The Francis House in Calistoga, California.
Photo: Courtesy of the Francis House

11 Boutique Hotels You Can Have All to Yourself

From a château in France to a colorful bungalow in Palm Springs, these private resorts available for buyouts are the most indulgent way to shelter in place

After months at home, most people are fantasizing about new surroundings, whether that’s a tropical beach, the bucolic wilderness, or the European countryside. Thankfully, as stay-at-home restrictions begin to ease, resorts around the globe are slowly reopening, many with a preference for total buyouts, where the guest list is limited to a small group of family and friends. Reserving a high-design property just for yourself gives travelers the best of both worlds—the top-tier hospitality and luxurious amenities jet-setters have come to expect as well as the privacy and distance needed to ensure health and safety right now. Here, discover 11 boutique American and international resorts ready for you to check in.

Berkshire mansion Blantyre in Lenox, Massachusetts. Photo: Courtesy of Blantyre

Blantyre, Lenox, MA

This Relais & Châteaux estate, set on 110 acres in the Berkshires, offers private parties access to its pool, tennis courts, and golf course. Take over the 19 rooms at the Tudor-style mansion, originally built in 1902, and relax on the terrace, sample gourmet meals at the farm-to-table restaurant, or enjoy a flute of bubbly at the secluded Dom Pérignon Champagne Salon.

La Chartreuse de Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, France. Photo: Courtesy of La Chartreuse de Cos d’Estournel

La Chartreuse de Cos d’Estournel, Bordeaux, France

An eight-bedroom villa in the heart of France’s wine country, La Chartreuse de Cos d’Estournel is the private home of La Réserve Group hotelier and winemaker Michel Reybier. Designed by celebrated French architect Jacques Garcia, La Chartreuse is filled with an impeccable curation of European antiques and Asian textiles, while a masterfully manicured garden is just steps from the door. A private chef can create meals to complement the extensive wine list, while the indoor and outdoor pools, plus an on-site hammam, are especially relaxing amenities.

The pool courtyard at Dive Palm Springs. Photo: Courtesy of Dive Palm Springs

Dive Palm Springs, CA

At this retro-chic adults-only resort, guests are treated to a Saint-Tropez ambience while surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the California landscape. Cofounder Dale Fox collaborated with designer Vanessa Schreiber to bring this 1950s resort back to life. Launched in November 2019, the property includes artful touches, like original fashion illustrations by Gabriella Fash and a striking Christian Lacroix floral ceiling installation in the Le Rêve Suite, plus playful amenities, such as a three-hole putting green, an outdoor movie theater, and two-person rattan swings by Serena & Lily in the orchard.

Caldera House’s Pacana Suite. Photo: Courtesy of Caldera House

Caldera House, Jackson Hole, WY

Take a deep breath at this mountain chalet that will welcome visitors starting June 25. Designed in part by L.A.-based firm Commune, Caldera House’s eight residential-style suites are ideal for a family buyout. Enjoy restorative wellness activities like yoga and nature walks, then unwind in one of the en suite soaking tubs, watch a movie in the home theater, or enjoy a meal at one of the resort’s two restaurants. And a bonus: The property offers unobstructed views of the city’s July 4 fireworks.

A three-bedroom cottage at the Roundtree in Amagansett, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Roundtree

The Roundtree, Amagansett, NY

New to the Hamptons this summer, the Roundtree is a 15-key boutique hotel perfectly situated between town and the pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches. The picturesque property includes suites cultivated within the 125-year-old main house of one of the area’s founding families, while one of the five private cottage dates back to the 1770s. Catering to every member of your family, the two-acre resort also offers evening meals and activities for both children and pets.

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An overwater villa with private pool at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Photo: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Ithaafushi Private Island at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Malé

If a simple getaway isn’t enough, get far, far away to your own private island in the Maldives. Conveniently located near the capitol city of Malé, the resort brings guests to the beach and overwater bungalows by a catered yacht concierge. On property, visitors can swim in the turquoise water or paddle in one of the five swimming pools or get a workout in at the gym, then refresh with a gourmet meal from the dedicated chef.

The Francis House in Calistoga, California. Photo: Courtesy of the Francis House

The Francis House, Calistoga, CA

An 1886 house lovingly restored by a local interior-designer-and-real-estate-developer couple, the Francis House in Napa Valley is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take over the five-room, adults-only inn and experience the best Calistoga has to offer. Walk to town or hunker down poolside, blow off some steam in the infrared sauna or salt room, and play a spirited game of billiards before retiring to one of the well-appointed suites.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island. Photo: Courtesy of The Chanler at Cliff Walk

The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Newport, RI

Live like the Astors, Vanderbilts, or Morgans at the Chandler at Cliff Walk, a 20-key hotel in a reimagined historic manse on Newport’s famed waterfront. Built in 1870 as the summer cottage of New York congressman John Winthrop Chanler, the property remains a gilded-age gem of antique furnishings, manicured gardens, and breathtaking views.

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Helena Bay Lodge in Northland, New Zealand. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Bay Lodge

Helena Bay Lodge, Northland, New Zealand 

Set on 800 private waterfront acres, Helena Bay Lodge is comprised of five luxury villas and is open to just 14 guests at a time, providing the pinnacle of social distancing. Here, visitors can sit on the terrace with binoculars to watch the boats, birds, whales, and dolphins that traverse New Zealand’s North Island, then sample the Michelin-starred cuisine of Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890, whose head chef, Michele Martino, hails from Southern Italy. The property also includes a Turkish sauna, a grass tennis court, and a heated swimming pool, plus access to kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, mountain bikes, and four-wheel buggies for a total recreation experience.

The dining terrace at Layla, one of the on-site restaurants at MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma, California. Photo: Courtesy of MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, Sonoma, CA

Unwind in wine country at the recently renovated MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa. This boutique property features 16 farmhouse-style cottages set on six acres, as well as three epicurean on-site dining options. The serene suites are outfitted in sumptuous textiles, while the appointed outdoor areas present quiet nooks perfect for cocktails around the fire.

One of the cottages at Links House in the Scottish Highlands. Photo: Courtesy of LInks House

Links House, Dornoch, Scotland

Taking reservations now for visits after July 20, Links House is a 15-bedroom estate in the Highlands separated into three antique-filled cottages. The courtyard has appropriately been manicured into a picturesque putting green surrounded by an award-winning garden. Joining the original 1840s manor house is the newest building, Glenshiel, which offers a top-floor apartment with a breakfast porch that provides views out to one of the U.K.’s most celebrated beaches, a fully stocked honor bar, and a plush master suite. Across the street is the first hole of Royal Dornoch Golf Club’s Championship Course, which allows plenty of room to roam.

Cover: The Francis House in Calistoga, California.
Photo: Courtesy of the Francis House

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