East of Ordinary’s Top 10 Best Hotels

When it comes to choosing hotels, I tend to look beyond star ratings and thread counts. I approach each stay through a handful of touchpoints that matter most: breathtaking scenery, thoughtful design, inviting atmosphere, warm and attentive service, exceptional food and wine, a sense of connection to place and culture, and opportunities to truly experience the best of the surrounding area. The hotels that make our Top 10 list aren’t just beautiful spaces — they embody their destinations and offer refined stays with a deep sense of place, becoming part of the journey itself. Here are ten of my favorites around the world that do exactly that: each one a distinctive blend of setting, story, and soul.

Forestis – Bressanone, Dolomites, Italy

Forestis is the type of impeccable, über-luxurious hotel where you half expect George Clooney to appear from around a corner. This vintage mountain retreat has been superbly modernized, with Scandi-minimalist interiors designed to let the sheer, craggy peaks of the Dolomites shine from every angle. Splurging for a suite is well worth it for the expansive views from the lounge bed on your private balcony.

Snow sports aficionados will delight in the onsite ski concierge and quick trail to a chairlift at the edge of Italy's Plose ski area, home to a lung-busting 9-km run (can confirm: amazing); during summer, hiking between mountain chalets is just as popular. In any season, the spa is an absolute stunner, with an indoor–outdoor infinity pool, ample beds for lazing away an afternoon, and an invigorating circuit of saunas, steam rooms, and hot/cold plunges. Complimentary activities include soundbath meditations, guided nature hikes, and solstice celebration rituals.

Half-board meals are among the best we’ve experienced. Breakfast is lavish; seven-course dinners strike the perfect balance of elevated and light, with inventive renditions of regional flavors and “forest cuisine” — airy dampfnüdel in broth, herbed risotto topped with paper-thin speck, salads of foraged lettuces with rye crumbs. Cocktails from the super-swank, moodily-lit bar are infused with pine needles and hay milk, and set the vibe for evenings around the terrace fire pits. Throughout, service is as understated yet flawless as you’d expect.

The dining room at Forestis shows off panoramic Dolomites views. Tiered seating ensures uninterrupted vistas; diners are assigned a banquette and dedicated service team for the duration of their stay.

Château de la Chèvre d'Or – Èze, Côte d’Azur, France

Perched high above the Mediterranean and overlooking Monaco, Château de la Chèvre d'Or (“House of the Golden Goat”) oozes old-world grandeur. Terraced gardens, stone exteriors, and red-tiled roofs lead into plush rooms where exposed stone walls and timber beams are paired with sweeping sea vistas.

The hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant is worth the trip on its own: dazzling sunsets from its panoramic views set the backdrop for seafood-driven menus. Locally-dived gooseneck barnacles and tender red mullet with squid ink were standouts, but the showstopper was the lemon meringue “pie” — a layered entremet shaped and airbrushed to resemble an actual lemon. Dinner service is balletic, subtle yet telegraphing deep experience in the finer points of luxury hospitality. This extends to the rest of the hotel: need a vintage Champagne delivered to your in-room soaking tub? The staff can talk you through the wine list and have a chilled bottle to you in a flash.

With lush gardens, an elegant terrace bar, and the medieval charm of Èze just outside the gates, this is a stay where every detail feels touched by the incomparable magic of the French Riviera.

Hotel MOTTO – Vienna, Austria

Perfectly placed in Vienna’s stylish 6th district, Hotel MOTTO is one of our favorite city-break stays. Its design is both playful and polished — whimsical patterned tile, fringed lamps, velvet banquettes, mirrored walls, and parquet floors that nod to the city’s history while feeling thoroughly modern. Rooms are generously sized, outfitted with espresso machines, well-stocked bar carts, and a curated selection of books that make them feel more like chic apartments than hotel rooms.

On the 7th floor, Chez Bernard is a lively hub — part rooftop cocktail bar, part brasserie — with panoramic city views. Mornings start with breads and pastries from the downstairs MOTTO Brot bakery, while evenings are filled with craft cocktails and lively conversation around the buzzy oval-shaped bar.

Located above the Neubaugasse metro, the hotel offers direct access to Vienna’s cultural heart — a wide, pedestrian-only shopping street on the doorstep, Hofburg Palace and major museums within walking distance, and the city’s other sights just a few metro stops away.

Hotel MOTTO’s luxe 7th floor bar stuns with a geodesic dome-inspired wall of windows looking out onto the Vienna city skyline. An excellent craft cocktail program and understated yet scene-y vibe make it feel like a destination unto itself.

Klaserie Drift Misava Safari Camp – Greater Kruger, South Africa

Tucked along the Klaserie River in a private game reserve adjoining Kruger National Park, Klaserie Drift Misava Safari Camp delivers a safari experience that’s both intimate and elevated. Standalone suites are comfortably luxurious; our River Suite featured soaring thatched ceilings, a king bed draped in crisp linens, a soaking tub and outdoor shower, and a private deck where we spent hours watching giraffes traverse the river flats.

Safaris here are a joy. Twice daily, expert naturalists tailor drives to guest interests and sightings relayed by other guides via radio. During our four-night stay, we saw all of the Big Five — plus countless antelope, zebra, hippos, and vibrant birdlife. Evening drives are punctuated by sundowners before returning to camp for three-course dinners around a crackling fire.

Between outings, the infinity pool overlooking the river is a dream. Service throughout is warm and anticipatory — from sending you off on your morning game drive with cappuccinos prepared at 5am, to private dinners on your balcony and a surprise cocktail spread arranged in a dry riverbed on your final evening.

Presidente InterContinental – Cozumel, Mexico

A stylishly renovated midcentury-modern icon, the Presidente InterContinental is Cozumel’s definitive luxury stay. Unlike sprawling mega-resorts, it feels personal, centered around a protected sandy beach with cabanas perched over the water. Two additional beaches and two pools — one lively and beachfront, the other tucked into lush gardens — give variety for lounging and swimming, with pleasant snorkeling just offshore.

Rooms are sleek and spacious, many with balconies overlooking the sea; beachfront rooms boast sunset panoramas from walk-out terraces. Dining is consistently excellent: an expansive breakfast buffet—the best part? handmade corn tortilla tacos made to order with your choice of rotating fillings (squash blossom, wild mushroom)—alongside upscale Mexican, Mediterranean, seafood, and Italian restaurants. Mezcal margaritas served poolside with an array of salsas, fresh guacamole, and just-fried chips are sublime.

For divers, the on-site shop is one of the island’s best, offering quality gear, comfortable boats, and PADI instruction. Even outside operators can dock at the resort’s private pier, making it an unbeatable base. Just a ten minute taxi from downtown yet out of sight of other properties, it balances seclusion with access to Cozumel’s vibrant food and nightlife scene.

The Allison Inn & Spa – Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Located in the heart of Oregon’s renowned winegrowing region, The Allison Inn & Spa is a modern wine-country retreat that blends sophistication with an approachable, down-to-earth elegance. Guest rooms are airy yet cozy, with fireplaces, generous soaking tubs, and wide window seats overlooking the rolling vineyards.

Days here unfold at a relaxed pace: mornings spent at nearby wineries, afternoons wandering the spacious spa, where treatments draw on local grapes, lavender, and herbs. Dinner at the in-house restaurant JORY is the kind of farm-to-table feast that lingers in your memory — dishes incorporate produce from the kitchen garden alongside Oregon’s best hazelnuts, pears, marionberries, wild-caught salmon, and locally raised lamb. Each dish pairs beautifully with one of the many Willamette Valley pinots showcased on the extensive wine list.

Compared to its more touristed neighbors to the south, Oregon’s wine country remains approachable, genuine, and quietly world-class. The Allison captures that same spirit — the perfect host for an authentic taste of this special region.

The spa at The Allison feels quintessentially Oregonian, nestled into its wine country environs with exposed timber and stone evocative of the Pacific Northwest landscape.

Gaia Riverlodge – Cayo District, Belize

Deep in Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Gaia Riverlodge feels like it’s woven into the jungle itself. Thatched-roof cabanas are simple but artful, styled with colorful Oaxacan wool rugs and wide wooden decks strung with hammocks. The sound of waterfalls cascading in the river beneath the property is a constant soundtrack, making for unbelievably peaceful sleeping and a feeling of immersion in nature. The absence of TV and wifi in the rooms offers an impetus to truly unplug.

Days are filled with equal parts adventure and stillness. One morning might be a hike to hidden pools for a swim, the next a trip to explore nearby Mayan ruins — the resort organizes a variety of activities for guests to explore local Mayan culture and landscapes. On return, you’re welcomed back to the eco-chic lodge with fresh juice or a Belikin beer, followed by dinners made from produce grown on site — hearty, flavorful (thanks in part to Belize's trademark hot sauces), and shared under the stars with a jungle symphony in the background.

The excellence of an eco-friendly stay — Green Globe certified and operating solely on hydroelectric and solar power — in such a remote area is what makes Gaia Riverlodge so special. The resort’s presence in its ecosystem strikes an incredibly light touch, allowing you the feeling of existing in harmony with the environment but providing all the comforts of a superb resort.

Riad Adore – Marrakech, Morocco

Riad Adore is a boutique oasis tucked into the tangle of Marrakech’s medina. Step through its unassuming wooden door and you’re enveloped in a cool stone courtyard, whitewashed walls, and a small central plunge pool where lanterns glow at night. Each of its ten rooms’ unique design blends tradition with modern refinement: hand-carved woodwork, traditional tadelakt plaster bathrooms, vintage textiles, and stamped metal light fixtures.

Every detail here is thoughtful yet understated. The sublime, simple breakfast includes Moroccan breads and pastries with jams and honey, fresh fruit and fresh-squeezed juice, and mint tea served wherever you’d like — rooftop terrace, shady corner, or even at your bedside. After a day of wandering souks and palaces, you return to serenity within the walls. A body treatment in the in-house hammam or private dinner on the rooftop are all easily arranged by the highly welcoming staff. 

Just steps down the quiet alleyway where Riad Adore sits lies Marrakech's legendary market. It's the perfect jumping off point for hours and days of exploring the city: bartering for one of the world's greatest arrays of artisan-made crafts, partaking in its many food stalls, visiting iconic historical sites—the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, and Saadian Tombs are all within walking distance—and soaking up the incredible, vibrant tableau that is Marrakech. 

Providing a calming respite from the energetic buzz of the adjacent medina, rooms at Riad Adore showcase impeccable Moroccan design: embroidered linens, Berber carpets (here, a stunning vintage Beni Ourain), intricately carved woodwork, and stamped brass lanterns for mood lighting perfection. All have views of the lush central courtyard, filled with palms and orange trees around a small plunge pool.

Lindos Blu – Rhodes, Greece

Built into a cliffside above the island of Rhodes' Vlicha Bay, Lindos Blu is an adults-only retreat where every room seems to tumble straight into the Aegean. The design is sleek and modern, all clean lines and glass built into the rocky terrain. From your terrace, you can watch fishing boats trace the turquoise water while the sun turns the cliffs gold. Splash out on a room with a walk-out plunge pool — it's easy to while away hours there. 

The pace here is unhurried. Mornings begin with breakfasts of thick yogurt, honey, fresh fruit, and Greek pastries overlooking the bay. Afternoons can be spent drifting between the infinity pool and the superb private beach below, or indulging in a spa ritual scented with olive oil and herbs. At dinner, inventive Greek cuisine — grilled octopus with fava puree, a sublime rendition of prawns saganaki, or lamb with local wines — is paired with service that feels both polished and warmly familiar.

The picturesque town of Lindos sits a short taxi ride away. Its hilltop acropolis offers well-preserved Greek ruins with a spectacular view, transitioning to backddrop of illuminated beauty at night. Flowering pink and white oleander lines the coves in and around town, perfect for swimming or posting up at one of its many seafood restaurants with a carafe of shockingly affordable local white wine.  

Tivoli Carvoeiro – The Algarve, Portugal

Tivoli Carvoeiro sits dramatically on a circular cliff over the glittering Atlantic, with balconies offering expansive views. Rooms are bright and breezy, with white walls and blue accents echoing the sea beyond. The scenery is picturesque in the extreme: sweeping coves, hidden caves, and waves glittering below.

Days can easily be spent lounging by the large clifftop pool, slipping away to the spa, or sipping vinho verde at the vibey rooftop Sky Bar as the sun sets over the water. Dining ranges from simple grilled seafood to modern Mediterranean dishes -- including a life-changingly good gazpacho, and a phenomenal breakfast buffet. 

Tivoli is walkable from the town of Carvoeiro, a charming beachside village catering to tourists but with a fun, summer vacation feel. Abundant restaurants offer everything from traditional Portuguese fare to an excellent wine and tapas bar. Beach trips aren't the only outings worth planning; the area's pottery studios offer terrific souvenirs by local artisans.

The East of Ordinary Standard

Each of these stays reflects what I value most in travel: a balance of comfort and excitement, rooted in the spirit of place. Over years of experience (and with access to an exclusive network of more than 4,500 of the world’s best hotels and resorts), I’ve learned how to identify the properties that transform a trip into something extraordinary. When you’re ready for your own journey, I’ll help you find the hotel that fits your style, your story, and your East of Ordinary.