2023 In Review: My Top 10 Hotel Stays

I stay around 100 nights a year in hotels (between business and leisure travel). This number used to be more than double pre-pandemic, but is still healthy with over 1/3 of the year away from home.

With numbers like these there are going to be some great stays, some bad ones, and whole lot that are forgettable because nothing special happened or the room was just okay. It’s the hotels that wow or horrify you that create lasting memories. I’ll focus on the positive here. This could be an amazing upgrade, a lovely suite I booked, awesome service, great facilities, or something else that sets it apart. I had so many great stays this year that it was hard to pick just 10.

Here are my 10 favorite stays from this past year:

10. Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York

I started working for a new company in February and its office is located just a few blocks away. The Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York’s lobby is fun and gives a real sense of place. I was upgraded to a suite in advance and found it spacious and comfortable. The only minus here is that breakfast was was not good. Aside from this miss, I like this hotel and will likely make it my home base when I’m in the city for business. I remember when it was the Andaz and liked it then. I’m glad it has kept much of what made this hotel a good choice in lower Manhattan. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: 75 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

9. Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is about 15 minutes from where I’m living this winter. I’ve stayed at the hotel six or seven times now and found that I love parts of this hotel and am not so fond of others. It makes the top ten for a second year based on its expansive grounds including a boardwalk nature trail (where we saw a shark’s fin surface in the bay) and the Casitas. These standalone buildings are tucked away from the main resort and offer privacy, a Koi pond outside your door, as well as access to a separate pool. The main building is kind of dated, but the Casitas feel special. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, FL, 33607

8. Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts

The hotel is conveniently located at the north end of the Strip near The Wynn and The Venetian. Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts provides everything you could need for a great weekend getaway including tons of restaurants and a hawker-center-style food court, a casino, a spa, multiple pools, and well-appointed rooms and suites. Booking through Fine Hotels & Resorts provides a great value and guarantees a late checkout. We loved our suite and look forward to staying here again. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: 333 Resorts World Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89109

7. Encore Boston Harbor

It’s weird to see a hotel that looks like it was plucked right off of the Las Vegas Strip in the outskirts of Boston. The Encore Boston Harbor has gorgeous, tech-forward rooms and suites, a casino, multiple dining options, a spa and fitness center, but no pool. Luck was not on my side in the casino when I visited, but I enjoyed my stay and found my suite to be comfortable, spacious, and well appointed. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: 1 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149

6. Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel has a gorgeous lobby and comfortable accommodations. It does not offer air conditioning and this was an issue during our stay. Due to altitude sickness, I did not get to fully enjoy the hotel. The staff are excellent and took good care of us including having a boxed breakfast ready for our early departure to Machu Picchu. The original Inca-constructed walls, tons of art, and other artifacts fill this historic landmark. You feel like you’re staying in a museum and the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: Santo Domingo 259, Cusco 08002, Peru

5. JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

The JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel is a huge hotel that seems to cater to Viking Cruise passengers (they have a dedicated desk in the lobby), affluent vacationers, and business travelers. It offers a well-appointed lounge, comfortable accommodations, a pool and spa, several dining options, and even a luxury mall within the sprawling property. Our suite was lovely and the service was good, overall. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 90, București 050726, Romania

4. Susafa

Susafa provides the perfect respite from being in cities most of our lives. The pastoral surroundings immediately provide a sense of calm as you stroll through the fragrant gardens and relax by the stunning pool. The suite we had was well appointed, the air conditioning worked well, and surprisingly the Wi-Fi was decent throughout most of the stay. Food served in the restaurant is largely supplied by what is grown on the land or purchased from local suppliers, farmers, and artisans. You can’t help but relax at Susafa and a stay here is a great way to get back to nature without having to rough it. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: Contrada Susafa, 90028 Polizzi generosa PA

3. 7Pines Resort Sardinia – Destination by Hyatt

7Pines Resort Sardinia – Destination by Hyatt is a jewel in the Hyatt portfolio. It offers several pools, a beach, impeccably manicured grounds, several restaurants, spa, tennis courts, basketball court, fitness center, kids club, and more. Elite recognition is great at this hotel and Hyatt Globalist status got us an upgrade (using a Suite Night Award certificate), a delicious breakfast, and late checkout. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: Località Li Mucchi Bianchi, 07021 Baja Sardinia SS, Italy

2. The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest

The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest is an elegant option when staying in the city. Service was impeccable and the Club Lounge offered a delicious assortment of food from breakfast through evening desserts. We loved our suite and would return next time we came to Budapest. (Full review here.)

Address: Budapest, Erzsébet tér 9-10, 1051 Hungary

1. The Park Hyatt Vienna

I loved this hotel and especially the impressive suite that we occupied during our stay here. The service was excellent, breakfast was tasty, and we enjoyed using the spa. I’ve stayed at Marriott’s Hotel Bristol an Hotel Imperial before. Both are part of the Luxury Collection, but cannot hold a candle to the Park Hyatt in terms of design, amenities, and overall experience. The best shopping and restaurants are just steps outside your door. (Full review can be found here.)

Address: Am Hof 2, 1010 Wien, Austria

Anthony’s Take: These were my favorite hotel stays in 2023 for a variety of reasons. From amazing upgrades to beautiful beaches and lots of amenities, I’d gladly return to any of these hotels and hope that I get to again soon.