The 8 Best Hotels I’ve Stayed at Around the World

As a girlie who once traveled and slept on abandoned mattresses on the side of the road in Slovakia, I never thought I would be traveling and staying in some of the most incredible resorts & lodges in the world. I mean, COME ON. This is my JOB?!

I had an incredibly difficult time narrowing down the best hotels I've stayed at around the world. They are a mix of everything: ultra-luxurious and expensive to adventurous and budget-friendly. But what they all are is mind-blowing and special, one of those stays you'll never forget.

1. Surana Buffalo Springs, Kenya

Price: $$$$

Located inside Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Surana Buffalo Springs is a brand new eco-lodge that sits along the Ewaso Nyiro River in a remote bush of then Kenya savannah.

The experience here feels completely immersed in the African wilderness. The rooms are technically luxury tents, but they feel more like private villas. Each suite has a plunge pool overlooking the river, which means you can literally sit in your pool while watching elephants, giraffes, and antelopes walk by. It's UNREAL. The entire lodge is open-air, with some of the most incredible tasting menus and food I've had anywhere.

I stayed here on a media trip to Kenya, and I think I said no less than 100 times, "This is the best place I've ever stayed." The staff, the details, the design, everything here is a 10/10. It is one of the most expensive hotels on this list, but for good reason.

2. Reinefjorden Cabins, Norway

Price: $$

The Lofoten Islands in Norway are one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited, and I  booked a cabin at Reinefjorden a year in advance to secure a room. I was taking my aunt to Norway. She was the woman who helped raise me and made sure I got an education, and I wanted to make sure I picked someone special. And boy, did this place deliver.

These traditional Norwegian fishing cabins sit directly along the fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and colorful fishing villages. When you wake up in the morning and look outside your window, you’re greeted by dramatic fjords, fishing boats drifting in the harbor, and steep mountains rising straight out of the sea. Better yet, these cabins are located right in the heart of all the most iconic spots in Lofoten.

The hotel also offers hot tubs, two saunas, and kayaking. It's one of those "IG influencer" destinations that is actually worth the hype. But book early!

3. Villa Sasoon, Bali

Price: $

We booked Villa Sasoon on a whim, less than 48 hours in advance. It was a complete surprise in all the best ways. Better yet...it was $78/night. SEVENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS. This includes a private pool, two air-conditioned villa suites, a full kitchen, two bathrooms, two outdoor showers, and 24-hour security and staff. It's also located a short 100m from the beach.

4. Radisson Blu Resort, Maldives

Price: $$$$

The Maldives had been on my bucket list for years, and I went there for work in the fall of 2025. After my initial trip, I decided to go all out and book an overwater bungalow for my husband and me at the Radisson Blu in the South Ari Atoll.

Staying at the Radisson Blu Resort was everything I imagined and more. It truly is one of those once-in-a-lifetime stays. What really set this resort apart from other five-star hotels I've stayed at was the staff. Whenever I travel for personal reasons, I hide the fact that I am a travel writer because I don't want to be treated any differently. On media trips, all the hotels and staff know to give you the absolute best service possible. But I like more authentic experiences, and Radisson Blu delivered in every way.

The Maldives deserve all the hype they receive online. If you have it on your bucket list, it's a must-visit.

5. The Joshua Tree House, Tucson

Price: $$$

If you love authentic, rugged luxury, the Joshua Tree Tucson is one of the most thoughtfully designed boutique hotels in the United States.

Every aspect of the interior is totally Instagrammable, which is just an added perk of the whole stay. The location is one of the things that makes this place special. It sits surrounded by wide open desert landscapes with cactus-covered hills and expansive views in every direction, just a few miles from Saguaro National Park. There are only 8 rooms here, so be sure to book well in advance, but if you're into those wellness-desert-type getaways, you have to see and experience this property yourself.

6. Veluvana Treehouses, Bali

Price: $$$$

Veluvana Treehouses in Bali was probably one of the first places I stayed that I really went for "over the top" accommodation. I was finally gaining footage as a serious travel blogger, and I really wanted to stay in some bamboo treehouse that made the internet say WOW.

Back when I stayed, we got this place for less than $200/night, but now, I believe it goes for closer to $500. However, it's well worth it, and I would pay $500/night to stay here again!

7. Lake Elementaita Serena Camp, Kenya

Price: $$$

Homey, cozy, luxurious, classic. Lake Elementaita Serena Camp in Kenya is hard to beat. I was only able to stay here one night, but I wish I could've stayed three more.

The accommodations are luxury safari tents that blend classic safari style with modern comfort. Each tent has a private veranda where you can sit and watch wildlife and birds around the lake. The lake itself is famous for its flamingos and diverse birdlife, which makes the setting feel calm and unique compared to traditional safari destinations. It’s a quieter safari experience that still captures the magic of Kenya’s wildlife and landscapes.

8. Refugio Paine Grande, Patagonia

Price: $

Let's get one thing straight with this lodge quickly: it is RUSTIC.

And not in a cute, glamping, cozy rustic kind of way.

There are tents pitched in the field. The showers are cold. Dinner is served buffet style once a night. But there is a bomb ass bar upstairs with epic views of Torres Del Paine National Park.

9. Tropical Glamping, Nusa Penida

Price: $$

Tropical Glamping in Nusa Penida is one of the most unique places to stay in Indonesia. Instead of traditional hotel rooms, the property offers beautifully designed safari-style rooms that nearly hang over a two-hundred-foot cliff.

When we checked in, the manager told us that we could spot Manta Rays from the deck. I thought, "Oh, cool, maybe we'll see a Manta Ray."

It’s the perfect combination of adventure and comfort, and one of the coolest glamping experiences I’ve had while traveling.

What hotels would you add to the list?

Some hotels are simply places to sleep, but the best hotels in the world become part of the travel experience itself. These places made my trips more memorable, whether it was watching elephants from a plunge pool in Kenya, waking up in a fjord in Norway, or staying in a bamboo treehouse high above the jungle in Bali. Travel has taken me to some incredible destinations, but these hotels are the ones I still think about long after the journey ends. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling the world, it’s that the right place to stay can turn a great trip into an unforgettable one.