Hotel Highlights of 2026 (so far)

My five most memorable stays of the past six months

At the beginning of each year (as I do every year), I shared the 20 hotels and hideaways I was dreaming of staying in. This was always a dream list — I travel a lot for work, but have a limited budget for my personal travels. I never thought I’d be writing this halfway through the year having stayed at two of the hotels at the very, very top of my wishlist.

The past three months in particular have been filled with travel, taking me to South Africa, Malta, France (twice) and Lake Como, as well as various corners of the UK. Rather than waiting until the end of the year to round up my most cherished stays, I thought I’d share five favourites from the past six months before (hopefully) embarking on another half year of inspirational travels. A note that all of these were work trips (two were shoots for the properties and three were features/shoots for publications) but this is in no way sponsored.

Just a note on paid subscriptions. All of my seasonal edits and interviews with inspirational women in the travel industry are free for everyone to read. I put the remainder of my content behind a paywall to both justify the time I spend writing and compiling these newsletters, and also to keep some of my recommendations close to my chest. If you upgrade to a paid subscription for just £5 a month (or £50 a year) you can also DM me any questions or ask for travel tips. For this feature, the first of the five hotels is free for everyone to read, while the remaining four are behind the paywall.

Sterrekopje Farm

This was the big one for me; a hotel that has been at the very, very top of my wish list ever since it opened in 2022. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever be able to afford a stay there or convince my boyfriend to travel all the way to South Africa, so when a work opportunity arose at the beginning of the year, I leapt at the chance. And I’m so, so glad I bit the bullet and impulsively booked flights; Sterrekopje Farm is my favourite place I have ever stayed, and I’ll be replaying my memories of my three days there for years to come. It’s one of those places that really is even better in real life than it looks in the photographs. I’d studied their website and Instagram in depth prior to my stay (and was delighted to be staying in my absolute favourite of their suites) but it’s tricky to convey the sense of calm, tranquility and the healing aspect of the farm through images alone. I felt a peacefulness here that I simply haven’t felt elsewhere, and truly could imagine myself moving in indefinitely. Waking up to those mountain views every morning, quickly slipping on my shoes to wander out into the vast gardens to photograph every inch of them and chat to the gardeners immediately became my routine. We didn’t leave the property at all during our three day stay; there was no need. All food and drink during your stay is complimentary, delicious and nourishing. Your mini bar is constantly refreshed with delectable treats from the kitchen and (my absolute favourite) homemade cordials. The breakfast spread is vast with a different homecooked option each morning, while lunches and dinners became one of the (many) highlights of each day. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten better, and I relished how most of the ingredients came from the farm itself. I never felt rushed, but somehow managed to fit in a lot of photography with a bread making session, three rejuvenating bath house treatments, a full garden tour, and plenty of time spent paddleboarding and swimming in the dam. Most of the time, I was very content to just soak up my surroundings and try to commit every minute detail (smells, tastes, sights, sounds) to memory. I only hope I have the opportunity to return one day, as I fell for this place completely head over heels.