Ever want to see how the other half live? Pick up a copy of Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) at the end of the year and flick straight to the ‘Gold List’. There you’ll find a list of the most jaw-dropping hotels and resorts in the world; the sort of place that you’d only usually see in the White Lotus, or on your ‘If I win the lottery’ Pinterest board.
CNT knows a thing or two about luxury, so a venue has to be pretty much perfect in every way to make it onto the global Gold List. If the food is just nice, or the location is just a bit too out of the way – or too near civilisation, depending on the vibe – then you’re out of luck.
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If you are fortunate enough to be able to treat yourself to a little holiday somewhere nice, then the CNT Gold List is your Holy Grail. After a swimming pool with panoramic views of the Amalfi Coast? Sorted. Want to try a Four Seasons property? Several are mentioned. Need a calm retreat in the centre of Kyoto? Look no further.
From a former military fortress in Spain to safari glamping in Botswana, here are a few of our faves from the list.
Europe
The Connaught, London, UK
The Connaught has long been a top contender for city centre opulence. It’s been in business for nearly 200 years and is the very picture of Mayfair grandeur – think mahogany everything, hand-embroidered headboards, uniformed butlers, etc – but it as CNT points out, ‘Despite [that], everyone is treated with trademark down-to-earth service’. Rooms start at €970 per night.
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Cap Rocat, Mallorca, Spain
Cap Rocat is ‘the jewel of Marugal’, according to CNT. This massive resort stretches across 74 acres of land but remains ‘exclusive’, with only 30 suites available. For this reason, ‘The intimacy here is absolute; nothing stands between you and the immense sea’. If that wasn’t enough, a subterranean spa is ‘capable of transmitting peace few places in the world can’. Book your stay from €833 a night.
Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
Mandarin Oriental was recently crowned the best luxury chain in the world, and the Bangkok branch made it into the top 10 hotels in this year’s World’s 50 Best ranking. Clearly, it’s doing something right. CNT reckons that the special something is a mix of ‘an ever-evolving lineup of a dozen or so restaurants’, a ‘spa… that still sits in a league of its own’, and the sort of charm you only get after 150 years in the business. In other words, ‘they just don’t make them like this anymore’. Rooms start at €580.
Lizard Island Resort, Queensland, Australia
One of two Australian properties recognised on the list, this Queensland resort allows guests to explore the Great Barrier Reef in style. Rooms boast immediate access to the shimmering sapphire waters and marine life. But the real highlight? The ‘Lizard Island Research Station… really sets this place apart. Opened in 1973, the station is one of the world’s leading reef-research facilities on a luxury resort’. Dreamy. A night’s stay starts at €1480.
North America
Colony Palm Beach, Florida, USA
As CNT puts it, this hotel looks like something straight out of a Wes Anderson film. Its powder pink exterior is a good insight into the ‘glamorous yet laid-back’ vibe you’ll find inside; it’s all a bit kitschy and whimsical in the best way possible. Rooms start at €447 per night – not cheap, but much more affordable than some of the top-end resorts on the Gold List.
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada
If you’re looking for a properly unique stay, the Fogo Island Inn is calling. Propped up on stilts far above the crashing waves below, this faraway inn offers unparalleled views and a feeling that ‘you’re at the very edge of the earth’. Rooms start at an eye-watering €1880 per night.
Central and South America
Turtle Inn, Placencia, Belize
This one’s for the film buffs, but also for anyone who wants a proper holiday complete with beaches, cocktails, and exceptional service. Owned by Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, this is ‘one part Gilligan’s Island, one part barefoot-chic Bali beach club’; all set against tropical South American greenery. You can stay for around €375 a night.
One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
How many times have you been to a treetop spa before? If the answer is anything other than ‘they make treetop spas?’, then we’re jealous. Either way, the views from the One&Only Mandarina, surrounded by lush forest life, are world-class, and that’s without mentioning the wildlife. According to CNT, ‘the gentle sound of the Pacific urges bone-deep relaxation’ – and we definitely believe it. One night will set you back at least €1155, but if you’ve got the cash, it’s definitely worth it.
Mashpi Lodge, Pichincha, Ecuador
Tucked away in the wilds of Ecuador, the most biodiverse place on Earth, this glass-walled lodge is a ‘is a bubble of understated luxury’. Guides can take you through the dense rainforest, or you can ‘wallow in hot tubs that look over the valley or listen to the sounds of the forest from your room’. A stay this bucket list-worthy spot will cost you – nights start at €1430.
Africa and the Middle East
Jack’s Camp, Botswana
This isn’t just a place to sleep, it’s a complete safari experience. Stay in a 5-star glamping tent by night, and by day venture into the ‘wide-open spaces filled with wildebeests, hyenas, and meerkats that are waiting to be explored in a 4×4, on a quad bike, or on horseback’. You’ll be well looked after by the staff, especially given there are only ever a few guests staying at a given time, and you’ll be telling stories about your stay for years to come. Unsurprisingly, nights start at €1760.
andBeyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
A stay at Mnembe Island means total indulgence. Expect ‘some of the most unspoiled beaches on earth’, rooms ‘designed to mimic the curves of a nautilus shell’, and the knowledge that you can, at any moment, ‘ask a butler to pop by with a basket of sushi or a cooling coconut’. Just beware; this is one of the more pricey hotels on the list – a single night can set you back €3870.
You can read the full CNT Gold list here.
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