Let’s put some numbers behind a trend you might have already observed for yourself: There are simply a mind-boggling number of new hotels opening all around the world. In your hometown, the next town over, and every foreign city or exotic locale you’ve wanted to visit your entire life. At the end of 2024, there were more than 6,000 projects in development across the globe—a record high—with plans for 10,000 more announced. There’s a reason for the boom: Travel has never been hotter. Most popular destinations have now climbed above prepandemic levels annually, and hotel and airline prices have soared due to demand. But how the hell do you pick where to stay? Between the competing Reddit threads, sensationalized TikTok tours, and Instagram comment-section catfights, it can feel like an authentic recommendation is near impossible to find. We’re here to help. Behold, Esquire’s Best New Hotels 2025.
We identified our winners the old-fashioned way—we went there. Ate the food, slept in the beds, got to know the bartenders. We pushed into new frontiers in health and wellness in Dubai, kayaked with dolphins in South Carolina, experimented with longevity-enhancing treatments in London, and hiked until our legs shook in Wyoming. An Esquire editor or trusted contributor visited each and every property featured here, no exceptions.
Great hotels don’t just cater to your daily needs. They’re oases of comfort in foreign lands and gateways to dazzling new cultures. They offer the chance to experience the kindness of people who look and sound nothing like you, while restoring you for your life back home. The very best hotels won’t just make your vacation. They can change the way you see the world. Let them take you away. —Madison Vain
The Best New Hotels in the United States and Canada
The Best New Hotels in Europe and the U.K.
The Best New Hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America
The Best New Hotels in the Middle East and Asia
POPULUS
Denver, Colorado
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Look closely as you approach from the street and you might notice constellations of tiny dots painted onto the arched oval windows. The markings are meant to let birds know that a pane of glass is there—so that they don’t crash into it. Inquire further and you’ll learn that Jeanne Gang, the architect behind Populus, gathers bird nests in her office as a source of inspiration and came up with the eyelike shape of those windows by studying the aspen groves of Colorado. Nothing at Populus is accidental, and everything—from its nature-friendly design to a churning zero-waste biodigester that converts food scraps into compost—is meant to go way beyond the notion of carbon neutrality. Traditionally, hotels are pretty bad for the environment, but every gesture at this curvy, revolutionary property has been created with the idea of honoring nature. That spirit happens to lead to a beautiful and restorative experience. Calming birdsong is piped into the elevators. Sheets of reishi-mushroom leather dangle above the bar in Pasque, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant, and you gaze upon the Rocky Mountains in the distance from your table at Stellar Jay, the restaurant on the roof. While Populus may be new, its team already plans to let it age gracefully—because endless renovations have environmental repercussions. “We’re trying to embrace the imperfections,” says George Prine, the general manager. “Because that’s what would happen in nature.” No, we can’t guarantee that spending the night in a tree-hugging hotel will help you sleep, but it certainly won’t hurt. Populus represents two things at once: a casually luxurious place to stay and a positive step forward. Rooms from $299. —Jeff Gordinier
CASA LOMA BEACH HOTEL
Laguna Beach, California
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You’re watching the waves as they roll in. Pacific Coast sunshine floods your room. You’re listening to the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty on vinyl, and you feel the smooth nubbiness of a rattan carpet on the soles of your bare feet. Close your eyes and you might think you’ve been transported to the best damn time and place of all—a southern California surf town in the early 1970s. Which is exactly how hotel owner John Grossman and his team want you to feel. In renovating a dreamy piece of real estate between the beach and the Pacific Coast Highway, they’ve created a super-relaxed tribute to this cradle of West Coast surf culture—without succumbing to nostalgic kitsch. Summer is endless, after all. Oceanview rooms from $529. —J. G.
THOMPSON PALM SPRINGS, BY HYATT
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Palm Springs, California
After years of delays and a mid-construction brand change, it’s here. The Thompson is right in the center of town, with a second-floor pool that overlooks the busy main drag of Palm Canyon Drive and the San Jacinto Mountains. Rooms and suites are arrayed bungalow-style, giving the vibe of a seaside Greek village, and the streetside Hall Napa Valley Tasting Room & Wine Lounge brings a little northern California to the table. The soon-to-open Upper Stories wing will have a separate pool and a daily evening toast and social hour. It’s the perfect Palm Springs destination for the visitor who’s outgrown the Ace. Rooms from $550. —Dave Holmes
REGENT SANTA MONICA BEACH
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Santa Monica, California
The California coast is best seen through the lens of the Regent Santa Monica. It’s a love letter to the sand and the sea—rooms, many with long balconies stretching parallel to the shore, look out at the Santa Monica Pier, with firepits to keep you warm; the bright, open, airy architecture at every turn makes the entire hotel feel like an underwater palace, raised from the depths and brought to land. When you’re hungry, go for a bite downstairs at Orla by Michael Mina—the restaurant expertly merges fresh California ingredients and rich Mediterranean flavors. If you know L.A., you’ll find that the Regent brings together all its best offerings; and if you don’t know L.A., there’s no better introduction to the city. Rooms from $1,100. —Trishna Rikhy
BEACH CLUB AT THE BOCA RATON
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Boca Raton, Florida
You’d be hard pressed to find a resort in south Florida more iconic than The Boca Raton. There’s a romance to the place. Its Cloister building, which is bathed in dusty pink, was erected in 1926. Inside, your imagination runs wild, conjuring the sights and sounds of gin-soaked vacationers in black tie. The property boasts a sprawling 200 acres, more than 1,000 rooms, the world-class Spa Palmera, an 18-hole golf course, and more than a dozen restaurants and bars, including Japanese Bocce Club from Mario Carbone’s Major Food Group. Across Lake Boca Raton sits its latest jewel: the newly renovated Beach Club, a seven-story hotel and members-only club overlooking the Atlantic. You can spend all day at one of the three pools or book a cabana for extra privacy. If you need a change of scenery, stroll down to the beach and grab a chair. There are exceptional restaurants (order the crudo at Marisol) and bars with views of the ocean. The rooms have such breathtaking views you won’t even mind an overcast day in Florida. You still have access to all that The Boca Raton offers, but you won’t want to leave Beach Club. Upon checkout, you’ll feel fully restored and ready to plan your next visit. Rooms from $649 low season; from $1,150 peak. —Michael Sebastian
PALM HOUSE
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Palm Beach, Florida
Until this year, Palm Beach’s best hotels could be counted on one hand. You can finally add one more to the list. Palm House has arrived in the heart of the action, just a short walk away from the town’s shopping center. We stopped at Buccan Sandwich Shop on the way into town for the famous Beef Carpaccio sandwich (get it before it sells out for the day) and an Arnold Palmer that I’m still thinking about. Back at the hotel, it’s fitted in signature Palm Beach style with pink palm motifs, but it somehow manages to feel like Florida’s most modern offering—but in a fun way. Where did I spend most of my trip? At the bar with my husband and seven-month-old baby. The space is family-friendly, fun, and just one of those enjoyable environments with excellent drinks and a great soundtrack. By night, the restaurant is where you want to be with its Japanese-infused menu, from which you can order all the classics like crispy rice and spicy tuna. While the food impressed, what surprised me most was the crowd—Palm Beach’s younger set has found a new place to spend their Saturday night. Rooms from $499 low season; from $1,289 peak. —Krista Jones
FORTH HOTEL
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Atlanta, Georgia
As a hotel, Forth hits all its marks. Well-appointed rooms and residential suites in a historic, quiet, and easily accessible corner of town are great for visitors and movie-industry visits. And the rooftop bar will end up in every city guide pretty soon. But it’s moonlighting as a members club that makes Forth shine. The gym, spa, and fitness classes are worth a stay on their own. And at the bar and restaurant, servers get the name of every walk-in that places an order and remember them over the course of a night. Whereas other half-members clubs feel stratified, Forth extends membership-level service to all. Rooms from $345. —Luke Guillory
HOTEL BARDO
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Savannah, Georgia
Buddhists will tell you that the bardo is where you go after one of your lives ends but before the next begins. But the new Hotel Bardo in Savannah is more paradiso than purgatorio. 149 rooms now occupy one of the city’s redbrick Victorian mansions along Forsyth Park. The aesthetic is hot Wes Anderson (bright colors, round edges, globe lights, nice plants). There’s a picturesque outdoor pool with baby-pink accents—where good-looking Savannahians gather—and an ambitious coastal Italian restaurant, Saint Bibiana, in the adjoining house. On the lower level, there’s a wellness spa called Saltgrass, and the hotel offers daily classes including devilishly difficult boot camps—the closest thing to hell you’ll find here. Rooms from $450. —Joshua David Stein
THE LONGFELLOW
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Portland, Maine
Just outside touristy downtown Portland lies the perfect place to decompress. A place where you sip martinis in a cozy lobby bar as the Maine sun sets through giant picture windows. Where afternoons evaporate in a sauna suite (yes! suite!) while you drink tea in a plush robe. Where, before bed, you pull the blackout curtains all the way shut. Go. You’ll feel better. Rooms from $169. —Lauren Kranc
THE NEVADA
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York, Maine
In the high summer, York, Maine, a small town between Portland and Boston, is a carnival of non-rhotic accents and sunburns. The vacationland crush can be daunting, as traffic snakes along 1A, bars on one side, beach on the other. Rising above it all is the Nevada, a great teal-and-white structure built in 1951 to resemble the flybridge of the USS Nevada. The Nevada was one of Maine’s first motels until it closed in 2021. Now it’s been reborn under the care of a local couple, Joe Lipton and Michelle Friar. (They also own the nearby Viewpoint, where Lady Gaga’s sister recently wed.) Though the soul of the motel remains, everything has been upgraded. The 21 rooms are sun-flooded and airy. Each with a king-size bed and a view onto Long Sands Beach. Each boasts a private terrace, from which to watch the sun’s nightly and almost absurdly beautiful show at a stately remove. Rooms from $239 low season; from $341 high season. — J.D.S.
PENDRY NATIRAR
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Somerset County, New Jersey
Did I expect my favorite hotel stay of the year to be in I-don’t-know-where New Jersey? (Peapack, formally.) Absolutely not. Am I still thinking about it? All the time. Perched on top of a towering hill, the hotel grounds boast a gorgeous wellness spa, a cozy restaurant, and a lobby that looks like it belongs somewhere in the Biltmore. The kicker: Pendry Natirar is fueled by the sprawling farm on the property, which you can tour, and where you can say hi to the chickens and pick up goodies. (I’m still using the honey they gave me.) It all makes for an intimate, Hudson-esque adventure—but without the hike upstate. Rooms from $675. —Brady Langmann
THE HENSON
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Hensonville, New York
There is really no need to venture into the outside world once you’re in the Henson’s cocoon. Grab a cocktail and your book, kick your shoes off, and park yourself on the couch, just like you would in your own living room. Feed the fire, listen to its crackle, and play board games all day. Breakfast is a dream—homemade pop tarts, local butter, farm-fresh soft-boiled eggs in delicate cups—and you will want to eat dinner at Matilda, the restaurant on site, as many nights in a row as you stay. Rooms from $279. —L.K.
THE MANNER
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New York, New York
An understated facade on Thompson Street hides the sexiest hotel in SoHo. The Manner is the first of the latest brand by Standard International, and its flagship location is codesigned by the Standard’s Verena Haller and Milanese architect Hannes Peer, so the whole place is Studio 54 stylish, yet comfortable. Speakeasy Sloane’s is a great place for a cocktail and—we swear—the best chicken nuggets in town, while the Apartment is a cozy common space to use as your living room. Check out the penthouse, modeled after Halston’s office, and dream of the party you’ll throw there. There’s no better center of operations for your next New York trip. Rooms from $799. —D.H.
THE SURREY, A CORINTHIA HOTEL
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New York, New York
Don’t let yourself get swept away by the history. An art deco gem built in the 1920s at 76th and Madison, the Surrey was a longtime landmark in New York’s glitziest neighborhood, playing host to the likes of JFK and Bette Davis. It closed after a century and, following a multiyear renovation, recently reopened as the first North American property under global luxury hotel group Corinthia. From the outside, the property could easily pass for a residential building. Inside, you’ll find 70 rooms and 30 suites, each flawless. Muted terra-cotta-colored walls, crisp linens, and walk-in marble showers make for plush surroundings. The spa is small but divine. And the lobby bar and restaurant, Casa Tua (of Aspen, Miami, and Paris notoriety), is one of the hardest-to-get tables in town. Movie stars, politicians, famous divorcées, influencers—everyone here is someone. Including you. Rooms from $1,000. —M.V.
SEVEN BEACH LANE
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Westhampton Beach, New York
Staying at Seven Beach Lane in welcoming Westhampton Beach feels like visiting a friend’s coastal mansion—the one that’s been in his family since the Gilded Age. The historic 16-room inn blends luxurious updates (a heated saltwater pool, marble showers, Malin + Goetz amenities) with relaxed charm. Start your morning with fresh breakfast and housemade hot sauce, then bike to the beach on one of the hotel’s custom cruisers. Evenings bring cocktails in the moody bar while your locally sourced dinner is best enjoyed al fresco in the garden, so you don’t miss those legendary out-east sunsets. This is the Hamptons without the hassle. Rooms from $345 low season; $749 summer. —Abigail Covington
OUTPOST INN
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Highlands, North Carolina
The owner of Outpost Inn once said he wanted the 14-room hotel to look like Topanga Canyon had a baby with the Catskills, and somehow it does. The rooms are carefully curated with vinyl record players, organic linens, patchwork quilts, and vintage rugs that look like they were plucked from a yard sale in Woodstock, New York. Outside, courtyard firepits and covered porches give the place the energy of a very vibey summer camp. Inside, the communal spaces are warm and unfussy, with deep couches, tucked-away reading nooks, and a coffee bar that pivots to pouring natural wine after five. If you’ve ever wondered where Joan Didion might stay if she were on assignment in Appalachia, this is it. Rooms from $250. —A.C.
TU TU’ TUN LODGE
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Gold Beach, Oregon
At this once-rustic historic fishing lodge in remote Oregon, each cabin is wrapped in mirrored glass on four sides; there’s enough space inside for two people (intimate), a large bed (snugly), and not much else. What more could you need? Rooms from $595. —J.D.S.
GRANGE ESTATE
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Willamette Valley, Oregon
Sometimes, what you need is to check into a nine-bedroom inn that rests at the top of a hill in Willamette Valley wine country. You need to take long walks among the vines, guzzle your bodyweight in pinot noir, and walk barely ten steps to the epic tasting-menu concept (Anthology) that shares the same view. Sit by the fire and walk the ten steps back to your bed, where a mound of quilts awaits. Isn’t that sometime . . . right now? Rooms from $399 low season; $749 high season. —M.V.
HOTEL ANNA & BEL
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Philadelphia
Ironically, bodies of water are hard to come by in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood. But last year, the lavishly restored former asylum for indigent widows and single women reopened as a chic boutique hotel called Anna & Bel. And in the courtyard, where hitherto inmates might have glumly contemplated their lives, a rare urban pool sits. Overlooking it, tastefully designed rooms, each with lots of linen and velvet, wood, wicker, and white brick (plus the obligatory electric kettle and Le Labo and Frette) occupy the 18th-century building. Downstairs, Bastia, one of our Best New Restaurants, turns out Sardinian and Corsican cuisine by Tyler Akin while the adjacent bar, Caletta, offers elaborate Italianate cocktails in a cozy golden bar. Rooms from $300. —J.D.S.
THE DUNLIN
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Johns Island, South Carolina
Sitting on the banks of the Kiawah River, more than 90 percent of the Dunlin’s 72 rooms stare right at the water—as does the adorable pool, the communal firepit, the big back porch, and the upper deck of restaurant Linnette’s. Rooms are spacious and Instagrammable, but the windows draw you out. Kayak trips, salt-marsh expeditions, and long walks await. Rooms from $749. —M.V.
HOTEL SAINT AUGUSTINE
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Houston, Texas
It must have been nice to be a de Menil, the French-born, Houston-based art-collecting power couple of the mid-20th century. Chances are, you aren’t. But you can get pretty close at the new Hotel Saint Augustine, which opened in Montrose, Houston, in January. Steps away from the Menil Collection—for my money Houston’s most spectacular museum—the low-lying property consists of 71 rooms, spread out in five two-story buildings, separated by pathways that wind between live oaks, sage, dwarf rock palms, and rabbit’s foot fern. Each room decorated in an archly mid-century fashion inspired by the private quarters of the august family. Colors are sage, mustard, and siena; the print on the couch is inspired by Charles James, the couturier who designed the de Menils’ home. Like the de Menils themselves, the restaurant, Aaron Bludorn’s Perseid, combines French bistro classics with nods to the Gulf Coast. (Think crawfish sausage with a sauce creole, or a decadent burger with duck-liver mousse.) A (heated) pool is pure Hockney in the summer, a symphony of aquamarines and tans. A listening room holds a reel-to-reel tape player and plush geometric couches on which recline hot, louche Houstonians with stunning décolletage while mere feet away the awe of Cy Twombly’s monumental works beckon in majestic repose. Rooms from $429 —J.D.S.
TWIN FARMS
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Barnard, Vermont
Luxury nestled into Vermont’s woods is how you truly get away from it all. Twin Farms, spread across 300 acres, began as a nine-room hotel in 1993. It has since expanded to include family cottages ideal for extended city escapes. Its newest addition takes things to new heights, literally, with luxury treehouses. These aren’t your childhood treehouse daydreams either: The rooms are even better than you could have ever imagined. Not only are they more luxurious than standard hotel suites, but they are roomier than my first one-bedroom apartment. The all-marble bathroom features heated floors and a soaking tub in front of a massive window framing the forest. But if you really want to soak it up, visit the infamous Japanese-style onsen on the property before heading to dinner. At the restaurant, you’ll find locally made butter and cheese and even honey and maple syrup from Twin Farms’ own property. Back in your room, perched on tall stilts at eye level with the surrounding trees, the huge, rounded balcony is where you’ll really want to spend your time. Order breakfast to your room and it arrives in a charming picnic basket. A picnic in the woods? No one will know you’re bathing in luxury, too. Rooms from $2,800. —K.J.
HOTEL YELLOWSTONE
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Romance and the great outdoors don’t always mix—just ask anyone who’s ever tried to have sex in a tent. But at this adults-only, 36-suite retreat perched high above Wyoming’s Snake River Valley, the two go together like Marvin Gaye and making out. Here the views of the Grand Tetons are as unobstructed as they come, and the hotel is designed to make the most of them. The lobby features floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge patio that overlooks the mountains and the valley below. Every suite is a 600-square-foot stunner, with a freestanding soaking tub, heated floors, and motion-activated lighting so you’ll never stub your toe en route to the toilet again. Then there’s the hotel’s heated, saltwater infinity pool with retractable windows that let in the crisp air while you stay toasty in the water. Oh, and breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Olivia’s, is included and delicious; the western omelette and the Grand Teton smoothie are perfect fuel for a day of adventuring. Speaking of, Hotel Yellowstone takes full advantage of its location, offering guided excursions into Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Add it all up and what you get is a hotel that has mastered the art of indulgence in the outdoors. Rooms from $1,798. —A.C.
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL TORONTO
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Toronto, Canada
Toronto is the birthplace of the first-ever Four Seasons Hotel, so it’s only fitting that the city is home to a quintessential iteration of the chain. Completely renovated this past year, the FS Toronto is elegant, timeless, and serene, with windows draped in giant sheer curtains that dim the noise and lights of the outside world. If there is a relaxation more all-encompassing than what you can find on the spa floor, which is laden with pools, steams, snacks, fluffy robes, and recliners, I have not found it yet. Rooms from $525.—L.K.
VIRGIN HOTELS LONDON-SHOREDITCH
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London, U.K.
Yes, London’s Shoreditch neighborhood is a proper jaunt away from some of the more touristy items on your agenda. But if you simply want to lose yourself in London, this Virgin property, which has a beautiful rooftop restaurant and pool, is a superb home base. In the winding alleys that surround the hotel, you’ll find some excellent vintage shopping—I would’ve returned home with three army jackets if I’d had the luggage for it. Plus, at a dimly lit joint called the Smoking Goat is the best Thai food you’ll find in the city. Rooms from $344. —B.L.
THE EMORY
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London, U.K.
London’s Hyde Park Corner is chockablock with high-end hotels. But none are quite like the Emory. An all-suite property from Maybourne (Claridge’s, the Connaught, and the Berkeley), tucked down an easy-to-miss side street, this one is for those who want to stay near the city’s most fabulous shopping and dining but away from prying eyes. While most of its neighbors lean into their history—think: stately red brick and Portland stone—the Emory defies it. Modern and sleek, it’s one of the final projects from the late Richard Rogers, who also designed the Pompidou Center in Paris. Big picture windows take up full walls of each oversized room. There’s a stunning ABC Kitchens restaurant from Jean-Georges, a four-floor subterranean health club, and the first Tracy Anderson studio outside the U. S. If you should want for anything at all, your own Emory Assistant will take care of it. Rooms from $2,043. —M.V.
PARK HYATT LONDON RIVER THAMES
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London, U.K
After spending the day exploring London, you retreat to your room overlooking the Thames. Joseph Conrad, perhaps the unofficial bard of this waterway, echoes in your head: “The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day.” From your room at Park Hyatt London River Thames—a gleaming new tower with 203 rooms and suites—you can see Battersea Power Station bathing in amber light from the setting sun. You watch commuters on the nearby Vauxhall Bridge hurrying home. Then an idea occurs to you. The room is so elegant and comfortable, why not cancel tomorrow’s activities and stay here? After all, the hotel is an oasis. You’ll sleep a little later than usual and roll out of bed for a massage at the spa. Eat lunch at Nine Elms Kitchen, the menu of which reflects the diversity of the city. Later you’ll have dinner at the Cantonese restaurant, Yú Gé, where you’ll experience some of the best Asian food in the British Isles. Finish it off with a drink at the dark and sexy Nine Elms Bar + Lounge. Return to your room—past the various works of art hung throughout the property—where the Thames awaits, the city sprawled out beyond it. As you drift off to sleep, Conrad comes to mind again: “What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth! ... The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires.” Did you just have a perfect day in London? Rooms from $886. —M.S.
HOTEL HANA
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Paris, France
Tucked into Paris’s Little Tokyo neighborhood, Hotel Hana takes its location seriously. The entire place—from the floral designs on the couches in the lobby bar to the marbled showers to the menu of its exceptional restaurant, Hanabi—is an awe-inspiring fusion of French and Japanese design and cuisine. Ever had soy sauce in your old-fashioned? How about udon with bisque and langoustine tartare? Every damn inch, bite, and minute in Hotel Hana feels like a marvel. Rooms from $425. —B.L.
LE VICTORIA BY MAISON ALBAR
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Nice, France
Sometimes it really is all about the view. From your perch at the rooftop bar of top-floor restaurant Taulissa, it’s blue as far as the eye can see. If you can tear your gaze away, however, you’ll find a cocktail and food menu as bright as the sea. On the floors beneath, airy, art deco rooms and, all around, a staff that’s eager to please. Le Victoria doesn’t yet compete with the five-star properties that dot the rest of the Côte d’Azure, but it adds a touch of glamour to a pocket of Nice that’s ready for it.
Rooms from $470. —M.V.
AREV
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St.-Tropez, France
In a town like St.-Tropez, where opulent hotels have dotted the hillside for decades, expectations for any new opening are sky-high. This year, Arev beat each and every one of them. A 15-minute walk from the town center, the 35-suite property is perfectly tucked away from tourist mobs and loud parties without being isolated in the outskirts. A sanctuary spread out across several stand-alone buildings, it feels like a throwback to the French Riviera’s heyday—with service to match. Octopus ordered to your balcony? Steak served poolside? Bien sûr! Rooms from $640 low season; from $1,629 peak. —K.J.
LE CHÂTEAU DE THÉOULE
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Théoule-sur-Mer, France
The Côte d’Azur has a secret. The town of Théoule-sur-Mer. An hour’s train ride from Nice—I took the train with my newborn baby in tow from my in-laws’ in Nice, and it was perfectly easy. Settled into the coastline is the new Château de Théoule, an old château sitting atop the hill overlooking the blue sea with rugged hills filled with colorful homes. It could easily be mistaken for the Italian Riviera—minus the crowds. The Château’s stunning renovation, with soaring ceilings and oversized soaking tubs, turns this boutique hotel into the perfect place to relax without all the fuss. Eat your breakfast in the Château’s bar, French doors flung open to the Mediterranean, sheer curtains blowing in the wind as you munch on your croissants. Most of all, you won’t want to skip the spa. After a treatment, I headed to the large circular hot tub overlooking it all. After lunch, my mother-in-law, who took a day trip to see us with a swimsuit stuffed in her bag, took a dip in the sea after enjoying the local fish. The water is so clear, so warm, Théoule-sur-Mer’s cove is even better than a pool. My mother-in-law has been back many times since. Even the locals are convinced this is where you should be. Rooms from $393 low season; from $1,004 high season. —K.J.
ROMEO ROMA
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Rome, Italy
No matter how many times you’ve done Rome, you haven’t done it like this. One of Zaha Hadid’s final architectural projects, Romeo Roma is a fantastical fusion of tradition and modernity; the glass-bottom spa pool, suspended above an archaeological site, lets you swim among excavated ruins. When you’re ready to retreat to your room, the ebony and Carrara-marble interiors invite you back to the 21st century. (You can also opt to stay in one of the rooms with original frescoed walls if you’re feeling nostalgic for the 1500s.) With the exception of the stunning Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Roma, everything in the hotel is exclusive to guests. Rooms from $2,614. —T.R.
THE LEINSTER
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Dublin, Ireland
Break up the Guinness- and Jameson-jammed pub crawls with a long lingering meal at Jean-Georges, located at the top of the Leinster in Dublin. And after hours of feasting on all the fancy French fare, you’ll definitely need a digestif. Luckily, you don’t have to go far. Head back to the suite and play bartender for the night with the not-so-minibar, stocked with batch cocktails and Château La Coste wines. Or if that sounds like too much effort, simply slide into the Collins Club—the lounge downstairs. Sit back and let the experts take care of you. Rooms from $330. —Omar Mamoon
100 PRINCES STREET
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Edinburgh, Scotland
100 Princes Street is an ode to Scotland’s great explorers, draped in tartan and steeped in adventure. Set opposite Edinburgh Castle, this boutique gem from Red Carnation Hotels feels like a private members’ club with a dash of whimsy. A five-story mural-lined staircase sets the scene, while nautical details—porthole windows, ship-inspired switches—nod to the country’s maritime past. The Wallace serves up local flavors in a plush, leather-clad dining room, while Ghillie’s Pantry pours more than 100 whiskies. Opulent, imaginative, and unapologetically Scottish, this boutique hideaway turns Edinburgh into an explorer’s dream. Rooms from $550. —Jordi Lippe-McGraw
BORNETA
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Barcelona, Spain
Immediately after check-in, beeline it to the rooftop—a quick dip in its pool will do you just right after a long-haul flight. Cool down with a caña and take in the view. You’re in the heart of El Born—the hip ’hood where all the cool kids in Barcelona hang out. Across the street is the Ciutadella Park—it has a lake, a museum, and even a zoo. Behind you are more museums (hello Picasso!) and galleries and an endless sea of tapas bars. Time to explore, but not before a quick cocktail at the vibey Bar Volta downstairs. Rooms from $325. —O.M.
KIMPTON BEM BUDAPEST BY IHG
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Budapest
A 19th-century mansion with a wild side, this Marcel Wanders–designed stunner is all about playful opulence—golden stags, upside-down-egg reception desks, and hallways that feel like a living storybook. Rooms channel either garden chic with Hungarian floral motifs or an oceanic dreamscape with wave-patterned walls. The rooftop bar, Fennen, serves cocktails with panoramic views while a hidden nook in the lobby bar feels straight out of a fairy tale. It’s Budapest’s most imaginative stay, where the past and future collide in style. Rooms from $318. —J. L. M.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT AND RESIDENCES CABO SAN LUCAS AT CABO DEL SOL
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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Four Seasons has been doing luxury travel well for more than 60 years, but every now and then they do it even better. Welcome to the hotel group’s new property along the southern coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. The palm-tree-lined main pool is the centerpiece, but the sweeping views of the Sea of Cortés put up quite a fight. Each of the three full-service dining options demand a visit, as do the outdoor firepits nestled into the rooftop garden of wildflowers and native grasses, and friendly but unfussy service will have you booking your next trip before you’ve even left. Rooms from $1,380. —M.V.
THE POTLATCH CLUB
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Eleuthera, Bahamas
Don’t you ever wish you had a fabulous best friend with a 12-acre property right on the nicest spit of pink-sand beach you’ve ever seen? I’ve got something better: the Potlatch Club. Its backstory is wild. The property was first built in 1923 as a private residence before being purchased in the ’50s by a trio of socialites who wanted it as an escape for global jet-setters. Their plan worked: Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo, and Raymond Burr all vacationed here. Paul McCartney came on his honeymoon with Linda and wrote “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” on Potlatch stationery. But the good times came to a halt in the ’80s and soon the jungle crept forward, reclaiming the land completely. It stayed that way until 2016, when current owner Hans Febles rediscovered the property on a walk. He and his business partner, Bruce Loshusan, soon went to work. They saved four of the buildings and, over the next few years, added a few more—there are just 11 suites at the Potlatch, though plans to expand (slowly) are in the works. New and old are in perfect harmony. As is the food. The service team at Potlatch has worked together for more than two decades at various high-end properties and takes delight in challenging guests’ taste buds. Equal credit is owed to the owners, who’ve supported local farmers, helping them expand their operations. But the Potlatch Club is more than a story. Put your feet in the cotton-candy sand. Drink a coffee on your patio in an oversized Adirondack. Take a nap on your lounger and wake up just in time for a sundowner. This is an absolute delight. Rooms from $775 low season; from $975 high season. —M. V.
THE STRAND TURKS AND CAICOS
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Cooper Jack Bay, Turks and Caicos
If you’re vacationing at a postcard-friendly destination like Turks and Caicos, your resort is probably offering a tourist-sedating rotation of cocktails, loungers, and entry-level snorkeling expeditions that will make you wish you stayed at the bar. At long last, someone upended the itinerary. Staying at the Strand means facing a series of impossible decisions. Do you jump in a boat and speed over to the spot formerly known as Prince’s mansion, or sweat out last night’s booze at the pickleball court? Do you adventure to a nearby shipwreck, or take the conch-cooking class you never knew you wanted? Pro tip: Make time for everything. (Just don’t dive from the top of the shipwreck.) Rooms from $800. —B.L.
NEKAJUI, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE
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Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is already at the highest tier of luxury, but with this new resort on Costa Rica’s exclusive Peninsula Papagayo, they’ve raised the roof. Take a wooden suspension bridge from your room over the hillside to the massive infinity pool or the tented treetop bar for some truly stunning sunsets, or ride the glass funicular down to the beach for some stand-up paddle-boarding or a snack at the Niri Beach Club. Rock-star executive chef Lulu Elizaga makes use of local fruits, vegetables, and meats; Angelo Solimando’s cocktail program is ever-evolving with an in-kitchen lab and distillery; and on-site coffee shop Café Rincón has the best pour-over coffee I have ever tasted. It is not cheap, but it is worth it. Rooms from $1,700 low season; from $2,800 high season. —D.H.
SIRO ONE ZA'ABEEL
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Dubai, UAE
Welcome to the first uber-luxe fitness-and-recovery-focused hotel on the planet. Here everything revolves around the gym, which takes up an entire floor of the opulent Siro tower and enjoys panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. You can book one of the property’s personal trainers (many are former professional athletes from around the world) for your stay; take one of the 50 weekly classes, like spinning, HIIT, boxing, or functional fitness; sign up for private Pilates; or wind down with yoga. Not enough? Consider this: The Fitness Suites have in-room equipment, like treadmills, stationary bikes, punching bags, free weights, and a library of digital classes that can be projected onto your wall. Rest gets just as much real estate, and the Recovery Lab is no average hotel spa. Yes, there are steam rooms, saunas, and cold plunges, but there is also the custom-developed Modular Stretch Massage (a combination massage and assisted stretching protocol), myofascial cupping, physiotherapy, and Skin Workout (a massage-heavy facial that lifts and tightens). The food during your visit is completely tailored to your requirements, designed by an in-house dietitian you’ll meet a week prior to arrival—they’ll even recommend specific orders for you at local restaurants. For now, there is nowhere else in the world like this, though Siro will change that soon enough. The new hospitality brand has plans to open doors in Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, and Mexico in coming years. Hurry up. Rooms from $218 low season; from $790 peak. —Garrett Munce
SIX SENSES KYOTO
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Kyoto, Japan
Visiting Kyoto always feels like being dipped into a cool, calm pool of water, but checking into the Six Senses takes it even further. From the shared spaces—the baths and sauna, the outdoor dining area nestled next to a perfectly manicured garden—to your thoughtfully appointed room, serenity suffuses the entire establishment. It’s a place to restore balance—even when you’re on your third round at the Nine Tails cocktail bar late into the evening. Rooms from $1,131. —Jonathan Evans
