Explore (the Leading Hotels Of The World)

Discover singular travel destinations with The Leading Hotels of the World in this celebration of exceptional hospitality through the lens of adventure and well-being

Embark on a stunning visual journey through The Leading Hotels of the World, a collection of the world’s most exclusive independent luxury hotels, which consistently dominates prestigious awards, securing top honors in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Richly illustrated and expertly edited, this exquisite volume - the third in The Leading Hotels of the World multi-volume series - presents a robust collection of properties tailor-made for hosting awe-inspiring adventures, transformative well-being experiences, cutting-edge spa treatments, and world-class sports facilities. Explore features a bespoke selection of more than 80 exceptional hotels from LHW’s 400-plus-member collection across 80 countries, offering readers a whirlwind journey across continents, climates, and cultures. Whether stargazing into faraway galaxies at Nayara Alto Atacama in the Chilean desert, mountain biking along the 30 miles of custom-designed trails at South Africa’s Steyn City Hotel by Saxon, or bathing as the ancient Etruscans did at Terme di Saturnia in Tuscany, these LHW properties offer myriad opportunities to nurture mind, body, and soul. Distinctive activities abound, such as Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević’s tennis academy at D Maris Bay on Turkey’s Datça Peninsula; Gleneagles Hotel’s 850 acres of archery, falconry, golf, and more in Scotland; and the charming, Bavarian-style slopeside stay of the Sonnenalp Hotel in the Colorado ski town of Vail. 

Featuring contributions from best-in-class journalists, full-page color photography, insider’s tips from local experts, and three original itineraries for excursions in Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand, Explore offers abundant inspiration for culture-savvy travelers. 

Spencer Bailey is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Slowdown, co-host of the Time Sensitive podcast, and the former editor-in-chief of Surface magazine. He is the author of In Memory Of: Designing Contemporary Memorials (Phaidon).