Indian Ocean and Africa
Middle East and the Americas
Every hotel we shortlist170 hotels, one listFilter by place, by what each hotel is best for, and by the judges behind it.Browse all hotelsWorth it once
The splurges worth it once, priced.
What each really costs, split per person where that is how people pay, and how to try it first.
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Celebrate
Winter
Christmas marketsChristmas markets Europe-wide: ten weekends from about £775 for two
UK Christmas marketsThe best Christmas markets UK-wide: ten weekends from about £451 for two
New Year's EveTen New Years Eve breaks, from about £990 for two
HogmanayTen ways to do Hogmanay Edinburgh, from free to £11,460Journeys
Rail · 5 trains
Luxury train journeys
Five great trains, from the Orient Express to the Andes.
Read the guide
Cities · 1 perfect day
One day in Rome
Sunrise to midnight: the walk, the tasting menus and a view of St Peter's.
Read the guide
Islands · 12 months
The Maldives, month by month
When the sea is glass, when the mantas come, and when the price halves.
Read the guide
Wild · Jul to Oct
The Great Migration
Where two million animals will be, and where you should be waiting.
Read the guide
Rail · London to Venice
The Orient Express
When it runs, what each cabin costs, and the best month to board.
Read the guide
Flights · Door to door
Emirates business class
From the car at your door in London to the lights of Dubai, in ten moments.
Read the guide
Winter · 5 nights
Lapland holidays
Huskies, reindeer, glass igloos and the fox fires, told as five Arctic nights.
Read the guide
Now departing · January
The classic month. The west and south coasts and the Cultural Triangle are at their clearest, and the hill country is sunny by day and cool at night. The east is still wet.
Sri Lanka, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · February
Arguably the finest all-round month: dry, warm on the coast and the height of the monarch season in the highlands.
Mexico, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · March
Arguably the sweet spot for the Cape: highs around 25°C, harvest still running and the long days of summer winding down gently.
South Africa, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · April
Kyoto reaches full bloom around 4 April on average, and the first week is the most sought after of the year. Golden Week begins on 29 April, so leave before it.
Japan, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · May
Sunny, settled and uncrowded, with about seven rainy days and ten hours of sun. Underwater visibility around Nusa Penida is often very good.
Bali, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · June
Summer without the peak. The Algarve reaches about 24°C, and Lisbon throws its biggest party of the year on the night of 12 June.
Portugal, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · July
The warmest, busiest month and the most reliable for the highlands, with most F-roads open and Landmannalaugar at its best.
Iceland, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · August
Peak Mara River crossings in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Great Migration, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · September
Arguably the finest month. Highs ease to about 24°C, the sea is still 25°C and crowds thin noticeably after the first week or two.
the Amalfi Coast, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · October
Warm days around 21°C and a sea near 21°C, but more rain. Some island hotels stay open, and Plitvice turns to autumn colour.
Croatia, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · November
The cool season returns to Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast. Koh Samui, though, has its highest rainfall of the year now.
Thailand, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Now departing · December
Dry, sunny and around 24°C in Tulum, with the clearest Caribbean water of the year. Festive weeks are the busiest of all.
Mexico, month by monthPhoto: Unsplash
Just published
Flights · The journey
From the car at your door in London to the lights of Dubai: ten moments, seven hours, one flat bed.
The Shortlists · Kyoto
Tatami, cedar baths and kaiseki dinners: eleven inns that hold a Michelin Key, area by area.
When to go · Italy
Lemons, ferries and sea swims: the months to go, the weeks to dodge, and what each one costs.
Destination of the month · Autumn into winter
Maples turn the temple roofs red from mid-November, and the crowds thin as the nights draw in. Stay in a ryokan: tatami, a cedar bath, a kaiseki dinner, and the old streets after dark.
Photo: Unsplash
Fewer, better picks
Every pick says who it suits and who should skip it.
Sourced and dated
Prices and facts name their source and the day we checked them.
No paid places
Hotels and airlines cannot buy a place on a shortlist. Gifted stays are always disclosed.
The Shortlists
23 hotelsBaliUbud · Uluwatu · Canggu · SeminyakVyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
20 hotelsThe MaldivesNorth Malé · South Malé · Baa · The north
16 hotelsThailandBangkok · Phuket · Koh Samui · The north
11 hotelsSri LankaGalle · Weligama · Hill Country · Yala and the east
11 ryokanKyoto ryokanGion · Central · Arashiyama · North
10 lodgesSafari lodgesMasai Mara · Serengeti · Okavango · Greater Kruger
16 hotelsRomeSpanish Steps · Pantheon · Via Veneto · Monti
14 hotelsThe Amalfi CoastPositano · Amalfi · Ravello · Sorrento
12 hotelsCroatiaDubrovnik · The islands · Istria · The cities
18 hotelsPortugalLisbon · Alentejo · Algarve · Douro
19 hotelsDubaiDowntown · The Palm · Jumeirah · MarinaNorlando Pobre, CC BY 2.0Flights
Every rung costs more. We tell you which ones are worth it on a long-haul night.
What it costs
Journeys
Rail · 5 trainsLuxury train journeysFive great trains, from the Orient Express to the Andes.
Cities · 1 perfect dayOne day in RomeSunrise to midnight: the walk, the tasting menus and a view of St Peter's.
Islands · 12 monthsThe Maldives, month by monthWhen the sea is glass, when the mantas come, and when the price halves.Matheenfaiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild · Jul to OctThe Great MigrationWhere two million animals will be, and where you should be waiting.
Rail · London to VeniceThe Orient ExpressWhen it runs, what each cabin costs, and the best month to board.
Flights · Door to doorEmirates business classFrom the car at your door in London to the lights of Dubai, in ten moments.
Winter · 5 nightsLapland holidaysHuskies, reindeer, glass igloos and the fox fires, told as five Arctic nights.
