Co-founder & CEOMarco Di CesareHe spent weeks comparing hotels and kept finding that the detail deciding the trip was missing from the hotel website. 10 years in marketing technology, 2 of them building with AI.About MarcoHow we write the guideLinkedIn
The black edition of Three Lumi: no weak side on any of the 5 things that matter.
1 hotel of 335.
Three Lumi
Exceptional: guests, critics and we all say so.
3 hotels of 335.
Two Lumi
Exceptional: two of our three readings say so.
25 hotels of 335.
One Lume
Gives more than the other hotels of its place and price range.
82 hotels of 335.
A spa worth the trip
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the spa, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose spa has, in our reading of its official pages, one of the highest readings in the guide.
28 hotels of 335 hold it.
A story inside
Held by a hotel whose character has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide, and whose history begins before 1950.
31 hotels of 335 hold it.
A table worth the trip
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the food, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose table has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide.
30 hotels of 335 hold it.
Adults only
Held by a hotel that states a minimum age of 12 or more for its guests.
8 hotels of 335 hold it.
Children’s kingdom
Held by a hotel whose club takes children aged 4 or younger, and where at least 30 guests write about children and nearly all of them write well of it.
8 hotels of 335 hold it.
Doing nothing, very well
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the beach and the lagoon: at least 30 of them must mention it.
18 hotels of 335 hold it.
Far away, in no time
Held by a resort in the Maldives on an island of its own, 20 minutes or less from the airport.
20 hotels of 335 hold it.
Gentle giants
Held by a resort for which a source says where and when manta rays or whale sharks are met: a named site, a season or the time it takes to reach them.
16 hotels of 335 hold it.
Honeymoon
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for how many of the reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons: at least 50 reviews must say so.
19 hotels of 335 hold it.
Just for us
Held by a hotel with 40 rooms or villas at most.
15 hotels of 335 hold it.
Reef at the door
Held by a resort whose reef you can swim to from the beach and which, among such resorts, is in the top 15% for what guests write about it: at least 30 of them must mention it.
17 hotels of 335 hold it.
The bill feels right
Held by a hotel where at least 30 guests write about the price and at least 6 in 10 find it fair.
19 hotels of 335 hold it.
The city at the door
Held by a city hotel in the top third of the guide’s city hotels for what guests write about its location: at least 30 of them must mention it.
17 hotels of 335 hold it.
They read your mind
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top 8% for what guests write about the staff and the service: at least 30 of them must mention it.
18 hotels of 335 hold it.
True quiet
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the quiet: at least 30 of them must mention it.
14 hotels of 335 hold it.
Up for breakfast
Held by a hotel in the top sixth for breakfast, among the guide’s hotels where at least 30 guests write about it.
122 all-inclusive villas on an 18-hectare island in the far south of the Maldives, with the reef and its sharks under the jetties
The first of the guide. Here: an overwater spa open from 8am to 8pm, a 24-hour gym, sunrise yoga and a fitness trail. 1,153 of the 1,168 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 86 in 100 happy.
Arrive at Milano Centrale, then see the station from above after a swim beneath the skylight.
Here: a 1,000 m² Shiseido spa, with the pool on the seventh floor, a salt room and a Private Spa Suite for 2 with whirlpool bath, sauna and steam room. 83 of the 98 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 89 in 100 happy.
Curhaus towers above Zurich, art in the corridors and warm water facing the city.
Here: a 4,000 m² spa: a 25-metre pool, outdoor whirlpools up to 39 °C, separate saunas for women and men and La Prairie treatments. 197 of the 241 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 88 in 100 happy.
The Mausoleum of Augustus outside, a mosaic pool within and Rome from the fifth floor.
Here: a 1,500 m² spa around the 20-metre mosaic pool, with a sauna, a steam room, 8 treatment rooms and the Onyx Spa Suite. 28 of the 30 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 92 in 100 happy.
From boat to ridge, Lake Lucerne returns in the view from the warm pool.
Here: a 10,000 m² spa: 5 pools, the 35 °C infinity pool over the lake among them, 4 saunas and 13 treatment rooms. 40 of the 52 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
The sandstone Department of Education, 4 minutes from the ferries at Circular Quay, with a pool under the roof lanterns.
Here: a 20-metre heated pool under the roof lanterns, a vitality pool, sauna, steam room and ice fountain, free for guests. 92 of the 96 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 89 in 100 happy.
A 20-storey tower beside Osaka Castle Park: a pool facing the trees, a Basque grill on level 19 and the castle at the window, in the right room.
Here: a whole floor of 1,400 m²: a 20-metre heated pool facing the castle park, a sauna, a 24-hour gym and HealthTech therapies. 48 of the 52 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
Aman’s hot-spring resort on Ago Bay: a spring-fed bath in every suite and villa, a 2,000 m² spa with open-air pools and, since June 2026, dinner in the rate.
Here: a 2,000 m² spa: 2 open-air onsen pools at 36–42 °C, 2 private onsen pavilions, sauna and steam room. 88 of the 110 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
46 pool bungalows 30 minutes by speedboat from Malé, with the world’s first underwater spa, an underground cellar and the reef 25 metres off the beach.
Here: a spa above and below the sea, separate saunas, the Lonu Veyo salt pool. 31 of the 32 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 97 in 100 happy.
A whole island for wellbeing, with Three MICHELIN Keys: 68 pool villas, Areka and KAASHI, programmes of 5 to 10 nights and a centre that cares for turtles.
Here: a whole island given to wellbeing: 37 treatment rooms, Areka open 9am to 8pm and KAASHI, the hydrotherapy hall with banya, sauna, Watsu and salt room. From the spa’s official pages.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 90 in 100 happy.
Pasta Point’s island, 20 minutes by speedboat: the wave for 30 surfers, water and beach bungalows, 3 buffets, from $393 a night.
Here: Balinese massages and sea-inspired rituals at Chavana Spa; yoga, free, is at 6.30am and 4.30pm, and the gym opens at 5.30am. 101 of the 105 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
150 villas furnished by the Italian brand LAGO, all inclusive only, 30 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with a free kids’ club for ages 3 to 12.
Here: at The Cube Spa, facials and body rituals, for couples too, with a sauna and steam room; yoga is at sunrise and sunset, in the pavilion by the sea. 104 of the 108 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 97 in 100 happy.
68 adults-only villas on the island of Kooddoo’s airport, with the reef beneath the water villas
Here: Suvadiva Spa sits among palms, ferns and banana trees: Asian and European massages, scrubs and couples’ rituals; sunrise yoga is at The Nest, in a quiet corner of the island. 187 of the 192 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 94 in 100 happy.
221 villas, every type with its own pool, on a large island 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with a kids’ club and an adults-only pool
Here: the Spa by Thalgo, 9am to 9pm, over 165 treatments, an Ayurvedic doctor, sauna, steam and plunge pools. 184 of the 190 guests who write about the spa are pleased.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 96 in 100 happy.
Reef at the doorHeld by a resort whose reef you can swim to from the beach and which, among such resorts, is in the top 15% for what guests write about it: at least 30 of them must mention it.17 hotels of 335 hold it.Gentle giantsHeld by a resort for which a source says where and when manta rays or whale sharks are met: a named site, a season or the time it takes to reach them.16 hotels of 335 hold it.True quietHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the quiet: at least 30 of them must mention it.14 hotels of 335 hold it.Doing nothing, very wellHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the beach and the lagoon: at least 30 of them must mention it.18 hotels of 335 hold it.A spa worth the tripHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the spa, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose spa has, in our reading of its official pages, one of the highest readings in the guide.28 hotels of 335 hold it.Just for usHeld by a hotel with 40 rooms or villas at most.15 hotels of 335 hold it.HoneymoonHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for how many of the reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons: at least 50 reviews must say so.19 hotels of 335 hold it.Children’s kingdomHeld by a hotel whose club takes children aged 4 or younger, and where at least 30 guests write about children and nearly all of them write well of it.8 hotels of 335 hold it.Adults onlyHeld by a hotel that states a minimum age of 12 or more for its guests.8 hotels of 335 hold it.A table worth the tripHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the food, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose table has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide.30 hotels of 335 hold it.Up for breakfastHeld by a hotel in the top sixth for breakfast, among the guide’s hotels where at least 30 guests write about it.15 hotels of 335 hold it.Far away, in no timeHeld by a resort in the Maldives on an island of its own, 20 minutes or less from the airport.20 hotels of 335 hold it.The city at the doorHeld by a city hotel in the top third of the guide’s city hotels for what guests write about its location: at least 30 of them must mention it.17 hotels of 335 hold it.A story insideHeld by a hotel whose character has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide, and whose history begins before 1950.31 hotels of 335 hold it.The bill feels rightHeld by a hotel where at least 30 guests write about the price and at least 6 in 10 find it fair.19 hotels of 335 hold it.They read your mindHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top 8% for what guests write about the staff and the service: at least 30 of them must mention it.18 hotels of 335 hold it.One LumeGives more than the other hotels of its place and price range.82 hotels of 335.Two LumiExceptional: two of our three readings say so.25 hotels of 335.Three LumiExceptional: guests, critics and we all say so.3 hotels of 335.Three Lumi · EclipseThe black edition of Three Lumi: no weak side on any of the 5 things that matter.1 hotel of 335.
