15 Top-Tier Hotels And Resorts To Book In 2026, According To Experts

So you've decided on a place to visit for your long-awaited vacation or even just a weekend getaway, but what about where you'll stay? This is the way we typically think about travel — first decide on the place, then the lodging. But when it comes to premier hotels, the tables are easily turned in that decision-making process. 

From all-inclusive resorts to wellness retreats and serene oases, there are myriad choices that ooze luxury, elegance, history, and, above all, comfort — so much so that you may find yourself choosing the destination because of the accommodations. If you're looking to treat yourself on a trip this year — whether seeking opulent interiors or exclusive resorts with breathtaking open-air rooms — look no further for inspiration than these 15 top-tier hotels around the world, beloved by travelers and industry insiders alike.

Located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luxor, in Egypt, Hotel Al Moudira opened in 2001 with a vision to combine history, local artistry, and incredible design. Al Moudira is part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group, harkening back to the grand early 20th-century hotels of Cairo and Luxor while leaning into modern comforts and emphasizing luxurious details like high-end Egyptian cotton bedding. Self-described as a "honeycomb," with 10 courtyards and 54 suites, its luxurious rooms — starting around $340 per night — feature elegant textiles, hand-painted murals, earthy surfaces, and domed ceilings. Six private villas offer an exceptional experience for families or groups, blending antique and contemporary design elements and featuring private pools.

Around the property, verdant gardens are complemented by fountains, orchards, and pools on nearly 25 acres. In terms of exploring the ancient landscape nearby, it's all about location, location, location. Thankfully, the hotel's concierge service can facilitate an array of activities to immerse you in the area — from visits to ancient complexes like Karnak Temple to chartering a Nile cruise on the hotel's dahabiya, a traditional wooden boat called the Set Nefru.

After flying into one of the world's most luxurious airports, you shouldn't let that be the end of your upscale experience. Raffles Doha is everything that a quiet, secluded retreat isn't — and that's its strong suit. Soaring, contemporary, and a confection of ornament, the hotel occupies the Katara Towers — a pair of curving structures that loosely resemble a horseshoe, or a colossal bracelet, overlooking the city of Doha and the Arabian Gulf. Inside, you'll find 132 all-suite accommodations starting around $440 per night, each decked out with hydromassage steam showers and distinctive furnishings.

If being wowed by architecture is high on your list of must-haves, Raffles Doha doesn't disappoint. The palatial lobby is approximately 138 feet high, with mesmerizing light projections on the ceiling complemented by elaborate Islamic ornamentation everywhere you look. The hotel also has four on-site restaurants and three bars, including the Blue Cigar Writer's Lounge, which is decked out with around 7,000 antique books. Guests can also relax in two swimming pools, work with a personal trainer in the state-of-the-art fitness center, and fully unwind in the spa.

There are times when we're drawn to what feels like the center of everything — and there are other times when all we want is to escape from it all. That's where a place like Sterrekopje Healing Farm comes in. Cradled by mountains just outside of the community of Franschhoek, the property is located about an hour's drive east of Cape Town, South Africa. Although numerous luxury accommodation options await in this picturesque wine country, none quite set the scene of simple elegance like Sterrekopje's opulent 17th-century Cape Dutch farmhouse. Its emphasis is right in the name: a place dedicated to healing, rest, and wellness, with a spa menu of "healing rituals" ranging from private yoga to baths infused with mineral salts and wildflowers.

Sterrekopje Healing Farm covers roughly 124 acres, including sprawling gardens and a spring-fed swimming area. Stays include 11 distinctive accommodation options categorized into three tiers: Intimate Sanctuaries, Abundant Sanctuaries, and Rejuvenating Suites. Rates start from about $1,070 per person for the Intimate Sanctuaries and $1,460 per person for Rejuvenating Suites, which include sprawling, private indoor and outdoor areas. All stays require a minimum two-night stay.

Nothing says exclusive quite like a private island. Not only does it take some extra effort to get there, but you also know that when you do, you'll feel a world apart. That's what Cempedak Private Island is all about. Most easily reached from Singapore, it's about a 2.5-hour journey that involves a ferry, car ride, and speedboat transfer — all of which the hotel is happy to coordinate. Its modern villas, set on the edge of a 42-acre island, are made from bamboo and grass in a nod to traditional Indonesian architectural vernacular. They peek out from lush tropical foliage, offering otherwise unbroken views of the sea.

All of the villas are the same, with two locations to choose from: beachfront or sea view. Ample room to lounge inside is complemented by a private pool and deck. Once you're ready to be social, you can step onto the main communal balcony or retreat to a secluded dining pod for lunch or dinner. Sustainability is among Cempedak's primary guiding philosophies, along with an emphasis on wellness and communion with nature. As a result, many of the ingredients used in the restaurant — including free-range eggs and vegetables — are grown directly on the island.

A Himalayan gem with a rich history, The Happy House occupies a historic Sherpa house in the community of Phaplu, south of Mount Everest. Its name is derived from what mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary used to call it when he stayed here, and that adventurous spirit is still alive and well. Local resident Ang Tshering Lama reimagined his ancestral home as a unique hospitality destination nestled among the pines of Nepal's mountains — an experience-driven sanctuary emphasizing personalization, local art, spirituality, the outdoors, and spectacular regional cuisine. Hikes, biking treks, overnight excursions in nature, creative workshops, and visits to local monasteries add layers of immersion in the surrounding community. In fact, to ensure your visit to The Happy House is exactly what you imagine, reservations are made by emailing the family-run property directly, allowing guests to customize every aspect of their stay.

The Happy House features 10 rooms, with stays starting at $600 per night, and the interiors are intricately hand-painted with remarkable Buddhist Thangka paintings. Handmade furnishings and decor are the stars, from silver cups to Mongolian cashmere textiles. This is an intimate, communal destination, brought together by the love and care infused into the food by Mingmar, a Sherpa chef who honed his skills preparing meals for mountaineering expeditions.

Drawing on tenets of traditional Japanese architecture, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, froths with contemporary luxury while paying homage to its historic surroundings. In 2014, it became the first major international luxury hotel brand to open in Kyoto, a timeless destination named the most peaceful place in Asia in 2025. With rates starting from around $1,125, it continues to provide guests with a calming escape from the hubbub of the ancient yet increasingly touristic city. Conceived as an "urban resort," the property boasts 134 rooms and suites, plus a seven-room spa with a heated pool, a fitness center, and four on-site restaurants. At Chef's Table by Katsuhito Inoue, Japan's 72 micro-seasons are artfully plated. Meanwhile, La Locanda is an upscale Italian dining experience crafted with locally sourced ingredients.

There's also something for the whole family in terms of activities and experiences — from morning chants at the Myokaku-ji Temple to karakami paper workshops, and the Ritz Kids program. After enjoying visits out and about to the Shimogamo Shrine or the remarkable Nijō Castle, guests can wind down in a serene, comfortable room with beautiful views over the tranquil Kamogawa River and the Higashiyama Mountains.

Overlooking the Waikato River on New Zealand's North Island, Huka Lodge is a storied destination tucked amid lush greenery. What began more than 100 years ago as a fishing camp along the river has transformed into one of the world's most desirable escapes, now part of the Baillie Lodges family. With 20 spacious guest suites, it's an ideal place for unwinding in traditional comfort, surrounded by tartan textiles, airy and elegant furnishings, and oil paintings. All of the suites open up directly onto the river with views of graceful lawns, emphasizing harmony and calm between indoors and outdoors, with rates starting from about $1,900 per night. Two additional residences are also available for a truly exclusive experience, ideal for family or group gatherings with either two- or four-bedroom options.

Huka Lodge's secluded 17 acres in Taupō, one of the world's friendliest towns with unmatched vistas, include a 4,500-bottle wine cellar, gardens, dining areas, and a sprawling spa. Relaxing here might be enough to make you forget about the outside world entirely, but adventures like helicopter tours of Lake Taupō, fly fishing, or taking a swinging arc over the Waikato River on the Taupō Swing are among myriad other experiences to embark on.

A new addition to Australia's premier resort scene in late 2025, Casa Renoir is an earthy, artful lodge with a Southern Italian soul in the Noosa Hinterland, just outside of Noosa, Queensland. Although it's located only a 20-minute drive from the white sandy beaches of this pristine stretch of coast, the property is tucked away among groves of olive and citrus trees, so you'll still enjoy a sense of seclusion. 

Covering a total of 40 acres, guests can book a stay in La Grange, the property's superior villa, which features a private courtyard. Half a dozen more villas are slated to open in 2026, some of which will feature private pools. In the meantime, however, the main pool anchors the property. Described as a "natural swimming lagoon," the hotel's communal areas are perfect for unwinding with a bite to eat, grabbing a drink, or relaxing on the deck.

Perched on a hill above the ocean, Akelarre is a bold, five-star destination that began as a three-Michelin-starred restaurant before expanding into a luxury hotel. Overlooking the vast Bay of Biscay in San Sebastián, the property boasts a modernist style with clean lines and a stone-gray aesthetic that emphasizes natural light and the surrounding greenery through floor-to-ceiling windows. Intimacy and a personalized focus on the guest experience are central, with only 22 well-appointed rooms, all of which offer views of the ocean. The expansive wellness area is also a draw for its hydrotherapy pool and a hammam.

Of course, a big part of the reason to visit Akelarre is the food. At its namesake restaurant, head chef Pedro Subijana showcases contemporary Basque cuisine with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients. The other on-site dining establishment, Espazio Oteiza, brings a more casual vibe, with the option to grab snacks or drinks in the lounge and take in expansive views from its terraces.

Situated on the shore of glittering Lake Como in Moltrasio, Italy, Passalacqua is a premier destination for spectacular views and a timeless romantic European setting. The hotel's centerpiece is a historic villa dating to 1787, and it's open almost all year — except from early January to early March — embodying the spirit of "la villeggiatura," an annual tradition for affluent Italian families who would historically relocate from the city to their country estates during the summer. Numerous outdoor terraces afford a range of ways to relax, swim, socialize, or join in activities like yoga or bocce on the lawn.

Passalacqua features a total of 24 guest rooms throughout three distinctive spaces: the Palazz, the Villa, and the Casa al Lago, each of which offers a unique style and feel. The Palazz's eight rooms are sumptuous and cozy, with jewel tones, wooden beams, and a fin de siècle mood that transforms what were originally the estate's stables. Meanwhile, the Villa's 12 rooms and suites are more palatial, with domed ceilings and luxurious furnishings that nod to the building's late-18th-century heritage. Finally, the Casa al Lago's four suites — which can also be booked together to enjoy the exclusivity of the entire house — embrace more of a 1970s garden-cottage feel while providing closer views of Lake Como. Rates start at $1,280 per night.

Slated to open in Spring 2026, Cambridge House revives an 18th-century Georgian mansion in the heart of London's West End. Part of the Auberge Collection, the hotel was formerly the home of the first Duke of Cambridge in the mid-1800s. The completed hotel will contain 102 rooms along with a private member's club. Dining destinations like its signature restaurant, Major's Grill, mirror the approach of time-honored British heritage meeting contemporary luxury. 

Wellness is also a top consideration here, with a three-floor spa comprising a pool, bath house, treatment rooms, and a multifaceted fitness center. Continuing the Auberge Collection's emphasis on personalized attention and unique opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in activities at the hotel and throughout the city, Cambridge House is also conceived as an "experience-driven" destination hotel.

As if its location in a chic coastal getaway with pristine beaches known as the "the Hamptons of South America" wasn't enough, Posada Ayana also boasts a major artwork by acclaimed artist James Turrell. Titled "Ta Khut," which means "The Light" in early Egyptian, the immersive installation is part of his series of Skyspaces, which invite visitors to enter rooms often soaked in colored lights and framed by precisely cut portals to the sky. Of course, that's just one facet of this top-tier accommodation in the luxe village of José Ignacio, Uruguay.

Perched on a hilltop with views of the Atlantic Ocean, the contemporary, family-run hotel privileges art as much as it emphasizes sustainability and an easygoing sense of cool. The 17-room modern lodge, with stays starting from $470, was established by a pair of art collectors, so natural light illuminates original artwork throughout the property.

Nestled on 900 acres of the remote Colorado Plateau in southern Utah, Amangiri practically defines exclusive. The 34-suite hotel is surrounded by red-rock formations, with rooms that look out onto the unbroken landscape, and even the pool literally embraces the local geology.

The easiest way to reach the hotel is by flying into Page, Arizona — an underrated gateway to Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell. From there, it's a 25-minute drive. All-inclusive rates start at $4,500 a night and include all meals, airport transfers, options for daily hikes, a daily wellness class, and more. The rooms are earthy and elegant, and some of the suites even feature private pools. If you need more space, the four-bedroom Mesa Home offers an unparalleled hospitality experience that boasts a 50-foot infinity pool and a living room with a fireplace perfect for cozying up on cool evenings. Nearby, you'll also find Camp Sarika, modeled after a safari lodge with luxurious tented pavilions.

A Caribbean gem on the island of Antigua, Hermitage Bay is a tranquil resort with private villa suites, some of which are located on the hillside with their own infinity pools, and others situated on the beach. Guests will be greeted with champagne and sweet treats upon arrival, before choosing between relaxing in their own porch swing, lounging by the pool, soaking in the tub, or curling up with a good book or a glass of wine with views of the sea or garden.

All-inclusive stays at Hermitage Bay start at about $1,940 per night, and the cuisine is well worth it. Unsurprisingly, seafood is the star — with specials like tarragon lobster and seared mahi-mahi served alongside seasonal produce sourced from the hotel's on-site organic garden. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks are included, along with a cocktail hour that pairs with canapés and sushi. A mahogany bar sits alongside a large communal pool, and the island's famous shoreline of white sand is steps away. If taking a dip at the beach isn't enough to sate your need for maximum relaxation, Hermitage Bay also features a hillside spa and daily scheduled classes for meditation, yoga, and Pilates.

If you've ever wanted to live like a Vanderbilt, you can get pretty close with a stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, where you can bask in beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and nearby Asheville. Rooms range from ground-level terrace king rooms with stunning views to Château Tier king rooms and suites with spa-style baths and elevated views over the estate. The rooms are comfortably luxurious and contemporary, but not overwrought, oozing Southern hospitality and starting at $350 per night. 

That said, perhaps the best part about staying here is the easy access to the Biltmore Estate's 8,000 acres, where you can tour the famously-palatial Vanderbilt mansion, join a complimentary wine tasting, shop and dine in Antler Hill Village, and visit special exhibitions.

When searching for top-tier accommodations, we're thinking about a lot more than just a place to drop our bags. We often want glamour, a wide range of amenities, state-of-the-art rooms and technology, amazing views, and spectacular service. The hotels on this list were selected because, depending on their style and approach, they tick most, if not all of those boxes, consistently impressing guests.

The list above was drawn predominantly from Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Gold List, which rounds up the best hotels around the world and includes information from past Readers' Choice Awards. We also consulted Vogue's list of the most-anticipated hotel openings of 2026, along with the official websites for each hotel to get up-to-date information on pricing, room details, and amenities. Finally, we also perused guest reviews from past visitors who had left honest feedback about their particular experiences, which added further dimension to these other sources and helped convey each hotel's standout attributes.