When it comes to my hotel picks, I like to keep it flexible—because sometimes you’ve got the Benjamins, and sometimes you’ve got the points. My recommendations include spots where you can splurge with cash, cash in those hard-earned loyalty points, o...
Sections
11
United Kingdom
France
Portugal
Spain
South and Central America
Mexico
United Kingdom
Easy Access to Liverpool Tube Station - Close to Trendy Neighborhoods of Spitalfields and Shoreditch
Andaz London Liverpool
Centrally Located Hotel in Marylebone Neighborhood - Close to High Street and SoHo
Hyatt Regency The Churchill (LONDON)
Above Paddington Station - Direct Access via Heathrow Express from the Airport
Hilton London Paddington
On a Quiet Street Near Earl's Court Tube Station
K+K HOTEL GEORGE (LONDON)
Walking Distance to Tower of London and 20 Minute Walk to Borough Market
Hotel Indigo Hotel Indigo London - Tower Hill
France
Paris is my favorite city in the world! I’ve been lucky enough to visit more than six times.
Small Boutique Hotel on the Island of Ile Saint Louis Near Notre Dame in the Center of Paris (4th Arr.)
HÔTEL SAINT-LOUIS EN L’ISLE (PARIS)
Adorable Boutique Hotel in St. Germain near Luxembourg Gardens (6th Arr.)
Hôtel Observatoire Luxembourg (PARIS)
Affordable Hotel Near Gare de L'Est - Not the Most Beautiful Neighborhood but Safe (10th Arr.)
ibis Paris Gare de L'Est 10ème (PARIS)
Small Boutique Hotel in the 10th - Small Rooms but Stylish and Affordable
Hotel Taylor (PARIS)
Manifested Staying At This Hotel - Small Rooms But Ideal Location
Le Méridien (Nice)
Portugal
Lovely Hotel with Amazing Bathroom and Pillows
InterContinental Lisbon
Gorgeous hotel in the Algarve region - the bathrooms have televisions and deep soaking tubs
Conrad Algarve in Quinta do Lago
Spain
Hotel Near the Beach and Not the City Center
W Barcelona
Old Money Hotel w/ Amazing Customer Service and the Best Bedding
InterContinental Madrid
South and Central America
Quiet Boutique Hotel in Palermo, Close to Restaurants and Shops
Mine Hotel (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Dream location on the Argentina Side (Best Side) to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The value of this hotel cannot be beat. Walkable to the local town, the rooms are nicely decorated, but the star is the pool which overlooks the Brazilian and Paraguay side of the Igauzu River.
Panoramic Grand Hotel (Iguazu, Argentina)
The perfect location for exploring the walkable town of Mendoza and wine tasting. One of the most affordable Park Hyatt hotels in the world.
Park Hyatt Mendoza (Mendoza, Argentina)
The world-famous old monied hotel has nice large rooms, the pool has a vibe, excellent people watching, and the best massage I've ever had.
Copacabana Palace (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)
This hotel is a dream! This is perfect to be off the grid and not sight-see. Excellent for families, the Kids Club is fantastic!
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort (Costa Rica)
Mexico
Mexico is an easy destination from California!
If you like an all-inclusive, Hyatt Ziva is decent and excellent for small children.
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos(Los Cabos, Mexico)
Stayed at this hotel as a wedding guest. While not my personal choice, it's decent for an affordable all-inclusive.
Iberostar Waves Tucan (Playa del Carmen)
Chable Maroma is one of the best hotels I've stayed in, so much so I've visited 3 years in a row with my best friend. It's our happy place to relax and reconnect. While pricey, this is a small boutique wellness resort with amazing food and gorgeous rooms. All rooms are villas with a private plunge pool and outdoor showers. Breakfast is included daily.
Chablé Maroma (Playa del Carmen)
The St. Regis in Punta Mita is a luxury resort. The rooms are called casita's and each is assigned a private butler.
St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (Punta Mita)
This hotel is located in Condesa and it's an excellent location to explore one of CDMX's best neighborhoods within walking distance to Parque Mexico and tons of shops and restaurants. And if you're a Hyatt Member, it is a Category 4 which qualifies under the annual one night stay.
Andaz Condesa (Mexico City)
California
Go-To Hotel When in San Diego
Manchester Grand Hyatt (San Diego)
Perfect For Luxury Staycation
Park Hyatt Aviara (Carlsbad/San Diego)
A Decent Hotel If Visiting Legoland and San Diego Safari Park
Hyatt Place (San Diego/Carlsbad Hotel)
Walking Distance to Disneyland
Hyatt Place (Anaheim)
Another Hotel Within Walking Distance to Disneyland.
Indigo Hotel Indigo (Anaheim)
Good Staycation Hotel w/ Great Pools
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas (Palm Springs)
If You Like Hungtingon Beach
Hyatt Regency (Huntington Beach)
Personally, I do not believe any Disneyland hotel is worth the price, but this is the most affordable and closest Disney hotel on the property.
Pixar Place Hotel (Disneyland)
Old Monied Hotel w/ Many Celeb Sightings at the Pool or Polo Lounge
The Beverly Hills Hotel (Beverly Hills)
I have a personal love for this hotel - it is where I had my wedding and reception. Small boutique hotel with views overlooking Los Angeles. The service is refined and discreet.
Sunset Tower Hotel (West Hollywood)
Classic Hotel on State Street Walking Distance to Everything
Hotel Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara)
This hotel is a small community with fab staycation location.
Ojai Valley Inn (Ojai Valley)
Stayed at this hotel many times - solid location across the street from Embarcadero
Hyatt Regency - Financial District (San Francisco)
Solid location in Embarcadero, quiet on the weekends but the City is small, but can book for a good price.
The Jay, Autograph Collection (San Francisco)
Great location - easy to book on IHG points
Kimpton Alton Hotel in Fisherman's Wharf (San Francisco)
Classic Old School Hotel in Nob Hill… the hill is steep, so you need to be in good shape or take an Uber, Waymo, or taxi.
Fairmont San Francisco
Washington
Nice Hotel Close to Downtown Seattle
Hyatt Regency - Downtown Bellevue
New York City
I've been to New York plenty of times, often staying with friends, but here are a few hotels I've stayed at over the years.
When I visit New York City, I prefer to stay in Lower Manhattan because it's more affordable and quiet - had an amazing suite
Hyatt Centric - Wall Street
Decent hotel with a great rooftop bar but small rooms.
Hotel Indigo NYC Downtown Wall Street
24 Hour Layover - Perfect if you don't want to go into the City. Close to Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene
Holiday Inn Brooklyn Downtown
Texas
I have only been to Texas to visit family friends in Austin or work in Plano.
Good View of the Lake
Hyatt Regency Austin
Recommend if you have a layover
Grand Hyatt DFW
Luxury Hotel - Best Beds
Fairmont Austin
Cute hotel… walkable to bars and restaurants donwtown
Aloft Austin Downtown
Only for Work… LOL!
Hyatt Place Dallas / Plano
Just Work!
Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas/Plano-East
Work work work work work!
Courtyard Dallas/Plano Parkway at Preston Road
Hawaii
The only place I have visited more than France is Hawaii! Being from California, it's a 5-hour flight, affordable, and Aloha! The Hawaiian Islands is the only place where I feel immediately relaxed. I have been so many times and lost count, but I'm sure it's close to a dozen or slightly over.
This old school hotel is just on the other side of Diamond Head. It is a 10 minute drive to downtown Honolulu, so it's peaceful. The customer service is top notch, the rooms are HUGE, the semi-private beach is the best, and always a celeb sighting.
The Kahala Luxury Hotel & Resort
Absolute perfection! Yes, it is expensive, but less expensive than Disney Aulani next door, and peaceful. This hotel is about 45 minutes outside of Waikiki, so keep that in mind.
Four Seasons Ko Olia
This hotel was on my bucket list since I was a child, so it was a huge accomplishment that I got a chance to stay here, and stay in the Rainbow Tower. However, this resort is HUGE and I didn't care for it. I prefer smaller resorts - this place is truly a village and not my cup of tea. Rooms are a decent size but the pool is small, and the resort nickles and dimes for every little thing.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Stayed here for a week on a work assignment. It sits two blocks from the beach, so it's not beachfront, but it isn't bad. If you want an affordable trip to Hawaii, highly recommend.
Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa
Stayed for work while on assignment. Large resort, but nowhere near the size of HHV.
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa
Decent hotel for a family, and one block away from the beach. Free breakfast if you like that sort of thing.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk - Ocean View ...
Didn't love this hotel - we had a free Hyatt night to use. The elevators were painfully slow. BUT, this is an affordable hotel for a family with/ free breakfast, just get to the buffet early.
Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
Loved this hotel but would not recommend it if you have small children (toddler age), as the rooms have many sharp edges and the tile in the shower is very slippery - most rooms only have a shower.
Andaz Wailea - Maui
While I don't care for large resorts, and the rooms are a bit dated, Grand Hyatt Kauai is the exception. It's large but still feels personalized, the pools are amazing, the gym is nicely equipped, and the path along the beach is ideal for a morning w...
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
If you're looking for an affordable Hawaiian vacation, look no further than Kauai Beach Resort. Nothing spectacular, but it's clean and close to the airport.
Kauai Beach Resort Hotel - Lihue Resorts
Stayed at this hotel when it was the St. Regis. The location on Hanelai Bay is a dream. Now, it looks even more incredible at a 1 Hotel. Plan on staying there soon.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
What makes this hotel special is Hapuna Beach - probably the best in all of Hawaii.
Hapuna Beach Hotel, Big Island | The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
