It’s not time to start packing your bags for a vacation just yet (staycays, however, are a different matter). But we can still dream of the day we can jet off for a holiday overseas once more. And now that the newly-minted World's Best Hotel 2020 is so close to Singapore, we’ve got one more vacay spot to add to our ever-growing travel bucket list.

Yes, 2020’s best hotel in the world is Capella Ubud in Bali, just a three-hour flight from Singapore — in regular times, that is (there are currently no direct flights between Bali and Singapore at press time). Capella Ubud emerged tops in Travel + Leisure’s annual reader survey, the World’s Best Awards, which is into its 25th year. Results are based on readers’ ratings for rooms, facilities, location, service, food and value. This year’s survey closed on Mar 2, just before the world went into lockdown, so these are all pre-pandemic views that were taken into account.

While Bali could be reopening to international tourists in September, it still remains that only essential travel in and out of Singapore is allowed at the moment (and even then, there’s a lot to consider before getting on a flight).

So for now, we’ll just be doing some armchair travel and earmarking this for our future holiday plans.

Nestled amid the lush greenery and rice padi fields in Bali, Capella Ubud is really in a universe of its own where there are, not rooms, but 23 luxury tented suites. Each one harks back to the grandeur of the days of yore, with touches of vintage luxury that’ll make you feel like royalty. You’ll feel on top of the world (literally) as you chill by your personal pool that overlooks the vast forest and rivers beneath, or discover Insta-worthy nooks all around the resort.

If you’re truly keen on planning ahead, Capella properties worldwide, including Capella Ubud, have ‘Dream Now, Travel Later’ packages that you can book now and stay when you’re ready to (for stays until Dec 20, 2021). More info at www.capellahotels.com.

Capella Ubud isn’t the only Bali entrant in the T+L’s World’s Best Hotels list this year. The Ritz-Carlton Bali edges in at fourth, Belmond Jimbaran Puri comes in at 23rd, and The Mulia in Nusa Dua is placed in the 35th spot. Other South-East Asian properties that made it into the top 100 include Anantara Chiang Mai Resort & Spa (#22), and the Sukhothai Bangkok (#37) in Thailand.

1. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
2. Hotel Amparo, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
3. Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia
5. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
6. Secret Bay, Portsmouth, Dominica
7. (tie) Raffles Istanbul, and Canaves Oia Epitome, Santorini, Greece
9. (tie) Awasi Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, and Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photos: Capella Ubud