Afar Hotels & Accommodations
Find the best place for a truly local stay.
Hong Kong’s grandest hotels are being remade from the inside out. A writer who called the city home for more than a decade returns to find out what’s actually worth booking.
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HOTELS WE LOVE
These are the hotels we recommend across the borough, whether you’re after skyline views, great restaurants, or a quieter side of New York.
11 snug boutique hotels for a weekend escape from the concrete jungle
Our favorite places to stay across Italy’s most spectacular stretch of coastline, whether you’re after Old World glamour, contemporary design, or peaceful seclusion.
Beauty, charm, and history infuse scores of hotels in Portugal’s capital city. To help you choose where to stay, here are 12 of the best hotels in Lisbon.
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The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto has transformed a 90-year-old theater in the Gion neighborhood into a 55-room hotel, using its local connections to open doors that can be difficult for visitors to access.
After 10 years as a hotel and two centuries as a farm, São Lourenço do Barrocal in Portugal’s Alentejo region has never felt more alluring.
The former playground of pastis pioneer Paul Ricard has returned as Zannier Île de Bendor, having traded some of its old-school hedonism for understated luxury and serious wellness.
With a spectacular Pacific Coast setting, a 28,000-square-foot spa, and Huichol influences throughout, Siari Riviera Nayarit, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, reflects the region in details from its design to its food.
The renovated Kai Hakone near Tokyo has tatami floors, kaiseki dinners, and hot spring bathing, along with updates that make the experience accessible to a wider range of travelers.
An exclusive-use lodge in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, Fawn Bluff combines exceptional wilderness access with a nonprofit model that channels all net profits into Homalco First Nation community initiatives.
Set on 108 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, Elk & Embers has seven cabins and tents—and some of the best views around. Best of all: It’s only an hour’s drive from Asheville.
Backed by chef Charlie Palmer, the recently launched boutique hotel brand Appellation has unveiled its flagship location in the heart of Sonoma County.
Opened in February 2026, the Newman is an independent hotel that puts guests in the heart of Fitzrovia, a character-rich London neighborhood that visitors often overlook.
FEATURED PARTNER: CONRAD HOTELS & RESORTS
The best hotels immerse you in the destination. At Conrad Hotels & Resorts, you can surround yourself with local art and design, try distinctive experiences with a true sense of place, and unwind with spa treatments rooted in traditional wellness. Complemented by Conrad’s signature comfort and hospitality, these properties are culturally rich, warm-weather getaways.
Carretera Cancún Tulum 307, Tulkal Chemuyil, 77774 Tulum, Quintana Roo, México
Along the shores of the Caribbean against a lush jungle backdrop, a stay at Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is a serene, immersive experience filled with natural and cultural beauty. Architecture focuses on indoor-outdoor living and evokes the region’s sacred cenotes with circular forms, stone and water, and winding pathways. Inside, resort design integrates an extensive Mexican art collection throughout the modern property. An oasis with 20 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy circuit, the spa offers experiences influenced by local healing traditions. Guests can also connect more deeply with the destination through dining that draws on Mexican cuisine, part of the property’s diverse mix of restaurants that include international influences.
Carretera Punta de Mita Manzana Sayulita Km 2, Litibu, 63734 Desarrollo Punta Mita, Nayarit, México
For a trip that refreshes body and mind, Conrad Punta de Mita weaves culture into each stay through design, art, and wellness. Treatments at Conrad Spa feature Indigenous traditions, such as a Temazcal ceremony, for restorative experiences rooted in local culture. The destination also comes to life thanks to one of the world’s largest collections of Huichol (Wixárika) art, found throughout the resort. The artworks are part of the property’s contemporary design, which draws on the area’s heritage and seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor spaces—including in oceanfront accommodations with expansive terraces.
1500 Eastbeach Way, Orlando, FL 32836, USA
With a sparkling lagoon at its heart, Conrad Orlando blends tropical surroundings with modern design and immersive experiences, all within the Evermore Orlando Resort. The lush landscape feels a world away, setting the relaxing tone at the tranquil spa and the resort’s renowned dining venues. Water experiences include a private chartered boat on the Butler Chain of Lakes and twilight kayaking through bioluminescent waters.
HOTELS BY DESTINATION
Whether you’re looking to chase the northern lights, try your hand at fly-fishing, or unwind in a spa surrounded by nature, these are the best places to stay in Alaska for an adventure in the great outdoors.
The city’s best stays include restored legends, sky-high sanctuaries, and newcomers that already feel essential.
Heading to New York City? These are the best luxury hotels for every type of traveler in Manhattan—whether you’re hiding out, showing off, chasing restaurant reservations, or waking up next to Central Park.
London may be one of the world’s most expensive cities, but these 13 hotels prove you don’t need a luxury-hotel budget to stay somewhere stylish.
History meets modern luxury at these 16 hotels we love—perfect for your next getaway in Washington, D.C.
From the Hudson Valley to the Catskills, Berkshires, and Finger Lakes, these hotels immerse you in forests, lakes, and mountain landscapes—all within a few hours’ drive of New York City.
Across the Caribbean, these 13 boutique hotels offer a more intimate take on the region—from rainforest villas to beachfront bungalows and restored estates—each reflecting its area’s architecture, landscape, and local context.
The hotels on this list are as thoughtful about accessibility as they are about design, going beyond compliance to make travel more comfortable and intuitive for disabled guests.
Timeless icons, next-gen retreats, and private island hideaways—this is the Caribbean at its finest.
Wellness, Retro Glam, and Relaxation—Escape to Palm Springs at These 5 New and Renewed Desert Hotels
California’s desert oasis is abuzz with fresh new hotels and recently refreshed resorts, making now the perfect time for a Palm Springs getaway.
A dose of luxury, at a gentler price—these are the 25 best four-star hotels in New York City.
When it comes to luxury lodgings, Miami has a hotel for everyone—and these are the very best of them.
HOTELS BY TYPE
These 19 glamping retreats are the best in the world at delivering the finer things under canvas.
Why rough it? These hotels put you inside America’s most stunning landscapes without sacrificing creature comforts.
These 19 hotels around the world immerse you in their destinations while carving out space for unhurried time together.
With their firepits and comfort-minded interiors, these are the best hideaways where you can embrace the chill this season.
Here’s where to go in Canada, Japan, and across Europe for pristine powder, plus fondue, hot springs, and more après-ski fun.
Afar’s picks for the 25 best new hotels in the world.
At these 14 luxury resorts, it’s possible to have that dream vacation on a private island—without having to own one.
These are the 24 hotels we recommend most for wellness.
Book one of these romantic retreats in these off-the-beaten-path honeymoon destinations.
These hotels and resorts in Mexico deliver superlative hospitality to travelers of all ages.
Urban escapes, dude ranches, island retreats, and more: This list of the top 15 family-friendly hotels across the United States is your go-to guide for a multigenerational getaway.
AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.
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