[imagesource: Capella Ubud]

Since the onset of the pandemic, hotels across the globe have had to close their doors for the foreseeable future, with the exception of a few currently used to house those expatriated from other countries while they undergo mandatory quarantine.

In Australia, that didn’t work out so well.

On a happier note, before countries shut down, and flights were grounded, Travel + Leisure conducted their annual survey to uncover the top 100 hotels that their readers rated as the best in the world.

As mentioned in our article on the city ranked number one by tourists and travellers, voting closed on March 2, shortly before things really started escalating, so their results reflect a world where we could still visit new places.

In that sense, the rankings provide a guideline for where to rest your head once overseas trips become possible again.

South Africa did pretty well, with two of our hotels making the list, and one even cracking the top 10:

No. 9 Singita Kruger National Park, which consists of two contemporary retreats, Sweni Lodge and Lebombo Lodge, is set amid 33,000 acres of South African wilderness.

On the other end of the spectrum, No. 57 the Silo, in Cape Town, represents a sophisticated sense of city life, and is directly adjacent to Zeitz MOCAA — the Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

Nicely done.

Moving on to the top five:

1. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

“Marvelous” is how one reader succinctly described the experience at this year’s top hotel. Another said the property has the “best personalized service. Staff is super attentive, and the Bill Bensley design is unique.”

The star designer’s efforts are surrounded by small villages, shrines, and acres of green rice paddies in Ubud’s Keliki Valley — another strong point, voters said.

A suspension bridge leads guests here to their tented suites, and the interiors have the aura of an old-world explorer’s hideaway — but in the most luxurious way, with teak flooring, vintage steamer trunks, and antique furnishings.

Here, guests feel truly immersed in the jungle, with dense forest on all sides and the River Wos rushing below. “It’s a magical experience on the isle of gods,” as one guest said.

2. Hotel Amparo, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

In the heart of San Miguel de Allende, Hotel Amparo combines Spanish-colonial heirlooms and antiques with edgy contemporary art and textiles. Its location in the Zona Centro Histórico means it’s just a short walk to local sights like the Jardín Principal, the Plaza de la Soledad, and the Mercado de Artesanias.

3. Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada

Set on the largest offshore island in Newfoundland and Labrador, the 29-room Fogo Island Inn was designed by Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders, who festooned the property with objects from the area’s fishing communities and craftspeople, handcrafted quilts, and wood-burning stoves. The views of the rocky coast — through floor-to-ceiling windows — are as dramatically beautiful as you’d imagine.

4. The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia

A beachfront resort that combines modern tropical style and Balinese architectural elements, the Ritz-Carlton is a sprawling, family-friendly resort known for its excellent service. With six restaurants, a spa, numerous swimming pools, and a kids’ club, readers said they often didn’t leave the decadent property.

5. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Guests to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi feel pampered before they even get there, arriving by yacht from the international airport. Once on property, the 121 villas offer everything you want in a remote island vacation, including your own private pool from which to take in that crystal-clear sea.

Travel + Leisure readers are among the most seasoned travellers in the world, so they know what they’re talking about.

If you want to check out the full list of the world’s best 100 hotels, head here.

If you aren’t deliberately roughing it, your accommodation has the potential to make or break a holiday.

Best bookmark this list, so that you make good life choices the next time you travel.

[source:travel+leisure]