxation experience.

12. Capella — Singapore

Capella Singapore combines colonial charm with contemporary elegance. It offers panoramic views of the South China Sea.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Features 112 rooms, suites, and villas. Each accommodation thoughtfully blends modern comforts with traditional Asian influences. Many include private balconies or terraces with stunning sea or garden views.

• Offers a variety of dining options, including contemporary Chinese and Mediterranean cuisines.

• Provides holistic treatments inspired by the phases of the moon at the award-winning Auriga Spa.

• Includes three cascading outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and a library with books, games, and refreshments.

• Situated near world-famous attractions, like Universal Studios Singapore and the Resorts World Sentosa entertainment complex.

• Recognised as one of the world’s top hotels. It has been featured in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 and received Five-Star ratings from Forbes Travel Guide.

13. Como Laucala Island — Fiji

COMO Laucala Island is a private island resort in Fiji’s Cakaudrove province. It’s one of the world’s largest private island resorts, offering an exclusive Fijian experience.

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Features 25 villas situated over lagoons, on hilltops, amidst rainforests, or beside the ocean. Each standalone residence includes an elegant lounge, private pool, spacious sundeck, and outdoor bath.

• Hosts five restaurants and bars. They serve a variety of cuisines to cater to different tastes.

• Provides ultimate wellness at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, including a lap and lagoon pool.

• Offers a range of amenities for recreation, including an 18-hole golf course. It also offers experiences, like sunset sailing, Tavoro Falls hike, and more.

• Has an airstrip for private planes and can arrange connecting flights on resort-owned aircraft.

• Grows much of its food on-site and bottles its mineral water to reduce single-use plastics.

14. Atlantis The Royal — Dubai

Atlantis The Royal redefines opulence with its innovative design and world-class amenities. Located on the crescent of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, it iconises Dubai’s reputation for luxury and innovation. 

Why Stay In This Resort?

• Offers 795 rooms, suites, and signature penthouses. Each comes with bespoke amenities by Graff, Frette, and Hermès. Many accommodations provide stunning views of the Dubai skyline and the Arabian Sea, and 44 suites feature private infinity pools.

• Features 17 restaurants and bars. Four are Michelin-awarded restaurants.

• Features a 90-metre sky pool, a wellness centre, and a private beach.

• Provides unique offerings, like fire-breathing fountains and access to the world’s largest waterpark, Aquaventure.

• Awarded the prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating within the first year of opening; recognised as one of the World’s 50 Best Hotels for the second consecutive year.