Forbes Travel Guide’s 2026 Star Awards: Here Are the 5-Star Stays You Can Book With Points

For the 68th year, Forbes Travel Guide has released its Star Awards, which recognize exemplary hotels, spas, cruises, and restaurants — both on land and at sea — across the globe.

In 2026, for the first time ever, a cruise has earned a coveted 5-star award. We’ll dig into that news and take a look at which hotels that participate in major points programs have scored a 5-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, letting you book them with points to save money on a stay.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Earns a 5-Star Rating From Forbes Travel Guide

For the first time in the history of the Star Awards, Forbes Travel Guide has awarded a 5-star rating to a cruise: Ilma, one of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s superyachts. The 224-suite vessel boasts luxurious accommodations, all of which have terraces, a full-service Ritz-Carlton spa, 2 infinity pools, and more.

Forbes Travel Guide was impressed by the level of service on board the yacht, especially features such as “suite ambassadors,” who are equipped to handle a range of tasks, from unpacking luggage to arranging reservations.

Currently, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has 3 active vessels: Ilma, Evirma, and Luminara. Evirma has earned a 4-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide.

Predictably, a Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise doesn’t come cheap. However, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection participates in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which means you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for cruises.

You can redeem 180,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a $1,000 savings on the cruise fare. After this, you can earn $500 in savings for every increment of 90,000 points you redeem. It’s not the best way to get the most value from your Marriott Bonvoy points, but it’s a nice option to have.

Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Hotels — and How To Book Them With Points

Numerous hotels participating in major loyalty programs have earned a 5-star rating in the 2026 Star Awards. Let’s look at the winners, broken down by program.

Accor (ALL – Accor Live Limitless)

A single Accor property earned a 5-star rating this year: the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Canada. You can redeem ALL points for a fixed value of €20 (~$24) off for every 1,000 Reward points you redeem, which equates roughly to 2.3 cents per point. There are plenty of ways to earn ALL Rewards points, too, which makes it easy to acquire the points you want to redeem for savings on stays.

Hilton (Hilton Honors)

Hilton has several 5-star properties on the list, the majority of which belong to the luxurious Waldorf Astoria brand:

• Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
• Roku Kyoto, LXR Hotels and Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
• Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Finance Centre
• Waldorf Astoria Kuwait
• Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
• Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
• Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island

You can redeem Hilton Honors points at any of the above properties. Even better, it’s easy to earn Hilton Honors points that can be redeemed at properties like these. The chain offers several co-branded credit cards that come with generous welcome bonuses and elite status. In addition, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Bilt Rewards.

IHG (IHG One Rewards)

IHG has a few marquee properties represented, including:

• Banyan Tree Macau
• Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel
• Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
• Regent Hong Kong

You can redeem IHG One Rewards points for stays at the above hotels. And it’s not hard to earn IHG One Rewards points to redeem for stays down the road. The chain offers 3 co-branded credit cards, each of which offers a sizable welcome bonus. Plus, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott (Marriott Bonvoy)

Marriott has by far the most representation among Forbes Travel Guide 5-star properties. Here’s a list of all of them, heavily featuring Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties:

You can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for the hotels listed above. It’s also relatively easy to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. The chain has several co-branded credit cards, all of which offer solid welcome bonuses. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio.

Final Thoughts

The Forbes Travel Guide 2026 Star Awards are out, and one of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessels, Ilma, has earned a 5-star rating. That’s a first for a cruise line.

And there are plenty of 5-star-awarded hotels at which you can redeem points for stays. Which of these luxurious properties are you planning to visit?