The Hard Shoulder The Ultimate Guide: Best hotels in the world
Nov 4, 2025
Fionn Davenport, a seasoned travel writer and Lonely Planet author, delves into the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2025. He highlights the significance of the list, likening it to the Oscars for hotels. Asia's dominance is discussed, as Fionn breaks down top contenders like the historic Raffles Singapore and the luxurious Passa La Cua on Lake Como. He also examines the exquisite Capella Bangkok and the acclaimed Rosewood Hong Kong, which snagged the top spot. Fionn critiques the ranking process, sharing personal hotel experiences and notable omissions in the list.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Awards Drive Hotel Prestige
- The World's 50 hotels list functions like a travel 'Oscars' that shapes prestige and publicity for hotels.
- Anonymous expert votes and big events amplify the list's commercial and reputational impact.
Asia Dominates The Rankings
- The 2025 top 50 list is heavily skewed toward Asia with 20 entries, exposing regional voting patterns or travel trends.
- Europe has 17 entries while North America, Africa, Oceania and South America lag behind significantly.
Clustering Raises Selection Questions
- Multiple top-ranked hotels cluster in single cities, prompting questions about selection balance and criteria.
- Fionn notes that having three of the world's best hotels in Bangkok feels suspicious despite their quality.