SCHLOSS Roxburghe hotel and spa near Kelso

One of my favourite aspects of staying at SCHLOSS Roxburghe was participating in a whisky tasting led by Carrie-Anne Jones. A whisky ambassador, Carrie-Anne spoke knowledgeably and passionately about whisky's heritage, Scotland's whisky-producing regions and why she had chosen the three whiskies that we sampled in Bar 1745: a limited edition Sauternes wine cask finish 12-year-old from Speyside's The GlenAllachie distillery, a dram of 18-year Bowmore and a tequila cask finished 15-year-old malt from Deanston.

Matfen Hall in Northumberland

Birds are chirping and geese are honking on the far side of the fairway as I raise the sash window of my vast guestroom at Maften Hall in rural Northumberland. It’s pleasant to wake with a view overlooking a championship standard golf course.

The Victoria Falls Hotel, Zimbabwe

The Victoria Falls Hotel is one of those places that you really should go out of your way to visit for a drink or a meal even if an overnight stay is beyond your budget. If you can afford to stay at the hotel then do so: it provides a sense of the Victoria Falls’ heritage. I found it a thoroughly pleasant place to stay and a hotel that’s easy to recommend to lovers of luxury.

A stay at The Talbot Hotel, Malton

The Talbot Hotel is set within spacious grounds, a couple of minutes' stroll from the centre of Malton in North Yorkshire. The attractive market town has been described as ‘the food capital of Yorkshire’. This 26-room hotel offers luxury accommodation, hosts a bar and is the site of the Malton Brasserie.

Marina Mandarin Singapore hotel

I pause by the lifts and photograph down into the atrium. Its volume, subtle illumination and stylish design were sufficient to draw a murmured wow from me upon arrival last night. Even in daylight it looks remarkable. This hotel opened its doors in 1987 but there’s nothing tired about the Marina Mandarin Singapore. Refurbs have ensured John Portman’s symmetrical design continues to impress.

Berns boutique hotel in Stockholm

Berns, I learn during my two night stay close to central Stockholm’s Nybroviken Harbour, is more than just a hotel. You might think it smacks of marketing speak to describe a hotel as an institution but this place is worthy of the term.

Hotel Gotthard in Lech am Arlberg, Austria

The Hotel Gotthard, at Lech am Arlberg, has been in the hands of the Walch family since 1931 and is currently run by Clemens and Nicole, a husband and wife team. Nicole originates from South Australia and like the Gotthard’s receptionists and waitresses, wears a traditional Austrian Dirndl while working.