The top 5 accommodations I've stayed in around the world (so far)
From a beachfront bungalow to an Antarctic Suite and beyond
As two of my favorite podcasters like to say: Look! Listen! Look and listen!
In my decade as a professional travel writer, I’ve had the good fortune to stay in some beautiful places. But if you can excuse my privilege for a second, here’s the thing: Any place can be beautiful.
To ascend beyond aesthetics and offer a spectacular guest experience from start to finish, though? Not just any place can do that—which is what makes the places that can so damn special.
While I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy many such special stays in the past 10 years, after a bit of reflection, I’ve managed to whittle down my list to a highly competitive top five most incredible accommodations I’ve ever had the pleasure to stay in, from a stunning hotel beloved by Oprah in the Caribbean to an eco-friendly treehouse glamping dome in the Carolinas and more.
My top 5 favorite places I’ve stayed to date, as a travel writer
1. Jade Mountain in Soufrière, St. Lucia
From a travel article that I wrote in 2019:
Just 17 miles from Hewanorra International Airport and 600 feet above the Caribbean shoreline on Morne Chastanet, Jade Mountain is an exclusive resort within a resort at Anse Chastanet.
Anse Chastanet was architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy’s first project on the island. Dozens of octagonal, whitewashed cottages tucked behind coconut palms offer panoramic views of either the ocean or jungle — or both. The resort encompasses two soft sand beaches, a marine reserve with miles of protected coral reefs and more than 600 acres of lush tropical flora.
Troubetzkoy, a native of British Columbia, brought a new level of sophistication to visitors when he later designed Jade Mountain.
Each of Jade Mountain’s “sanctuaries” — the resort’s preferred term for its lodgings — is individually designed and unique in layout, shape and furnishings. Personal infinity pools range from 450 to 900 square feet, and the fourth wall is missing entirely, offering stunning views of the majestic Pitons and Caribbean Sea. The only similarities across all sanctuaries are the king-sized beds, 15-foot ceilings and oversized whirlpool tubs.
Each infinity pool is designed with a unique reflective glass-tile color scheme, ranging from deep plum to bright emerald to ruby red. The recycled glass tiles, designed in collaboration with David Knox of Lightstreams Glass Tile of Monteca, Calif., were individually handcrafted to create an iridescent visual display in the sunlight.
You won’t find televisions, radios or telephones in the sanctuaries, and guests are asked to keep their cell phones on silent throughout the property. The goal is to keep the outside world from intruding so that guests can truly disconnect and relax during their stay.
One exception is a “firefly” remote communication device that guests receive upon arrival, which allows them to instantly summon their major-domo 24 hours a day. Trained by the British Butlers Guild, the major-domos are available to provide any service guests might need during their stay at Jade Mountain: breakfast in bed — or your infinity pool — or fetching forgotten items.
While Jade Mountain offers a bit more privacy and exclusivity than the larger resort, its guests also enjoy access to Anse Chastanet’s beaches, restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery and watersports facilities.
2. Hotel Rangá in Hella, Iceland
From a travel blog I kept during my semester abroad in 2014, which I will not be linking and which I truly hope no one ever finds:
When we arrived at Hotel Rangá, there were crowds of people outside... which was weird, because it was 1 a.m. and we were in the middle of no where.
We got out to see what the hub-bub was about, and there they were. The Northern Lights were there rearing their elusive little heads, a dim green glowing at us from the sky. We stood, looking up at them excitedly, then ran inside to wake our travel mates to tell them the Northern Lights had appeared.
When we got to our ABSOLUTELY INSANELY AWESOME ROOM, the Antarctica Suite, our travel partners were already wrapped in a blanket and standing out on our balcony (well, one of the suite’s two balconies) ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the spectacle. We wrapped blankets around ourselves and joined them, just staring up at the sky in awe for a few minutes.
We woke the next morning to our travel mates whispering that they were heading to breakfast. I told my partner that after living in a bath-less home-stay in Spain for two months, the first thing that I wanted to do was take a bath. This is important, because the bathtub in our room was a) shaped like a penguin egg and situated between two penguin statues, and b) was in the middle of the lounge area. I asked him to go let our travel companions know I'd be bathing so they didn't walk in on me in the tub, then I ran the bath and opened up my little robe-and-slipper package provided by the hotel and climbed in.
…
We returned to the hotel that evening after a day of adventures to find that, once again, the Northern Lights were aglow. This time, huddling closely for warmth, my partner and I were able to get a picture, albeit a crappy iPhone account of this glorious event.
We made our way to the hotel bar from there and sat at the only two stools, since everyone was already sitting on the couches. We ordered and started talking to each other about all of the cool bottles behind the bar.
Overhearing us talking about the bottles we saw, the bartender Greg began answering all of our questions. Delighted by this development, Andrew and I began asking even more questions, particularly about Icelandic liquor, which we found to be intriguing. Finally, we got to what is apparently one of Iceland's most famous alcohols: Brennivín, or as Icelanders lovingly call it, Black Death.
Greg explained to us that one of the only times this drink is bearable is when it's consumed as one of the part's of a traditional Icelandic delicacy, comprised of this drink and rotting shark. At our widened eyes, Greg laughed and told us that the drink isn't nearly as awful as it sounds. He asked if we wanted to try it. I looked at my partner, then back at the bartender. "How much?" I asked. He said that when guests are willing to try this, the hotel offers it to them for free. I looked back at my partner, whose face said that in no way whatsoever did he have any interest in tasting this thing. So naturally, I turned back to the bartender and nodded my head enthusiastically. He headed off to the kitchen, and my partner squirmed uncomfortably.
Greg came back out with the fixings for this Icelandic delicacy, followed by the hotel owner, who seemed excited to meet the two daring American souls who were adventurous enough to try this concoction. He explained to us that back when Icelanders first hunted shark, they found that the first day the shark was good, but the second day it made them sick. Then, throughout the winter when they ran out of food, they returned to the rotten shark because there was nothing else left to eat... And they found that if they ate the shark after it had rotted, it didn't make them sick. However, he explained, the smell is absolutely awful, nearly unbearable. So they paired it with an equally strong alcohol, and voila, it was manageable. Hence, here we were hundreds of years later, about to consume the same damn thing.
The shark bits were presented under a glass, because the smell of it would make you faint. The hotel owner told us to remove the toothpick-ed shark bits from under the cup, then to drop them into the shot and give them two to three minutes to thaw. (It's worth noting that at this point, no one else in the bar was talking; they were all silently watching us). Finally, the bartender told us to remove the toothpick from the shark, then to take a sip of the alcohol only from the glass. He advised us not to swallow the alcohol immediately, but to roll it around our mouths to taste it completely. It tasted sort of like a sour liquorice? But in a good way. He told us to take another small sip and do the same.
Now there was only half of the shot glass left, including the rotten shark. The owner told us that now, we should pour the remaining contents of the glass into our mouths, but not swallow them -- we should keep all of the liquid in our mouths as we chew the shark. My partner looked alarmed. "Give me a fifteen second countdown," he said, setting up his iPhone's front-facing camera. Fifteen seconds later, we slurped up what was left in our glass, then began chewing the shark. It tasted... like a very strong French cheese, shockingly. The texture was so ridiculously odd, but not bad. The owner had told us to chew it as long as we could manage, so about fifteen seconds later, we swallowed. The whole bar was just looking at us, waiting. "That was actually not terrible," was my partner’s first comment, and the crowd tittered with laughter before applauding us.
I'm coming for you, Anthony Bourdain.
Proud of ourselves, we returned to the room to tell our shocked travel partners what we had done. They seemed simultaneously impressed and horrified. But no matter, because we were on our way to THE BEST DINNER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE at the hotel restaurant. It began with the wild mushroom soup. I was handed a bowl of mushrooms, and was confused until they literally poured the broth over the mushrooms to create the soup in front of me. I could have literally JUST had that soup, and would have been happy. Shit, I could JUST have that soup for the rest of my life and be happy! But the dinner continued, and only got better. I had the salmon with sweet potatoes and white chocolate puree, then strawberries with champagne foam. It was glorious. I ate slowly and intentionally, trying hard to savor every single morsel of that meal. I wasn't done until about ten minutes after everyone else had already finished. I could have cried, that food was so delicious.
And what better for dessert than to be interrupted at the end of the meal by the hotel owner, who was alerting us that the Northern Lights were shining brightly and we all ought to run out and see them? We hustled toward the door, snagging a blanket from a chest in the lobby, and hurried outside. My partner and I caught a picture of this magnificence before our fingers froze, though the image on the iPhone does it no justice. This post barely does the whole hotel experience justice in the first place, really.
Jesus. She would’ve really benefitted from an editor, but on the whole, I still agree with Alicia-from-10-years-ago’s main points. This trip was phenomenal, in no small part thanks to our incredible experience at Hotel Rangá. I’d go back there for another stay in a heartbeat. Maybe the Africa Suite this time?
Also, I miss Anthony Bourdain.
3. Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
From a travel article I wrote in 2018:
Experiencing authentic Mexican culture doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury. Nestled between the dense Riviera Maya jungle and the Caribbean sea’s sparkling turquoise waters—and just steps from the city’s famed shopping and dining district—you’ll find Mahekal Beach Resort.
In the ancient Mayan language, “Mahekal” means “magical,” which is fitting for a resort unlike any other in Playa del Carmen. Stepping onto the property, you won’t be greeted with a high-rise corridor hotel, and there are no elevators in sight. In fact, the resort’s 196 private, palapa-style bungalows aren’t much taller than the palm trees surrounding them. Walking along the hidden stone pathways, you’ll see that each bungalow boasts an open-air terrace and personal hammocks, with some even touting personal plunge pools and outdoor moon showers.
The resort’s Instagram-worthy interior design was curated by local Mexican architect Hilda Espino. In partnership with the award-winning Dallas creative Todd Ficus— known for his client roster of brands such as Tom Ford, Audi, and Neiman Marcus— Espino designed a boho-chic space that fuses modern luxury with the look and feel of authentic Mexican tradition.
While you’re free to disconnect while on vacation if you’d prefer (guestrooms don’t come with TVs, after all), there’s still WiFi access throughout the resort when you need it. And if you’d prefer to keep up with your workout routine while traveling, you can sweat it out at the resort’s state-of-the-art fitness center, open anytime, day or night. Or if you’re ready to relax, you can take a dip in one of four on-property swimming pools or the seaside Jacuzzi.
Mahekal Beach Resort also offers guests Playa del Carmen’s longest stretch of beach: 920 feet of shoreline along tranquil Caribbean waters, perfect for relaxing in thatched-roof cabanas or lounge chairs. You can even order a cocktail or snack from one of the many accommodating beach butlers. If you’re looking for recommendations, you can’t go wrong with a Coco Loco (one of the locals’ favorite drinks, served in an actual coconut) and fresh, handmade guacamole.
Just want to relax? Experience total tranquility at Mahekal’s Mayan-inspired Revive Spa, where you can choose from an extensive menu of natural and luxurious spa treatments from relaxing aromatherapy massages to revitalizing facials and beyond. But you’re also going to want to explore.
A few steps outside of the resort’s lobby is Quinta Avenida—or “5th Avenue,” in English—where you’ll find Playa del Carmen’s bustling shopping, dining, and entertainment district. If you’re looking to stop somewhere for cocktail hour, to indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine, or to go on a shopping spree, Quinta Avenida is the place to do it. Expect to hear live music all along this strip, whether you’re passing by laid back lounges or local hotspots with Latin salsa dancing.
If you’re staying on property, you’re in luck. With five different restaurants and bars to choose from on site, you’ll have no shortage of food and drink options just steps away from your personal palapa.
Just past the lobby, you won’t miss the bright, colorful, and inviting Boli’s Bar, named for concierge Ignacio Boli. This hangout space for the whole family features pool tables and ping-pong, TVs, and a library with a “take a book, leave a book” philosophy. Here, you can enjoy fresh, hand-pressed juices either on their own or in a craft cocktail—like the sweet tamarind-infused margarita with a zesty spiced chili rim.
For dinner, be sure to make a reservation at Fuego Restaurante y Cantina. Chef Crescenciano Nerey will dazzle your party with delectable farm-to-table dishes, from Mexican Octopus served with cactus and salsa to Caribbean Grouper slow roasted in the restaurant’s Tulum-style wood-burning oven with garlic and fine herbs
And if you’re looking to truly immerse yourself in the local culture, the authentic Mayan Culinary Casita offers Mahekal guests the opportunity to help native Mayan chefs prepare a gourmet feast. In a secluded garden, an indigenous Mayan shaman will light Copal incense and bless you upon arrival. Then you’ll work alongside the chefs to prepare a private, multi-course lunch while sipping xtabentún, an authentic Mexican liqueur. In true Mayan tradition, your lunch will be cooked in a clay pot inside of a fire pit dug into the soil. And don’t worry, you’ll get to keep the recipe after you’ve finished your meal and array of Mexican desserts.
This was one of my earliest press trips as a travel writer, and to this day, it remains one of my favorites. I still daydream about that private plunge pool and the hours I spent relaxing in my own hacienda-front hammock, margaritas in hand.
4. Secrets Moxché (also) in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Oddly enough, I actually haven’t written about this property yet— but I visited it with my best friend in 2022 purely for leisure and my god, did we find leisure!
Things that made us adore this AAA Five Diamond resort:
Unlimited Luxury: I’m a sucker for an all-inclusive resort, and this is easily one of the best I’ve ever had the good fortune to visit. Not only was all of the food and drink included here, but every single thing we tried also tasted delicious!
So many bars and restaurants: Seven à la carte restaurants (two of which were located on the beach!) and a buffet, a grill, and a café! Eight bars, including three pool bars! We tried and loved them all, but easy favorites were the fresh seafood restaurant Seasoul, authentic Mexican cuisine at Dos Almas (especially the tacos and mezcal), and the swim-up bar Mantarray, pictured above.
Secrets Box™️: I am certain this is the neurodivergent in me, but I absolutely LOVED that they used this little Jack-and-Jill-style box as a way to deliver meals, drinks, towels, toiletries, and more to us in our room without disrupting us… or in our case, without making us get up and get dressed pre-coffee in order to let them in when our room service breakfast arrived.
Entertainment options galore: We sang karaoke with hotel staff as our backup dancers, we won prizes at bar-top bingo, we took dance classes by the pool… Every single member of the entertainment team here made it their top priority for us to have as much fun as possible, and they succeeded.
Just immaculate vibes all around: A large interior beach mimicking a perfectly calm Caribbean sea! A whopping seven pools, including an infinity pool and three man-made cenote pools! Interior design choices gorgeous enough to make my aesthetics-obsessed best friend nearly weep with joy!!!
I’ve been to Playa del Carmen before, and I’ve been since, and I’ve never had a bad time—but truth be told, I had the best time when I stayed at Secrets Moxché. And that stay wasn’t even comped or discounted or a press trip or anything! I paid full price then and I’d do it again today. It was worth every penny.
5. Glamping Unplugged outside Boone, North Carolina, USA
From a travel article I wrote in 2021:
Truthfully, we [Work For Your Beer’s Alicia Valenski and Mel Fox] didn't even consider a hotel when planning our trip to Boone — we knew that the Glamping Unplugged was the only option for our adventure's accommodations.
We're insanely lucky that the property owner, Brady, happens to be a fan of our “We'll Take The Lot” beer-tasting/comedy video series. He invited us out for a stay on-site in the beautiful Treehouse Dome, and we arrived to find a cooler full of craft beer and cider from Appalachian Mountain Brewery!
The first thing we did after we hauled our bags from the car was sit down and taste each can Brady left for us. You can actually watch the full video here; aside from narrowly avoiding being murdered by an American Dagger Moth Caterpillar, we had an absolute blast.
Back to the Treehouse Dome, though. This insulated, heated treehouse is available for year-round camping (we visited in October, and though it was chilly up in the mountains, we were perfectly comfortable).
There's a king-sized bed as well as a set of twin bunk-beds, so you could technically bring up to four guests along with you. The dome is also dog-friendly for an additional $35 fee, if you want to bring your pup along with you. We found Boone to be super dog-friendly as a whole — we saw about a zillion chocolate labs in particular during our visit.
They provide your linens, blankets, pillows, and towels. You can expect a Weber grill to cook on and a high-end cooler for any food or beverages you bring along. There's also a firepit and a PyroTower chimney (as well as a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and first aid kit — safety first!).
It's worth noting that you will be quite literally unplugged while you're here, since there is no WiFi and no cell phone service. Total digital detox! That gives you more time to spend exploring nature or relaxing in the hanging swing under the deck, one of the two built-into-the-deck cargo net hammocks, or down in the babbling brook.
That being said, they do provide USB chargers so you can keep your devices alive for when you leave the property and re-enter cell service zones.
Here's the thing, though! Yes, this is a luxury, eco-friendly geodesic dome overlooking a state-stocked trout stream. And yes, it's a privacy-driven, Instagram-worthy glamping experience and eco-nature escape.
But you can't go into it expecting it to be something it's not! No, there's no electricity (lanterns for light!) and there's no plumbing (but a very clean and well-stocked porta-potty). Yes, there will be insects and critters (you're in the woods!).
The Glamping Unplugged FAQ page answers any questions you might have about whether or not the glamping experience is for you. All I know is it was absolutely for us, and we'd go back in a heartbeat! If it sounds like something you might enjoy, too, you can book your stay here.
I remember messaging Glamping Unplugged owner Brady something about the crazy caterpillar that elicited shrieks of terror from us during our stay and him saying something like, “Oh no, did you see a bug while you were staying in the wilderness! The horror!” with a tongue-sticking-out-laughing face, which made me laugh so hard that I’m pretty sure a little bit of beer actually came out of my nose.
A cool owner, cool accommodations, and a cool little mountain city to explore—what more could we want from our glamping experience, really?
Where have you stayed and loved while traveling?
Leave your favorite accommodations in the comments below and I’ll add them to my “must-visit” list for the future! And if you happen to work for a hotel, resort, campground, or somewhere that offers other rad accommodations… have your people call my people?