Damn, That Hotel Just Made My Bucket List
Drool-worthy hotels that just made the cut—plus the travel stories everyone’s obsessed with right now.
Released every other Tuesday, The Hotels Above Par Edit highlights our best-performing travel stories and the newest standout entries in our uber-curated boutique hotel database. (If it’s featured here, it has been reviewed and approved by an expert journalist. NOT artificial intelligence.)
What’s one boutique hotel you think deserves a spot in our database? Drop your recommendations in the comments—we just might send one of our expert journalists to check it out in real life. 💬
Let’s get that travel inspiration going. Read on, y’all ⬇️
These Boutique Hotels Are Reopening—Just in Time for Your Summer Escape
Step Into a Wes Anderson Dream at This Pacific Northwest Hotel
Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Carmel-by-the-Sea
A Taste of Asia, All Found in New York City
From Binge-Worthy to Bucket List, These Are the Best TV-Inspired Travel Destinations
Whether you're dreaming up your next getaway or ready to book it now, we’ve got you covered. Anything with a ✔️ means you can reserve it directly on our site—and if you spot a 🎁, that means VIP perks are coming your way at no extra cost. Bookable or not, our FREE boutique hotel database is your go-to for the very best stays around the world. Discover the latest gems we’ve freshly checked into below.
Villa Santa Cruz (Todos Santos, BCS, Mexico) ✔️
Baja’s Todos Santos is like Cabo’s cooler, younger sibling—laid-back, creative, and just far enough off the beaten path. At the edge of one such road sits Villa Santa Cruz, a 24-room hideaway perched directly on the beach. The property blends hacienda-revival architecture with a palette of warm, saturated tones—think sun-drenched oranges and bold, happy yellows that echo the Baja landscape.
Balthazar Design Hotel (Kraków, Poland)
An exquisite 26-room luxury boutique hotel in Art Deco style, Balthazar Design Hotel has a perfect location in Kraków’s superbly-preserved Old Town. Rich, saturated colors adorn guest rooms, in a palette of royal blue, mint green, or gold—a welcoming contrast to the usual white-on-white or neutrals.
The Robey (Wicker Park, Chicago) ✔️🎁
This Art Deco homage in Chicago’s hip Wicker Park, complete with a hang-worthy café, a second-floor game room, and a rooftop bar boasting sweeping skyline views. When it comes to a Windy City stay that captures the energy, style, and soul of what many call the “pulse of America,” The Robey more than delivers.
IZZA Marrakech (Marrakech, Morocco)
With its unique tapestry of Arab, Berber, and French cultures, opulent palaces, and orange blossom-scented breezes, Marrakech has long cast its spell on adventure-seeking travelers and young bohemians. Tucked away in the quiet northwest corner of Marrakech’s medina, the soulful sanctuary IZZA swiftly became the city’s most talked-about place to stay after opening just under two years ago.
TWA Hotel (Queens, New York)✔️
Occupying JFK’s old TWA Terminal, this retro gem is a portal back into the golden age of flying. We guarantee that this is the coolest airport hotel EVER. Nothing else compares.
The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel (Upper East Side, New York) ✔️🎁
The Upper East Side is its own world—one of Sancerre-fueled lunches, charity galas at the Met, and morning walks in Central Park. Located just steps from the city’s most emblematic green space, The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel, which opened its doors in October 2024, has become a neighborhood omphalos (and, dare we say, a worthwhile reason for the downtown crowd to venture uptown).
Jnane Tamsna (Marrakech, Morocco)
Formerly one of Morocco’s four imperial capitals, Marrakech remains a significant cultural and political center in North Africa. Its historical transformation is vividly reflected in its architectural diversity, from medieval kasbahs to French Art Deco buildings. In the heart of the city’s Palmeraie district lies Morocco’s first Black-owned hotel, opened in 2001 by lawyer-turned-designer and author of Inside Marrakesh: Enchanting Homes and Gardens, Meryanne Loum-Martin. Jnane Tamsna reveals an elegant fusion of traditional Moorish aesthetics and contemporary boho-chic design, embodying the soul and modern spirit of Marrakech.
Thanks for being here—our readers mean everything to us. If you're enjoying this content, tap the heart ❤️ to let others know it's worth following.
For Consideration: Hotel Effie, The Pensacola Beach Resort, The Perry Hotel Naples, Arlo SoHo, Arlo Nomad, Arlo Midtown, Arlo Washington DC, Arlo Chicago, Arlo Wynwood, Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach.
I'd like to nominate the Hotel Il San Pietro in Positano as one of my favorite hotels in the world....the location, the rooms, the ambiance....amazing place and if you catch the right room or suite, you'll be in heaven.