The best hotels in Second Life
(As of July 2022)
With over 100 SL hotel reviews now on this website, it’s time to choose the ones that (at time of writing) we think you should stay at.
These are the highly recommended picks, which Aria and myself feel are in some way exceptional - we recommend them without hesitation.
Note that this list can change over time, if we find somewhere we really like. The website also has a longer ‘recommended’ list of places that are worth checking out.
We’ve listed them in alphabetical order, as opposed to in any kind of rank, as each has something different to offer.
Words by Dirk Vanlager, Pictures by Aria Christen, the opinions are both of ours
AshaRhia Destinations / Badu SL
Open for Sept 2022 - Badu Angola
The first in our list is ‘Badu SL’ from builder and designer AshaRhia.
Over the past few years, AshaRhia has been opening up Second Life experiences (with accommodation attached), and closing them down again after several weeks - and then starting something new. In a sense, she specialises in pop up resorts.
Having operated the really amazing Badu Egypt over the Spring, she’s now working on a Congo-themed experience, which should be ready in several weeks.
The fact that AshaRhia rotates her resorts throughout the year is in fact a reason to include her, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas.
Most importantly, from what we’ve seen her experiences and resorts are really well designed and thought out, with a lot of RP on offer.
Take a look at our review of the (now sadly shut) Badu Egypt, the pictures above are also from Badu Egypt to give you an idea of how AshaRhia’s resorts are styled.
Bonaire YanuYanu
With Blake Sea access (meaning you can have a vacation here and also sail to hundreds of other regions) and its own airline, Bonaire YanuYanu offers something really special.
In fact, the check in routine, involving a flight in a private jet and helicopter transfer is highly recommended.
The resort is located over five islands, with villas to suit every budget. The staff clearly love what they do, and the level of RP at the restaurant and spa is excellent.
The resort is part owned by the Bonaire architects creator, and it really shows in the quality of the individual villas, the landscaping, design and overall layout.
The Essencia Hotel
This is the closest replica of a modern City-Resort Hotel that we’ve seen, it’s really well done.
The Essencia is somewhere to go with your significant other, if you want to feel as if you’ve really gone somewhere in RL.
Even if you don’t come and stay, it’s worth going to the Royal Bar on the Mezzanine level, this is also a great photo spot.
The attention to detail and overall design is great, and everything flows together. The Essencia just feels real in terms of layout, facilities and the modern, exceptionally well designed rooms.
Las Vegas SL (Highlife Resorts)
Website - This is a private resort, where you need to pre-book
Highlife Resorts runs two experiences throughout the year, a Winter and a Summer one.
Past creations have included Winter in New York, Ibiza SL, the Balinese themed Timor Isles (which we understand is coming back) and right now - Vegas SL.
This is a recreation of the real Las Vegas, complete with the main strip, casinos, restaurants and of course the hotels.
In terms of immersion, activities on offer, scale and design, we think this is their best resort yet.
The resort also has regular live performances from singers such as Semina Bob Santanovic, as well as a live drag show. Check out the wedding chapel as well with the Elvis bot, who will officiate the ceremony for you.
Vegas is likely to close in the late Summer or Autumn, to be replaced by their next destination.
Le Chateau Motel and Resort
Originally this only consisted of a 1980s French themed Motel. It has now expanded to include a gated community, a yacht club, an airfield (with an airline) and a corporate tower block.
This resort is a riot of colour and fun. There are several bars and hangout spots in the Motel and office block, and the rooms are themed after 1980s pop culture.
There’s also a nice sense of community here, with regular themed events (with DJs) around the pool, these are normally advertised on Flickr.
Night Daisy
Website - You need to pre-book
Night Daisy isn’t so much a resort, as a restaurant where you can stay the night.
Night Daisy consists of one of five themed restaurants: The Aquarium, Elven Forest, Paris in Love, Aurora (Victorian themed) and Arabian Nights. Each then has a suite attached.
This is something a bit different to what you usually see when it comes to SL date and vacation experiences.
Highlights for us included the impressive levels of personalisation, the excellent service from owner Emily Wand, and the dinner anims, which are the best we’ve come across.
This is definitely somewhere you should consider taking someone for a special occasion.
The Ritz SL
(Edit - 17 July. The Ritz is closed for redevelopment and will reopen in September 2022)
The Ritz is a loose recreation of its Paris namesake, it looks and feels like a classic five star European luxury city hotel.
It’s a huge structure, it is easy to get lost here. The grounds are amazing (the hotel also serves as a wedding venue), and we particularly loved the themed suites (Dove, Peacock and Swan), which have a private conservatory area with an outdoor tub.
Like a few other hotels on this list, The Ritz hosts occasional live performances, with singer Luciano Lionheart being the artist in residence.
The Takai Hotel
The Takai is part of Jasmine Kiyori’s Asian city sims. If you love neon and urban environments (and we do), this is for you.
The suites are stylish and modern and the facilities include a super-fun casino, restaurant, pool and spa (NB, not an RP spa).
The Takai forms the gateway to the surrounding sims, which include everything from a Japanese Love Hotel to a K-Pop themed karaoke bar.