The best boutique hotels to book this year: our award winners revealed

Where to stay in 2024 – handpicked by our hotel-loving team of travel experts, and voted for by our community of INVITED Members and mystery inspectors…

Winners

Hotel of the Year – Grove of Narberth, Wales

The Grove of Narberth is a boutique country escape with a warm Welsh heart. Expect big comfy sofas, roaring fires, acres of pretty gardens and views of the rolling hills – as well as one of the most celebrated restaurants in Wales. Once a historic house, it’s now the perfect haven from which to explore the charms of Pembrokeshire. The guest rooms are spread across the original country house, and the traditional Welsh cottages dotted amidst the grounds, all beautifully preserve the Grove’s heritage.

Curated by Martin Hulbert Design, period features blend with local crafts and neutral tones, and each room has its own distinct character and features – such as Sorrel in the Herb Cottage with a private garden and wood burning stove, or Seddon with its four poster bed and views of the Preseli Hills. Garden views make the rooms the ideal place to unwind with an indulgent in-room spa treatment – while six of them welcome guests with (well-behaved) four-legged friends. The country house is a beacon of excellence across all aspects from its near-perfect quality assurance score, glowing customer feedback to an impressive commitment to sustainability initiatives.

Resort Hotel of the Year – Sailrock South Caicos, Caribbean

The moment you touch down at Sailrock Resort in South Caicos, the vision of gin-clear waters and white sand will be the first thing to take your breath away. The second is, the wonderfully warm welcome you receive – complemented by a chilled cocktail. Consider this your private piece of Caribbean paradise to enjoy at your own pace. Whether that’s taking a refreshing dip in the infinity pool, being pampered at the spa, or seeking out your spot among the dunes on the secluded beach. Stay in a Ridgetop Suite that is elevated above the shore, or a Beachfront Villa nestled among the trees and just a few sandy steps from the warm, shallow ocean.

Country House Hotel of the Year – Hotel Rangá, Iceland

The outdoor geothermal hot tubs with volcano views. The wraparound glass windows in the gourmet restaurant. The observatory – and resident astronomers – for star spotting and Northern Lights hunting. Every inch of Hotel Rangá celebrates its awe-inspiring setting. Whether you visit in heavy snow or when wildflowers are springing up, a genuinely warm welcome awaits at this one-of-a-kind boutique retreat. Hotel Rangá is a cross between a hunting lodge and (palatial) log cabin, so your bedroom or suite will be a snug yet spacious hideaway crafted from wood – with staggering views (just a short snowmobile-ride away from Iceland’s Golden Circle for glacier expeditions).

City Hotel of the Year – Bank Hotel, Sweden

Grand, yet intimate. Historic, yet contemporary. Bank Hotel is a lesson in complementary contrasts on Stockholm’s sweeping waterfront. Set in an early 20th-century building that was once a bank, this luxury hotel reimagines its stately setting as somewhere to mark moments rather than count coins. Step through the bronze doors and soak up the vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere with modern art at every turn. Contemporary design touches soften the cavernous marble interiors, from jewel-hued furnishings to a high, glass ceiling that floods the Bank Hall restaurant with light.

Destination Hotel of the Year – FORESTIS, Italy

Cool, calm and connected to its stunning setting, FORESTIS is a summit-level sanctuary in the South Tyrolean mountainscape. Forests and snow-dusted peaks stretch out in every direction from this perfectly poised spa hotel, every part of which is in tune with the elements. Light streams in through the windows-for-walls, drawing the eye to the stunning views and illuminating the mellow, minimalist spaces. From the Suites and ultra-luxe Penthouse to the restaurant and spa, the FORESTIS interiors echo the mountains: stone basins and white-as-snow tones, crisp fabrics and clean lines. Sip Plose mountain spring water from the stone carafe in your bedroom, experience a forest spa therapy – then sit down to dinner at altitude, where you’ll have front-row seats to the sunset over the summit.

INVITED Hotel of the Year – Cap Rocat, Mallorca

The dusky pink hues of this wonderfully secluded former military fortress’ walls perfectly set the scene for a romantic escape, from strolls over the drawbridge at dusk to a candle-lit dinner in the palm-filled terrace overlooking the Bay of Palma. Fall asleep to the sound of the sea in the Sentinels Suite at Cap Rocat, complete with a private infinity pool cut into the cliff. The golden light-flooded rooms are furnished with soft colors and natural fabrics, for a serene start and enchanting end to the day, spent relaxing in the naturally lit underground hammam or enjoying the private rock cliff beach with direct access to the sea, jetty and salt water pool or onboard the hotel’s private yacht.

Mystery Inspectors’ Excellence Award – Chalets at Blackheath, Australia

Tucked away within one million hectares of national parkland, Chalets at Blackheath promises nature-immersed solace in Australia’s Blue Mountains – and seriously impressed SLH’s 100-strong team of travel connoisseurs to win this year’s coveted award. Arranged across freestanding chalets and spread over expansive retreat grounds, this is alpine bliss at its peak. Wake up to the sound of nature as the forest comes to life each morning, use your days to explore, and stargaze in tranquil comfort on your private deck as the evening draws in. Modern and well-proportioned, the chalets are a celebration of luxury with an eco-sensitive edge. Think floor to ceiling windows framing breath-taking bush views, oversized bathrooms and twin rainfall showers that cascade UV-filtered mountain water.

Most Liked Hotel of the Year – Grand Hotel Parker’s, Italy

Taking TikTok by storm with a viral video, Grand Hotel Parker’s is the city’s first and oldest luxury hotel – with impressively up-to-the-moment social media channels. Poised on a hill overlooking the Bay of Naples, you’ll soon see why this grand dame’s views over Vesuvius and Capri are so Instagrammable. Rooms are adorned with original antiques, bronze sculptures gleam under chandeliers, and you’ll find fine Italian marble in the elegant bathrooms. As the moon rises over the ‘old city’ of Parthenope, head up to the rooftop terrace bar and lounge for more of those panoramic views – a chilled Negroni or vintage champagne in hand.

Considerate Hotel of the Year – Villa Petriolo, Italy

Heaven really can be found on earth in the honey-coloured form of Villa Petriolo, an outstanding member of SLH’s Considerate Collection. Enveloped by undulating Tuscan hills, the entire retreat is sustainable from its swimming pool to its Michelin Green Star restaurant – so it treads ever-so-lightly on its Italian land. This 15th-century GSTC certified farming estate is organic to its core and celebrates all things traditionally Tuscan. Free-range livestock roam the 170 acre grounds, a bucolic patchwork of woods, vineyards, and pesticide-free fields sown with ancient grains which supply the villa’s zero-kilometre kitchen.

Guests are encouraged to explore the 15km network of trails which criss-cross the plastic-free property on foot, horseback, e-bicycle or e-cars (which are recharged using the villa’s solar panels), and to support the hotel’s project with Save the Planet to create a reforestation area by purchasing and planting trees through crowdfunding. From truffle-hunting with a local guide and his friendly dogs, to joining the neighbouring shepherd in his farmhouse to learn about tending the flock and making cheese, Villa Petriolo immerses guests in its agricultural roots through a wholesome selection of nature-based experiences. Just be sure to leave room in your suitcase for the villa’s homemade extra virgin olive oil, or a jar of honey from its own bees.

Hotel Hero Award – Aida Melido at Stein Eriksen Residences, USA

The significance of the Hotel Hero Award lies in recognising and honouring individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their line of work – over 100 submissions were received, including a special mention to Hotel Nantipa’s adopted house dog, Chungo, who puts a lot of effort into helping the staff and bringing joy to their guests.

The eventual Hotel Hero Award was presented to Aida Melido, who has dedicated 45 years of her life to luxury hospitality as Executive Housekeeper at Stein Eriksen Residences, a collection of exclusive mountain lodges in Utah’s Deer Valley. Originally from the Philippines, the mother of four is affectionately known as “Tita Aida” or Auntie Aida throughout the town, and has been giving back as the community leader of the local Filipino community for over 20 years.