Miles & points can let you have some pretty incredible experiences for pennies on the dollar. With airline miles you can fly almost any first or business class product in the world, as there are very few aspirational products that aren’t bookable with miles.
Hotels are a different story, though. There are a lot of great points hotels, though the reality is that many boutique and high end brands don’t belong to any of the major hotel groups with loyalty programs. That means there’s no way to redeem points for stays there, short of earning cash back through credit cards and then redeeming that toward a stay.
In this post I thought it would be fun to take an updated look at some of the points hotels that are on my list to stay it in the near future. I last published a list like this a bit over two years ago, so first I want to recap some of the top points hotels I’ve stayed at since then, and then I’ll share my updated list.
In this post:
The best points hotels I’ve stayed at recently
Over the past couple of years, I’d say the following are my favorite points hotels that I’ve stayed at:
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives (bookable with Hilton Honors points), which has beautiful villas, great dining, and is an all-around impressive property with a lot to do
- Gritti Palace Venice (bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points), which is one of Venice’s oldest properties, and has a great sense of place, though is perhaps past its prime
- St. Regis Venice (bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points), which has a great location, beautiful terrace, and feels modern and luxurious
- Ritz-Carlton Kyoto (bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points), which has exceptional service, and is a great use of Marriott points
- Park Hyatt Kyoto (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is a design masterpiece, and is in the heart of the action in Kyoto
- Park Hyatt Auckland (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is a lovely city hotel with a great location and amenities
- Alila Jabal Akhdar (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is one of the most scenic properties I’ve ever stayed at
- Alila Hinu Bay (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is simultaneously quite random yet also peaceful and enjoyable, with great dining
- Alila Napa Valley (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is a lovely wine country escape in the charming town of St. Helena
- Miraval Arizona (bookable with World of Hyatt points), which is a nature escape that I enjoyed a lot more than I was expecting to
I’m pretty pleased I managed to check all of these out, as they were on my previous list.
Points hotels I’d like to stay at
With the above out of the way, let me share some awesome points hotels that I look forward to staying at. As I plan future travel, I’ll largely use this list to decide which destination to visit next. As you’ll see, these aren’t exclusively intended to be the “best” points hotels I’ve stayed at, but rather they also overlap with the places that I hope to visit.
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
This is one of the newest Waldorf Astoria properties, and arguably is one of the all-around most exciting new points hotels out there. The property is located on a private island in the Seychelles, and rates here are regularly $2,000+ per night. The catch is that management seems to be doing everything it can to make the property unattractive to people redeeming points. It seems the hotel even created an all-new room category that’s not a villa in order to offer award availability.
Booking with points: 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
St. Regis Hong Kong
St. Regis is my favorite Marriott brand, partly because I like the style of the hotels, and partly because I like that St. Regis actually honors elite benefits, unlike EDITION and Ritz-Carlton. Probably the St. Regis I’m most interested in staying at is the Hong Kong property. The hotel seems to have a beautiful design, and great dining.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Domes Miramare Corfu
Greece is one of my favorite countries in the world, and I’d like to visit Corfu, as I’ve never been in that part of the country. Fortunately Corfu has a well regarded Luxury Collection property, and it’s even often a good value on points. I’m hoping to visit the property this coming summer.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Tambo Del Inka Peru
This is a hotel that’s not on my list because I think the hotel as such is that amazing, but rather because I still haven’t visited Machu Picchu. The fact that Marriott has good options in both Cuzco and the Sacred Valley is all the more reason to take this trip sooner rather than later.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Hotel Marqués De Riscal Elciego
While I’ve visited the major cities in Spain and have also been to many of the beach destinations, I’d like to explore more of the country. Hotel Marques de Riscal is in Elciego, and was designed by Frank Gehry. I mean, just look at the hotel — how could you not want to stay there?
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Hotel Maria Cristina San Sebastian
I’ve heard great things about San Sebastian in Spain, and Hotel Maria Cristina is arguably the best hotel in the city, and belongs to Marriott Luxury Collection. I’m hoping to check out this property in the coming months, as part of a larger trip to Europe.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Hôtel Du Palais Biarritz
Hôtel Du Palais Biarritz belongs to Hyatt Unbound Collection, and interestingly it’s a “Palace” hotel in France, which is a pretty special distinction. What’s cool is that this coastal destination is just a short drive from San Sebastian, so it’s easy to visit both properties on one trip (which is exactly what I plan to do).
Booking with points: 35,000-45,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Miraval Berkshires
Miraval is Hyatt’s wellness brand, and I had an amazing stay at Miraval Arizona a bit over a year ago. Next I’d love to visit the Miraval property in the Berkshires. I love the Northeast in summer, and think could be a cool property to visit. Miraval stays include all food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as many activities. When redeeming points you also get a $175 per person credit.
Booking with points: 57,500-72,000 World of Hyatt points per night (for two people)
St. Regis Bermuda
Bermuda has long been on my list of places to visit, though I haven’t made it there until now. Bermuda used to lack points hotels, but the St. Regis Bermuda has changed that. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this proprty, but it still seems like the best of the options.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Reykjavik EDITION
Admittedly Iceland isn’t a destination you usually travel to for luxury hotels, though Marriott’s EDITION brand has a property in the capital, Reykjavik. This is likely the best hotel in the city, so you can’t beat being able to redeem points for a stay there.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands
Ordinarily I wouldn’t put limited service hotels on a list of the points properties I’m most looking to stay at. However, I’ve been wanting to visit the Faroe Islands for years, and the Hilton Garden Inn seems to be one of the better properties there, so it’s where I’d like to stay. For a Hilton Garden Inn, this place looks great, in my opinion.
Booking with points: Hilton Honors has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Paragraph Freedom Square Tbilisi
Tbilisi, Georgia, is probably the city in the world that I’m most interested in visiting. Historically it hasn’t been a very exciting hotel market, though the recent opening of the Paragraph Freedom Square seems to set the new standard. This property belongs to Marriott Luxury Collection, and even has a club lounge, so I’d love to check this out.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
St. Regis Astana
I briefly visited Kazakhstan several years back, and only had one night in Astana. I found the city to be fascinating, and have been wanting to return. Nowadays there’s a St. Regis there, which is very reasonably priced as well. So I hope to return to the city and stay at the St. Regis in the not-too-distant future.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Park Hyatt Niseko
Niseko is in a part of Japan I’ve never been to before, and there’s a Park Hyatt there that fascinates me. I’m not sure if I’d like to visit in summer for hiking, or in winter so Ford can ski and I can stay inside. 😉 Regardless, the hotel and landscape look gorgeous.
Booking with points: 35,000-45,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Higashiyama Niseko Village
Since I plan to visit the Park Hyatt Niseko, I’d also like to check out the nearby Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which might just be even nicer. Ritz-Carlton Reserve participates in Marriott Bonvoy nowadays, so it’s possible to earn and redeem points for stays at these properties.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Ritz-Carlton Nikko
I adore everything about Japan, so when you combine being in Japan with a great luxury points hotel, that’s a great combo, as far as I’m concerned. The Ritz-Carlton Nikko looks beautiful, and is a fairly short train ride from Tokyo. The hotel is set along Lake Chuzenji, so as someone who loves nature, this seems like a cool side trip the next time I’m in Tokyo.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka
Okay, I’ll be honest, I actually don’t know that much about Fukuoka and how high I should prioritize it in terms of visiting (I’d love feedback!), but it’s a place in Japan and has a great luxury points property, so for me that’s reason enough to visit. I always have a great time in Japan, so anything outside of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, sounds like a new adventure.
St. Regis Cairo
You can file this one under “I’m a weirdo” more than anything. I’ve never witnessed a hotel opening that was as delayed as the one at the St. Regis Cairo. The hotel’s opening had already been delayed by years, and then the Gulf blockade happened. The hotel had been ready to open for years, but it couldn’t open because it had Qatari investors. Fortunately the hotel did finally open, though I imagine it’s already outdated at this point. 😉
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
St. Regis Almasa Cairo
If you think my interest in the St. Regis Cairo is weird, this one is way stranger. St. Regis also has a property in Cairo’s new administrative capital. This must be the cheapest St. Regis property in the world, as it often goes for just over $100 per night. Based on everything I’ve heard, this hotel is generally deserted, with very few guests. I can’t help but be intrigued, and to want to check this out.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
JW Marriott Masai Mara
JW Marriott Masai Mara is located in Kenya, and is Marriott’s first luxury safari property in Africa. The resort looks beautiful and is an amazing use of Marriott Bonvoy points, given that all meals and drinks are included. I’m still puzzled by how this property ended up being branded as a JW Marriott (usually associated with large conference hotels), but that doesn’t take away from this being an awesome use of points.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
Ritz-Carlton Maldives
I’m not actually sure when I’ll return to the Maldives, though the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is the next property there I’d like to check out. It’s a great use of Marriott Bonvoy points, given how high paid rates are.
Booking with points: Marriott Bonvoy has dynamic award pricing, though you can maximize value by taking advantage of a fifth night free
North Island Seychelles
I’ll throw this one in for fun, though I doubt I’ll ever make it here. Rather puzzlingly, the $8,000+ per night North Island property in the Seychelles became a Marriott Luxury Collection property in 2019, which I can’t make sense of.
The points rates are totally different than any other Marriotts, so it’s outrageously expensive. Also not included is food/drinks or the helicopter ride to the hotel. But it doesn’t cost anything to dream, right?
Booking with points: 365,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, with the potential for a fifth night free
Bottom line
There are tons of incredible hotels that can be booked with points. I’ve had some amazing points hotel stays in the past couple of years, including with Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott. There are lots of other points hotels on my radar, which I hope to check out soon.
Which points hotels do you most want to stay at? And has anyone stayed at any of the properties on my list?
We had a mixed experience at The Domes Corfu. Our stay was marred by first being assigned to a room a short distance from the septic system, on a hot day. It was impossible to miss the odor! We asked to be moved and they obliged, thankfully. Otherwise we would have had to check out, it was that unpleasant! We had asked about an upgrade when we first checked in, and unfortunately they were only...
We had a mixed experience at The Domes Corfu. Our stay was marred by first being assigned to a room a short distance from the septic system, on a hot day. It was impossible to miss the odor! We asked to be moved and they obliged, thankfully. Otherwise we would have had to check out, it was that unpleasant! We had asked about an upgrade when we first checked in, and unfortunately they were only able to upgrade us for the last night of our stay. Although our pavilion suite was certainly nicer, we found the proximity to the other suites/villas to be uncomfortably close, with very little privacy while using the pool and hot tub. We would not return, if staying on Corfu in the future.
Speaking of Ritz-Carlton Reserve, I was curious about Nujuma which has started taking reservations.
The pricing is atrocious!
I truly don’t understand who would be dropping that much to stay there, considering that the same amount of money can have you staying at pretty much any of the best hotels in the world.
Marriotts points program is pretty much useless now, theres so little value in it.
Problem is that it seems that almost all Marriot Hotels in Europe and Japan are at less than 0.7c, even if booking 5 days . There has been a massive devaluation over the past 18 months. Hilton is getting down to 0.34 - 0.4c in many cases for base rooms and I just laugh at the rates for a better room.
These hotel programmes as going to destroy their cashflow from selling points. as...
Problem is that it seems that almost all Marriot Hotels in Europe and Japan are at less than 0.7c, even if booking 5 days . There has been a massive devaluation over the past 18 months. Hilton is getting down to 0.34 - 0.4c in many cases for base rooms and I just laugh at the rates for a better room.
These hotel programmes as going to destroy their cashflow from selling points. as people stop buying points where the is no value. They need to at least price rooms at the minimum points sale price so there is some value to customers from the cancellation rules
We visited the St Regis Almasa during our trip around Egypt early January. Unfortuately we arrived on a nite like the Twilight Zone. No guests. Who likes an over busy hotel, but who likes a hotel when you are the only guests.
All marble lobby (a football pitch size) was freezing.
The road to get there, our driver was a local so he knew it, but the roads weren't quite finished. A bumpy and...
We visited the St Regis Almasa during our trip around Egypt early January. Unfortuately we arrived on a nite like the Twilight Zone. No guests. Who likes an over busy hotel, but who likes a hotel when you are the only guests.
All marble lobby (a football pitch size) was freezing.
The road to get there, our driver was a local so he knew it, but the roads weren't quite finished. A bumpy and uncertain ride.
Yes its a good price, but if you arrive on those days with no guests, its creepy. All government buildings under way in the area in current construction. Maybe one day will be nice, but would not recommend now.
Sisi is building like crazy out there. They now have the highest building, a skyscraper, that was built by the Chinese money and construction.
Interesting.
Doesn't seem like any thought was put into whether it makes sense to stay 5 nights at a certain Bonvoy property.
Tambo del Inka was a welcome change after 4N/4D on the Inka Trail. And the St. Regis Cario was my first STR stay. But unclear why Marriott properties are on your list when Marriott has not gotten back to you about its foreign currency scam!
Fukuoka is a great starting point to visiting Kyushu, and Kyushu is a great place. The airport is in the middle of the city, and the access to the surrounding area is great.
So a typical 7-10 days in Kyushu can cover: Fukuoka - Kitakyushu/Mojiko - Beppu - Kumamoto - Nagasaki.
2 hotels in the area that I recommend:
- Intercontinental Beppu: great onsen resort. Spent time there during the Rugby World...
Fukuoka is a great starting point to visiting Kyushu, and Kyushu is a great place. The airport is in the middle of the city, and the access to the surrounding area is great.
So a typical 7-10 days in Kyushu can cover: Fukuoka - Kitakyushu/Mojiko - Beppu - Kumamoto - Nagasaki.
2 hotels in the area that I recommend:
- Intercontinental Beppu: great onsen resort. Spent time there during the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Great onsen.
- Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel: want to see a TeamLabs that no one has heard of? Check out this hotel.
Ben, you should definitely try visiting Fukuoka if you’re in Japan! Lived there for 7 years and it sure has its charm. Very different from the rest of Japan but in its own unique way. The seaside is wonderful (especially the Itoshima area), the airport is close to the city, downtown is vibrant, temples nearby and it has a very distinct food culture, especially at night.
While in Kyushu (southern Japan) I also recommend visiting...
Ben, you should definitely try visiting Fukuoka if you’re in Japan! Lived there for 7 years and it sure has its charm. Very different from the rest of Japan but in its own unique way. The seaside is wonderful (especially the Itoshima area), the airport is close to the city, downtown is vibrant, temples nearby and it has a very distinct food culture, especially at night.
While in Kyushu (southern Japan) I also recommend visiting Nagasaki, Oita (Yufuin) and Amakusa (Try the ridiculously cute Amakusa Airlines :) ). You can try out the various special trains to destinations or even better, try to score a seat on the exclusive and luxurious seven stars of Kyushu train :) (https://www.cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp/english/?id=header)
Great list Ben. I've also stayed at Alila Napa Valley and absolutely loved it. The vineyard view suite is an absolutely lovely room.
For your "want to stay" list, I'd definitely recommend the Maria Cristina San Sebastian. One of the best stays I've had anywhere in the world. Gorgeous hotel, impeccable service and ideal location. Then take the train to Biarritz, with a stop off in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Fukuoka a few months ago, and it was great, would happily stay there again if we visited again. Maybe a bit surprised to see it on the list, but very good nonetheless
But agree that perhaps there are so many other places in Japan to visit before Fukuoka - would definitely recommend Okinawa or places in Hokkaido or several other smaller cities ahead of Fukuoka. There is a lot...
We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Fukuoka a few months ago, and it was great, would happily stay there again if we visited again. Maybe a bit surprised to see it on the list, but very good nonetheless
But agree that perhaps there are so many other places in Japan to visit before Fukuoka - would definitely recommend Okinawa or places in Hokkaido or several other smaller cities ahead of Fukuoka. There is a lot of interesting food, unlike what you might expect to find elsewhere in Japan, but not a whole lot else to do there.
Interesting how Leopard Sands in Kruger seems to have slipped through the nets of the blogosphere!
Because of the political situation in the hotel industry, I had stayed away from some US brands, but tried some Marriott properties this year and experienced an inexcusable organized crime scenario at one of their all inclusive resorts. I've seen too much of this and around the Hyatts, and IHG isn't all bad but I won't go back and it's also a British business now. Hiltons are not as reliable as you want them to...
Because of the political situation in the hotel industry, I had stayed away from some US brands, but tried some Marriott properties this year and experienced an inexcusable organized crime scenario at one of their all inclusive resorts. I've seen too much of this and around the Hyatts, and IHG isn't all bad but I won't go back and it's also a British business now. Hiltons are not as reliable as you want them to be in order to spend money, but it's a hotel in the US so how are you going to do any better? I can't use this list.
I am trying European brands and very happy with these Accor and Eurostars properties, French and Spanish. Some bad stays at upscale Accor sometimes but more than compensated for because they hire so many good people. Absolutely great human resources management at Accor. Intercity hotels are discount, but they have really impressed me enough to try their luxury brands. German brand, kind of a "system" hotel like Japanese brands. These all have points programs, not necessarily tied to a travel card available in the US or an airline.
I was in Biarritz last year, and it was very easy to take a train to San Sebastian. Might save you a couple days with a rental car??
Destination wise I agree ; anything Japan is great . The US dollar is strong against the Yen.
Never been to Cairo but I heard they have invested in tourism and infrastructure. UAE purchased bonds. Egyptian economy is good. They even built a wall to keep 1.2 million Palestinian refugees out.
We loved our stay at the Maria Cristina. Beautiful property and rooms, and a fab cocktail bar! Plus San Sebastian is a great destination, especially for food.
Marqués De Riscal is super easy add-on to San Sebastián and totally worth the side trip. It’s not the highest of service levels but it’s a fun property in a great wine region. I recommend the spa wing over the main building, and the winery tour is...
We loved our stay at the Maria Cristina. Beautiful property and rooms, and a fab cocktail bar! Plus San Sebastian is a great destination, especially for food.
Marqués De Riscal is super easy add-on to San Sebastián and totally worth the side trip. It’s not the highest of service levels but it’s a fun property in a great wine region. I recommend the spa wing over the main building, and the winery tour is quite good. Fun fact, there are also winery buildings in the area designed by Zaha Hadid and Calatrava.
We stayed at the St. Regis Almasa Cairo a little over a year ago. We needed a break while touring Egypt and noticed the low rate of $121 Cdn for three nights. Came with a room upgrade and breakfast. We arrived on a Friday night and the hotel was packed with families. The pool was jammed and the breakfast buffet had a lineup. The hotel was deserted on the second and third nights. Great stay...
We stayed at the St. Regis Almasa Cairo a little over a year ago. We needed a break while touring Egypt and noticed the low rate of $121 Cdn for three nights. Came with a room upgrade and breakfast. We arrived on a Friday night and the hotel was packed with families. The pool was jammed and the breakfast buffet had a lineup. The hotel was deserted on the second and third nights. Great stay with excellent staff. The hotel provided a free airport shuttle when we left. Our tour driver got lost finding the hotel.
Tambo del Inka is an amazing hotel in a small town. Our family had an fantastic stay for 5 days while we toured the area.
If you have not been, I highly recommend St. Regis Amman. We paid under $200 per night and had an amazing stay. I still dream about there breakfast buffet. Amman is beautiful and has tons of history, as well as being a gateway to Wadi Rum and Petra.
I guess this list explains well why so many people, especially people who want to experience luxury at affordable level, are stuck with Bonvoy.
For the first time I have a decent stash of Hyatt points. Trying to stay in Madrid and Paris in May and there’s virtually no availability. I suggest you include how far in advance you book hotels, cause it seems that Hyatt points aren’t as easy to use as you suggest.
I totally feel you there.
This oddly almost never gets discussed by all the people singing Hyatt's praises.
I've literally never had luck with Hyatt, ever, even being flexible with my dates and specific locations (say, on a road trip). Zilch.
Seems even worse than in the flights world.
Depends on the property really. Hyatt Regency Paris for example releases very few rooms and is always booked out since it's a low category hotel. On the other hand, Park Hyatt Paris, surprisingly has very good award space, possibly because it's so many points per night.
Another example is Hyatt Centric Ginza, which basically seems wide-open, but nearby hotels like Andaz Tokyo are booked at calendar open.
@yoloswag420 HC Ginza mostly has “standard” rooms which is why it’s usually always available with points. Whereas the Andaz only has one room category as “standard “ (and thus available with points) which is just on one side of the hotel. But I’ve had luck with the Andaz, you just need to keep on checking daily
This is interesting -- I haven't had these kinds of challenges. Certainly, sometimes there's no availability, but I haven't found it to be a blanket issue. I've gotten some Hyatt reservations in major European cities for this summer. Sometimes you just need to hunt a bit or settle for a shorter stay.
We went to Madrid in January and just got back from Paris and had no issue at all with booking. The weather was also perfect. You might have better luck moving to a time that isn’t peak tourism season.
Sounds fair, but this is exactly my point. Must of the time travel bloggers sound like you will be able to grab Hyatt hotels because there’s no blackout dates, and then publish travel reports in peak season at top properties. Chances are, they booked far in advance, and that should be mentioned.
I lot of times with Hyatt, I check availability daily. It does change a lot and if a property shows up as unavailable with points for your dates doesn’t mean it’s gonna stay like this
Alila Napa? Seems random. Most reviews are lukewarm at best. We locked in a suite with outdoor tub there, and that made it worthwhile, plus we enjoyed the food... but hardly thought it was a standout property.
Glad to see PH Auckland. Underrated IMO, and maybe an unpopular opinion, but better than PH Sydney.
North Island is a maybe bucket list property, and I'll probably pay cash if we follow through. Beyond that I have...
Alila Napa? Seems random. Most reviews are lukewarm at best. We locked in a suite with outdoor tub there, and that made it worthwhile, plus we enjoyed the food... but hardly thought it was a standout property.
Glad to see PH Auckland. Underrated IMO, and maybe an unpopular opinion, but better than PH Sydney.
North Island is a maybe bucket list property, and I'll probably pay cash if we follow through. Beyond that I have no vague interest in giving up another dollar to Marriott (to the extent I can avoid it).
Looking forward to Hinu Bay and Jabal Akhdar this summer.
I wonder what non-points (and non-Four Seasons) properties are on your bucket list, given you can afford the best of the best. Time+Tide Miavana (Madagascar is amazing anyways, this would just be a cherry on top)? Laucala Island? Octola?
Recently visited Saffire Freycinet, and service exceeded basically every points property I've ever visited.
Cheers.
Regarding Ritz Carlton Maldives, I'd personally consider that a hard sell if its an option besides St Regis Vommuli considering with platinum status will have to pay for breakfast at the former, another $150/day for two people that I dont have to at St Regis, is it really a better hotel?
Having stayed at both, I would choose the Ritz Carlton over the St Regis. I agree, it’s annoying not to honour status benefits. The RC did offer platinum members and above complimentary afternoon tea and their add-on meal plans were reasonable. Neither resort is particularly great with upgrades, whereas the W did a great job there. I am actually keen to see what the W’s refurbishment will look like. I found the overall experience at...
Having stayed at both, I would choose the Ritz Carlton over the St Regis. I agree, it’s annoying not to honour status benefits. The RC did offer platinum members and above complimentary afternoon tea and their add-on meal plans were reasonable. Neither resort is particularly great with upgrades, whereas the W did a great job there. I am actually keen to see what the W’s refurbishment will look like. I found the overall experience at W and RC a lot less pretentious than the St Regis - but then again I find the St Regis brand overrated across the board.
HGI Faroe Islands was $230/night when I stayed, might obviate the need to use points. Great location a 20 min walk from the downtown restaurants!
Also, definitely make it to Cusco & Maccu Picchu before the new airport in Chinchero opens and the old Cusco one closes, as tourism capacity will increase significantly and make it much harder to book certain things most likely
Would recommend a night at Mena House Cairo as well...
HGI Faroe Islands was $230/night when I stayed, might obviate the need to use points. Great location a 20 min walk from the downtown restaurants!
Also, definitely make it to Cusco & Maccu Picchu before the new airport in Chinchero opens and the old Cusco one closes, as tourism capacity will increase significantly and make it much harder to book certain things most likely
Would recommend a night at Mena House Cairo as well if you haven’t already, if only for the sunrise view over the pyramids at breakfast
Hotel du Palais Biarritz is quite nice. I've stayed there a number of times given a client in Biarritz. They are fantastic with Globalist benefits including upgrades to their massive terrace suites and beautiful amenities. Great staff. The bar is fantastic but the restaurant (though a breathtaking view) is just ok to me. It's a bit quirky in that to sit by the window you must partake in the set menu which is far too...
Hotel du Palais Biarritz is quite nice. I've stayed there a number of times given a client in Biarritz. They are fantastic with Globalist benefits including upgrades to their massive terrace suites and beautiful amenities. Great staff. The bar is fantastic but the restaurant (though a breathtaking view) is just ok to me. It's a bit quirky in that to sit by the window you must partake in the set menu which is far too much food and takes hours. The a la carte menu gets you way back in a corner. I will say this though, as much as I like this property do keep your expectations in check, while it is an astoundingly beautiful historic building it does have that classic feel to furnishings and an old school French vibe. Do not expect Four Seasons plush.
A very Bonvoy heavy listing
St Regis Cairo was beautiful and stunning. Upgraded to a 2BR, which I didn't need except the wife told me to use the second bath. ha! Staff was outstanding, restaurants were fun, interesting, and delicious. Good security (metal detectors as you drive in and to reach lobby). I only spent one night there, but would say it was one of my memorable stays and obviously, highly recommended.
Also, been to Alila Napa twice (which...
St Regis Cairo was beautiful and stunning. Upgraded to a 2BR, which I didn't need except the wife told me to use the second bath. ha! Staff was outstanding, restaurants were fun, interesting, and delicious. Good security (metal detectors as you drive in and to reach lobby). I only spent one night there, but would say it was one of my memorable stays and obviously, highly recommended.
Also, been to Alila Napa twice (which you mentioned) and planning another return in October. So amazing.
Thank you for providing all of us some goals to aspire to. I've gotten many checkmarks on my bucket list because of your posts, and the Park Hyatt in Milan and Park Hyatt in Zurich will be later this month (along with Pillows in Amsterdam and Hotel Grand Victoria in Lake Como).
Tambo del Inka is actually pretty underwhelming. The sister hotel (Palacio del Inka in Cusco) is on my list of favorite hotels I've ever stayed in but Tambo felt like a massive step down while being more expensive. Valle Sagrado is relaxing but not close enough to comfortably do Cusco or Machu Pichu. It does have some nice day trip options but the resort itself is kind of boring with pretty minimal activities as the...
Tambo del Inka is actually pretty underwhelming. The sister hotel (Palacio del Inka in Cusco) is on my list of favorite hotels I've ever stayed in but Tambo felt like a massive step down while being more expensive. Valle Sagrado is relaxing but not close enough to comfortably do Cusco or Machu Pichu. It does have some nice day trip options but the resort itself is kind of boring with pretty minimal activities as the resort grounds are relatively small. There is a lot of competition in the luxury sphere in that area so would suggest elsewhere... However again, could not recommend Palacio del Inka enough.
This is good to know. Looking at spending a day in Cusco before staying in the Sacred Valley and was thinking about the JW vs. Palacios del Inka. What did you like so much about Palacio?
This list demonstrates just poorly Hilton stacks up against the competition. I was a loyal Hilton Honors member but may switch to Bonvoy.
What do you expect though? No one wants to spend or has one million Hilton points for a two night stay at a "luxury" Hilton that doesn't even honor Diamond benefits consistently. For example, Conrad Bora-Bora was recently exposed for not even offering the complimentary breakfast.
We’re in Fukuoka now after five days in Nagasaki. I honestly don’t think Fukuoka is a great representation of Japan. People here are bit rougher and lots of non-Japanese live and work here. It’s more like New York.
Nagasaki was amazing on the other hand. I recommend trying other cities than Fukuoka.
Stayed at the Maria Cristina in San Sebastián (not booked with points) last week and it was exceptional! I highly recommend! Also visited Biarritz for the day and it was a charming coastal town.
My wife and I are doing the Biarritz-San Sebastian trip in September for a big anniversary, and I made sure to lock in a points reservation at the Hotel du Palais Biarritz as soon as we had the dates. Our French neighbor said Biarritz and Deauville (we went two years ago, phenomenal, but no good points hotels) are her favorite resort cities, so I can't wait.
I know this is just regarding points hotels... but if you end up visiting Tbilisi, give the Stamba hotel a try for one night at least, it has some great (brutalist) architecture!
Surprised the Alila's in Oman didn't make your "checked off" list!
I'd add St. Regis Belgrade to this list. Great little city and lots of amazing day trips.
@ pstm91 -- Take another look at the list, they're both on there. :-)
And sorry, I should have clarified, I'm not including properties that aren't yet open. If I did, the St. Regis Belgrade would definitely be on my list, along with properties like the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica. But given the constant construction delays we see nowadays, I stuck to properties that are already open.
That's what I get for commenting before coffee in the morning!
Agree that Belgrade is a great little city but slightly baffled by the location of the St Regis and who they’re hoping to attract there. Right by the shopping centre and in a predominantly residential part of town, it completely misses out everything great about the old town.
Fairfield Inn Anaheim
Thank you for the list. Will definitely check some of the hotels.
If going to Maldives, you may try Park Hyatt Hadahaa as well (former Alila). Villas may not be as luxurious as Waldorf, but if you're into unspoiled nature, nothing beats the house reef and the location of overwater villas. Sharks and dolphins literally pass by.
@ Likes-to-fly -- Stayed there multiple times back in the day, and agree it's a very special island that I'd highly recommend. As you mention, maybe not as luxurious as some other properties, but I love the island.
Not a comment...just a suggestion to consider correcting the spacing of"..check thi sout..." (Georgia paragraph).
As always, great article!
@ David -- Fixed, thank you! :-)