Relax & Reset: The World's Most Relaxing Hotels

Life moves quickly – too quickly, sometimes. The Relax & Reset section from our latest luxury brochure, The Wishlist, is packed with the world's most relaxing hotels, and it's all about creating a gentle rebellion against all that noise. These are relaxation holidays designed to slow everything down, to reclaim time, space and stillness, and to recharge in places that positively ooze calm. 

Our experts have handpicked some of the most relaxing resorts in the world, destinations created for deep rest: peaceful mornings, restorative afternoons and a sense of ease that lingers long after you leave. Think sunrise yoga overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Hammocks swaying between palms in Mauritius. Cold-pressed juice by the pool in Thailand, where even your phone seems to slip into ‘do not disturb’ mode on its own. These are wellness holidays where switching off feels instinctive, not instructed.

These escapes remind you that rest isn’t a reward – it’s a requirement. From serene spa sanctuaries to barefoot beach resorts and private villas, Relax & Reset is an invitation to pause, breathe and do nothing beautifully. Self-care is for now.

Atmosphere Kanifushi, Maldives

Atmosphere Kanifushi is the kind of island that makes you forget phones exist, and its reputation as one ofthe world's most relaxing hotels is well earned. Turquoise lagoons lap at the shore, overwater and beachfront villas spill straight towards the sea, and the Kanifushi Plan™ makes everything deliciously simple – from fine dining and premium drinks to snorkelling, catamarans and curated island excursions. At the heart of it all is Atmosphere Kanifushi spa, where calm becomes a daily ritual rather than a fleeting moment.

Essens Spa is the epicentre of island stillness, with at least one included treatment per stay encouraging you to fully surrender to the pace of Maldivian life. Choose from Balinese or firming massages, bamboo and hot stone therapies, or Elemis facials designed to restore and renew. It’s the kind of wellness holiday where time stretches, tension dissolves, and doing very little feels like an achievement.

Private pools hovering over the lagoon and villas just steps from the beach mean mornings begin with gentle swims and evenings close with sunsets melting into the sea – perfect, unhurried moments that define what a true relaxation holiday should feel like.

 Explore the Island 

Amazing Thailand – Healing is the New Luxury 

Thailand has always understood that wellbeing isn’t a trend – it’s a way of life. And for travellers seeking meaningful rest, the country offers some of the most enriching luxury experiences in Thailand, blending ancient healing traditions with effortless modern comfort.

From misty mornings and meditation temples in Chiang Mai to riverside retreats along the River Kwai and the elemental spa rituals of Koh Samet, Thailand makes unwinding feel instinctive. Boutique resorts, warm hospitality and deeply rooted wellness philosophies create relaxation holidays that restore both body and mind. It’s no wonder Thailand continues to lead the way in soulful, immersive wellness holidays – here, calm is simply part of the culture.

Across the country, Thailand makes unwinding feel intuitive with ancient healing, warm-hearted hospitality, and landscapes that coax you gently back to yourself. In fact, it might just be the national expertise. So if you're in search of the world's most relaxing hotels, ask our team of Personal Travel Concierges about Thailand. It holds an abundance of the them. 

 River Kwai, Bangkok & Beach; 11 nights from £2,499 per person*. 

 Idyllic Koh Samet Beaches & Bangkok; 10 nights from £1,995 per person*. 

LUX* Le Morne, Mauritius

There are postcards of Mauritius, and then there’s this corner of it: the quiet western tip where Le Morne rises like a guardian. LUX* Le Morne has long been the insider pick for travellers searching for the most beloved relaxing resorts in Mauritius – those who want the island’s prettiest beach and a resort with actual character: stories, faces, little rituals you’ll carry home with you. Because this place has soul. And a cast. And an unhurried way of making you feel better than when you arrived.

The real magic happens at dawn. While the west coast is still sleeping, your private skipper pulls up outside your room and whisks you across a mirror-still bay to find the resident spinner and bottlenose dolphins. Slip into the water and they appear in slow spirals, or take the morning at a gentler pace: breakfast in a wooden treehouse, bubbles in hand, watching the reef shift from aquamarine to cobalt. Ring the bell if you need a top-up; a basket appears on a pulley, as if summoned by thought alone.

Days here naturally fall into balance. Morning jogs along the sand. Yoga as the sun lifts over the mountain. Hikes in the nearby national park or up Le Morne itself, followed by long swims and longer afternoons. And then there’s LUX* Me Spa: a calm, coconut-scented sanctuary where wellness feels considered rather than prescriptive. Therapeutic massages, bamboo and herbal poultice rituals, glow-giving facials, bespoke programmes, and an outdoor relaxation garden with its own pool – all designed for switching off, properly. 

Awards and accolades - like its Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Rating - feel almost incidental. What LUX* Le Morne really offers is that sweet spot we’re all chasing: a place where luxury slows you down, mindfulness feels intuitive, and taking care of yourself is simply part of the day.

 Explore the Hotel 

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Few hotels are as instantly recognisable as Jumeirah Burj Al Arab. Rising from its own private island, this sail-shaped landmark has long defined the skyline of Dubai and set the benchmark for what a luxury Dubai hotel can be. Once deemed the world’s only 7-star hotel, and constantly known as one of Dubai’s most iconic hotels, it remains an enduring symbol of scale, service and ambition, where its otherworldly grandeur is matched by an all-encompassing but perhaps unexpected sense of calm.

That calm is most evident at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab’s Talise Spa, the hotel’s light-filled, two-storey wellness sanctuary set high above the Arabian Gulf. Here, restoration unfolds through tailored signature massages, holistic wellbeing programmes and quiet moments spent flitting between pools and relaxation spaces. Movement and mindfulness are elevated at the HWH Yoga Studio, led by famous instructor Adrienne Everett, while seamless arrivals via private chauffeured transfers - Rolls Royce Phantoms optional - make sure the transition from city to sanctuary feels effortless. Think elevated wellness holidays with a distinctly urban, ultra-lavish edge – this is relaxation, Dubai style. 

Accommodation comes exclusively in expansive suites, each designed as a private retreat in the sky. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of the Gulf, Palm Jumeirah or the Dubai skyline, while dedicated butler service, sunset rituals and refined in-suite comforts create a deeply personal stay, every time. Jumeirah Burj Al Arab proves that even the boldest icons can be counted among the world's most relaxing hotels.

 Explore the Hotel 

BodyHoliday Saint Lucia

Perched on a secluded crescent beach surrounded by lush tropical gardens, BodyHoliday Saint Lucia is widely recognised as one of the world's most relaxing hotels. Designed for a fully immersive wellness holiday, the resort blends the pleasures of a classic Caribbean escape with an extraordinary range of therapeutic treatments, fitness programmes, and mindful experiences. Daily personalised sessions - from yoga and meditation to scuba diving and land sports - allow every guest to craft their own path to balance and renewal.

This all-inclusive approach, including at least one daily therapeutic treatment, makes BodyHoliday St. Lucia’s most relaxing hotel for those seeking meaningful rest. The award-winning Wellness Centre, Pavitra Ayurvedic Pavilion, Skin Clinic and BodyScience Better-Aging Clinic provide a holistic approach to body, mind, and spirit, while accommodation options range from elegant rooms to private villas, all just steps from the island’s golden sands and warm ocean.

For anyone looking for a luxury Caribbean wellness hotel, BodyHoliday is perhaps the perfect synthesis of indulgence and rejuvenation. Whether your week will be filled with guided adventures, fitness and sports, or just an abundance of quiet, stretched out moments in a hammock by the turquoise lagoon, every day is designed to restore energy, release tension, and leave you feeling completely renewed.

 Explore the Hotel 

More Escapes We Love for Relaxation: 

• JOALI BEING, Maldives
• Daios Cove, Crete
• Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Maldives
• Elix, Mar-Bella Collection, Parga
• Our Tailor-Made Holiday in India: Culture, Tigers & Wellness
• Our Tailor-Made Holiday: Spiritual Sri Lanka & Maldives
• Explora Journeys cruises 
• Silversea cruises

From sunlit beaches to hidden spa sanctuaries, these are - in our opinion - some of the world's most relaxing hotels. Want to actually switch off without a single worry? Call our team of Personal Travel Concierges — they’ll tailor a wellness or relaxation holiday that hits your perfect rhythm, so all you have to do is arrive and let the stress melt away...

*all prices correct as of January 2026. Please call our team for the latest information.