13 Best Luxury Resorts in the World Worth Dreaming About

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Introduction

I’ve often asked myself why certain places feel dreamlike while others fade quickly. I think it’s because the best hotels do more than shelter you — they awaken every sense, they shift the rhythm of your thoughts, and they give you a glimpse of life at its most vivid. If you asked me where I’d go for a 20th anniversary or to mark retirement from the military, I would choose one of these places — not just for the comfort, but for the chance to celebrate milestones in a setting that feels timeless. These thirteen hotels are not simply destinations; they are stages where the extraordinary becomes part of your story, standing among the best luxury resorts in the world.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Amangalla – Amangalla, Galle, Sri Lanka
• One&Only – One&Only Royal Mirage
• Rosewood – Rosewood Hong Kong
• Mandarin Oriental – Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
• Four Seasons – Four Seasons Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Ritz-Carlton – The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, Japan
• Belmond – Hotel Caruso, Ravello, Italy
• Capella – Capella Singapore
• Six Senses – Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
• Oberoi – The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
• The Luxury Collection – The Naka Island, Phuket, Thailand
• St. Regis – The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
• Regent – Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Amangalla – Amangalla, Galle, Sri Lanka

You step through the colonial gates of Galle Fort and into a sanctuary where time drips like honey. Inside, ceilings soar and antique chandeliers glimmer against the gentle echoes of teak floors. Open doors draw fragrant sea breeze and whispers of sandalwood into your suite, where four-poster beds dressed in fine linens beckon you to stay. In the Great Hall—the “Zaal”—live jazz flows through the air as you sip mango Bellinis, soft laughter mingling with the glow of lanterns on verandas. The spa, tucked into a hidden courtyard, offers Ayurvedic rituals, lush oils, and warm stone baths. Here, even the walls feel storied, carved by centuries of colonial grace. Staying at Amangalla isn’t just travel; it’s a peaceful return to a bygone elegance.
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One&Only – One&Only Royal Mirage

Golden domes shimmer against the desert sky as you step into a palace of Arabian nights. At One&Only Royal Mirage, courtyards bloom with fountains, palm trees, and the scent of jasmine drifting on the warm breeze. Marble archways lead into rooms draped with silks, carved wood, and lantern light that flickers like stars indoors. The sound of the Gulf reaches you faintly from the private beach, where waves kiss the sand beneath the city’s skyline. In the evening, dine under canopies with mezze platters rich in saffron, cumin, and roasted lamb that melts at the touch of your fork. Later, stretch out in a cabana by torchlight, the cool night air carrying whispers of oud and the laughter of the sea.
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Rosewood – Rosewood Hong Kong

From your suite, the skyline of Hong Kong stretches like a theater set of glass and light. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Victoria Harbour, where ferries and dinner cruises cut silver wakes through the water. Inside, velvet cushions and rich wood floors soften the city’s energy. You hear the low murmur of jazz drifting from the bar downstairs, while the scent of oud and leather lingers in the air. At Asaya, their wellness sanctuary, your body sinks into warm oils infused with herbs, the therapist’s hands pressing away the city’s chaos.
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Mandarin Oriental – Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand

The Chao Phraya River glimmers gold at sunset as a teak boat glides you to the hotel’s dock. Stepping off, you are greeted with jasmine garlands, their fragrance delicate and intoxicating. The air hums with the sound of cicadas and temple bells, a reminder that Bangkok’s pulse is both ancient and alive. Your suite is filled with silks, polished teak, and art that breathes Thai heritage. In the kitchen, chefs pound fresh lemongrass and chilies into curry pastes, their aroma rising into the night. Later, at the Oriental Spa, warm herbal compresses release a cloud of scents — lime, kaffir leaf, and ginger — while your skin absorbs their heat.
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Four Seasons – Four Seasons Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Wake to Mount Otemanu rising from a turquoise lagoon, your breakfast delivered by canoe. The air is scented with coconut and sea spray, and the morning light paints the overwater bungalows in shades of gold. Step into the lagoon and feel the coral gardens brush against your fingertips as schools of neon fish dart past. By afternoon, the warmth of the sun presses into your skin as you rest in a hammock, while chilled champagne beads against your glass. Dinner is served on the beach under a canopy of stars, the crackle of fire torches mingling with the rhythm of Polynesian drums.
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Ritz-Carlton – The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, Japan

On the banks of the Kamogawa River, sliding screens open to reveal Zen gardens brushed with morning mist. The soft sound of bamboo water fountains and birdsong fills the air. Your hands trail across tatami mats, cool and textured beneath your skin. Breakfast arrives in lacquered boxes — grilled fish, pickled vegetables, miso soup — flavors balanced like a poem. Later, you join a tea master in a private ceremony, the bitterness of matcha awakening your senses. As night falls, the glow of lanterns reflects in the river while kaiseki dinners unfold like a performance, each dish as delicate as origami.
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Belmond – Hotel Caruso, Ravello, Italy

Perched on Amalfi cliffs, Belmond Caruso greets you with terraced gardens and lemon blossoms sweetening the air. The infinity pool hovers above the sea, blurring the line between water and sky. Touch the worn stone walls and feel history’s warmth, each crack telling stories of centuries past. At sunset, violins echo in the courtyard while waiters pour prosecco that sparkles with the fading light. The taste of handmade ravioli with ricotta and herbs lingers long after the last bite, as the breeze carries the salt of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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Capella – Capella Singapore

On 30 acres of rainforest, birdsong mingles with the rustle of palms as you walk toward colonial white villas framed by futuristic glass curves. The air smells of orchids and fresh rain. Inside, cool marble floors contrast with warm teak furniture, and your Capella Personal Assistant anticipates your desires before you voice them. A private dinner is arranged in the garden, where the taste of Singapore chili crab bursts with spice and sweetness, paired with crisp Riesling. The spa’s heated pools cradle your body while essential oils of sandalwood and lemongrass soothe your senses.
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Six Senses – Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Arrive by paraglider, the wind rushing against your face, mountains behind you, and a secluded bay ahead. Villas blend seamlessly into stone cliffs, their doors opening to courtyards scented with frankincense. Barefoot on cool tiles, you hear the rhythmic call of waves and the laughter of children on the shore. The resort’s mountaintop restaurant serves lamb slow-cooked in spices, each bite earthy and rich. At the spa, warm desert stones press into your muscles, leaving a deep calm that lingers long after. Night descends with stars thick as desert sand, and you taste cardamom tea on your lips while the silence of Oman wraps around you.
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Oberoi – The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Set on Lake Pichola, The Oberoi Udaivilas gleams with domes, courtyards, and frescoes that glow in golden light. The air smells of marigold garlands and incense carried from nearby temples. You walk across marble corridors cooled by centuries of shade, and peacocks cross your path without fear. Lunch is fragrant biryani, saffron rice releasing steam scented with cardamom and cinnamon. In the evening, oil lamps flicker across the lake, their reflections dancing like stars. A boat carries you across still waters, the cool air brushing your skin, while the sound of sitar music drifts from the courtyard. At Udaivilas, luxury feels less like service and more like devotion.
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The Luxury Collection – The Naka Island, Phuket, Thailand

A private speedboat skims you across the Andaman Sea, the salt air sharp on your lips, until limestone cliffs part to reveal Naka Island. The resort unfolds like a secret: villas with thatched roofs and private plunge pools framed by palms and hibiscus. The scent of frangipani mixes with the tang of the ocean, while cicadas hum steadily in the trees. Inside, cool stone floors contrast with soft silk cushions in shades of jade and gold, a reminder of Thailand’s heritage.

At dinner, freshly caught seafood grilled with lemongrass crackles against your tongue, balanced by the sweetness of coconut desserts. Later, the spa cocoons you in herbal steam infused with kaffir lime and ginger, your skin tingling as the night breeze cools it again. As stars gather over the Andaman, you float in your pool, the sound of waves echoing faintly beyond — luxury here feels like surrender to nature itself.
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St. Regis – The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

The St. Regis experience begins before you reach the island. At Velana International Airport in Malé, a private host meets you with a tray of fresh juices and warm pastries in a quiet lounge away from the crowds. From there, you board a seaplane, the engines humming as the turquoise expanse of the Indian Ocean spreads beneath you.

Twenty minutes later, the island appears, wrapped in palms and beaches as white as sugar. Villas rise over the water in sculptural arcs of teak and glass, each with a private pool and butler service. The scent of hibiscus floats on the breeze as you settle into your deck, toes dangling above the sea. At the Iridium Spa, perched above the lagoon, heated oils melt into your skin while waves lap below. Dinner under the stars brings the taste of Maldivian reef fish and coconut, spiced just enough to wake the senses. At the St. Regis Maldives, the journey itself is luxury, and arrival feels like entering another world.
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Regent – Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam

A private Range Rover whisks you from Phu Quoc airport to a sanctuary of glass, water, and tropical calm. Regent Phu Quoc unfolds with koi ponds and timber colonnades that mirror the island’s serenity. Suites and villas open onto private plunge pools or white-sand beaches, interiors alive with cypress, cream, and deep teal. The air smells of sea salt and tropical blooms, mingling with the delicate botanicals used in the spa. Five distinct pools dot the grounds, including a rooftop infinity pool where cocktails meet the sunset.

At night, the Taste Studio turns dinner into theatre — chefs, artists, and performers weaving flavors and spectacle together. The complimentary “refreshment gallery” in every suite feels like a secret indulgence, restocked daily with treats. For those who wander farther, the resort’s private yacht, Serenity, waits to sail into the Gulf of Thailand. Regent Phu Quoc is not only a resort; it is an orchestration of senses, each note played to perfection.
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