The 17 best resorts in the world, according to travelers

Location: Los Cabos, Mexico

Starting rate per night: $581

Located on the Baja Peninsula, Esperanza has 57 beachfront suites and villas. It prides itself on offering a variety of experiences, including a ceviche-making class, tequila tastings, whale watching or clam diving excursions, and ATV rides in the desert.

Location: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Starting rate per night: $409 per person

This safari-oriented resort is in a remote part of a protected park in Tanzania. It is small and intimate; the resort only has 10 tents, including one honeymoon suite. It runs on solar power and has previously been celebrated for its sustainability initiatives. Its most popular activities include night drives into the bush and a walking safari.

Location: Dorado, Puerto Rico

Starting rate per night: $862

Opened by a Rockefeller in the 1950s, Dorado Beach is a luxury community complete with two 18-hole golf courses and two miles of private beach access.

Location: Noonu Atoll, Maldives

Starting rate per night: $2,250

A private island with the largest wine and Champagne collection in the Maldives, Velaa aims to be a resort "beyond luxury." Each of the 45 private villas and residences were built with local materials and the entire resort was constructed in the shape of a turtle.

Location: Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam

Starting rate per night: $140

Angsana Lang Co is a 223-room resort in central Vietnam with proximity to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It also has an award-winning spa and a swimming pool that spans the property.

Location: Meru National Park, Kenya

Starting rate per night: Only available upon request

Situated in a protected park in Kenya, Elewana Elsa's Kopje is close to a rhino sanctuary and boasts regular sightings of elephant herds, hippos, and lions. The tiny resort opened in 1999 and has 11 private cottages, each of which has a deck.

Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Starting rate per night: $835 per person

Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is a Botswana safari resort on 61,000 acres of exclusive land. There are nine tents, each with a veranda and an al fresco shower.

Location: South Male Atoll, Maldives

Starting rate per night: $948

Twenty houses, each with a private pool, make up the private island of Naladhu. With "blissful seclusion" at the center of its mission statement, the island has a 24-hour butler service, private dining, and in-residence spa experiences.

Location: ólafsfjörður, Iceland

Starting rate per night: $2,612

Deplar Farm is a lodge on a converted sheep farm that features just 13 guest suites and a state-of-the-art spa. Typical activities in the area include heli-skiing and salmon fishing.

Location: Co. Clare, Ireland

Starting rate per night: $275

Dromoland Castle, the ancestral home of the prominent O'Brien family dating back to the 16th century, became a resort in the 1960s. Popular activities include falconry, horseback riding, and archery. There is also a full-service spa and an award-winning golf course.

Location: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Starting rate per night: Only available upon request

Established in 2006 as a getaway for a young conservationist couple, Richard's River Camp is a seven-tent resort that accommodates 16 people at a time. The intimate resort was entirely furnished and decorated by the couple with fabrics and pieces collected through their own travels. The camp offers driven safaris, bush walks, and even hot air balloon flights.

Location: Limerick, Ireland

Starting rate per night: $384

A two-hour drive from Dublin, the Adare Manor is located on 840 acres of private green. There is an award-winning golf course and a Michelin star restaurant on site, as well.

Location: Da Nang, Vietnam

Starting rate per night: $389

The InterContinental's Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is a beachfront property nestled in a nature reserve and close to UNESCO World Heritage sites. The resort has amenities like half a mile of private beach and a wide array of spa treatments, from holistic therapies to pedicures.

Location: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Starting rate per night: Only available upon request

Overlooking a hippo lagoon, Chindeni is a bushcamp retreat. It consists of four canvas lodges that can accommodate eight guests. The resort runs on solar power and is only open from May to December.

Location: Palm Springs, California

Starting rate per night: $410

L'Horizon is made up of 25 bungalows that were all designed to feel like private residences, with different finishes and furnishings. The property was built in 1952 as a getaway for Hollywood producer Jack Wrather. There, he hosted guests like Marilyn Monroe and Ronald Reagan. It was redesigned as a luxury resort, complete with al fresco dining and an expansive spa, in 2015. It is the only US resort to make the top of Conde's list.

Location: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

Starting rate: Only available upon request

Situated on 68,000 acres of wilderness in Northern Kenya, Sirikoi Lodge was built by a conservationist couple. It can accommodate 18 guests and its intimate setup includes one main lodge, a cottage, and four elevated tents, all with private outdoor decks. A staff of 68 people facilitates all lodge activities, including bush walks, game drives, helicopter excursions, and private dining.