Eight standout hotel stays that won my loyalty

favorite hotels – From a Venice arrival by boat to an all-inclusive adults-only escape in Cap Cana, these are the hotels that stayed with the writer long after the check-out time—each one winning on a specific kind of experience, from food to spa rituals to views.

There’s a particular feeling when a hotel makes you forget the clock—when the lobby becomes a memory before you even unpack. For me, it’s never just the bed or the bathroom. It’s the way a place gives you a moment you can’t replicate at home.

I grew up learning that lesson the hard way and the best way: my parents’ road trips across the country. tagging along from the back seat of a pickup; a few months living in a Best Western after our family sold its house; and the “nothing better” afternoons in Texas-shaped waffles. an indoor hot tub. and a pool. Writing about hotels as a job felt impossible—until it became real, and then, somehow, it became routine.

Over more than a decade into the career. I still can’t shake the truth: only a few hotels stand out against everything else. Here are the ones that most reliably delivered—whether through a pool that pulls you in. a spa ritual you plan your day around. or food that makes you rethink what travel is for.

At Four Seasons The Nam Hai in Hoi An. what won me over wasn’t just the setting in a culture- and food-driven city—it was the long. reflective swimming pool. the sound of waves crashing by the beach. and the spa treatment in a private villa by a pond. But it was the food that cemented it. There was a “mind-blowing breakfast buffet” where I learned hot noodle soup really can be the ultimate way to start the day. and a culinary tour on Vespas through the ancient town. The Cooking Academy lets you go to the market to shop for groceries and learn to cook on the property. Rates start around $709 per night.

In Venice, arrival is everything—and at St. Regis Venice. you reach the hotel by boat. and the property doubles as an art museum with pieces by Ai Weiwei. A stay that really clicks comes with Grand Canal views. Plan time at Arts Bar for art-inspired cocktails, and book a luxe treatment at The Valmont Spa. When you’re leaving for the airport, the concierge can organize boat service to take you there. Luxury shopping and Venetian history are right outside, so you don’t always have to depend on boats. Rates start around $1,017 per night or 82,400 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

If you want a view that feels engineered for morning, Park Hyatt Sydney delivers. My colleagues at TPG always raved about it, and when I visited in 2025, the praise made sense. The hotel is beautiful and refined. and the outlook on Sydney Opera House is among the best you can find in coastal Sydney—including from the breakfast buffet. where you can enjoy the view with an omelet. Located in The Rocks. it’s also a great base for exploring. with ferries nearby that can take you to iconic places like Manly Beach. I loved it so much that I burned all of my World of Hyatt points to book another stay later this year for when I run the Sydney Marathon. Rates start around $703 per night or 35,000 points.

I don’t just like all-inclusive resorts—I love the ease of not having to worry what everything costs. At Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, that comfort comes with perks that go beyond the ocean. There’s access to a water park, a cenote-inspired spa, and one of my favorite infinity pools in the world. The adults-only Hyatt Zilara is attached to the family-friendly Hyatt Ziva resort. so adults can use both sets of offerings while kids can only access one. If you haven’t tried an all-inclusive recently, this is an argument for starting again. Rates start around $684 per night or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night, based on double occupancy.

In London, Rosewood London hits a different kind of emotional note. I’d never felt “as cool” as I did while staying there with my husband. From the outside, it’s a stately manor building full of history. Inside. it becomes a chic maze of textured design. whimsical art. and bars and restaurants that feel like they’re built for the city’s cosmopolitan crowd. Scarfe’s Bar is my favorite bar in the world. made even better after a candlelit night cap—especially with pillows with monogrammed initials waiting upstairs. Rates start around $633 per night.

For deep-sea fishing trips around Cabo San Lucas. The Cape. A Thompson Hotel has earned a spot in my family’s travel rhythm. Every year, my mom and I try to book a room there. Every year, the reason starts with the pool—one of the most incredible pools I’ve ever gone swimming in. I’m not exaggerating: I joked I’d sleep in a tent on the beach just for access to it. The resort also has rooms overlooking the sea. restaurants with mouthwatering food. and a spa you won’t want to miss. Rates start around $550 or 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Then there’s The Madrid Edition, the kind of property that makes you stop moving just to look around. When Brian Kelly. the “literal Points Guy. ” sent me on a journey to spend 150. 000 Chase Rewards points. I got the chance to stay. I’d previously stopped by the cooler-than-cool lobby for a drink, but hadn’t stayed before. Now I can confirm that “every inch” of the property feels visually intoxicating. Whether you’re sipping martinis at the bar or playing pool at the blue-topped pool table. the fact it’s a Marriott Bonvoy-participating hotel adds to the sense that you’re part of the “it” crowd. Rates start around $391 or 77,500 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul brought out a different kind of devotion. Seoul is one of the most dynamic cities in the world, and the hotel matches that energy. What I remember most is the Four Seasons Club Seoul: a multilevel club built around Korean-style sauna experiences. with various pools. showers. steam rooms. I hit it every morning. The bars and restaurants kept the momentum going too—there was a speakeasy with mindblowing Korean fried chicken. a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant. and kimchi-infused cocktails at Oul. Food and spa were incredible, but the staff were truly among the best in the business. Rates start around $400 per night.

And finally. La Mamounia in Marrakech—because sometimes it’s the timing of perks that makes a big stay feel reachable. In January. I decided to take advantage of the luxury hotel benefits that come with my American Express Platinum Card® after a work trip around Morocco. Using those perks. I was able to save about $500 on what would otherwise have been a pretty expensive stay at La Mamounia. It made it worth it because I wanted the beautiful pool (perfect for planespotters). the gorgeous Moroccan-style spa. and the location within walking distance of Marrakesh’s legendary souks. Rates start around $450 per night.

Four Seasons The Nam Hai St. Regis Venice Park Hyatt Sydney Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana Rosewood London The Cape a Thompson Hotel The Madrid Edition Four Seasons Hotel Seoul La Mamounia hotel reviews luxury hotels