“Reach to the sky, breathe deeply then bring your hands together in front of your heart,” says yoga instructor extraordinaire, Morris, who is leading an Ashtanga class. We are practicing poses on the top floor of the open-air Treehouse in Watamu, Kenya.
The bonus is stellar views out to the sea and the surrounding mangrove forest. Seven suites have been integrated into the original coastal forest without felling any trees.
The demand for luxurious – and unique – hotels such as Treehouse, shows no sign of slowing down.
According to Fortune Business insights, the global luxury hotel market size is anticipated to grow to $369.36 billion by 2032. Fortunately there are plenty of new developments and classic favourites to fit every client’s bill.
Europe
Munich’s Bayerischer Hof Hotel is an historic gem located minutes from the city’s famous Marienplatz. Celebrities often stay in this hotel’s enormous 350 sqm penthouse, which spreads across the hotel’s entire eighth floor. Included in this suite is a private gym and private chef experiences, with culinary delights from the Atelier restaurant. Built at the behest of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, the hotel opened in 1841.
On the island of Styrsö in Sweden, nature, tranquility and warm summers take centre stage at the Kusthotell Styrsö resort. The gentle landscape of sandy bays, calm ponds, woods of pine and birch trees, trails and car-free roads are ideal for cycling. With regular ferry connections, the island can be a base to explore this archipelago’s 13 islands.
In Finnish Lapland, the Wilderness Hotel Saariselka offers pure Arctic Luxury. New for 2026, the resort’s Magic of the Northern Lights package is priced from £3,599pp for three nights, including accommodation, return flights plus a Husky Safari, Snowmobile Safari, and Aurora Snowmobiling.
Rachel Jelley, Sunvil Sales and Marketing Manager, says: “With travellers now looking for authenticity, sustainability and slower, more enriching journeys, hotels such as Kusthotell Styrsö and Wilderness Hotel Saariselka offer a force for good, placing guests in the heart of nature and community.”
AFRICA
Expect epic adventures with the opening of Desert and Delta Safari’s new 15 luxury-tent Sediba Sa Rona in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As a redesign of the old Khwai River Lodge, these safari tents will include modern finishes, natural materials, and striking features created with privacy in mind. All tents have decks with sweeping views out over of the Khwai River.
The Medina Palms is a lavish Swahili-style hotel on the pristine shores of Watamu on the enchanting Kenyan coast. The Alhambra style pools flow through the property, bringing cool visuals to this meticulously designed resort. Other features include spacious villa style penthouses that could work perfectly for families.
USA
In New Orleans, the historic Bourbon Orleans Hotel is located in the French Quarter. This renowned property has had an extensive renovation transforming the Orleans Ballroom and Foyer while preserving the building’s architectural heritage. Redesigned guest rooms have elevated comfort plus local character in-keeping with the hotel’s past.
New luxury adults-only resort, Shortgrass, near Spearfish in South Dakota, is a bucolic gem. It has eight camping-style bungalows decorated to a high standard and is set within 52 private acres on the Redwater River. Nearby are iconic parks: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands, and Devils Tower.
On the Hawaiian archipelago, the super lux Four Seasons Lanai has all the touches customers have come to expect from the brand. In 2024 it added the Osteria Mozza restaurant, which is already an award winning eatery.
Those visiting Washington D.C. will want to a stay at the legendary Intercontinental Willard’s Hotel or perhaps indulge in its famous afternoon tea. Opened in 1904, this landmark is steps away from The White House as well as being surrounded by historical monuments and the world-renowned Smithsonian museums.
Elliott L. Ferguson II, President and CEO of Destination DC, says: “Travellers want more than five-star service or elegant décor and our properties are responding with culinary storytelling, holistic wellness programming and community-driven initiatives.”
ASIA
Located on three kilometres of white sandy beach in Krabi, Thailand, the Twin Lotus Resort and Spa Koh Lanta has undergone a refurbishment, including to its lobby, spectacular gardens, pool and beachfront pool plus the Buafah Restaurant. An ideal choice for couples, honeymooners, digital nomads and long-term stays, the resort is only a 90-minute drive from Krabi International Airport.
The eco-luxury Visama Explorer tented camp in scenic Nan comprises eight high-comfort units in a serene rural setting surrounded by rice fields and mountains in the north province of Nan, near the border of Laos.
New premier property Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort is an exclusive sanctuary where powder-soft sand meets the crystal waters of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. It will only be accessible by boat.
Worapa Angkhasirisap, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand UK and Ireland, says: “We’re encouraging visitors to engage more deeply, whether with themselves or local culture and traditions. Hotels like The Sarojin in Khao Lak and The Pimalai on Koh Lanta support their local community directly through guest activities and initiatives.”
Australasia
Longitude 131 in the Australia Outback is the ultimate location for weddings and honeymoons as it’s overlooked by the striking Uluru natural monument. Last year saw the 40th anniversary of the “hand back” of Uluru to the Indigenous people of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Longitude 131’s location in this calm and spiritual place makes it ideal for special celebrations of any stripe and is an ideal choice for a relaxing and stylish break.
The Finniss River Lodge is situated on a 50,000-acre outback family owned and operated cattle station. The resort, with only six luxury suites, offers authentic Northern Territory style hospitality with no shortage of amenities only 90 kilometres from Darwin.
Nestled on Balanggarra Country in the untouched wilderness of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Berkeley River Lodge stands as a beacon of barefoot luxury and natural beauty. The property is set to reopen for the 2026 Kimberley season on May 1, 2026. Each villa features, a king-size bed, glass façade with spacious deck and an open-air ensuite – complete with rain showers and a striking freestanding bathtub, allowing guests to soak under the enchanting Kimberley moonlight.
Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka’s Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle is located on the country’s gorgeous southwestern coast and spectacularly overlooks the vast Indian Ocean. Views out to sea are afforded due to its excellent hillside location. The Jetwing brand is renowned for its sustainability practices, with its own bottling plants for water. It also uses offcuts from Cinnamon trees for fuel, developing their own organic gardens and also their own sewage facilities.
Heritance Aarah, Maldives, offers a Premium All-Inclusive experience, with sunrise and sunset cruises, dolphin and manta watching, house reef snorkelling, big game fishing and personalised cookery and cocktail classes. Its adults-only overwater Ocean Suite features an infinity pool, private deck, plunge pool, direct lagoon access, personal wine cellar and butler service. Agents should check the resort’s website for up-to-date pricing.
Book it
Five-nights in a king room at the Amboseli Serena Lodge averages $237 per room per night. Includes full board, transfers, park entrance and game drives
serenahotels.com/travel-agents
Lynn Houghton
Lynn is a travel writer specialising in adventure, wildlife and Indigenous travel. She also reviews hotels.
