Five hidden gem hotels that deserve a spot on your holiday shortlist

Looking for a getaway where the hotel is every bit as memorable as the destination itself?

Ranking guide La Liste has revealed the winners of its Discovery Gem Hotel Awards for 2026, recognising five little-known stays that are worth the booking.

Self-styled as “the world’s most selective guide for discerning gourmets and travellers”, La Liste compiles its rankings using 370 expert sources across 200 countries and 7,200 establishments to create its guide of the world’s top stays.

This year’s Discovery Gem Hotel Awards feature just two European properties. Here are the five that made the cut.

Islas Secas Resort, Panama

This Panamanian private island resort sits in one of the most exclusive and secluded private island retreats in the Americas.

The hideaway of “casas” and “casitas”, located in the country’s Gulf of David, Chiriquí Province, offers 14 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 20 guests. The residences, shaded by trees and cooled by the sea breeze, typically overlook sweeping views of the ocean.

Serving up seasonal, coastal flair, Islas Secas also caters to every diner.

“Dining at Islas Secas is flexible, and you get to choose where and when you dine,” the resort said, adding that guests can choose when and where they sample dishes – whether it’s Panamanian barbecue or ocean-to-table dining.

Les Sources de Vougeot, Burgundy, France

Set in the heart of Burgundy, Les Sources de Vougeot occupies a 14th-century residence once inhabited by the Cîteaux Abbots.

Offering guests an insight into the “true essence” of the French region, the hotel has 49 keys, including Le Moulin, which can host two adults and features a private Nordic bath, terrace and private garden.

Unsurprisingly, the gastronomy concepts serve fine dining that showcases the region’s dishes, through multi-course menus, starting at €90.

Beyond the dining table, Les Sources de Vougeot also offers insights into the heritage and craftsmanship behind local favourites, such as Dijon mustard, burgundy cheese, Dijon gingerbread and blackcurrant through workshops and guided tour visits to artisan producers.

Arctic Bath, Harads, Swedish Lapland

The only other European entry to make this year’s cut is a floating hotel and spa on the Lule River in Swedish Lapland.

Inspired by the region’s timber-floating heritage, the circular Arctic Bath hotel becomes a sight to be seen when it freezes into the river during the winters. The retreat includes 12 rooms and cabins, all designed with Scandinavian interiors and offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Its spa and wellness centre offers guests cold baths, sauna, hot pool and treatments, including clay, ayurveda, massage, scalp and mind, starting at 1,595 Swedish krona (€144.10).

During the winters, guests can also brave the cold on a husky tour, go dogsledding and enjoy other seasonal excursions.

The Six Bells Countryside Inn, New York, USA

Bringing a slice of the British countryside to the Big Apple with its design around the fictional English village of “Barrow’s Green”, this boutique inn is a whimsical take on cottage-core, a digital subculture centred on a romanticised rural lifestyle.

With names such as Innkeeper’s suite, Mildred’s Plum and Double Duke, the hotel’s 11 rooms are part of the stay’s concept of being a “storybook you can sleep in”.

In contrast to the English theme, the restaurant and tavern is rooted in early American and traditional country cookery.

Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan

Overlooking the pristine Phobjikha Valley nature reserve in Bhutan, this luxury retreat places guests in the Himalaya’s most picturesque settings.

The property features 12 farmhouse suites, each kitted with hand-cut stone floors. The suites also have “bhukharis”, which are traditional wood-burning stoves, as well as free-standing English roll-top bathtubs set next to a panoramic, valley-facing window.

The Lodge’s “5 Keys to Wellbeing” experience involves immersing guests in nature, wellness, spiritual experiences, learning about Bhutanese gastronomy and local culture and customs for physical and mental rejuvenation.

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