The best new beach hotels in the World: 2023 Hot List
Nothing makes us more excited to get up and go than putting together our annual Hot List of the best new hotels, cruises, restaurants, cultural destinations, and transportation projects. Now in its 27th year, this curated collection is a labour of love for our global team, which spends the year researching, visiting, and vetting the entries to bring you a definitive directory of places whose style, ethos, and service set new standards for hospitality. This year's best beach hotels – made for reading in the shade and afternoon swims – are sure to make everyday stresses disappear. All that’s left is for you to decide where you’re going first.
Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2023.
hotelKayaam House – Sri Lanka
Hoteliers Resplendent Ceylon upped the hospitality game in Sri Lanka with a trio of deep-nature Relais & Châteaux properties: Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Ceylon Tea Trails, and Cape Weligama. But now the group’s intimate and affordable new sister brand, Reverie, is turning heads. The first opening is Kayaam House, off the beaten track in Rekawa, on the south coast near Tangalle. Built from scratch a few years ago, this whitewashed hideaway is a lesson in absolute peace, broken only by the soundtrack of crashing waves. Flanked by palm trees and frangipanis, the glorious pool sets the scene, stretching across the lawn towards a private beach sprinkled with sun loungers. Inside the house, pops of Persian blue provide a fresh zing while copper pots, planter’s chairs, and an ancient temple door from Jaffna add character. The nine rooms and suites, with ocean or forest views, are simple yet sophisticated, most coming with a four-poster bed, tub on the terrace, and Bang & Olufsen tech. Sleep-inducing Balinese massages await in the spa, and a sea-facing yoga shala is on the lawn. A Bawa-inspired dining room with cane lighting is the showcase for chef Namal Surendra, who brings his global cooking, including a very British roast rack of lamb from the Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives. Blissed-out guests wake to the song of hornbills and tuck into Bircher muesli on the oceanfront terrace as fishing boats bob in the distance. Rooms from around £380. Harriet Compston
Regent Phu QuochotelRegent Phu Quoc – Thailand
You’re forgiven if the Regent brand has slipped off your radar. After its heyday in the 80s and 90s, it failed to keep up with splashier newcomers and eventually lost its lustre. Decades later, Regent Phu Quoc is the product of an ambitious brand revival and has already raised the bar in a country that isn’t exactly short of dreamy beach retreats. The message is clear: Regent has (re-)entered the chat. This lush resort is laid out like a Rorschach test, with about 63 villas circling a lagoon and a tall hotel wing on either side. The suites and villas are effortlessly chic and comfortable, with plenty of fresh flowers and, in most cases, a full kitchen. I kept finding new ingenuities that made me think: I can’t believe they thought of that. A set of loungers on both ends of my private pool, so I wouldn’t have to drag them in and out of the sun. Dental kits with a choice between mint or ginger. Wireless phone charging pads on the bedsides, and – get this – a fully stocked second minibar in the bedroom because god forbid I’d have to totter to the kitchen for a cold drink after bedtime. Phu Quoc isn’t as culture-rich as Vietnam’s other regions, but this luxury gem has all the trimmings for an idyllic long-haul fly-and-flop. Rooms from around £320. Chris Schalkx
Albert LewishotelRancho Pescadero - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – Mexico
$Owners Lisa Harper and Billy Moore have always placed great importance on uplifting Todos Santos, Mexico since Rancho Pescadero’s inception in 2007. So when they decided to overhaul and expand the resort – going from 12 guestrooms to 103 – they implemented rare and lengthy programs for the industry, ranging from creating a solar farm and installing a desalination plant to transplanting thousands of plants moved during construction and placing them back in their original locations. But they are also concerned about the strains that a luxury resort can bring to rural areas. Therefore, they have created a housing complex for employees, where each of the 170 dwellings will actually become their legal home after years of working at the resort – while also implementing a technical education program for the community’s youth and investing in a clean-air incinerator for the resort’s waste and for local use. Waking up on my last day in my elegant-yet-beachy guest suite, designed head-to-toe by Harper (of course), and jumping into the private plunge pool overlooking the crashing waves, I found myself thinking, this is true well-being. A place to disconnect, reconnect with what matters most and feel confident that the investment is eco-responsible and helps to uplift the people who live in this slice of desert paradise. Rooms from around £480. Scott Bay
hotelCambridge Beaches Resort & Spa – Bermuda
$$Bermuda is generally divided into two parts, east and west, with the capital of Hamilton somewhat in the middle. Most luxury resorts reside in Hamilton or on the east end, but one historic hotel is found on the quieter west end. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Cambridge Beaches recently completed a full revamp, thanks to new owners Dovetail + Co (the hospitality group behind the Urban Cowboy and Wayfinder brands). The resort’s iconic pink cottages, four bars and restaurants, two-tiered pool, and expansive grounds that include four private beaches have been brought into the 21st century—no small feat since some architectural details date back to the 1600s. The 86 cottages are newly chic, with a tropical-inspired coral and seafoam green colour palette, dark wood statement beds, quirky rattan chairs, and boldly patterned textiles. Vintage-inspired pastel-coloured scalloped umbrellas and cushy lounge chairs now populate the refurbished pool area and its accompanying bar and restaurant, which also sports a magnificently detailed shell-encrusted back bar. A highlight is the brand-new Sunken Harbor Club (an outpost of the same-named Brooklyn bar), which is decorated with shipwreck treasures rescued by the late Bermudian diving legend Teddy Tucker. Bermudian-rooted cuisine is on offer, with dishes like shark hash and plantain-stuffed wild boar to complement classic island cocktails and new creations by barmaster St. John Frizell. A revamp of the spa and indoor pool is planned for this year. Rooms from £400. Devorah Lev Tov
W Costa NavarinohotelW Costa Navarino – Greece
A chug through Messinia’s olive-dotted countryside, past bare-chested octogenarians driving ancient tractors, brings you to this 32-acre waterfront property, designed in the form of a Greek coastal village. The first W hotel in Greece offers everything you’d expect from the famously fun, tongue-in-cheek brand – poolside DJs, geometric cushions, a central infinity pool begging to be Instagrammed – plus some added doses of wellness, eco-consciousness, and inclusivity. In line with the rather chummy W vernacular (staff quarters are labelled “Talent”), there are 246 Fabulous, Spectacular, and Wow! room options spread throughout the property – try to book one of the infinity swim-up rooms, which grants access to a shared ground-level 90-metre pool. Like the other hotels in the Costa Navarino collection, there is a true sense of warmth at the heart of the hotel from the 350 staff members – even though it is a big brand hotel, ultimately this is a family-run business, and that hospitable embrace is felt throughout. Rooms from around £215. Jemima Sissons
hotelSunset Reef – St. Kitts
You’d never know it takes just 10 minutes to drive from the airport to get here. After turning off the main road in the village of Trinity, expect to trundle down a bumpy side road shrouded by palms and little else – this level of seclusion will soon reveal itself to be one of the highlights, and what makes Sunset Reef feel a little unique on an island where most of the luxury offerings are resorts. Between the clifftop location and a number of rooms (just seven renovated suites), you can pretend to have the whole place to yourself until it’s time to trot off for lunch by the pool or down to the pocket-size bar, Sandbar, to watch the sunset and spot the other guests. There is a tailor-made concierge service available to arrange activities for guests depending on how adventurous they’re feeling, from a rainforest walk with local operator Greg’s Safaris to a rum tasting at family-owned Old Road Rim distillery. And for days when you’re more interested in staying on property, there’s a yoga deck, as well as opportunities to use requisite beach amenities like kayaks, paddle boards, and electric jet skis. Rooms from around £630. Lara Kramer
AVABLUhotel1 Hotel Hanalei Bay – Kauai, Hawaii
This opening on the Edenic island of Kaua’i, aka the Garden Isle – where the tallest palm trees still dictate building-height limits – is a veritable homecoming for the eco-driven, plant-loving 1 Hotels brand. This beachfront location overlooking the iconic Hanalei Bay, with the waterfall-striated Hihimanu, Nāmolokama, and Māmalahoa mountains in the distance, has to be one of the prettiest on the planet. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has all the ingredients you might want to cook up a truly magical Hawaiian getaway – a swimmable beach right out front, a legendary surf break a short paddle away, a stunning main pool (and a sleek adults-only one), great onsite bars and restaurants, a cute town nearby for exploring, and easy access to excellent hiking. But what makes this property truly stand out in an archipelago dotted with luxe oceanfront resorts is that it’s also a legitimate wellness destination, with cutting-edge spa and medi-spa offerings as well as serious fitness and mind/body programming. Against the backdrop of 1 Hotel’s sustainability DNA, this property feels like the 2.0 lifestyle hotel we’ve all been waiting for. Rooms from around £1,200. Rebecca Misner
Auberge Resorts CollectionhotelSusurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection – Mexico
Everything about this property is seemingly curated to feel more like a boutique hotel than an all-inclusive one. It’s normal to stumble upon things like a sound bath experience on the beach led by a local bohemian who infuses jazz with the singing bowls or a sombrero-making class. The on-site boutique, a Fashionkind outpost (opening in December), co-owned by Nina Farran and Sophia Bush will comprise only Latin American designers creating positive social and environmental impact, and the design by Paul Duesing and Glazier Le Architects, sporting stone walls that continue from the balcony to the interior of the room with pebble-floored rain showers clad in colourful tiles almost entirely Mexican made and also supports local and regional makers, artisans, artists, and purveyors, solidifies the POV of being a boho-fresh, intentional, and barefoot sanctuary for those in-the-know. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels like a resort – just a resort that is focused on what is important to today’s customers. Rooms from around £1,100. Scott Bay.
hotelAristide Hotel – Greece
The grand, neoclassical exterior – all pediments and Doric columns and ceremonial marble entrances – belie the relaxed, seductive vibe and intimate service here. Hotel Aristide can feel more like a club and a home, allowing you to connect to the artistic heartbeat and true creative spirit of Syros. As a landmark building in the prosperous Vaporia district, it perches loftily overlooking the Aegean, close enough for a five-minute stroll down to a public swimming platform beside the sea. From the destination rooftop restaurant, it’s an exhilarating view over the coming and goings of the ferries. The tone of the place is set by owner-novelist Oana Aristide; a generous, calm, and intelligent presence at the helm, supported by empowered and engaged staff. Fontini and Chryssa at reception, chef Petros in the kitchen, and Konstantinos at the bar are as emotionally invested in the success of the hotel as the owner. It makes all the difference in the world. Rooms from around £320. Catherine Fairweather
Victor Elias/Waldorf Astoria CancunhotelWaldorf Astoria Cancun – Mexico
For all the resorts that crowd Mexico’s east coast, the Waldorf stands out for its truly white-glove service and amenities that make it hard to leave the property. There are infinity pools aplenty, acres of pristine coastline, and that most glorious asset of all, the feeling of complete privacy in one of the country’s most bustling holiday spots. The decor, a soothing sea of creams and sand hues, spotlights Mexican artisans and highlights materials like tropical woods and local stone. The vibe here is palpably slow – no rushing from one activity to the next, just relaxing. And there are enough private cabanas to go around – you can forget about the dreaded visit to the pool at dawn to reserve a great spot. There are also dozens of lounge chairs facing the beach for when the ocean is your dip du jour. With comfortable yet polished rooms, an excellent spa, and a clutch of bars and restaurants serving excellent riffs on traditional dishes and drinks, this is Cancun like you’ve never seen it. Rooms from around £640. Meaghan Kenny
Bali Interiors/The SanubarihotelThe Sanubari – Indonesia
For the longest time, visiting Sumba either meant ponying up an eye-watering amount of rupiah for a stay at high-flyer hideaway Nihi, or roughing it at one of the basic homestays dotting the coast. Rowan and Micha Burn, the Bali-based British-Australian couple behind The Sanubari, saw an opportunity for a place pitched between these extremes – a toes-in-the-sand, away-from-it-all hideaway that’s actually affordable. The resort’s remoteness is part of its appeal – guests must take a 50-minute turboprop flight and two-hour drive – but what awaits is well worth the effort: a 1.5-mile swoop of eye-blindingly white sand backdropped by rice paddies and rocky cliffs, with not a single other building in sight. Stroll down the hotel’s beach (or hop on a bike) to reach Pantai Watu Bella, one of southwest Sumba’s most beautiful stretches of sand, where The Sanubari will soon set up an umbrella-shaded cliffside deck for picnic excursions and sunset barbecues. Further inland, you’ll find frozen-in-time villages, eye-popping valley landscapes, and a river to SUP or canoe down for over an hour during the wet season. Rooms from around £260. Chris Schalkx
Coulibri RidgehotelCoulibri Ridge – Dominica
Combining eco-sensitive best practices with true luxury, this sleek eco-resort is a model for Dominica and the wider Caribbean, demonstrating that you needn’t sacrifice creature comforts to have a sustainable holiday. Coulibri Ridge was built with environmental consciousness at its core – a construction process that took the Canadian-Dominican owners a whopping 15 years (including a five-year delay after the devastating passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017) to complete. Now, what was once a colonial-era citrus plantation has been transformed into an eco-sensitive hillside retreat, which aims to be self-sufficient. The 285-acre property is completely powered by the sun via solar 225 panels and 288 recyclable non-lithium batteries; two communal pools are solar heated and kept clean not with chlorine but by using a copper ioniser to kill algae and fungus. But if you think the resort is more functional than fancy, think again. Guests are treated to modern studios, lofts, and penthouses with sweeping views of the water, tropical and bountiful breakfasts (included in the rate), and a spa with open-air treatment rooms. Rooms from £570. Caryn Davis
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Alila Kothaifaru MaldiveshotelAlila Kothaifaru Maldives
Situated on a lush, natural private island with pool villas and wonderfully friendly and professional staff, this is easily one of the most charming hotels in the Maldives. About 45 minutes north of Malé International Airport by seaplane, in the Raa Atoll on a natural island known as Kothaifaru, the setting here is blessed with long white beaches and endless palm trees. Throughout the 27.6 acres, there is also thick jungle vegetation that gives the new space an already settled-in feel. The 80 villas – all with pools – are split between overwater villas (with bathrooms that open up to the sea) and beach villas (with sunrise and sunset options). There are two restaurants and two bars to choose from, as well as a spa tucked away deep within the jungle vegetation. But the service here is what makes this resort stand out in the crowd of smart hotels in the Maldives. After a few days, it will start to feel like home with staff remembering your preference for still or sparkling water, the names of your children, and where your favourite table is – so much so that there is an urge to book a repeat trip before you have finished the first one. Rooms from around £680. Mary Lussiana
Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, ParoshotelCosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros – Greece
This hotel – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts portfolio – feels more like a narrative, a breathing thing. The property draws in the fresh, salty air that whips off the Aegean Sea and allows it to fill its white-washed lungs, to uplift the myriad pathways and passages (inspired by the bright fishing villages of Paros itself) that connect guest rooms with thoughtful spaces, dining areas, and outdoor living. From the achingly cool entrance that frames the stretch of private beach in front to the half-moon infinity pool that perfectly kisses the ocean beyond it, island living doesn’t get much better – or much freer – than this. Rooms from around £395. Anya Meyerowitz
Rock House Grace BayhotelRock House – Turks and Caicos
As one of the world’s most desirable winter destinations, the Caribbean has an abundance of resort options based on a familiar model. These are the expansive beachfront properties with grand entries, cavernous lobbies, and ostentatious styling featuring a plethora of palm trees, pools, and piña coladas. I’m not suggesting this can’t make for a fantastic getaway – but if this is what you desire, Rock House is not for you. Located in tropical Turks and Caicos but taking its inspiration from the Mediterranean, Rock House offers guests something refreshingly different. Elegant yet subdued, this is not a resort that overwhelms; instead, it whispers in your ear and asks you to dance. Opened in 2022, the property is the newest addition to the renowned Grace Bay Resorts brand and synthesises 30 years of luxury resort expertise into a modern European-style experience that satisfies the senses and nourishes the soul. Every detail at Rock House, from the painstaking dedication to preserving the native ecology surrounding it to the in-house phone app that enables you to effortlessly communicate with the guest experience team without leaving the beach or your private infinity pool, has been thoughtfully considered. Families are welcome, but Rock House may appeal most to lovers and those seeking a truly tranquil environment to relax and recharge. Rooms from around £580. Caryn B. Davis