This year, luxury hotels evolved from traditional, old-school opulence toward experience-driven, personalized stays. It’s been happening for a few years now, but this year the trend reached new, sometimes preposterous levels.
The reason why is simple: There are more millionaires and billionaires in the world now than at any point in history, and if they’re not pleased with hotel service, they can easily opt for fully staffed private villas or yachts instead. Which is why hoteliers are falling all over themselves to become more attractive to the biggest spenders. The rest of us get to ride the ripples of the waves.
Gone are the days where a stay is just a stay. A stay is an experience to write home about. The best hotels open formerly locked doors and reflect what a particular destination has to offer in a microcosm. With that in mind, here are the top 10 hotels I visited in 2025, in chronological order. From hiking the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to surfing the waves in Costa Rica and the rooftop bars of London, these particular hotels helped stage unforgettable moments.
Author’s note: January is for reflection and resets. This year-in-review thus begins in the snowy and romantic month of February, 2025. It should also be noted that this list does not include wellness resort-clinic hybrids. My forthcoming “longevity list” is another story altogether.
Click HERE to see keep reading!