Condé Nast Traveler recently released the results of its 32nd annual Readers' Choice Awards survey where 600,000 voters weighed in on nearly 10,000 hotels, resorts, and spas around the world. Traveled readers voted their favorite resorts in the world.
Many of them were African bush resorts. A couple of private islands in the Maldives made the cut. One US resort topped the list.
1. Sirikoi Lodge
Sirikoi offers a sure sense of exclusivity and high level service. Sirikoi's got a main lodge, a three-bedroom house, and two- and four-bedroom tents facing a watering hole for great armchair game viewing. The main lodge and dining deck, four luxury tents, Sirikoi Cottage and private Sirikoi House are perfectly positioned along the spring-fed Sirikoi stream. All guest tents are spacious and tastefully designed.
Also, you can do a bush walk with a ranger, horseback ride across the plains, fly in a helicopter up to Mount Kenya to go fly fishing, or do a quad bike safari for an overnight campout.
The Cottage (4 guests) and private House (6 guests) have two and three separate bedrooms. Sirikoi House comes with a private vehicle and guide.
Each bungalow is a mix of modern (custom hair-on-hide rugs, industrial-chic machined brass lighting and fixtures) and vintage (furniture from Percival Lafer, Mullhauser, Knoll, and Katavolos.) Room 13 (Premier Pool Bungalow) has a sliding door that opens onto a patio overlooking the pool. The rooms have been designed to feel like a private residence with a mix of vintage and contemporary décor in neutral tones.
Executive Chef Jason Niederkorn describes the menus as multi-cultural, ingredient-driven, artistically presented. The pool is guests-only; unexpected treats are brought to your room every afternoon (could be a scoop of ice cream, could be a shot of tequila); and roaming poolside therapists offer complimentary foot and shoulder massages.
3. Chindeni Bushcamp
Chindeni is a bushcamp retreat which consists of four canvas lodges that can accommodate eight guests. For clients wanting a more secure camp than many of the bushcamps can provide, Chindeni is a good option to combine with other Bushcamp Company walking camps.
The four spacious tents are raised on wooden decking and luxuriously furnished. Four poster beds are draped with a mosquito net, and the tents also offer private decks. Also, private verandas with hammocks overlook the water and make a great spot for watching crossing elephants, basking crocodiles and thirsty antelope.
4. InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Located on the beautiful Son Tra peninsula, the design is a masterpiece of creativity that fuses traditional Vietnamese features with modern art in a bold and often light-hearted way.
You can have breakfast at Citron and have a spread of fruit, salads and healthy juices to go with the option of traditional pho (veganised) or a more Western style cooked breakfast.
All rooms are decorated with the same flair as the public spaces, using black and white as a backdrop to four-poster beds billowing with white muslin, dark wood furnishings upholstered in pops of colour, and eye-catching artworks.
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