As we compiled this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards, we took great pleasure in reminiscing about our stays at previous Hideaways of the Year. The properties below remain as enticing as ever, and we would return to any of them given the slightest excuse.

Last year: &Beyond Punakha River Lodge

Bhutan

Opened in 2023, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge is an extraordinary eight-suite resort that counts among those rare properties that have it all: stylish décor with a strong sense of place, a tranquil but convenient location, accommodations with every modern comfort, stupendous views — in this case up a valley to the snowcapped Gasa Mountains — and, not least, service that’s highly professional, good-humored and intuitive. Our canvas-walled room wasn’t the largest we had in Bhutan, but I appreciated the well-considered eclecticism. The local and international cuisine was unfailingly delicious — vital in a lodge that’s not near any restaurants of note. If Bhutan weren’t so far away, I’d make a stay at &Beyond Punakha River Lodge an annual tradition. Maybe I will anyway.

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island

Maldives

Designed by New York-based Japanese architect Yuji Yamazaki, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is an all-inclusive property that successfully combines elements of ryokans and James Bond-style bachelor pads. The 15 spacious overwater villas are identical in layout, with private pools, hot tubs and ladders into the sea, which allowed us to swim with manta rays. Public spaces in the main lodge include a broad infinity pool, a superb restaurant backed by one of Asia’s best wine cellars and a commendable spa. But it’s the unexpected extras that set Kudadoo apart, such as a cheese-tasting room and the spa’s Himalayan salt cave. Kudadoo’s combination of style, sustainability, service and exclusivity is hard to come by. Every villa has a private butler on call around the clock. You can order freshly made sushi at 3 a.m. or start your day at sunrise with an in-villa massage, followed by a floating breakfast in your swimming pool. Its paradisiacal private-island setting completes the picture of a true exemplar of Hideaway of the Year.

Passalacqua

Lake Como, Italy

Our winner two years ago was Passalacqua, a gorgeously refurbished 18th-century palace set on manicured gardens that are terraced down to Lake Como. The huge main villa contains just 12 sumptuous accommodations. Eight additional rooms are in the Palazz building above the Moroccan-inspired spa, which is itself above an atmospheric grotto. And four Casa al Lago guest rooms form a little enclave of their own down in the gardens. The small room count and highly professional but good-humored staff foster a convivial house-party atmosphere. And yet it is also easy to find quiet private space, whether in one of the opulent lounges and salons or beside the lake-view pool. Accommodations manage to balance unabashed opulence, historic character and contemporary comfort. Opened in 2022, family-owned Passalacqua has raised the bar on luxury-saturated Lake Como. Other resorts are extravagant and other resorts are intimate, but I am unaware of any on Como that are so thoroughly both.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Lanai City, Hawaii

Located in the cool highlands of Lanai, the exclusive 96-room Sensei Lanai is Four Seasons’ first wellness resort. Extravagant botanical gardens studded with world-class sculptures envelop the property, and contemporary art fills the interiors. Fitness, nutrition and mindfulness programs can be booked in addition to traditional activities such as snorkeling, sunset cruises, fishing, horseback riding and sporting clays. The spa has 10 Japanese-style treatment pavilions, plus a tranquil onsen garden and a large heated pool. Most guest quarters, designed in pleasing light neutral tones, are in wings flanking the large lobby lounge. Though dining options are limited to the excellent Sensei by Nobu and a bar with a garden terrace, shuttles connect this resort with the beachfront Four Seasons Resort Lanai. 

The Lodge at Blue Sky

Wanship, Utah

The Lodge at Blue Sky is a superb choice for a Western vacation, whether you are traveling as a couple or a family. The 46 accommodations have soothingly neutral color palettes, exposed-stone accent walls and extravagant baths. The excellent main restaurant has a terrace overlooking the lounger-lined infinity pool and sagebrush-covered hills beyond. A pretty spa has a second smaller pool. Elsewhere on the 3,500 acres are world-class stables with pampered rescue horses, a sporting center for clay pigeon shooting and ax throwing, a panoramic yoga deck and a High West Distillery branch. Skiing and snowshoeing are available in winter. 

Blackberry Mountain

Walland, Tennessee

Blackberry Mountain is the sister property of Blackberry Farm, a consistent favorite of Andrew Harper members since it opened in 1976. With a very different personality than its sibling, Blackberry Mountain emphasizes exercise and wellness, and the cuisine is health-conscious with influences from around the globe. The accommodations comprise stylish cottages, multibedroom homes and cabins. A huge number of activities are available, and wellness concierges can arrange all manner of hiking, biking, yoga, wake surfing and rock climbing, among many other options.

Nihi Sumba

Sumba Island, Indonesia

Nihi Sumba, a property set on 550 wooded acres on the island of Sumba, 250 miles east of Bali, won us over when we visited. The estate has 43 one- to five-bedroom lodgings in 28 villas. All come with private pools and designated butlers. Dining options include the Nio Beach Club for charcoal-grilled meat and fish, plus wood-fired pizzas. Beautiful Ombak restaurant has a deck cantilevered over the ocean, which provides a spectacular setting for refined Indonesian and international cuisine. Other amenities include an equestrian center and a glamorous spa. Guests may also tour the hotel’s Sumba Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid through village-based projects.

Villa La Coste

Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France

The much-talked-about Villa La Coste in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France, was another top winner a few years ago. The exceptional honey-colored stone villa is located on a 600-acre wine estate. The 28 freestanding suites, lining a private cobbled lane shaded by bamboo and scented with jasmine, feature a sleek and contemporary décor, with modern art and traditional Provençal design accents. Amenities include the elegant Hélène Darroze dining room at Villa La Coste, a gourmet restaurant by acclaimed chef Francis Mallmann at Château La Coste, an organic vineyard and a contemporary art park a 10-minute walk from the hotel. 

Abadía Retuerta 

Valladolid, Spain

This magnificent 1,730-acre property is located down the road from the famous Vega Sicilia vineyard. Abadía Retuerta’s 30 rooms, set in a former 12th-century Cistercian monastery, feature tall windows that overlook surrounding vineyards. Elegant common areas feel authentic and low-key, with beamed ceilings and limestone floors, and dining options include a casual, wine-oriented bistro and the one-star Refectorio for elaborate tasting menus. Amenities are highlighted by an outdoor pool, a yoga room and a spa specializing in vinotherapy treatments. Abadía is the perfect base from which to discover the Ribera del Duero and old city of Valladolid.

Song Saa

Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia

The idyllic family-owned Song Saa is set on a desert island in the pristine Koh Rong Archipelago, a 35-minute speedboat ride from Sihanoukville on Cambodia’s west coast. The 27 luxurious accommodations include 2,150-square-foot Ocean View Villas, which feature thatched ceilings and sunken seating areas, plus wooden decks offering outdoor showers and private infinity pools. Jungle Villas afford views of the surrounding islands, while Overwater Villas offer direct ocean access from balconies. Two restaurants include the waterside Driftwood Bar for a tapas-style menu. The resort also has a private beach and a large pool. 

Fogo Island Inn

Newfoundland, Canada

Otherworldly Fogo Island Inn is a spectacularly sited property with 29 guest lodgings that are housed within a modernist white oblong structure supported by steel stilts above the shoreline rocks. Rooms, many with woodburning stoves, feature tall window-walls overlooking the sea, warm wood floors and colorful quilts and furnishings crafted on the island. The hotel’s striking glass-walled dining room serves excellent regional cuisine. The property also comprises a cozy library, a small cinema, an art gallery and a number of wellness amenities, including a gym, hot tubs and a rooftop sauna. 

Aman Venice

Venice, Italy

Offering a congenial and relaxing atmosphere amid scarcely believable grandeur, the Aman Venice ran away with the top prize a decade ago. It is a sumptuous 24-room hotel in a spectacular renovated 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. Magnificent public areas include a lobby lined with marble busts; a dazzling dining room with gilded mirrors, lavish moldings and glittering chandeliers; a roof terrace; a lush private garden; and a small spa and gym. Exclusive culinary gatherings are hosted throughout the year.

Awasi Atacama

Atacama Desert, Chile

Just outside the center of San Pedro de Atacama is Awasi Atacama, an enchanting 12-suite sanctuary screened by rustic wood gates. The heart of the property is a large circular space defined by sienna-hued adobe walls inset with rows of local stones. Inviting deck chairs flank a small pool, and thatched roofs supported by sculpted tree trunks cover a small bar, a number of sitting alcoves and a dining area. Lodgings have adobe walls, dark wood floors, dramatic lighting, solariums and patios with outdoor showers. 

Southern Ocean Lodge

Kangaroo Island, Australia

Our 2012 Hideaway of the Year, Southern Ocean Lodge, suffered calamitous damage as a result of the wildfires that devastated South Australia’s Kangaroo Island in early 2020. After years of construction, the hotel reopened in 2023. Version 2.0 maintains the original footprint of 25 clifftop suites and its 1,680-square-foot Osprey Suite, with a terrace and infinity plunge pool, ranks among Australia’s most glamorous one-bedroom accommodations. The lodge’s Great Room, with its suspended fireplace, is comfortingly familiar to return guests. However, enhancements will include a private dining area and a new spa. Guided excursions, including sunrise tours to visit sea lion colonies, showcase the abundant wildlife and natural attractions of the island. See our recent review of the hotel.

Il Salviatino

Florence, Italy

Il Salviatino is a 41-room exemplar of Old World style and hospitality occupying a restored Renaissance villa 15 minutes from Florence. A terrace overlooking 12 acres of formal gardens with organic orchards and herb beds affords a glorious view of the city. Restored frescoes and centuries-old mosaics are complemented by fine furniture and artworks. Recommended Dome View Junior Suites typically feature high ceilings, dark oak floors, traditional Tuscan linens, hand-stitched leather furnishings and marble baths with LED-lighted rainfall showers and whirlpool tubs. The fine restaurant serving inventive Italian dishes and Tuscan classics sources most ingredients from the on-site organic kitchen garden. 

Aman Summer Palace

Beijing, China

In 2010, our winner was the Aman Summer Palace, a tranquil 51-room property adjacent to the East Gate of the historic Summer Palace. Some of the pavilions, originally used by guests of the Empress Dowager Cixi, date back more than a century. The property’s romantic décor features polished Jin clay tile floors, exposed sandalwood-beamed ceilings, wooden screens, bamboo blinds, lacquered tables and Ming dynasty-style armoires. Dining options include a Cantonese restaurant, a Western-style grill and an elegant space serving Japanese kaiseki fare. In the Cultural Pavilion, traditional tea ceremonies are offered every afternoon, and kite-making lessons and calligraphy classes can be arranged. Hotel guests are granted exclusive access to the grounds of the Summer Palace through a private entrance.