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The Top 10 Resort Hotels in Asia in 2018

The Top 10 Resort Hotels in Asia in 2018

By John Wogan

July 10, 2018

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Asia’s cities are among the most populous in the world — which makes escaping to a super-luxe resort all the more enticing. Luckily for travelers seeking respite, the continent offers everything from high-style beach bungalows and former royal hunting lodges to jungle hideaways.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

Bali was well represented this year, with three of the top five resorts located on the famed Indonesian island. The Mulia, Bali, which claimed the No. 2 slot, is in the resort-heavy area of Nusa Dua but sets itself apart with a strikingly modern appearance — a welcome departure from the more traditional Balinese aesthetic favored by neighboring properties. For next-level digs, bed down in one of the stand-alone bungalows at the Mulia Villas, the ultra-luxe resort-within-a-resort, where each accommodation comes with its own swimming pool.

Meanwhile, in the Maldives, two Four Seasons properties earned the No. 6 and No. 8 spots on the list. The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is set on a private coral island and offers 96 suites and overwater bungalows, while the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru features 103 thatched-roof beach and over-water villas. Many readers wrote in to applaud the attentive staffs at the properties. “Everyone remembered our names and what we liked to drink,” said one Kuda Huraa fan, while another shared a sweet anecdote: “One waitress even remembered our son didn’t have a bookmark and brought one to him the next time she saw him.” A Landaa Giraavaru guest called out that “having bikes waiting outside the room for us was fantastic, and we got to swim with manta rays — twice!”

And in Jaipur, India, opulence is taken to another level at Taj’s Rambagh Palace (No. 9), a 1916 icon that once served as a royal guesthouse, as well as the former residence of the maharajah of Jaipur. History buffs will relish the guided walking tours of the manicured grounds.

Read on to find out what exclusive property earned the winning spot.

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10. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

Credit: Courtesy of Taj Lake Palace

Score: 96.27

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9. Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India

Credit: Courtesy of Taj Rambagh Palace

Score: 96.33

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8. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Maldives Landaa Giraavaru

Score: 96.36

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7. Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India

Credit: Courtesy of The Oberoi Rajvilas

Score: 96.69

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6. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Maldives

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa

Score: 96.95

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5. Amandari, Ubud, Indonesia

Credit: Courtesy of Amandari

Score: 96.96

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4. Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India

Credit: Courtesy of Oberoi

Score: 97.02

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3. Nihi Sumba Island, Indonesia

Credit: Courtesy of Nihi Sumba

Score: 97.06

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2. The Mulia, Bali, Indonesia

Credit: Courtesy of Mulia Resort

Score: 97.81

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1. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Indonesia

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Score: 98.22

In 2005, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan was voted No. 1 overall in the world; 13 years later, it continues to enchant T+L readers. Located near Ubud, the hotel sets the tone for relaxation with its modern take on Balinese design and its verdant setting in the central highlands. Getting to the open-air lobby requires crossing a solid teak bridge, suspended high above a valley filled with pink-blossomed frangipani trees, palms, and bougainvillea. And that’s only a taste of what’s to come. The 60 villas and suites encourage complete immersion in the landscape, with lily ponds, plunge pools, and lounging pavilions overlooking rice terraces and the tranquil Ayung River. As one reader puts it, “The ambience is magical.”

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

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