Samokatus Hotels

A refined, recently renovated beachfront hotel in Taormina known for exceptional, warm service and spectacular sea views. Guests highlight attentive staff (many by name), a quality restaurant and easy access to the funivia into Taormina town. Minor billing quibbles appear occasionally, but the overall experience is repeatedly described as outstanding.

Housed in the meticulously restored 1912 Jarmulowsky Bank building, Nine Orchard is a design-forward boutique hotel in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It pairs stunning Neo-Renaissance architecture with thoughtful modern touches, including custom OJAS in-room speakers and outstanding dining at the Swan Room and Corner Bar. It's a chic, residential-style retreat for travelers seeking local character over tourist crowds.

A restored waterfront resort on Büyükada combining a 19th‑century mansion with modern suites, Princes’ Palace Resort is praised for attentive staff, an excellent spa (notably the Turkish hammam), coastal views and refined dining. Reviewers repeatedly mention named staff who went above and beyond, while a few note slower service during large events.

Set in the pristine Shaviyani Atoll, Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort features 120 exquisite beach, jungle, and overwater villas, each with a private pool. Guests can enjoy the Maldives' longest infinity pool, exceptional dining at three restaurants, and an incredible house reef teeming with turtles, rays, and sharks. While the remote location requires a 55-minute seaplane flight, it guarantees a peaceful and untouched natural sanctuary.