While there are holidays where we prioritise experiencing attractions over the beauty of an accommodation, our favourite kind of getaways are when the accommodation is the attraction. What’s a sojourn away from home if not an opportunity to spend a few days in a picture-perfect abode? Get your cameras and eyes ready for these beautiful lodgings as we dive into the elements that make them incredibly picturesque.
1. Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô, Vietnam
Concealed in Phu Yen province lies the 245-acre beachfront resort, Bãi San Hô by Zannier Hotels. Within the nature resort, 73 free-standing villas stretch across paddy fields, hilltops, and white sandy beaches. Each villa looks out onto stunning vistas, and the sunlit horizon serves as the cherry on top of these rooms.
Inspired by traditional Vietnamese architecture, each room is designed bearing simplicity and contemporary luxury in mind. Nothing looks or feels too precious or out of touch. Each piece of furniture, choice of linens and ornaments exhibits familiarity. Brought together by earthy tones comparable to its natural surroundings, this hotel is easily one of the most photogenic places there is.
Address: Hòa Thạnh, Sông Cầu, Phú Yên, Vietnam
Contact: +84 0257 383 0000
2. TreeHouse Villas Koh Yao, Thailand
5-star luxury beachfront properties naturally seem to always be photo-ready, but the Koh Yao TreeHouse Villas exceed our every expectation. Imagine George of the Jungle building Ursula, the love of his life, the most romantic and epic treehouse residence in the tropics. That’s what the Koh Yao Treehouses feel like. Canopy beds, a hammock bathtub, and unbroken views of the crystal clear ocean make this place feel like it came right out of a dream.
Address: 24/21 Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao District, 82160, Thailand
Contact: +66 076 584 460
3. Bambu Indah, Indonesia
Let’s be honest–while Bali boasts some picturesque spots, some corners may not be inspiring for photographs. Having said that, the Bambu Indah is undoubtedly one of the more delightful places to look back on in our camera roll. This ecological Eden was built in 2005, combining restored antique Javanese homes with new structures built with bamboo.
The resort’s low-impact structure was built on stilts resembling old architecture found in many Southeast Asian countries. Our imaginative minds, however, see each bamboo house as a fairy home. With fluid rooftops, dining pods over the river, spiralling staircases, and bamboo canopy nooks all around the property, it’s almost impossible to feel like you have not left this world and fallen straight into a fairytale.
Address: Jl. Baung, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Contact: +62 361 977 922
4. Amanjiwo, Indonesia
If we had to pick one hotel from this list for the front cover of a magazine, it would be Amanjiwo. Overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site of Borobudur in Central Jawa, this hotel aims to create peace and serenity for its guests.
While it is surrounded by the region’s historic and natural attractions, the hotel grounds are a treat on its own. Vast garden terraces, lounging pavilions that seem to have a mix of Javanese and European influences, terrazzo pillars, and walled gardens crafted within the terraced farmlands of the Menoreh Hills create plenty of opportunities for some idyllic photographs.
Address: Sawah, Majaksingi, Borobudur, Magelang Regency, Central Java 56553, Indonesia
Contact: +62 293 788 333
5. The RuMa Hotel and Residences, Malaysia
If you’ve spent any amount of time in Kuala Lumpur, you’ve heard of the RuMa Hotel. Undoubtedly one of the most stunning hotels in the city, the RuMa Hotel and Residences epitomises colonial heritage and contemporary style. Set in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, there are plenty of picturesque sites on the property, so keep your camera handy.
Charming views and luxury dining spaces aside, good lighting makes for good photos, and the RuMa knows a thing or two about ambient lighting. With each space lit perfectly and large windows allowing natural light to bring out the best features of a room and the people in it, this is easily one of our favourite hotels to photograph.
Address: 7, Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +60 3 2778 0888
6. Mondrian Singapore Duxton, Singapore
Standing tall in the effervescent Chinatown District across the city’s glittering skyline is the swish Mondrian Singapore Duxton. Duxton Hill’s newest resident makes for an exciting addition to the neighbourhood famed for its world-class eateries, bars, cafes, art galleries, and independent boutiques. A street that is already a feast for the eye deserves a hotel that enchants in the same manner.
Chic suite interiors blend modernity and traditional architecture, creating spaces that are new yet retaining its heritage influence. The Mondrian Shophouse Suite, in particular, is our personal favourite, exuding part shophouse, part mid-century home, and all-around opulence.
Address: 16A Duxton Hill, Singapore 089970
Contact: +65 6019 8888
