Best Places to Make Friends
explora Patagonia | Patagonia, Chile
All explora properties prioritize transformative experiences in standout places. Every evening, you with a guide over pisco sours, or another drink of your choosing, to chart out what you’ll do tomorrow and if others sign up for the same activity, you do it together. At explora Patagonia, that could mean a full-day of hiking to get close to Torres del Paine or horseback riding through rivers. There’s no better way to make fast friends than sharing these jaw-dropping feats with others. Find out more by reading our firsthand account.
Best Places to Make Friends
Paradero Todos Santos | Todos Los Santos, Mexico
Mixing and mingling with fellow guests is encouraged in more ways than one at Paradero Todos Santos. The design of this unique architectural property supports it, with communal dining tables and lounge chairs that are made to be easily moved for different conversational configurations. In an interview with Interior Design, co-designer Bibiana Huber elaborates, “The experience invites visitors to interact as a community. It feels like a village.” A daily experiences schedule furthers that aim, with guests able to join together in surf sessions, hikes, farm tours and cooking classes, among other things.
Best Places to Make Friends
Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards | New York, New York
The work out and play hard set will find likeminded fellows at Equinox Hotel New York City. Here, there are ample places to start a conversation. Commiserate over how hard the Best Butt Ever or Boxing class at the Hudson Yards Club was or dress your best to illicit “What a fit! Where’d you get that?” from the discerning crowd at the Electric Lemon terrace and lounge.
Best Places to Make Friends
Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa | Corfu, Greece
Properties that boast private in-room pools aren’t always conducive to meeting new friends, but Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa is an exception thanks to a weekly schedule of activities that help bring guests together. On Mondays, there’s a local guided hike. On Tuesdays, a mask and body scrub workshop. On Thursdays, an olive oil tasting featuring one of the island’s premium producers. And Fridays are for wine tasting at the Oribu Bar. Of course, there are also big, shared pools (along with Corfu beaches) should your private one get too quiet.
Best Places to Make Friends
Dunton Hot Springs | Dolores, Colorado
At Dunton Hot Springs, a reclaimed mining town in the Colorado Rockies, you’ll have your very own hand-hewn cabin but everyone comes together at the saloon for communal meals along the long table and in the pools for natural spring water soaks. One can also connect with fellow bookworms in the library. It’s all just like the good old days, but better.
Best Places to Make Friends
The Standard Ibiza | Ibiza, Spain
Standard hotels are famously social; dropping one in party-ready Ibiza takes it up another notch. You don’t need to be a raver to reap the benefits—the rooftop pool at The Standard Ibiza serves up enough friendly revelry, or go retro with it and hit up their weekly Not Your Standard Bingo night.
Best Places to Make Friends
Andaz Singapore | Singapore
In a Community Spirit Index developed by language platform Preply, Singapore made the list as one of the world’s friendliest. We’d happily do some firsthand research on that at Andaz Singpore by starting at the bottom, which is the 25th floor lobby bar Bar Square, and working our way to the top where there’s Mr. Stork, a unique outdoor cocktail bar with 360-degree city views.
Best Places to Make Friends
Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House | Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Adults-only Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House draws everybody to the rooftop. Along with the biggest ocean views up there, you’ll find the Alessia Dayclub and Umi restaurant. A relaxed space by day, it’s a lively social scene come evening with music and libations creating a convivial mood. The bar is the best place to make casual introductions. Guests also have access to sister property The Beach House where there’s the lapping ocean and tequila tastings to expediate heart-to-hearts.
Best Places to Make Friends
Cape Kudu Hotel | Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
A hidden gem with big views of Phang Nga Bay and its dramatic limestone islands, Cape Kudu Hotel is delightfully designed to bring people together—be it at the infinity pool and open-air Long Island Bar with jaw-dropping views of said islands, the weekly management cocktail parties where staff and guests get to know each other or the daily activities such as beach cleanups and cooking lessons. Guests are encouraged to team up and take a long-tailed boat to explore nearby hidden coves, deserted beaches and protected national parks. You may even share in spotting a gentle giant whale shark.
1 /9
explora Patagonia |Patagonia, Chile
All explora properties prioritize transformative experiences in standout places. Every evening, you with a guide over pisco sours, or another drink of your choosing, to chart out what you’ll do tomorrow and if others sign up for the same activity, you do it together. At explora Patagonia, that could mean a full-day of hiking to get close to Torres del Paine or horseback riding through rivers. There’s no better way to make fast friends than sharing these jaw-dropping feats with others. Find out more by reading our firsthand account.
2 /9
Paradero Todos Santos |Todos Los Santos, Mexico
Mixing and mingling with fellow guests is encouraged in more ways than one at Paradero Todos Santos. The design of this unique architectural property supports it, with communal dining tables and lounge chairs that are made to be easily moved for different conversational configurations. In an interview with Interior Design, co-designer Bibiana Huber elaborates, “The experience invites visitors to interact as a community. It feels like a village.” A daily experiences schedule furthers that aim, with guests able to join together in surf sessions, hikes, farm tours and cooking classes, among other things.
3 /9
Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards |New York, New York
The work out and play hard set will find likeminded fellows at Equinox Hotel New York City. Here, there are ample places to start a conversation. Commiserate over how hard the Best Butt Ever or Boxing class at the Hudson Yards Club was or dress your best to illicit “What a fit! Where’d you get that?” from the discerning crowd at the Electric Lemon terrace and lounge.
4 /9
Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa |Corfu, Greece
Properties that boast private in-room pools aren’t always conducive to meeting new friends, but Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa is an exception thanks to a weekly schedule of activities that help bring guests together. On Mondays, there’s a local guided hike. On Tuesdays, a mask and body scrub workshop. On Thursdays, an olive oil tasting featuring one of the island’s premium producers. And Fridays are for wine tasting at the Oribu Bar. Of course, there are also big, shared pools (along with Corfu beaches) should your private one get too quiet.
5 /9
Dunton Hot Springs |Dolores, Colorado
At Dunton Hot Springs, a reclaimed mining town in the Colorado Rockies, you’ll have your very own hand-hewn cabin but everyone comes together at the saloon for communal meals along the long table and in the pools for natural spring water soaks. One can also connect with fellow bookworms in the library. It’s all just like the good old days, but better.
6 /9
The Standard Ibiza |Ibiza, Spain
Standard hotels are famously social; dropping one in party-ready Ibiza takes it up another notch. You don’t need to be a raver to reap the benefits—the rooftop pool at The Standard Ibiza serves up enough friendly revelry, or go retro with it and hit up their weekly Not Your Standard Bingo night.
7 /9
Andaz Singapore |Singapore
In a Community Spirit Index developed by language platform Preply, Singapore made the list as one of the world’s friendliest. We’d happily do some firsthand research on that at Andaz Singpore by starting at the bottom, which is the 25th floor lobby bar Bar Square, and working our way to the top where there’s Mr. Stork, a unique outdoor cocktail bar with 360-degree city views.
8 /9
Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House |Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Adults-only Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House draws everybody to the rooftop. Along with the biggest ocean views up there, you’ll find the Alessia Dayclub and Umi restaurant. A relaxed space by day, it’s a lively social scene come evening with music and libations creating a convivial mood. The bar is the best place to make casual introductions. Guests also have access to sister property The Beach House where there’s the lapping ocean and tequila tastings to expediate heart-to-hearts.
9 /9
Cape Kudu Hotel |Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
A hidden gem with big views of Phang Nga Bay and its dramatic limestone islands, Cape Kudu Hotel is delightfully designed to bring people together—be it at the infinity pool and open-air Long Island Bar with jaw-dropping views of said islands, the weekly management cocktail parties where staff and guests get to know each other or the daily activities such as beach cleanups and cooking lessons. Guests are encouraged to team up and take a long-tailed boat to explore nearby hidden coves, deserted beaches and protected national parks. You may even share in spotting a gentle giant whale shark.