Recently the World Happiness Report 2023  issue was published.  It lists the top 10 happiest countries in the world, ranking highly for factors found to support happiness: caring, freedom, generosity, honesty, health, income and good governance.

It is very interesting to read the exec summary (and to delve deeper in the report and data if you’re interested).  It reminds us of the privileges that many of us have and that we should really be celebrating every day.

In the meantime, if you want to experience a bit of happiness, here are my recommendations for hotels to try in each one of the happiest countries!  Some of them can be added to the list of hotels with heated pool…

10. New Zealand

Mahu Whenua

• From 988£
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

Luxury lodge Mahu Whenua is in the middle of a 200 square mile estate 30 minutes from the town of Wanaka on New Zealand’s south island. The boutique hotel has four suites almost as stellar as the spectacular views – stay here, and you’ll be gazing at the Motatapu Valley, Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains all day. When it’s time to dine – and all your meals are included – head out to a terrace to survey the scenery and plan your next adventure: a helicopter tour, perhaps, or a dip in the heated pool… 

9. Luxembourg

Chateau de Mirwart

• 24 accommodations
• From 150 Euros
• Check latest prices and availability

Mirwart is a small village in the middle of Saint-Hubert’s forests in Luxembourg. This chateau is being restored into 24 residences spread between the castle, the lodges which will contain larger housing units, suitable for several people or even whole families or groups.and the tower. Wood, leather and natural stone are used in the design to bring modernity while respecting the history of the building. The underground spaces of the ancient medieval fort house will have indoor pools, jacuzzis, hammam, sauna, spa treatment rooms and an outdoor swimming pool.

8. Switzerland

 Hotel Chetzeron

• Double room from £389
• 16 rooms and suites
• Check latest prices and availability

One of the many hotels with pools for those who like to ski in Switerland, the Chetzeron in Crans Montana might have the best entry price. Instead of an old ski lift cabin, abandoned, the hotel is more than 2000 meters high, at the top of the slopes of Crans-Montana. Only accessible on foot or by ski, the place brings together 16 rooms with a plunging view onto  the Alps, a panoramic pool, and a restaurant that revisits the best of Swiss cuisine.

7. Norway

Juvet Hotel

• 9 roooms
• From 372 Euros
• http://www.juvet.com

The first landscape hotel in Europe is situated in the farmstead of Burtigarden farm at Alstad in Valldal, on a steep, natural levee amongst birch, aspen, pine and age-old boulders.  The architecture blends effortlessly with nature and there are wonderful views from the rooms. The hotel consists of nine detached rooms that are sited separately, each with a unique perspective on the rugged landscape. In addition, there is the opportunity to stay in the old buildings on the farm – the mill house, the barn and the authentically restored farmhouse – while meals are served communally in the old barn.

6. Sweden

Ett Hem

• 12 rooms
• From 500 Euros
• Check latest prices and availability

This one is easy. I’ve known for a while that if we ever go to Stockholm (which is a very romantic city actually, I visited before and I really want to go back with Mr Big), we would stay at Ett Hem. It has all the touches we like: a cozy and very tasty decor, a sense of great service, an old building sympathetically refurbished and this little “je ne sais quoi” that we are so fond of.  Basically the Swedish version of our much loved Endsleigh! No pool though.

5. Netherlands

Soho House Amsterdam

https://www.sohohouse.com/houses/soho-house-amsterdam

Difficult to find a boutique hotel with pool in Amsterdam. There are several big luxury hotels or some very cute B&Bs but the closest to a boutique style will have to be Soho House. The pool is on the roof as often with the club. Soho House Amsterdam is in the Bungehuis on the Spuistraat, a building orginally used as a Trading Office in the 30s before becoming a university building in the 70s. It has lots of striking architectural features. If you have a Soho House Friends membership, which is only £100 then you can book the hotel the same way you can try to book Soho Farmhouse too!

Pulitzer Amsterdam

• 225 rooms
• From 400 Euros
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

An other alternative, likely easier to book is the Pulitzer. It’s recent refurbishment has earned the hotel a lot of praises  The hotel is made of several interlinked 17th and 18th century canal houses, which ensures a bit more of an intimate feel. You can get some fabulous Labo toiletries in the room, as well as a vintage telephone and a bike repair set !

4. Israel

• From 685£
• Check latest prices and availability

Israel has seen several boutique luxury hotels open recently in Tel Aviv in particular but this luxury retreat in Israel’s breathtaking Negev Desert seem to be the place to stay at after of course having visited all the wonderful sites in the country. Suites and villas offer uninterrupted desert panoramas and are complete with a private swimming pool.

3. Iceland

Ion Hotel

• 45 rooms
• from 400 Euros
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

Less than an hour’s drive from  Reykjavík, Ioan Adventure Hotel gives you a unique location to view the Northern Lights.  It is a famous hotel in one of the happiest countries in the world. It is set against a backdrop of majestic mountainous lava fields, and the pool itself is just fantastic. Imagine yourself looking at nature from there.  This could be one of the stops in a 3 days itinerary in Iceland.

2.Denmark

Manon les Suites

• From 230 Euros
• Check latest prices and availability

A fun hotel in the center of Copenhagen which has an indoor pool and a Bali decor style. It’s only for adults. They do have a bigger one for families – also with a pool – but it has 211 rooms so doesn’t fit my taste for boutique hotels, hence why I don’t give the details here but thought you’d needed to know anyway.

1. Finland

As this is the happiest hotel in the whole world, it deserves a few options. So here is a hotel with pool, a city haven and a magic northern lights experience!

Javri Lodge

• From 2030 euros all inclusive in winter
• https://javri.fi

Once a winter retreat for Finland’s president, this log cabin on the outskirts of Saariselka in Lapland has been transformed into a 13 room boutique hotel. There’s a lot included in your stay like full board, winter outfit and beyond that, as well, from guided daily activities to free use of fitness studio, saunas and indoor swimming pool. The location of Jávri is at the doorsteps to the trails and adventures in the National Park – so ideal for those seeking to experience untouched nature.

Runo Hotel Porvoo

• From 150 Euros
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

Reflecting the new design trend, the RUNO Hotel in Porvoo is an art nouveau building completed in 1912 and recently restored, preserving its original style. The interior’s modern rustic style combines Finnish and Nordic design with high-quality natural materials and a harmonious color palette. In addition to a lounge, restaurant, and bar that are open to all, there is a small sauna and spa section in the attic. There are 56 rooms.

Kaslauttanen Artic Resort

Or you could go up north to admire the green sky from an igloo or more traditional wood chalets and enjoy the world’s largest smoke sauna at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

I hope this list of the happiest countries and the best boutique hotels with pools to stay there has inspired you. So which ones of these happiest countries do you want to try first?  And do you think that your country is actually a happier one than those?  I would love to know in the comments below!