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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. I balance my stays between Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and some independent hotels.
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.
Here are my 10 favorite stays from this past year:
10. The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort
It had been many years since I last stayed at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort. It’s a large property with beautiful views, lots of desert landscaping, and everything you could want for a business or leisure stay. While I was only at the hotel for around 18 hours, I got to get a good refresher of what the property offers. I wish I had more time to actually use the spa or pools, but a quick glance had to suffice for this trip. The public areas and rooms are well maintained and it’s a relaxing desert oasis for all visitors.
Address: 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9. Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus might not be high on your list of places to travel, but if you find yourself in the city this hotel is worth checking out. My second visit saw me proactively upgraded to a VIP Suite. There was also a bottle of sparkling wine on ice as a welcome amenity. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of Nationwide Arena and the Arena District. There are also lots of stores and restaurants nearby.
Address: 350 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
8. Vila Kalcuni Luxury Resort
This property is most likely not on your radar, but I highly recommend it if you find yourself in Sarandë, Albania. The hotel is the perfect spot for some relaxation and to easily reach everything you would like to do in the area. It was comfortable, clean, and our suite offered a gorgeous view.
Address: Rruga: 61/2, Saranda 9701, Albania
7. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota was a great choice for a weekend staycation. The hotel offers an upscale option when staying in the area. Service was great throughout and the Club Lounge offered a nice, elevated experience. Breakfast was particularly noteworthy. I was not pleased when we arrived at 5:30 PM to be told our room was not ready, but service recovery was impressive and we actually only had to wait around 20 minutes.
Address: 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
6. W Hollywood
The W Hollywood was undergoing renovations when I visited. The lobby and my suite were both beautiful. It was recently announced that these design changes will serve as the model for the W Hotels brand. I was in town for a meeting and only spent a short time in the hotel. The service, amenities, and elite recognition were top notch, but the neighborhood is a little sketchy.
Address: 6250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
5. Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York
We spent Thanksgiving night at the Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York before our early flight to Aruba the next morning. We arrived at the hotel late and did not get to check out most of the property or its amenities. A suite upgrade was a nice surprise and made our brief stay that much more enjoyable. The staff was friendly and I like that this hotel is modern with a full casino attached. Our visit only lasted around 10 hours, but we enjoyed our time and would return again if we had an early flight. The hotel opened in 2021 and it still feels new.
Address: 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11420
4. Canne Bianche
The hotel is part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) and bookable through World of Hyatt since it’s also a Mr and Mrs Smith property. The hotel is located on the coast in Torre Canne (in Puglia, Italy) and provided a great spot for exploring the area during our two-night stay. Canne Bianche is a gorgeous hotel with lush grounds, a lovely pool, and comfortable accommodations. The air conditioning and fan made the room nice and cold. Our dinner and daily breakfast was delicious with lots to choose from and high quality ingredients throughout.
Address: Via Appia Antica, 32, 72015 Torre Canne BR, Italy
3. Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts
This hotel is appearing on my top 10 list for the second year in a row (last year it was number eight). The hotel is conveniently located at the north end of the Strip near The Wynn and The Venetian. It 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.
Address: 333 Resorts World Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89109
2. Hyatt Centric Downtown Portland
My schedule changed and I arrived a night early for my conference. I decided to use a Hyatt certificate that was expiring for the extra night and chose the Hyatt Centric Downtown Portland hotel. It was a great choice as I was upgraded to a suite and treated well on my one-night stay. While this is not a glamorous resort, the hotel got just about everything right and I would definitely return.
Address: 601 SW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
1. Nido, Mar-Bella Collection
After spending a few disappointing nights at The Domes Miramare, A Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu (review here), we spent one night at Nido, Mar-Bella Collection, which is about a three-minute drive away. The property, service, and overall experience were all near perfect and we wished we had booked this property for more nights. We were treated like VIPs from the moment we stepped foot on this property. The staff, grounds, and dining are all excellent. This SLH property is bookable through Hilton.
Address: Corfu, Ag. Ioannis Peristeron 490 84, Greece
Anthony’s Take: These were my favorite hotel stays in 2024 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.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
