These destination hotels in Asia offer more than just a holiday, adding soulful immersion in a place and a new perspective to take home with you
Panoramic view: check. Spacious bathroom: check. Super-soft bathrobe: check. Most luxury hotels aim to be elevated versions of our homes, but which ones are actually etched in your mind upon check-out? More often than not, the hotels that make a lasting impression are those that encapsulate the essence of a destination but also replicate the warm welcome of home.
Be they in the wilds of the jungle or adjacent to a historic castle, Tatler has picked six hotels in Asia that are rooted in their locations, providing a window to another world. These are not your typical five-star hotels—their originality makes them impossible to replicate elsewhere. Some are within easy reach while others are quite a mission to get to, but that’s all part of the fun. So pack your bags and your sense of adventure: you’re in for an epic ride.
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1. Vietnam: Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho
The family-owned hospitality brand Zannier Collection tends not to follow where the herd goes. Instead, they’re more interested in carving their own path based on the mythical pull of a destination. Their nose for what’s different led founder Arnaud Zannier to establish resorts in Cambodia and Namibia, as well as to discover this undisturbed stretch of beach in Vietnam. After purchasing 100 hectares in 2014, he decided to create his third hotel, Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho, which occupies a sleepy peninsula in Phu Yen province with no other resorts in the vicinity.
This hotel attracts proponents of quiet luxury—discerning travellers who crave a local experience within a worldly shell. The interiors are an aesthete’s dream: hand-washed walls and patina-covered furniture abound, following a perfectly imperfect formula. Beach time aside, guests can learn about the 11th-century Cham dynasty, receive temple blessings at Quy Non or follow the walking trails nearby, all in relative seclusion. In an era of overtourism, this is one of the greatest gifts of this luxury property.