The Best Small Luxury Hotels Around the World
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The Small Luxury Hotels brand, which partnered with Hilton in 2024, specializes in small, boutique hotels and resorts.
The brand has more than 600 destinations across 90+ countries, offering accommodations ranging from all-inclusive island paradises to quaint country escapes to unique, once-in-a-lifetime locales.
In this article, we’ll explore 8 of our favourite Small Luxury Hotels that we think you should discover.
Angkor Village Hotel – Cambodia
The Angkor Village Hotel is located just outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia, offering you Khmer architecture set among lotus ponds and tropical gardens.
Located a short tuk-tuk drive away from UNESCO World Heritage site Angkor Wat and the hundreds of other temples and monuments in the Angkor complex, this property provides the perfect jumping off point for multiple days of exploration.
For the days when you don’t feel like adventuring out, the hotel has lots of relaxing options with a restaurant, an open-sided Lounge Bar, chef-run cooking classes, pools, gardens, spa spaces, and more. Keep in mind, though, that the Angkor Village Hotel is an adults only hotel, so you won’t be able to bring your children to this space.
The Angkor Village Hotel is available to book from $237 CAD or 30,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Siringit Serengeti Camp – Tanzania
The Siringit Serengeti Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime place to visit, where you can enjoy luxury camping in the middle of the famous Serengeti.
While staying at this all-inclusive hotel, you can enjoy daily game drives to explore your surroundings and look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, and more. In fact, with the location of this hotel, the animals often come to you, with wild game wandering through the property freely.
Plus, despite being a tent, your accommodations are well-appointed with a lounge area, ensuite bathroom, and relaxing veranda from which you can watch the plains of Africa sprawl in front of you.
Nights at the Siringit Seregeti Camp are available from $2,170 CAD, and unfortunately, you are not able to book with Hilton Honors points at this time.
La Valise – Mexico
Located next to the Carribean Sea, with the the jungle at its back, La Valise Tulum is a spectacular place to stay when visiting the Yucantan Peninsula.
The hotel features many raised buildings with thatched roofs, giving you luxury beach hut vibes with views of the blue waters. Conveniently situated near the new Tulum airport, this gorgeous property gives you a cozy place to relax after a day of adventuring to the Mayan ruins and cenotes that the area is known for.
Nights are available starting at $680 CAD or 130,000 Hilton Honors points.
Gangtey Lodge – Bhutan
If you’re looking for an absolutely unique and off-the-beaten-track destination, you should definitely consider the Gangtey Lodge in Bhutan.
Offering views of snow-peaked mountains and the lush valley, the Gangtey Lodge helps guests get to know the Bhutanese way of life through cultural events, spiritual experiences, and even a trip to a Bhutanese farm to learn from a local family.
Keep in mind that to visit Bhutan, you will likely need a visa, and you’ll need to book through a licensed tour operator. You will also need to pay a Sustainable Development Fee, a daily fee for tourists designed to help preserve the country’s unique culture and environment and support its sustainable development initiatives.
Prices for a night at the Gangtey Lodge start at $1,007 CAD or 120,000 Hilton Honors points.
Artic Bath – Sweden
Arctic Bath is a seasonal hotel that welcomes guests to Sweden’s Lapland area from mid-June to the beginning of October and then from the end November until mid-April.
With stunning modern architecture showcasing glass walls, floating walkways, and rugged lumber decks and features, this property immerses you in the local scene – from the vast boreal forests to the reindeer and moose wandering by.
The property boasts Scandinavian spa options like open-baths and relaxing saunas, a restaurant filled with local ingredients, and many fascinating adventures to embark on.
Nights at the Arctic Bath start from $983 CAD or 110,000 Hilton Honors points.
Château Le Cagnard – France
Originally built in the 13th century to defend the nearby Château Grimaldi, Château Le Cagnard lets you step back in time while enjoying the region’s rustic charm.
This seasonal property is open from April to October each year, and offers a soothing respite near the Mediterranean Sea. While visiting, you can explore the winding alleys of the village, take a shuttle to nearby Cagnes Sur Mer, dine on local French specialties, and enjoy an in-room massage.
Depending on your preferences, you can also choose to stay in either the main building or in one of the rooms located a few minutes away in the heart of the historic village Haut-de-Cagnes.
A night’s stay at Château Le Cagnard starts at $340 CAD or 70,000 Hilton Honors points.
Chalets at Blackheath – Australia
The Chalets at Blackheath are tucked away in national parklands in Australia’s Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This property is an excellent choice for the nature-lover and the adventuresome type with loads of outdoor activities on offer. While staying in the spectacular setting, you can go for a bushwalk to discover valleys, waterfalls, escarpments, and beyond, or you could take it one step further and sign up for a day of canyon hiking and abseiling.
In the evenings, you can take in the views from the private deck of your luxurious but environmentally thoughtful chalet, and stay up late to watch the stars come out.
For a stay at the Chalets at Blackheath, a night starts at $864 CAD or 105,000 Hilton Honors points.
Sowaka – Japan
Sowaka Kyoto is a restored ryokan (a traditional type of Japanese inn) that melds the modern world with ancient traditions.
This hotel gives you a serene space in which to rest after a day of exploring all that Kyoto has to offer, such as the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijō Castle, the Geisha district, and the region’s delicious food.
The suites and rooms are tucked away among the inner courtyards, and traditional elements like paper sliding doors are combined with modern comfort to give you the best of both worlds, with even the smallest hotel details designed to showcase local customs.
A night at Sowaka Kyoto starts at $1,073 CAD or 130,000 Hilton Honors points.
Things to Consider
If you’re planning a stay at a Small Luxury Hotel, there are a couple things to think about that can help make your stay more accessible and more enjoyable.
Hilton Honors Points
Small Luxury Hotels have partnered with Hilton, and this means that you can redeem Hilton Honors points to book many of these magical locations. To find all the available properties, you can search the Hilton Honors booking portal and filter for exclusively the Small Luxury Hotel options. In our experience, there are approximately 450 available redemption locations.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card now earns Hilton Honors points directly in Canada. Compare our Hilton Honors card options and the Marriott Bonvoy options.
To earn Hilton Honors, you have a couple options:
- Earn on your stays at Hilton-brand properties and hotel partners
- Earn with Hilton partners
- Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors
By staying at Hilton properties, you’ll earn at least the base rate of 10 Hilton Honors points per $1 USD spent (except for at Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton properties, where you’ll earn 5 points per $1 USD spent).
You can also earn Hilton Honors points with car rental companies like Alamo, Entreprise, and National, and when booking transportation through Lyft.
Finally, you can transfer Membership Rewards (MR) points to your Hilton Honors account at a rate of 1,000 MR points = 500 Hilton Honors points. While this option doesn’t provide particularly good value, MR points are considerably easier to earn in Canada since there are a number of credit cards that let you earn this currency:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $250 | |||
| $191.88 | |||
| $799 |
Hilton Honors Elite Status
With Hilton Honors elite status, you can earn points faster, and you’ll enjoy more perks and benefits during your stays.
As a Hilton Honors elite member, you’ll enjoy the following earning rates when you stay at most Hilton properties:
- Silver: 12 points per $1 USD spent
- Gold: 18 points per $1 USD spent
- Diamond: 20 points per $1 USD spent
In terms of perks and benefits, each level offers a bit more than the one below. At all three elite levels, you can enjoy a fifth night free on rewards stays and your elite nights will rollover into the next year to help you reach status again.
With Gold elite status, you’ll enjoy dining credits, room upgrades (when available), and Milestone Bonuses when you stay a certain number of nights within the year.
Finally, with Diamond elite status, you’ll get all of the above, plus improved upgrades (even up to a suite!), executive lounge access, 48-hour room guarantee, and more.
If these perks sound good, keep in mind that the American Express Platinum Card® comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold status once you’re approved – a fantastic way to instantly improve your next stay at a Hilton property.
Alternatively, if you have elite status with another hotel loyalty program, you may be eligible for a complimentary 90-day trial of Hilton Honors elite status through the Hilton Honors Status Match program.
Bottom Line
The above Small Luxury Hotels are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the stunning and unique properties available.
Whether you’re looking for an opulent stay in a castle or adventurous vacation in a safari camp, the Small Luxury Hotels brand likely has your dream accommodations on offer.
Also if you’ve got some Hilton Honors points kicking around, you may even be able to score a free night or two at one of the over 600 properties.
FAQs
What are SLH properties?
SLH properties refer to the Small Luxury Hotels brand which is partnered with Hilton. The Small Luxury Hotel brand specializes in boutique hotels offering unique accommodation options in over 600 locations in 90+ countries.
When did Hilton partner with Small Luxury Hotels?
The partnership between Hilton and Small Luxury Hotels was launched in September 2024.
Can I use my Hilton Honors points with Small Luxury Hotels?
Yes, many of the Small Luxury Hotel properties can be booked by redeeming Hilton Honors points. However, not all of the 600+ hotels are available for redemptions. You can find the available properties by searching the Hilton Honors booking portal and filtering for only Small Luxury Hotel locations.
For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.
