For years, the intrepid writers of Bold Traveller have sought out the most extraordinary stays across Canada and around the world—whether it’s a brand-new discovery or a timeless favourite that continues to captivate us. These hotels and resorts go beyond luxury and comfort—they capture the essence of their surroundings, creating unforgettable experiences. We celebrate them not just for their beauty, hospitality, or world-class service, but for the deep emotional connections they inspire. These are the places we eagerly recommend to friends and fondly recall long after our stay. Below, our Bold List 2025—a curated collection of the best hotels and resorts in Canada and around the world, handpicked by our intrepid writers.
CANADA
The Dorian, Calgary
Photo: The Dorian Hotel
From dining to room design, The Dorian takes its inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s classic novel, The Portrait of Dorian Gray, to create stays for guests that feel luxurious and a touch hedonistic. You can sip on cocktails crafted with everything you need from an in-room bar cart while you stretch out on a tufted sofa or prop yourself up in bed on fluffy Turkish pillows. Or blow your budget with a tasting menu and wine pairings. You’ll find a youthful vibe throughout this 137-room property. It’s flirty, whimsical and a true ageless beauty. The décor bucks the minimalist trend and is unapologetically maximalist. Think pattern on pattern, punches of colour and graphic wallpaper. It works. —Michele Sponagle | BOOK NOW
Hotel Le Germain, Charlevoix, Quebec
Photo: Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel & Spa, Quebec
Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa, Nova Scotia
Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa, Nova Scotia
Nearing its one hundredth birthday, this classic Nova Scotia golf resort, spa and family getaway has opened year round for the first time in its history. When a partnership including the local Bear River First Nations band took ownership recently, they immediately began winterizing,
restoring and upgrading the Norman- inspired central chateau and 30 cabins. Everything from the rooms to the Grecian inspired outdoor heated pool to the 18-hole golf course was rethought for year round use. While there’s still work to do, this Canadian classic is experiencing a revival, taking me back to a time of railway and steam liner travel when European design was synonymous with luxury. —Darcy Rhyno | BOOK NOW
PROVINCE SPOTLIGHT: Newfoundland
Photo: @fogoislandinn
The Fogo Island Inn is consistently voted one of the best hotels in North America. You’ll find locally made blankets and other materials in the rooms. Be sure to have the hotel set up a tour of the area with a local guide. In St. John’s, the Alt Hotel is part of the Germain Hotel group, which means stylish, European-feeling rooms. Ask for a room with a view of the harbour. In Western Newfoundland, Humber Valley Resort has lovely, spacious rooms alongside their highly-rated golf course. It’s about 20 minutes from Deer Lake, which has frequent air service to major Eastern Canadian cities. newfoundlandlabrador.com —Jim Byers
CARIBBEAN
El Blok, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Photo: El Blok
Designed by the award-winning architect Natanial Fuster, this architecturally significant building along Esperanza’s El Malecon is a standout. Seemingly carved out of a solid block of cement, it’s anything but cold: walls have sensual curves and a silvery patina that softly reflects the natural light. The moveable shutters that line the circular tower are hole-punched to allow dappled light to stream in, a touch of brutalist concrete grounds the building. We like to start at the top, and there’s nothing quite like sipping a sundowner from a rooftop terrace that has a near 360 degree view of swaying palms, sandy beaches and blue blue sky over the Caribbean. El Blok has 30 unique guest rooms, giving intimate, adults-only hideaway vibes on this barefoot beauty of an island. —Vivian Vassos | BOOK NOW
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Photo Courtesy Of Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
This hotel is famed for its incredible aquariums, multigenerational offerings and wellness. Wait. Wellness? Yes, the Mandara Spa offers a serene escape that blends ancient Balinese healing traditions with European therapies and natural Bahamian elements. Alongside a variety of indulgent treatments, it features warm and cold plunge pools, steam rooms and saunas to elevate your relaxation experience. For a truly luxurious experience, don’t forget to book the Couple’s Spa Suite for a shared moment of tranquillity. And gentlemen, this one’s for you: try the BIOTEC Super-Charger Facial. Specifically designed to de-stress and revitalise the male complexion, this treatment will leave your skin looking refreshed and revitalized. —Vawn Himmelsbach | BOOK NOW
EUROPE
Hotel Napoleon, Paris, France
Photo: Hotel Napoleon
A croissant’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe, this luxe spot has a Parisian vibe that taps into the joie de vivre. It’s charming, sexy and downright clandestine, with 98 rooms and intimate nooks throughout its public spaces. Nods to Napoleon with Empire-era furnishings, portraits, tapestries and golden accents make one feel regal. Going to the Musée d’Orsay to see Monet’s Water Lilies was at the top of my to-do list, but tickets were sold out. I mentioned this to the hotel’s concierge and he snagged me tickets. In the afternoon, the Art Deco-styled 1807 bar was a gorgeous, light-filled place to hang out over champagne cocktails and its chic terrace is a lovely spot for people watching. —Michele Sponagle | BOOK NOW
Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki, Greece
Photo: Makedonia Palace Hotel
Bound by the bustling city to the east and the Thermaic Gulf on the west, Makedonia Palace Hotel is an easy walk – or a quick cab ride – from Thessaloniki’s boisterous centre. The iconic hotel is a beloved city landmark with 276 rooms offering breathtaking views of the city and the bay. During the day, Thessaloniki, named for Alexander the Great’s sister, with its more-than-two-centuries of Byzantine, Ottoman, Roman and Hellenistic influences, thrives with world-class markets, shopping, museums, award-winning restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Don’t miss the waterfront pedestrian promenade, the Nea Paralia, which is conveniently accessed behind the hotel. —Rod Charles | BOOK NOW
CITY SPOTLIGHT: LONDON
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Mayfair
THE PLACE TO STAY: The Mayfair Townhouse
Photo: The Mayfair Townhouse
London is renowned for its rows of stately townhouses, and many have been bought up and renovated into hotels, where no room is alike, and architectural elements are preserved and enhanced. At The Mayfair Townhouse – a collection of 15 Georgian buildings on Half Moon Street that opened as a hotel in 2021 – guests are greeted by smiling staff in a sleek lobby (don’t forget to say hello to the crystal-bedazzled peacock sculpture) and The Dandy Bar; a cozy hug of a subtly lit space. The wait staff is dressed to the nines, but there’s zero pretension, great cocktails, elevated gastro-pub fare, what’s not to love? Brit drinks expert and TV personality Olly Smith has just signed on for a fresh collab to create a no-alcohol cocktail menu, in keeping with the sober curious movement. The writer Oscar Wilde, a dandy in his own right, was one of the inspirations behind design firm Goddard Littlefair’s reimagining of the hotel, where present-day British style meets the exuberant wit of Wilde’s aesthetic. Down the block is Piccadilly and Green Park (and Buckingham Palace), not far are the posh shops of Savile Row and Bond Street. The hotel’s pedigree is also worth a mention: part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels Group, the hoteliers behind country manors Cliveden House and Chewton Glen.
THE CONCIERGE SAYS: Go for the short stroll to Burlington Arcade, take in the arcade’s lovely design and admire the independent boutiques. After this, a quick walk across to Green Park to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. BOOK NOW
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Chelsea
THE PLACE TO STAY: The Chelsea Townhouse
The Chelsea Townhouse
The Chelsea Townhouse, a sister property to The Mayfair Townhouse (see above), has just completed a top-to-bottom refresh. Formerly The Draycott hotel, its bones are still true to the trio of Queen Anne-style, red-brick Victorian townhomes that hold its 36 rooms. In the bustling area known for Sloane Rangers (Princess Diana was one of them), The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger kept a flat in the ‘hood) and The King’s Road (where Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood gave birth to the Punk movement), the hotel backs onto the private Cadogan Gardens. You have direct access to this green space of calm dotted with Mulberry trees, straight out the back steps of the Salon – where breakfast, a smart cocktail or afternoon tea can also be ordered. The front of the house features the library, with a wall of books and comfy couches for one to sink into, while the fireplace warms. Ask for a room that overlooks the gardens to get the feeling that you are at home in your own space. A welcome “Chelsea Bun,” the iconic pastry similar to a cinnamon bun that was created in bakeries in this neighbourhood, was a treat; a stocked and complimentary minibar was the cherry on top.
THE CONCIERGE SAYS: Don’t miss the Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and a visit to Battersea Park. And, within a 10 – 15 minute walk from the hotel that’s budget-friendly: Chelsea Physics Garden; the new Banksy in Chelsea; and the Saatchi Gallery.
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THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Covent Garden
THE PLACE TO STAY: ME London
ME London by Meliá
When ME London by Meliá first opened its doors in 2012, it was buzzing. Designed by Foster + Partners, the minds behind 50 Hudson Yards in New York City, Palm Beach’s Norton Museum, a slew of Apple stores across the globe and more, the hotel made its mark as having the most fabulous rooftop bar in the city, Radio Rooftop – 10 storeys above – named for neighbouring Marconi House, from where the first radio wave was transmitted in 1922. But it’s the views, from The Shard and St Pauls to the London Eye and Big Ben, which delight. ME London’s location, where The Strand and Covent Garden intersect and a stone’s throw to West End theatre, has also benefited from the new pedestrian-only spot around St Mary Le Strand Anglican church. It’s still all the buzz, from the now iconic Radio Rooftop, to the artwork-lined lobby walls to a pre- or post-theatre supper and cocktails at STK steakhouse beneath the hotel.
THE CONCIERGE SAYS: Visit Somerset House, built in 1547, and the Impressionist-filled Courtauld Gallery, within touching distance of the hotel; and have lunch on the terrace bar overlooking the River Thames. Within walking distance is the National Gallery, built in 1824. It houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th Century to 1900. Covent Garden has a multitude of great shops, a unique crafts market and the 18th-Century pub, Punch and Judy, overlooking St Paul’s Church – have a local lager or a glass of wine here while enjoying the famous street performers. —Vivian Vassos | BOOK NOW
ASIA & MIDDLE EAST
BnA Alter Art Museum, Hotel, Kyoto, Japan
BnA Alter Museum
Art is at the heart of BnA Alter Museum in Kyoto, including a 10-storey vertical art gallery, ‘SCG,’ showcasing Japanese contemporary art, and a bar, ‘untitled,’ where weekly art and music events are held. The hotel opened in 2019, and is the largest of the BnA hotels outside of Tokyo. It has 31 permanent exhibitions (aka hotel rooms) – which guests also sleep in, created by 15 Japanese artists. A percentage of each room booking provides direct income for the artist who created the art installation in each guest room – providing continual income and exposure for the artists. By just sleeping in a room, I became a patron of the arts. —Judi Cohen | BOOK NOW
Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand
Kamalaya Koh Samui
Within tropical surroundings and alongside a private beach, this renowned Thai wellness sanctuary blends Eastern and Western healing traditions. Offering more than 70 therapies and treatments, the resort features a variety of wellness programs, including its new Cognitive House brain- health enhancement program, as well as sleep strategies and embracing change. And Longevity House, which emphasizes functional medicine – a biology-based approach focused on addressing the root causes of health issues, rather than simply managing symptoms. It also offers a range of cutting-edge regenerative treatments, including IV Therapy, Ozone Therapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, all designed for long-term health. And, with the third season of White Lotus set to air, Thailand will be in the spotlight. —Vawn Himmelsbach | BOOK NOW
Al Seef Heritage Hotel, Dubai
Al Seef Heritage Hotel, Dubai
Bucking the trend of heading straight for glitzy towers of Jumeirah and The Palm, I happily checked into Al Seef. Although not a historic building (nothing in Dubai is old), this Curio Collection by Hilton hotel in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is made to feel authentically Emirati, with its old-school Bedouin desert decor, airy rooms, woven carpets, and proximity to the market (also constructed to look like it’s been there forever). The 10 lowrise buildings are a riff on Bayts (traditional Arab homes) and connected by a series of courtyards and bridges dotted with wooden benches, hanging lanterns, stone walls and arched windows; most of this area is dry, so you won’t find a bar, but there are local tea houses that serve traditional and delicious Arabic/Middle Eastern food. The Arabian Tea House is a five-minute walk from the Al Seef hotel, and well worth it. —Vivian Vassos | BOOK NOW
