Welcome to my review of the Bürgenstock (Heritage) Hotel at the Bürgenstock Resort; a stunning 5-star hotel located overlooking Lake Lucerne. The location was stunning, the many hotel dining options excellent and the accommodation itself was exceptional.

Welcome to my review of The Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon; a stunning 5-star hotel located in the capital city. The location was great (I’d say extremely central, if not necessarily in the centre itself), the food fantastic and the accommodation itself was definitely top notch understated luxury.

With Key West not having any of our usual ‘go-to’ properties like Leading Hotels of the World, Virtuoso etc. I soon spotted the Marquesa and on further investigation decided that this would be the place for us. The choice of accommodations and locale appealed, as did realising that the newer Marquesa 4-1-4 building had the premier suites which seemed to give us the sort of accommodation that we were looking for.

Described as the beating heart of cultural Cape Town, the Belmond Mount Nelson is a fantastic hotel with amazing history (originally opened in 1899), in such a good location. I’d visited before a couple of times as it is such an iconic Cape Town institution (read on about the afternoon teas at ‘The Nellie’) but had never stayed. Having identified a few years ago that I would stay on the next trip, we’d booked a few days at the start of a long South Africa trip, and one of two stops in Cape Town (the second hotel would be The Royal Portfolio’s The Silo). 

Easter Island had been on my radar for some time, so I was absolutely thrilled to finally get there, albeit with three years of Covid disruption. Chile only reopened for tourism in 2022, and Easter Island remained closed even beyond the rest of the country resuming visitors.

Welcome to my review of Hotel Las Majadas, Pirque; located in the wine region on the outskirts of Santiago Chile. Read below to find out everything you need to know before your next trip to Chile.

Nestled in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, The Singular Hotel is not just a retreat; it's an immersive journey into unparalleled luxury and untamed natural beauty. From the moment one sets foot into this architectural marvel, a sense of grandeur interwoven with Patagonian charm unfolds. As if painted by the region's dramatic landscapes, this historical gem effortlessly marries sophistication with an adventurous spirit. Prepare to embark on an opulent odyssey, where each moment transcends the ordinary, and every detail embodies the essence of exclusivity and excellence.

Welcome to an unparalleled fusion of elegance and modernity nestled in the heart of Santiago, Chile - The Singular, where luxury meets cultural sophistication.

Originally opened as Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa by Tánica Hotels, but now looked after by Nayara Resorts since 2020, this is a luxury lodge in the heart of the Atacama Desert. With a focus on sustainability and nature, we enjoyed 4 nights here (3 full days) taking part in many nearby activities; whilst also enjoying relaxation time in our suite (both open-view front terrace and enclosed rear terrace with stunning mountain top views) and in their Puri Spa with a selection of treatments and water experiences.

Cardiff was somewhere I’d never been before, so being invited by Eat PR & Marketing for a short weekend stay at Voco in Cardiff Bay, I was looking forward to the opportunity to visit a new location and new hotel, as well as being my first Voco hotel stay too (a group of currently 41 open hotels with 34 more in the pipeline). Any reviews though by The Private Traveller are completely independent.

Capella Hotels first came to my notice when they used to operate the Capella Pedregal resort in Cabo, Mexico. Capella is a small chain (which also incorporates the Patina brand) across mainly the Far East and Maldives and as soon as I saw the tented experience becoming featured at Capella Ubud I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit.

Looking for a relaxing fortnight in Mexico before heading further to the USA and Palm Springs for Modernism Week, we first visited Cartesiano in Puebla before travelling up to the Yucatán Peninsula for two Chablé Hotels.

I had spotted Chablé Yucatán a while back, this property had opened in 2016 and is currently part of the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio; always a favourite go-to of mine for hotel choices. The stunning casitas throughout the resort all with private pools looked amazing, and they certainly did not disappoint in reality.

This new hotel, self-styled as the world’s first super boutique hotel opened in September 2021, slightly later than planned but was obviously impacted by Covid. It had been on my radar for a while and I was eagerly anticipating when I’d be able to visit, so I was very lucky to be able to stay for a weekend in March 2022.

There is the saying “Location, location, location” that I often use in hotel reviews or blog posts, and I think One Aldwych has to be one of the best examples of why that phrase can be so important. The hotel is so easily accessible, this trip we took the train and it was a very short taxi ride from King’s Cross station, and would equally be very easy by underground (the Tube) too had there not been a strike on the day we arrived.

As much as I love to revisit favourite five star hotels when in London, I also like to try out new properties and locations too. L’Oscar had come onto my radar a while back (it’s been open for just over three years now) but we had to cancel a trip last summer due to Covid, and (almost a year to day) were able to reschedule it.

Having been to Santorini before, we knew we would want to stay again at Oia, and after investigating a few options decided to book the Andronis Boutique Hotel, more on this in a separate review.

Recognised as the most exclusive beach resort in Brazil, Ponta dos Ganchos is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. The bungalows are carefully distributed throughout the resort on a private peninsula surrounded by two working fishing villages and an emerald sea. Privacy and comfort assures guests a unique stay.

Having had to cancel a trip to Positano in Italy at short notice due to the change in Covid-19 travel restrictions, we decided to look for somewhere within the UK and opted for a two-centre short break between Gleneagles and The Fife Arms (you can read my full review on The Gleneagles Hotel here).

Having stayed at other Constance hotels in the past, I was aware of Ephelia on Mahé but to be honest had discounted before in favour of the Leading Hotels of the World sister, Constance Lemuria on Praslin.