The new kid on the Downtown block, Ace Downtown is the latest addition to the super cool Ace brand, located in the architecturally stunning former United Artists Building and Theatre. The film studio was in fact formed by screen legends Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.
The Spanish Gothic building was originally completed in 1927 and was reopened as Ace Downtown in early 2014.
Rates start from USD$279 per night; acehotels.com
2. The Standard Hollywood
Truly setting the standard for stylish yet affordable boutique accommodation, The Standard Hollywood wowed the industry when it first opened in 1999 on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.
The brainchild of hip hotelier Andre Balazs, the hotel is still drawing the in-crowd with its rooftop pool and sense of cool.
Rates start from USD$275. standard.com
3. Four Seasons Beverly Hills
As the name implies, this five-star hotel boasts a five-star location where every detail is considered and executed brilliantly.
Waiting out front for one of the complementary town cars (there’s a Rolls Royce in the fleet) to take you wherever your heart desires is an exercise in star-spotting on steroids as A-listers casually come and go.
Rates start from USD$545 per night; fourseasons.com
4. L’Ermitage
A little hidden gem in Beverly Hills, this is where mega-celebrities go to keep a low profile in this very residentially proportioned hotel where the service really pushes it to the luxe level.
Rooms start from USD$375 per night; viceroyhotels.com
5. Avalon Hotel
Another Beverly Hills property, the Avalon Hotel is super cute and super cool, housed as it is in a mid-20th century former motel complete with a vintage hourglass pool and lashings of retro chic.
Rates start from USD$299 per night.
6. Mr C
Small and very well-formed, Mc C also comes with a clubby ‘Golden Years of Hollywood’ feel.
Rates start from USD$341; mrchotels.com
7. Viceroy Santa Monica
Designer Kelly Wearstler’s divine aesthetic is in full flight at Viceroy Santa Monica, a colourful, ultra-cool boutique hotel close to the water.
Rates start from USD$400 per night; viceroyhotels.com
8. Shutters on the Beach
The last word in luxury in Santa Monica, Shutters on the Beach is a glorious confection recalling the East Coast beach-house style right on the sand, and with impeccable restaurants and an award-winning wine list.
Rates start from USD$525 per night; shuttersonthebeach.com
9. Montage Beverly Hills
With an enviable reputation as much for its accommodation and service as its expansive, stunning spa, Montage Beverly Hills is an iconic stay in the LA hotel scene.
Rates start from USD$620 per night; montagehotels.com
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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
