It’s difficult to find a destination that feels completely secluded while still offering great amenities, but — according to Travel + Lesiure’s readers — Nihi Sumba has struck just the right balance. And that has earned it the distinction of being the best hotel in the world.
Each year, T+L surveys its readers on everything from hotels to spas to airlines for World’s Best. Hotels are evaluated based on facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Nihiwatu Sumba, in Indonesia, ranked the highest with a score of 99.12 out of a possible 100.
With just 33 villas on 560 acres, guests can enjoy complete privacy while also partaking in any and all beachfront activities the hotel offers like surfing, snorkeling, spearfishing, yoga, horseback riding, and hiking.
An hour’s plane from Bali, “it is the epitome of escape, adventure, and luxury,” wrote one reader.
For a real Robinson Crusoe-style vacation—plus a lot more luxury—head to this eco-conscious beachfront hideaway on the island of Sumba (250 miles east of Bali and a one-hour flight from Denpasar).
The island encompasses 4,306 square miles of high plateau, forests, and untouched beaches; Nihiwatu itself has 437 acres of protected tropical forest and a 1.5-mile shoreline with its own challenging surf break.
The well-appointed accommodations include one-bedroom raised bungalows with balconies, as well as three larger villas that sleep four. Sumbanese rattan furniture and accessories give rooms a relaxed-chic ambiance—the perfect retreat after a day of surfing or lounging on the sand.
