I’m a TPG Hotel Reporter: These Are My Favorite Hotels

I love hotels and have done so since I was four years old and my parents took me to The Mirage (RIP) in Las Vegas.

Growing up, I was lucky that my parents’ jobs sent them on road trips across the country, with me in the back seat of the van. Not to mention, in high school, our family and our dachshund, Lucky Wayne, ended up living in a Best Western for a few months after my parents sold their house. Then, at 16, there was nothing better than Texas-shaped waffles, an indoor hot tub and a Pool to enjoy with my friends.

When I realized that writing about hotels could be a job, it was a lot of hard work and lucky timing that led me to travel journalism. Eventually, I landed my job as TPG’s first dedicated hotel reporter. Now, more than a decade into my career, I still can’t believe this is my job. Along the way, I have fallen in love with many hotels, but still, only a few stand out from the rest.

So here are some of my favorite hotels in the world, from points hotels in iconic cities to boutique properties where you can take advantage of your credit card benefits through programs like Fine Hotels + Resorts either The Chase Travel Edition.

Related: These are the points that TPG staff will book in hotels in 2026

Four Seasons El Nam Hai

The Nam Hai, a Four Seasons resort in the food and culture city of Hoi An, is a favorite among travel journalists. There I enjoyed resting next to the long, reflective pool; listen to the waves crashing on the beach; and receive a spa treatment in my own private villa next to a pond. But what really convinced me was the food. Highlights included an amazing breakfast buffet where I learned that hot noodle soup really is the best way to start the day, as well as a culinary tour on Vespas which made us taste the best bites in the ancient city. Oh, and did I mention the cooking academyWhere can you go to the market to buy food and learn to cook on the property?

Rates in The Nam Hai Start around $709 per night.

St Regis Venice

In Venice, the only way to get to a hotel is by boat. At the St. Regis, you not only arrive by boat to an impressive hotel, but that hotel also functions as an art museum with pieces by renowned artists such as Ai Weiwei. During a visit, be sure to book a room with views of the Grand Canal, stop for art-inspired cocktails at Arts Bar, and book a luxury treatment at The Valmont Spa. Luxury shopping and Venetian history are also right outside the door of this St. Regis, so you won’t always have to rely on boats. But trust me, when it’s time to head to the airport, be sure to ask the concierge to arrange a boat service to take you there – it’s a magical experience.

Related: An art hotel with stunning views: my stay at the iconic St. Regis Venice

Rates in the St Regis Venice start around $1,017 per night or 82,400 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Park Hyatt Sydney

My TPG colleagues always praised Park Hyatt Sydneyand when I had the chance to visit in 2025, I finally understood why. Not only is the hotel beautiful and refined, it also offers some of the best views of the Sydney Opera House that you can find on Sydney’s waterfront, even from the breakfast buffet, where you can enjoy the view with an equally beautiful omelet. Located in The Rocks, the hotel is in a lovely area to explore and not far from ferries that will take you to other iconic locations such as Manly Beach. I loved this hotel so much that I burned all my Hyatt World Points towards booking another stay there later this year when you run the Sydney Marathon.

Rates in Park Hyatt Sydney starts around $703 per night or 35,000 points

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana

I love an all inclusive resort – oh really. I love the ease of being able to show up and not worry about what you’re going to spend, the fact that there is so much food and activities to choose from, and just being close to the ocean. In The Hyatt ZilaraYou can have all that, plus access to a water park, a cenote-inspired spa, and one of my favorite infinity pools in the world. Best of all, the adults-only Hyatt Zilara is attached to the Hyatt Ziva family resort, so adults can take advantage of deals at both resorts, while kids can only access one. If you haven’t tried an all-inclusive recently, I would recommend starting here to try again.

Rates in Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana Start around $684 per night or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night, based on double occupancy.

Related: Best Relaxing All-Inclusive Adults-Only Resorts for a Kid-Free Vacation

London rosewood

I have never felt as good as while I was with my husband in the London rosewood. From the outside, it’s a majestic stately building steeped in history, but the inside is revealed to be an elegant labyrinth of textured design, whimsical art and bars and restaurants that highlight the who’s who of London’s cosmopolitan scene. Scare’s Bar, and its quirky portraits of notable Brits, is my favorite bar in the world, only it gets better after a nightcap by candlelight (while pillows with monogrammed initials await you upstairs).

Rates in El London rosewood Starts around $633 per night.

The Cabo, a Thompson hotel

Every year my mom and I try to go deep sea fishing around Cabo San Lucas. And every year we try to book a room in The Capea beautiful resort with one of the most amazing pools I have ever swum in. Seriously, I’d sleep in a tent on the beach for pool access only, but the resort also has great ocean view rooms, restaurants with delicious food, and a spa that you won’t want to miss. (Mom, if you’re reading this, let’s do halves at a dorm over there, okay?)

Rates in The Cabo, a Thompson hotelStart around $550 or 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

The Madrid edition

When Brian Kelly, the literal Points Guy, he sent me to a travel to spend 150,000 Chase Rewards pointsI was lucky enough to spend some time at The Madrid Edition. A few years earlier, I had stopped in the cooler-than-cool lobby for a drink, but hadn’t had a chance to stay. Now that I have, I can confirm that every inch of this perfectly located property is visually intoxicating. Whether you’re sipping martinis at the bar or playing pool on the blue-topped pool table, this participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel will make you feel like part of the “it” crowd.

Rates in The Madrid edition Start around $391 or 77,500 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Hotel Four Seasons Seoul

Seoul is one of the most dynamic cities in the world and the Four Seasons Seoul matches that energy. I will never forget my stay, specifically because of the absolutely incredible Four Seasons Club Seoul, a multi-level club with Korean-style sauna experiences (multiple pools, showers, steam rooms), which I visit every morning. And for its bars and restaurants, including a speakeasy with amazing Korean fried chicken, a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, and kimchi cocktails at Oul. And while the food and spa were incredible, the hotel staff is truly some of the best in the business.

Related: Eat like a king, sleep like a baby: My stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Rates in Four Seasons Seoul Start around $400 per night.

The Mamounia

In January, I decided to take advantage of all the luxury hotel perks that come with my American Express Platinum® Card after a work trip to Morocco. Using those benefits, I was able to save around $500 about what would otherwise have been a rather expensive stay at La Mamounia in Marrakech. It was worth it because I wanted to experience the beautiful pool (perfect for plane lovers), the gorgeous Moroccan-style spa, and its location within walking distance of Marrakech’s legendary souks.

Rates in The Mamounia Starts around $450 per night.

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