7 remote hotels with stunning views and true privacy

A woman sits on a net outside her room at Somewhere Only We Know Resort in Thailand that overlooks the water

Imagine having an observation deck all to yourself at Somewhere Only We Know Resort in Thailand

(Image credit: Somewhere Only We Know Resort)

published 21 April 2025

Any vacation can be a getaway. But to truly get away from it all, consider heading to one of these remote properties. The long journey is merely an opportunity to dream about what awaits when you arrive.

Apatoa Beach & Garden Village, French Polynesia

Raiatea is considered the cradle of Polynesian culture. It is a sacred, remote island in French Polynesia that is filled with lush vegetation and boasts a turquoise lagoon — a diver's delight. In the southwest corner of Raiatea, tucked amid coconut groves, is the secluded Apatoa Beach & Garden Village. It is a place to return to nature, with bungalows that open up to the water and plants. Some bungalows have private swimming pools, but all have terraces and decks that offer great views and the perfect space to read or nap.

Botánika Osa Peninsula sits on a "more rugged slice of Costa Rica," Condé Nast Traveler said, one that is still pristine due to its isolation. The biodiverse region's ecological wonders — the rainforests and beaches of Corcovado National Park, the tropical fjord Golfo Dulce and wildlife like scarlet macaws and squirrel monkeys — draw visitors, and Botánika Osa Peninsula, "discreetly tucked among tangles of greenery," blends in perfectly. Discover the flavors of Costa Rica with a private coffee tasting and cacao ceremony.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

The drive from Guatemala City to Casa Palopó takes about four hours, and along the way, "congested streets give way to lush rural vistas," Travel and Leisure said. Once a private home, this colorful boutique hotel is filled with contemporary and Indigenous art and has majestic views of Lake Atitlán and its three surrounding volcanoes. Activities are on the relaxing side, with the hotel offering guests painting and meditation kits and lessons on the art of tortilla-making.

The name says it all. "Eremito" is Italian for "hermit," and you will feel like one after a few nights here. A former monastery, Eremito is now a "digital-detox" hotel, WWD said, with no internet service or televisions. The property, designed for solo travelers, is 40 minutes from the nearest town and is surrounded by a protected nature reserve. Homemade pasta is served in a cozy stone restaurant, which, like the rest of the hotel, is illuminated by candlelight.

Xigera Safari Lodge is multi-faceted, "as much an art gallery as a top-tier hotel, in one of the wildest, most beautiful parts of Africa," The Telegraph said. Sitting on the western edge of the Moremi Game Reserve in a prime location above floodplains, the lodge offers "unhindered views" of wildlife passing. The animals are viewed from both outside on the deck and in your art-filled suite festooned with original works by contemporary African artists. Daily game drives, stargazing and bush walks are also part of the Xigera experience.

Explore More

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.