MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Theresults are in!
Our annual awards season, which started with our Editors’ Choice issue last month, culminates now with the Members’ Choice lists. We at Andrew Harper have special affection for this Hideaway Report, because we love hearing about your travels and opinions. These awards reflect the results of the surveys we sent out
A finalist in our member photo contest (see page 14) to members several months ago. The tabulations produced some reassuring continuities with past years as well as a few pleasant surprises. As always, the breadth of your globe-trotting is impressive: Andrew Harper members are worldly sorts. In 2024, our Travel Office booked 420,342 nights for you in hotels scattered across 89 countries!
MEMBERS’ CHOICE
TOP HIDEAWAYS IN THE U.S.
The top three hotels here all appeared in last year’s list of Top 10 Hideaways in the world with under 50 rooms. Indeed, we’d have to go back quite some time to find a Members’ Choice Awards issue in which Post Ranch Inn didn’t receive a top accolade! All the winning properties are editor favorites as well, and they demonstrate that one need not travel far to find top-notch accommodations and service. The quotes have all been taken from survey responses.
1 – Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur, California
Andrew Harper members’ favorite hideaway in the United States is “almost perfect in every way,” an opinion that echoes many we received. Set along a bluff directly above the Pacific, this 40-room resort has a “spectacular setting, unbelievably discreet service and amazing food.”
2 – Blackberry Mountain Walland, Tennessee
This 43-room sister hotel of Blackberry Farm (see page 6) offers “authentic luxury,” according to one member, and
a “beautiful, peaceful setting.” Its 5,200acre estate seems like “your own private national park, except with truly gourmet dining and incredible homes.” In short, “It’s just great!”
3 – Twin Farms
Barnard, Vermont
“We are welcomed like family every time we return” to this New England retreat with 28 guest quarters that’s wonderful “in all seasons.” Set on 300 acres of bucolic meadows and hills, this hotel “answers every need quietly with grace” and offers “exquisite interior design,” plus “elite service by the staff.”
4 – San Ysidro Ranch
Montecito, California
Members extol “the history and the location” of this 500-acre resort in the leafy foothills just outside Santa Barbara. One saucy reviewer called it “the best place to have an affair.” Perhaps that’s because “you feel as though you are the only guests” on the 38-cottage property.
5 – Amangiri
Canyon Point, Utah
The setting is a big draw of this 34-room hotel, with “architecture that blends into an amazing desert landscape.”
The service and the scenery are also “incredible,” and the “access to national parks is unparalleled.” In 2020, the resort added Camp Sarika, a back-tonature experience with 10 luxurious tented guest pavilions.
6 – The Inn at Little Washington
Washington, Virginia
At this 24-room gourmet sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains, one member remarks, “I always feel like I’m at my rich aunt’s home.” Everyone praises the “magnificent” Michelin three-star restaurant, but the accommodations also earn high marks. The “attention to detail” makes this inn “exceptional in every way.”
7 – Triple Creek Ranch
Darby, Montana
One member writes that they’ve “been going to TCR for 30 years and it just keeps getting better.” A stay at this
25-cabin ranch is “like visiting old friends,” albeit with “incredible service.”
Another survey-taker sums up this yearround resort as “heaven with a horse.”
8 – Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Little Torch Key, Florida
“The magic starts when you board the classic launch for a short ride” to the private island, long a hit with members. The 30-room property “is very private yet a ton of fun,” offering “outstanding dining and flawless service.” For couples, it’s “the perfect romantic getaway.”
9 – Vermejo
Raton, New Mexico
This luxurious 550,000-acre ranch owned by media mogul Ted Turner has an “amazing dedication to sustainable practices while providing a personalized experience.” The 30-room resort boasts a wide range of activities, including fishing and horseback riding, and solo travelers will feel “like a guest of a family.”
10 – Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection
Rutherford, California
For many years, this Auberge Resorts Collection hotel perched on a Napa Valley hillside has delighted members. They visit for the 50 “luxurious villa-style” lodgings and the “location, food and wine”: The acclaimed restaurant is backed by an encyclopedic wine list. The garden swimming pool and chic spa also earn plaudits.
Clockwise from far left: Post Ranch Inn; Amangiri; Triple Creek Ranch; and Twin Farms
TOP INTERNATIONAL HIDEAWAYS
European palace hotels proved predictably popular, and we editors always jump at the chance to return to the top three winners on this list. But Andrew Harper members appreciate great design of all kinds, as evidenced by the appearance of some highly contemporary properties. We were also pleased to see small hotels in far-flung destinations like Rwanda, India and New Zealand earn enough votes to appear in the top 10.
1 – Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
Lake Garda, Italy
“It’s heaven” at this first-place hotel, which always ranks highly in our Members’ Choice Awards. That’s because “every detail is carefully thought out and magical” at the 20-suite palazzo (with outbuildings), tucked between a towering cliff and the water. People love the “masterfully designed” accommodations and the “insane service.”
2 – Ballyfin Demesne
County Laois, Ireland
“From the moment you arrive, you feel like nobility” in this restored Regency mansion, one of the architectural gems of Ireland.
The 21-room manor has “a magnificent setting, beautiful rooms and an exceptional restaurant.” One member has visited no fewer than five times, because it’s their “favorite escape on Earth.”
3 – Caruso, A Belmond Hotel Ravello,
Italy
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Amalfi Coast, this property with 50 guest quarters is “absolute perfection,” giving travelers the “obvious feeling of staying away from and above it all.” (The sublime horizon pool only enhances that sensation.) Members also praise accommodations that “incorporate Roman ruins with modern elegance” and the “impeccable service.”
MEMBERS’ CHOICE
4 – Fogo Island Inn
Fogo Island, Canada
This “amazing property” has a completely different style: a modernist white structure supported by steel stilts above the Newfoundland shoreline. Its 29 lodgings offer “stunning views,” but members come as much for the “sense of place” and the “immersive experience in a unique location.” The staff and food also earn high marks.
5 – Petit St. Vincent
Private Island
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
One member reports “vacationing here annually for more than a decade,” returning to “escape the rat race and recharge.” This resort of 22 freestanding ocean-view cottages is “beautiful and romantic,” with a “deserted island” sensibility. But guests commend the “lovely service” of the staff as much as the paradisiacal Caribbean setting.
Clockwise from far left: Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli; Fogo Island Inn; Petit St. Vincent Private Island; Wilderness Bisate; and Caruso, A Belmond Hotel
6 – Manoir Hovey
North Hatley, Canada
Located on Québec’s Lake Massawippi, this refined 36-room country house hotel has an “idyllic location and gracious hospitality.” Several members call attention to the food and service, noting that “the staff are nonpareil.” In fact, one reviewer hasn’t “seen service like this since The Peninsula Hong Kong in the early 1980s.”
7 – Amanbagh
Alwar, India
This palatial 37-accommodation resort is secluded on the grounds of the maharajah of Alwar’s former hunting preserve, 90 minutes northeast of Jaipur. Its imaginative Mughal-style buildings have grand cupolas and elegant colonnades, and members appreciate the “outstanding but discreet service.” We agree: This is one of India’s best.
8 – Wilderness Bisate
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The most remote of the winners, this sensational ecolodge has six thatched villas, which are visually the antithesis of the hotels above. The gorilla trekking from here is unforgettable, but the property itself has “exotic and beautifully designed rooms” and an “exceptional staff.” For one member, this place is “just wow!”
9 – Zarafa Camp
Selinda Reserve, Botswana
Even smaller, this safari camp has just four accommodations. Equidistant from the Okavango Delta, Linyanti Swamp and Savuti Marsh — three of the greatest game areas in Africa — this Botswana favorite offers an “unrivaled combination of natural beauty, tented luxury and attentive, knowledgeable guides.”
Staying here feels like “having the entire bush to yourself.”
10 – Blanket Bay
Glenorchy, New Zealand
In a country rich with superlative lodges, it was this sanctuary that earned top honors, with its 13 accommodations on the shore of Lake Wakatipu outside Queenstown. Members love the “excellent food and natural beauty,” plus the “well-appointed rooms,” but it is the “spectacular service” that garners the most mentions.
MEMBERS’ CHOICE
TOP HOTELS OVER 50 ROOMS
We love intimate bolt-holes — “hideaway” is in our name, after all. But we also have a soft spot for larger hotels and resorts that offer a panoply of amenities. Just because a hotel has more than 50 rooms doesn’t mean it can’t deliver a high level of personal service. All the properties on this list do just that. Any of them would be the crown jewel of an itinerary, or they could serve as the base of a vacation in and of themselves.
1 – Blackberry Farm Walland,
Tennessee
Set on 4,200 acres near Smoky Mountains National Park, this bucolic 68-room hotel is known for having “the best food.” One former guest “cannot say enough about the trout fishing” and states his companions “raved about the spa and salon.” Still another gushes that they simply love “everything.”
2 – Adare Manor
Adare, Ireland
Members “feel like royalty” staying at this 103-room Gothic Revival-style mansion. Built in the 1850s, it feels like a “historic
castle” set in a “beautiful location” with “spectacular architecture.” The golf and fishing are excellent, but “the falconry program made for one of our most memorable stays this year.”
3 – Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Antibes, France
This 19th-century mansion overlooks the Mediterranean and is “better than being on a yacht.” Its 111 accommodations are “enough to support excellent facilities but few enough to permit highly personalized service.” One member declares it “the most romantic hotel in the world,” merging “nostalgic history with a seaside setting.”
4 – Il San Pietro di Positano
Positano, Italy
Carved into a cliff “beyond the bustle of the Amalfi Coast,” this “staggeringly beautiful” “gem” of a hotel positions its 56 lodgings amid tiered gardens. It’s considered “the only place to stay near Positano,” and one travel insider concurs, suggesting that “if you have to ask, you’ve never been.”
5 – Le Bristol Paris
Paris, France
Dating from 1925, this “opulent yet discreet” hotel is set amid the shops of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Members appreciate the “over-the-top luxury” of the 190 rooms. Accommodations on the top two floors make the most of the hotel’s “ideal location” with views of the Eiffel Tower.
6 – Mandarin Oriental,
Bangkok Bangkok, Thailand
More than one reviewer says it’s the “service, service, service” that brings them back to this legendary 331-room resort hotel. In fact, one lucky member has “returned for two weeks every year since 2009.” With tranquil gardens and a “location on the river,” this storied property is the center of social life in Bangkok.
7 – Sensei Lanai,
A Four Seasons Resort
Lanai City, Hawaii
Set within extravagant gardens that are described as “Eden-like,” this adults-only wellness retreat with 96 guest quarters
features world-class sculptures and contemporary art that “can’t be beat.” With myriad activities and a Japanesestyle spa, it’s no wonder one passionate reviewer calls it “truly one of the greatest hotels in the entire world.”
8 – Montage Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California
With a “stunning location” that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, this bluffside resort with 262 rooms and suites is a “great place to stay in Southern California.” Members rave about the “beautiful views” and the “relaxing spa.” The “attentive staff” gets a nod for being “expertly trained” and for making one respondent’s stay “a wonderful holiday.”
9 – Acqualina Resort & Residences
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Part of what makes this 98-room familyfriendly resort so special are the “lovely private cabanas on the beach.” True believers call out the “wonderful service” and “fantastic location,” not only because it’s “right on the ocean” but because it’s accessible “without having to leave the United States.”
10 – Amanpuri
Phuket, Thailand
Tucked into a palm-shaded hillside above the white sands of a cove, this luxurious 80-lodging beach resort has a “heavenly layout” and “great villas with a sense of place.” The “superior service, great food and ambience” make it one member’s “favorite place in the world” and another’s “best hotel experience in the world.”
Clockwise from far left: Blackberry Farm; Adare Manor; Il San Pietro di Positano; and Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
MEMBERS’ CHOICE
TOP WATER-VIEW HOTELS
There’s something wonderful about checking into your accommodation, going to your window and discovering a panoramic view. Relaxing amid refined surroundings while gazing at the raw power of the sea can feel positively intoxicating. Most of the hotels on this list stand in warm places like the Caribbean or Indonesia, but some overlook chillier, more dramatic waters.
1 – Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Antibes, France
Situated in an “exquisite location” between Cannes and Nice, this 19thcentury mansion on 22 acres takes in expansive views of the Mediterranean. An “oasis in the south of France,” it boasts 111 antique-filled rooms, a Dior Spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant. One member calls it a “romantic hotel” with no equal on the French Riviera.
2 – Post Ranch Inn Big Sur, California
At this perennial member favorite, “the rugged Pacific Coast forms a backdrop for a truly idyllic destination.” The
sweeping vista can be enjoyed from 40 bluffside lodgings, on cliffside decks, in two basking pools or on nature walks. With “no one else within 50 miles,” “even without the view, the hotel is amazing” and “so peaceful.”
3 – Guana Island
Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Set on the hillside of an 850-acre undeveloped private island, this hideaway of 18 rooms and four villas is all “your own. And that makes it hard to beat.” “Words do not do justice to the beauty” here. One devotee says, it’s “so magical that I have visited nearly 30 times since discovering it.”
4 – Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Rising “gently above a pristine crescent bay, with a soft white sand beach,” this 252-room midcentury masterpiece has welcomed families to the Kohala Coast for generations. With “idyllic views” at sunrise and sunset, and a fragrant plumeria breeze, “it is truly paradise found.”
5 – Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, France
This legendary seaside palace hotel is a “beautiful property” set on 17 secluded acres, 6 miles from Monte Carlo. With mesmerizing Côte d’Azur views, 76 allwhite lodgings, a Michelin one-star restaurant and a dramatic saltwater pool, it is a hotel of the “highest quality.”
6 – Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel
Maundays Bay, Anguilla
“The beach ... and just the beach” is the pièce de résistance at this Moorish-style hotel situated on a 180-acre peninsula. Of course, 24-hour butler service and ocean-view terraces add to the allure. Staying in one of its 113 lodgings “never disappoints” because “the setting on Maundays Bay is spectacular — as is Anguilla.”
7 – Amankila
Bali, Indonesia
The 31 stone and thatched-roof suites of this tropical resort are terraced up
a hillside, affording what one member describes as “killer views.” With carved canopy beds and woven bamboo ceilings, it exudes an unmistakable sense of place. And the “fabulous tiered pool” is a stunner.
8 – Château Eza
Éze Village, France
With arguably the “best views of the French Riviera,” this 400-year-old castle hotel is perched on a cliff high above the Mediterranean. Some of its 14 traditional accommodations can be small, but they radiate Old World charm. The glass-walled dining room wins plaudits for its expansive views and Michelinstarred food.
9 – Explora Torres del Paine Patagonia, Chile
One dazzled member won’t soon forget “one of the most iconic views I have ever seen from a hotel window.” Set on a lake in the “spectacular location” of Torres del Paine National Park, this 49room wilderness lodge is surrounded by “glacier-fed lakes and streams, as well as the incredible three towers,” all things “you must see while you can.”
10 – Hotel Tresanton
St. Mawes, England
Part of the Polizzi Collection, this elegant West Country hotel has 30 homey rooms within five whitewashed buildings in a storybook seaside village. Once a yacht club, it is “just a magical place.” The “views across to St. Anthony Head and Pendennis Point never get old.”
Clockwise from far left: Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc; Guana Island; Explora Torres del Paine; Hotel Tresanton; and Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel
TOP CITY HOTELS
After a day of exploring a bustling city, it’s a joy to return to a room that’s an oasis of calm and luxury. Ideally, an urban hotel also offers appealing public spaces where one can drink and dine well, for those times when going back out into the fray is unappealing. Europe (and Paris in particular) makes a predictably strong showing here — the continent does city hotels exceedingly well. But North America, South America and Africa also make it onto the list. It seems that Australia needs to up its game!
1 – The Lowell New York, New York
A longtime Manhattan favorite, this refined hotel with 74 accommodations on the Upper East Side is “intimate and beautifully appointed.” The larger suites earn special mention for their “real fireplaces stocked with seasoned wood,” and the “great staff” provide “unsurpassed service.” One member sums up the consensus: “I love this place!”
2 – Cheval Blanc Paris
Paris, France
Members extol the “glorious renovation” of this former department store on the Seine. The 72 “beautiful rooms” present “priceless views,” and the staff pays “meticulous attention to every detail.”
The amenities, too, catch reviewers’ attention, notably the Michelin-starred brasserie, the Dior spa and the indoor lap pool with mosaic walls.
3 – The Goring London,
England
This 69-lodging family-owned property “manages to set itself apart” in a city full of great hotels. “Everything about it is perfection,” including its location near Buckingham Palace, the traditional style of its “elegant accommodations” and the graciousness of its staff. Members also appreciate the large private garden.
4 – Claridge’s London, England
One of London’s classic luxury hotels, this 269-key art deco landmark is, in a word,
MEMBERS’ CHOICE
“iconic.” The “fabulous staff” garner praise, as did the “great concierge” and “beautiful rooms.” Members love the extravagantly decorated Foyer, a “wonderful room for breakfast or afternoon tea,” and they enjoy the column-lined indoor pool.
5 – Four Seasons
Hotel George V
Paris, France
The Members’ Choice Awards would hardly be complete without this 244room palace. It’s “an institution,” as one guest aptly writes: an “exceptional hotel” lavishly decorated with chandeliers, tapestries, art and antiques. The “great location” in Paris’ 8th arrondissement is ideal, and the property boasts three Michelin-starred restaurants.
6 – Baur au Lac
Zurich, Switzerland
Dating back to 1844, this family-owned hotel still feels like a stop on the Grand Tour. The elegant public spaces and 119 accommodations remain in “exceptional condition,” and the service earns universal acclaim. To one member, it seems that the “entire hotel was made to indulge your every need.”
7 – Four Seasons Hotel
Gresham Palace
Budapest, Hungary
Set in a lavishly restored landmark palace built in 1906, this 179-room property has a peerless location on the Danube River. However, “if you think the setting is hard to match, then you will be surprised by the service and accommodations,” as one member rightly notes. The hotel is “beautiful, epic, grand.”
8 –
Alvear Palace Hotel
Buenos Aires, Argentina
This atmospheric hotel with 207 guest quarters “remains a classic in tone, décor and service.” It showcases “stunning architecture” in an “unbeatable location” in the fashionable Recoleta district. Just as important, the service is “phenomenal.” One member also singles out the “delicious breakfast buffet.” (We’re suckers for a lavish breakfast spread ourselves.)
9 – Le Bristol Paris
Paris, France
“The dining experience is reason enough to be in residence” at this 190-key hotel, and indeed, who wouldn’t want to be upstairs from two Michelinstarred restaurants? But the rest of the elaborately decorated palace is no slouch. It offers a “sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere” and a “quietly attentive staff.”
10 – The Silo
Cape Town, South Africa
Improbably, this stunning 28-room hotel occupies the repurposed elevator tower of a historic grain silo complex above a contemporary art museum. The “amazing architecture” draws predictable plaudits, as do the “incredible bathrooms” and “personal service.” For lovers of cuttingedge architecture and design, it’s hard to think of a more compelling choice.
Clockwise from far left: The Lowell; Claridge’s; Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace; Cheval Blanc Paris; and The Silo
YOUR TOP TRAVEL EXPERIENCES W
e’re always fascinated to hear about our members’ explorations. When we asked you to tell us about memorable experiences you’ve had on the road as part of the Members’ Choice Awards survey, your answers did not disappoint. We had a hard time narrowing down the selection to just a few notable examples.
Burgundy Bliss
Our weeklong Le Bateaux Belmond canal cruise in Burgundy, France, was possibly the best trip we have ever taken. The expert crew thought of everything and completely spoiled us for all future travel. Returning to the barge after a morning of wine tasting to find a gourmet lunch and custom cocktails awaiting us on the deck, relaxing with a book in the pool on the foredeck in the sunshine and cruising slowly down the river while birdwatching are all experiences we will never forget. — B. K.
Nature in the Wild
A safari at Singita Sasakwa Lodge in the Grumeti Game Reserve was our top travel experience. Our guide, Mishi, was incredible, educating us on the animals and pointing out all kinds of birds for me. We saw all the “big five” at this camp, as well as three male lions taking down a Cape buffalo. You must tell yourself, “This is nature in the wild,” as you watch. But also the wildebeest migration across the
Mara River at Angama Mara in Kenya was unbelievable!!! — T. L.
Close Encounter
Hiking through a lush, misty mountainside and then experiencing life among a beautiful family of gorillas in Rwanda was a profound experience. An enormous silverback practically stepped on our toes while passing, yet it did not even give us a glance or a sniff. Sharing our stories with the other guests back at the incredible Wilderness Bisate was a definite highlight. — H. T.
Wharekauhau Memories
We loved exploring on foot some of Wharekauhau Country Estate’s 3,000 acres of fields, forests and beaches and, after cocktails, devouring a delicious dinner of local fare (think abalone, grassfed lamb, pavlova, accompanied by the island’s fine wine). Then, finally, sinking into the “world’s most comfortable bed,” with its heated sheepskin underblanket. Ah, New Zealand! Speaking of which,
I keep a photo on my desk of a 20-pound trout I caught while staying at the North Island’s Huka Lodge. We shared our collective bounty with the hotel guests that evening. — A. D.
Patagonian Perfection
After an early breakfast in the first snowfall of the season, we hiked from the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa above the uttermost southern city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego in pristine snow — until we met and followed fox tracks around a 3-mile circle. We then returned to the warmth and architectural beauty of the resort’s common areas. — J. L.
Beauty in the Ice
A National Geographic-Lindblad expedition to Antarctica was our most memorable travel experience of the year. Arriving at this place of untold beauty is just extraordinary. It is a place for seeing wildlife, but the beauty is in the ice.
Clockwise from far left: Le Bateaux Belmond canal cruise, France; silverback mountain gorilla, Rwanda; penguins, Antarctica; Hagia Sophia, Turkey; Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, Argentina; Wharekauhau Country Estate, New Zealand; and a game drive, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Tanzania
With an ever-changing landscape, the excitement never ends. — G. S.
Cultural Connection
After dinner, we walked from the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet (booked with an Andrew Harper Auction package) to the Hagia Sophia, as our guide had suggested. As many do when it is not crowded, we sat on the floor to take it all in and offer up some prayers of our own. We were likely the only non-Muslims there. In this quiet moment we noticed a stern-looking man dressed in a flowing white robe walking directly toward us. We determined that he was the imam and had a sinking feeling that we might be scolded for having done something unknowingly disrespectful. To the contrary, he smiled kindly, extended a hand in blessing, and welcomed us with genuine warmth “to this holy place.” We exchanged good wishes and expressed our deep appreciation for his hospitality. After he walked away, we were left to revel in the emotions of one of those enchanting, spontaneous moments when two worlds meet in human commonality. To many of us with welltraveled suitcases, those moments are what we recall when we are asked, “Why do you travel?” — J. J.
GORILLA, PENGUINS, HAGIA SOPHIA:
ROSS COUPER
YOUR BEST PHOTOGRAPHS
Every year, we look forward to seeing our members’ submissions to the photo contest. You never fail to send us beautiful, charming, thrilling and inspiring images. It’s a pleasure to see a well-captured landscape or a perfectly timed wildlife shot, and we take special delight in the photos that include you and your families and friends. This year’s winner, T. W., receives a Bank Light Spinner 53, a chic carry-on-size suitcase from our favorite boutique luggage company, FPM Milano.
FIRST-PLACE WINNER
Kids in Kenya
We all loved this photo by T. W., taken on safari in Kenya. The image encapsulates the joy of travel, depicting two of the photographer’s grandchildren having a great time on the back of a camel, smiling at their Maasai guide. Certainly not an experience they’re likely to have at home! The vignette is visually beautiful as well, with the orange padding on the camels and the bright red garments of the Maasai standing out against the muted greens of the landscape. Plus, we love the unselfconsciousness of the moment. The only one in the picture who noticed it being taken is the lead camel!
RUNNERS-UP
Caught in the Middle
This salmon leapt in just the wrong place, surfacing between two bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. But A. L. clicked the shutter at precisely the right moment. Timing is everything when it comes to the difficult business of wildlife photography.
Sitting with a Silverback
Perfectly framed by vibrant jungle foliage, a silverback gorilla strikes a pensive pose in this photo by T. L., snapped in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The composition leads us in something of a spiral right to the gorilla’s eyes, which gaze directly at the camera, looking quite contemplative.
A Glimpse of Old Ecuador
While exploring Inca Hacienda, a seven-accommodation hotel in Ecuador, W. G. snapped this shot of old suitcases and a stunning view of Cotopaxi Volcano. The subject matter is evocative, the composition is well considered, and later edits that W. G. made give the photo a painterly quality.
Aglow in the Desert
Arising before the sun can be a pain, but a hot air balloon ride usually repays the effort and then some — and flying over the otherworldly Namibian desert is sure to be unforgettable. In K. W.’s compelling photo, the balloon’s colorful silk glows in the flame, its curves contrasting the straight line of backlit spectators.
From the cover: Swiss Family Kayakers
Getting out on a pristine mountain lake is one of the great pleasures of traveling in Switzerland, and the family members of photographer M. N. are clearly enjoying the experience. The striking color and joy in this picture earned it a place as a finalist.
We couldn’t fit all the runners-up — find more impressive members’ photos at AndrewHarper.com.
WE ASKED: WHY ARE YOU AN ANDREW HARPER MEMBER?
For our last survey question, we asked respondents to describe their “member journey” — as in, what made them become Harper members, how do they use their memberships and what do they enjoy most about them. The answers were a joy to read, and we’re excited to share some favorites (additional stories can be found at AndrewHarper.com).
Welcome to the Club
I am a newbie member to Andrew Harper. It all happened when I sat next to an older gentleman on a plane. We nerded out for the whole three-hour flight about our travels. He told me about Andrew Harper, and it is all history from there! I look forward to many more adventures! — K. K
Getting Off the Beaten Path
I have been a member of Andrew Harper for more than 10 years and have used the guides to plan very memorable trips to China, France, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal and Spain. I most enjoy the off-the-beaten-path properties, and I would like to see more less-expensive options featured. — B. G.
Patient Planner
We became Andrew Harper members in about 2007 after years of enjoying reading the Hideaway Report in its looseleaf format at my husband’s parents’ home. We most enjoy discovering topquality small luxury resorts through
A drawing of Amanpuri in Thailand, from the July 1997 issue of the Hideaway Report
An illustration of Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli in Italy, which accompanied an article in the January 2003 issue of the Hideaway Report
“This year has culminated with a notch on our belts of seeing all seven continents — plus an additional safari trip!
Andrew Harper’s meticulous vetting and reviews and working with our excellent (and very patient) travel advisor, Susan Blechschmidt, who makes all of our trips so easy for us. — B. K.
Bucket List
After I received a diagnosis of cancer, I decided to see the world! I didn’t know how much time I had. But ticking off the bucket list began! Harper has helped me see the world in a beautiful way. — M. K.
Around the World
We’ve been Harper members for over 40 years! Our dreams started with just lovely small hotels around the U.S. Then we ventured out and fell in love with the world. This year has culminated with a notch on our belts of seeing all seven continents — plus a safari trip! All of these trips planned by our dear friends at Harper. Life is sweet. — W. & D. D.
Anonymous and Picky (Mostly)
I became a member more than 20 years ago. My husband and I love to travel, and as we advanced in our professional careers, we wanted to experience the top hotels and destinations. We loved that Andrew Harper traveled anonymously and was very picky! (Sometimes I think Andrew Harper isn’t picky enough.) — J. H.
Travel Office Fan
We book so many wonderful trips through Andrew Harper. My life is richer and more
exciting having Andrew Harper as our guide. We are very appreciative of the work that you do for us. — L. & R. S.
Access to the Best
I've been a member since 2007, inspired by my father who was a member for years before me. I most enjoy having access to the finest hideaways in the world. — N. N.
Like Father, Like Son
I am Peruvian and live in Peru. My father loved traveling. He found a place in Peru where he could buy the Sunday New York Times . It was maybe 1985 that in the travel section there was an impressive photo in black and white of the stern area of a cruise ship. All guests were dressed in tuxes, enjoying caviar and Champagne, and it said something like: “To book this cruise, you can do it through Andrew Harper.” The ship was Cunard’s Sea Goddess , the most luxurious small cruise at that time. So my father not only wanted to go someday on the Sea Goddess , but he also wanted to find out about Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report . Eventually, my father went on the Sea Goddess many times, and he did subscribe to the Hideaway Report . My father passed away in 2003. He was the greatest man on earth! I continued with the membership. I know that with internet, there are no hideaways to be found, but there are always new places popping up, and there is no better person to tell us about them than Andrew Harper. – B. S.