Where Getting Away Really Means Getting Away
Not every escape has to be in the middle of nowhere. Hideaways range from remote mountain retreats reached only by 4×4 or cable car and tiny hotels on faraway tropical islands to secluded urban sanctuaries hidden behind an anonymous front door. What matters is the feeling of retreat: privacy, quiet, space and permission to disconnect. No need to see or be seen, no obligatory social scene and sometimes barely a phone signal. Places for slowing down, switching off and disappearing for a while.
Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat | China An extraordinary architectural retreat where Neri&Hu turns the traditional Chinese courtyard into a labyrinth of reclaimed brick, water and landscape. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Neri&Hu reinterprets Yangzhou’s traditional courtyard-house typology as an entire hotel, using walls and pathways to connect old buildings, new architecture and landscape. ● Reclaimed…
read moreImmerso Hotel – Ericeira, Portugal Surf culture, Portuguese craft and Atlantic cuisine come together in a secluded valley overlooking the ocean. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Ericeira’s first five-star hotel translates the relaxed spirit of Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve into sophisticated contemporary hospitality without turning surf culture into a theme. ● A distinctly…
read moreZannier Phum Baitang | Siem Reap, Cambodia A five-star Khmer village where rice paddies, traditional architecture, and slow Cambodian living set the rhythm Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Paris-based AW² and hotelier Arnaud Zannier recreated the spatial language of a traditional Khmer village, with 45 stilted wooden villas scattered among rice paddies and tropical…
read moreTainaron Blue Retreat | Váthia, Mani Peninsula | Greece A Restored Mani Tower Where Mythology, Architecture, and Landscape Become One Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● An early 19th-century fortified Mani tower meticulously restored by architect-owners Kostas Zouvelos and Kassiani Theodorakakou. ● Just three beautifully restrained suites overlooking Cape Tainaron, where Greek mythology places the…
read moreMagia de Uma, Umalas, Bali, Indonesia An Intimate Heritage Retreat Where Indonesian Craftsmanship, Slow Living, and Contemporary Design Meet Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored collection of 150-year-old joglo houses that celebrates Indonesian heritage instead of replacing it. ● Warm, residential interiors where handcrafted furniture, antiques, and contemporary design create a deeply…
read morePerma, Serifos A secluded architectural retreat where raw Cycladic landscape, regenerative design, and quiet luxury become one seamless experience. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● An extraordinary architectural project by MOLD Architects that dissolves into the Serifos landscape rather than sitting upon it. ● Only five private residences, each designed around silence, privacy, and an…
read moreMajamaja Helsinki | FinlandOff-Grid Living on the Edge of the Baltic Sea Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A pioneering off-grid retreat where architecture, technology, and sustainability come together in one remarkably compact design. ● Located on a secluded rocky shoreline in the Helsinki archipelago, yet easily reached from the city by bicycle, boat, or…
read moreFUFU Tokyo Ginza An Urban Ryokan Above Ginza Where Craftsmanship, Silence and Private Onsen Baths Redefine the City Hotel Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● One of Tokyo's most intimate luxury hotels, with just 34 suites, each featuring a private natural hot spring bath and landscaped terrace. ● A beautifully crafted urban ryokan where traditional…
read moreAZUMA FARM Koiwai, Shizukuishi, Japan Where regenerative farming, contemporary architecture, and slow Japanese hospitality come together beneath Mount Iwate. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A pioneering farm retreat that redefines luxury through landscape, sustainability, and an authentic connection to place. ● Architecture by Shiro Miura that dissolves into forests and pastures using hyperlocal materials…
read moreDeqin Meri Poodom – Shangri-La, China Where Sculptural Architecture Meets the Sacred Himalayas Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● One of China's most architecturally striking mountain retreats, blending contemporary design with Tibetan influences. ● Extraordinary views of the sacred Meili Snow Mountains framed through dramatic floor-to-ceiling glazing. ● A rare example of architecture that enhances…
read moreNomos Hotel | Rome, Italy An intimate sanctuary where a former monastery has been transformed into one of Rome's purest expressions of architectural minimalism. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A remarkable conversion of an 18th-century Franciscan monastery into a serene design hotel centred on craftsmanship and material honesty. ● Interiors by designer Henry Timi…
read moreRiad Rosemary, Marrakech, Morocco A Handcrafted Sanctuary Where Contemporary Art Meets Moroccan Tradition Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● An intimate five-suite riad created by artist Laurence Leenaert and Ayoub Boualam as a living expression of their creative world. ● Extraordinary craftsmanship, with every surface shaped by Moroccan artisans using traditional techniques and contemporary design.…
read more
