National Geographic Traveller - Italy

Kowloon Peak View King Room at BIG SLEEP AWARDS 2020
Rosewood Hong Kong, with stellar
views of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline Good Egg

City Slicker If you’re after a stylish, sustainable
stay, a conservation-minded
We wanted to find the hottest new addresses in town — the new hotels that are turning getaway or somewhere with
heads and leaving their stylish mark on a city exemplary community spirit, these
innovative hotels deliver the green-
ROSEWOOD HONG KONG, RUNNERS-UP gold standard in spades
HONG KONG
GALLERIA VIK MILANO, MILAN SAORSA 1875,
Untold millions were lavished on this Set within the grand Galleria Vittorio PERTHSHIRE,
property, a long-awaited hometown Emanuele II mall, the 89 rooms still feel SCOTLAND
showpiece for a hotel group that’s owned by intimate, largely because each has been
one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest dynasties. And designed by a different artist and is a This luxuriously revamped,
that investment shows in no-expense-spared stylish, self-contained bubble in one of 11-room Victorian baronial pile
furniture and fittings: think tactile, woollen the city’s most iconic sights. From €360 in Highland Perthshire is the
Loro Piana wall coverings and bathrooms (£325), B&B. galleriavikmilano.com UK’s first vegan hotel. Founded
awash with marble, as well as state-of-the- by mother-and-son duo Sandra
art wellness facilities, a pretty-as-can-be THE MAYSON, DUBLIN and Jack McLaren-Stewart, it
patisserie and jaw-dropping views of Victoria Mashing-up an old townhouse, a goes far beyond just sustainable,
Harbour from 80% of rooms. There’s also a rebooted dockers’ pub and a glass-and- plant-focused grub: everything
hefty modern art collection and a clutch of steel extension by the River Liffey, the here is vegan, from the booze
superb restaurants. It’s a travesty that the Irish capital’s coolest kid on the block in the hotel bar to the cleaning
splendidness of this high-rise luxury hotel also brings oodles of contemporary products and upcycled furniture
has been overshadowed by a tumultuous 12 art, a rooftop bar and restaurant and in the lounge. Naturally, the
months for Hong Kong. But make no mistake, a fantastic basement gym. From €140 heating comes from 100%
this is a true masterclass in urban luxury. (£127), B&B. themayson.ie renewable energy. Meanwhile,
From HK$4,300 (£423). rosewoodhotels.com in the kitchen, chef Luca Sordi
conjures up five-course dining
extravaganzas using produce
sourced locally or from the
hotel’s gardens, with a tree
planted (via Green Earth Appeal)
for every dinner served. From
£140, B&B. saorsahotel.com

RUNNERS-UP

JAYA HOUSE ANGKOR PARK,
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
The kingdom’s first single-use-plastic-
free hotel has glowing eco credentials:
managing director Christian de Boer
is co-founder of the campaign Refill
Not Landfill, and the hotel provides
free guest bikes; produces its own
Cambodian plant-based toiletries;
supports local NGOs and donated meals
to the local Khmer community during
lockdown. Doubles from US$245 (£186),
B&B. jayahouseriverparksiemreap.com

SINGITA KWITONDA LODGE, RWANDA
Conservation-guided construction meets
contemporary chic at this blow-the-
budget spot on the edge of Rwanda’s
Volcanoes National Park. Initiatives
to support locals are woven into
wildlife itineraries, and a reforestation
programme aims to protect mountain
gorilla habitat — a task shared by a
burgeoning number of Rwandan lodges.
From US$1,650 (£1,260). singita.com

Sept/Oct 2020 151

BIG SLEEP AWARDS2020

Lord of the Manor

With breathtaking settings and exceptional service, some hotels let us live like royalty
- evenjustfor a weekend. We tip our hats to these first-class country escapes

THE NEWT IN SOMERSET, R U N N E R S -UP CLOCKWISE FROM

SOMERSET HOTEL CHATEAU DU GRAND ·LUCE, RIGHT: Freestanding tub
LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE overlooking the Namib
One ofthe most talked-about hotels of This 18th-century palace near Le Mans Desert, Sonop; private
the past year, The Newt in Somerset could is the epitome of Gallic grandeur. yoga class at Sonop;
probably win an award for column inches Expect immaculate interiors awash with lunch at The Newt in
alone. Why? Well, when you're the latest antiques, original oak parquet flooring Somerset, made with
launch from South African power couple and canopied four-poster beds. It's all home-grown garden
Koos and Karen Bekker (of winelands wonder very endearingly French and fancy. From produce; the 17th­
Babylonstoren), you command a certain thirst €475 (£428), B&B. chateaugrandluce.com century Hadspen House,
for more. A stone's throw from Bruton, this The Newt in Somerset
stylish country stay hits all the right notes, GRANTLEY HALL, YORKSHIRE
fleshing out the honey-stoned halls of 17th­ The grand Palladian mansion near Ripon
century Hadspen House with classy, modern nails first impressions- and the charm
designs. Staying here inspires an almost continues indoors, too, with everything
childlike urge to explore - and there's plenty from a state-of-the-art spa to a wine­
to discover on this 800-acre estate, including tasting room, as well as 47 regal rooms
a spa, cider press, farm shop, spectacular and suites. The numerous dining options
gardens and the sumptuous rooms ofthe include fine fare from Shaun Rankin.
Stable Yard and Granary. It's worthy of any From £350, B&B. grantleyhall.co.uk
discerning lords and ladies of the manor.
From £275, B& B. thenewtinsomerset.com

Breath of
Fresh Air

There's something magical about escaping to
the wilderness and sleeping beneath the stars,
and these lodges and glampsites get itjust right

SONOP, HARDAP REGION,

NAM IBIA

You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled
into the pages of Livingstone's diary at this

remote outpost, set on the southern edge of
the Namib Desert. Thanks to a whimsical

designthat pays tribute to the travel of RUNNERS-UP
yesteryear, with antique desks, maps, trunks
and brass telescopes, there's a romantic feel to
this lodge, the second Namibian property for
Zannier Hotels. And while the 10 tents, which

blend seamlessly into their rocky surrounds, PINES' SHELTER, KACHI LODGE, UYUNI, BOLIVIA

>­ channel that bygone era, Sonop pulls out all AREIAS DO SEIXO, PORTUGAL In the stark moonscape of the Uyuni

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"' the stops for a luxuriously modern getaway,
w It's all about the barefoot beauty at Salt Flats, it's fitting that the domes of

I with king-sized mattresses, white-gloved

a this laid-back hideaway near Torres this solar-powered lodge by Amazing
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cc service and freestanding copper tubs with Vedras, on the breeze-tickled Atlantic Escapes look extra-terrestrial. Inside, the

;::

@ sweeping desert views. Naturally, there's an coast north of Lisbon. The scents of focus is sumptuous-meets-sustainable,
exciting array ofactivities on offer, including pine and salty sea fill the air at the all dressed up with a bohemian air:
g·

w
u:

0 hot air balloon trips, private yoga classes two-berth lodge, which has done away bright bayeta cushions, low tables and
I

u and desert horse-riding, but when the most with mod-cons, replacing TVs and wi-fi lamps made of cactus wood. It's blow­

U1

a
w
v; spectacular scenery awaits behind the canvas with hammocks, firewood stoves and the-budget territory, but this is as unique

w ofyour tent, there's perfectly good reason to dreamy beach views. From €495 (£447), and remote as it gets. From £2,990,
"

<{ stay put. From £605, B&B. zannierhotels.com

:;; B&B. areiasdoseixo.com B&B. kachilodge.com >

Sept/Oct 2020 153