Must-see hotels in Southeast Asia

  • Cardamom Tented Camp

    South Coast

    Nestled deep in Botum Sakor National Park on the banks of the wildlife-laden Prek Tachan River, Cardamom Tented Camp is both a model ecotourism success…

  • Cove Eco Resort

    Raja Ampat Islands

    Centrally located from many of Raja Ampat's finest diving spots and land-based excursions, this year-old, intimate private-island resort simply has it all…

  • Mesa Stila Resort

    Central Java

    Nestled in a 22-hectare coffee plantation, the Mesa Stila Resort is one of Indonesia’s most magical hotels. At an altitude of 900m, the forest gives way…

  • Raffles Makati

    Manila

    Two five-star hotels in one skyscraper. The Raffles consists of 32 stunning suites on the 9th and 10th floors. They feature high ceilings, wooden…

  • Raffles Hotel

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    The grand old dame of Singapore has seen many a famous visitor in her time, from Somerset Maugham to Queen Elizabeth II. It's a beautiful place of white…

  • Four Seasons Tented Camp

    Chiang Rai Province

    If you can fit it into your schedule (and budget), this safari-inspired resort is among the most unusual accommodation experiences in Thailand. The ‘tents…

  • Manila Hotel

    Manila

    One of Asia’s grand and regal hotels, where everyone from General MacArthur to the Beatles to JFK has spent the night. It’s more than 100 years old, yet…

  • Hotel Komune

    East Bali

    A resort in the true sense of the word, Komune offers everything needed for an active and enjoyable holiday. The surf here is among Bali's best, although…

  • Breve Azurine

    Karimunjawa Islands

    With a private beach, this gorgeous hillside resort offers a genuine island welcome. Rustic cottages with open-air bathrooms have magnificent sea views or…

  • Hive Hotel

    Manila

    The lower-budget sister of Cocoon is hardly a downgrade. Rooms are slightly smaller, but efficiently designed with open closets and lovely room dividers…

  • Six Senses Con Dao

    Con Dao Islands

    This astonishing hotel enjoys a dreamlike location on the island's best beach, 4km northeast of Con Son town. Its 50-or-so ocean-facing, timber-clad beach…

  • Makati Shangri-La

    Manila

    With a soaring lobby lounge punctuated by floor-to-ceiling bay windows and sequoia-sized columns, the Shangri-La wins the award for Makati’s most stunning…

  • Raffles Hotel Le Royal

    Phnom Penh

    From the golden age of travel, this is one of Asia’s grand old dames, in the illustrious company of the Oriental in Bangkok and Raffles in Singapore. This…

  • Amanpulo

    Palawan

    The Philippines' top resort has one of the remote Cuyo Islands all to itself and can be reached only by private plane from Manila. The island is ringed by…

  • Villa Samadhi

    Kuala Lumpur

    It’s hard to believe you’re in the heart of KL when staying at this gorgeous boutique property that epitomises Southeast Asian chic. The black polished…

  • Spring River Resort

    Phu Hin Bun NPA & Tham Kong Lor

    These stilted bungalows sit in an immaculately landscaped, jungle-like garden at the edge of Nam Hin Bun. The more expensive rooms have en suite bathrooms…

  • Mandapa

    Ubud

    Set in a spectacular river valley enclosed by rice fields, this stunning Ritz Carlton resort is the size of a small village. It's replete with facilities …

  • La Résidence Phou Vao

    Luang Prabang

    With its stunning hilltop grounds, seamless service and stylish wood rooms, Luang Prabang's first luxury hotel minted revivalist Indo-chic. The infinity…

  • Phum Baitang

    Siem Reap

    This beautiful resort feels like a boutique Cambodian village. Rooms are set in spacious, elegantly furnished wooden villas, some with private pools, and…

  • Pangkor Laut Resort

    Pulau Pangkor

    An impeccably managed private island resort lies west of Pulau Pangkor, reachable only by prebooked guests on a 20-minute boat transfer from Marina Bay…

  • Rumah Boedi

    Borobudur

    Set in a magnificent garden of mature hardwoods, abundant creepers and outrageous sprigs of orchids, this boutique hotel (3km east of the monument) offers…

  • Siam

    Bangkok

    Zoom back to the 1930s in this retro-chic riverside heritage hotel, where art deco influences, marbled floorings, plantain-lined aqua courtyards and…

  • Satri House

    Luang Prabang

    This beautiful compound of villas (one is the former house of the Lao Red Prince) boasts stunning rooms with huge beds, fine furniture and a decorative…

  • Pavilion

    Phnom Penh

    Housed in an elegant French villa, this immensely popular and atmospheric place kick-started Phnom Penh's boutique-hotel obsession. All rooms have…

  • Phoenix Hotel

    Yogyakarta

    Right in the heart of the city, this historic hotel is easily the best in its class and is a Yogya landmark. Dating back to 1918, it’s been sensitively…

  • Heaven on the Planet

    South Lombok

    The aptly named Heaven on the Planet has units scattered along a cliff's edge, from where you'll have spectacular bird's-eye views of the sea. Others are…

  • Bunloed's Huts

    Northeastern Thailand

    Bunloed and Angelina (he's Thai, she's French) welcome guests to this charming cluster of self-built huts they call home on the edge of peaceful Ban Kham…

  • Atmosphere

    Negros

    The most luxurious resort in Dauin, possibly all of Negros, Atmosphere has a dash of Miami Beach style leavened with Filipino warmth and a dedicated team…

  • Vogels Hostel

    Central Java

    Housed in a faded but charming art deco structure built in 1926, Vogels is a backpacker institution that's barely changed since it opened in 1978 – even…

  • Kingfisher Ecolodge

    Southern Laos

    Run by a Lao-Italian family, the Kingfisher Ecolodge is set on 7 hectares at the edge of the wetland, about 700m past Kiet Ngong village. It's a beautiful…

  • Lodges Ekologika on Portibi Farms

    West Java

    Set on the terraced slopes of Gunung Salak (2211m), this organic farm and gourmet kitchen has developed a reputation for imaginative meals crafted from…

  • Baan Bong Pha Om

    Buriram Province

    Bringing artistic flair and fantastic value to the rice fields of rural Buriram, this family-run place is fun, attractive and utterly relaxing. Many of…

  • Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp

    Sabah

    Located on the bank of an oxbow lake, far from any village, this wonderful place is great for wildlife spotting. Digs are simple: six twin rooms with bug…

  • La P'tite Kepa

    Nusa Tenggara

    Upon arriving at the airport, drivers shout, 'La P'tite Kepa?' – thus is the popularity of this French-owned, solar-powered dive resort. There are 11…

  • Ulu Ulu Resort

    Ulu Temburong National Park

    Ulu Ulu Resort is the only accommodation actually inside the park. The upscale riverside lodge edges into the forest, with comfortable dorms and stylish…

  • Nuts Huts

    Bohol

    This near-legendary place polarises opinion. Ensconced in tropical forest on the Loboc River, it's perfect for those eager to experience and explore the…

  • Rimba Ecolodge

    West Sumatra

    Rimba Ecolodge is an intimate French-Indonesian-run place reachable by boat. Monkeys (both silvered leaf and red leaf species) come to explore the beach…

  • Sekeping Serendah

    Malaysia

    Woven into the jungle, Sekeping Serendah is a back-to-nature retreat with an appealing rough-luxe style. Accommodation is accessed by a boardwalk that…

  • Terrapuri Heritage Village

    Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast

    The manicured grounds of Terrapuri Heritage Village resemble a film set about the lives of sultans of yore. Meaning ‘Land of Palaces’, Terrapuri is equal…