7 Dreamy Hotels on My 2026 Travel Wish List

I’ve been coming up with travel bucket lists for years, ranging from top business-class redemptions to coveted travel destinations, and, of course, hotels I dream of waking up in.

Some of the most iconic properties I’ve been able to check off my list in recent years include Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in the United Arab Emirates, the Park Hyatt Milan in Italy, the Rosewood Madrid in Spain, and the Beekman in New York City.

The great news is that many of these are bookable with points, which makes stays at these fancy hotels much more achievable. Others I can’t book with points, so perhaps a premium travel card that offers a hotel credit might help reduce the cash price and make a stay a possibility.

Here are the current top entries on my hotel bucket list — and I’m excited to say I’ll definitely be crossing at least 1, if not 2, hotels off in 2026.

1. Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)

Quite possibly the most memorable hotel in Singapore (only contested by the historic Raffles Singapore, birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail), the Marina Bay Sands and its renowned infinity pool have obsessed me since the hotel opened back in 2011.

The lowest cash rates I could find for Marina Bay Sands were about $600 per night, which, for 1 night, could be a feasible splurge, if just for the pool.

The Skypark infinity pool stretches along the top of the buildings, 57 stories high. It’s most known for its disappearing edge, which looks as if you’re about to tumble off the side — it’s just an optical illusion, according to the hotel.

2. Intercontinental Koh Yai Resort by IHG (Thailand)

I love riding the rails, but famous train routes such as the Orient Express cost well into the thousands.

When I saw that the Intercontinental Koh Yai was a train-themed hotel, my heart stopped a little — especially when I realized I could also earn and redeem IHG points for my train-inspired stay.

The resort is stunning and near the verdant UNESCO World Heritage site Khao Yai National Park. It was featured in the 2025 Michelin Guide Thailand, and all the guest rooms are restored vintage railcars and train carriages.

I’m thrilled to say I’ll be crossing this hotel off my bucket list in 2026. My summer family trip to Thailand will include a 2-night stay at this hotel.

Rates were around 70,000 IHG One Reward points or $455 per night during my July dates, though I paid cash for the stay when Rakuten was offering a 15x deal on Travel Tuesday for IHG bookings.

3. Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe (Mexico)

I’ve always been intrigued by Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, a destination that’s been on my bucket list for decades. Enter the Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, a wine resort that opened in 2024, comprising 30 private pool villas that perch delicately along giant boulders and rolling wine terroir.

It’s not the only wine-themed hotel on my list. Still, it’s moved to the top because it’s new, architecturally stunning (the earth tones seem to effortlessly blend with the dusty Baja Californian landscape), and the guest villas, complete with fireplaces, pools, and wine bars, are calling to me.

Summer rates are surprisingly reasonable (the July heat can’t be worse than Tucson!) at less than $300 a night.

4. W Prague (Czech Republic)

I’ve been to Prague once before, but I would love to take my son there. Kids love the picturesque bridges and imposing Prague Castle, which sits atop a hill.

And while W hotels used to be my go-to back in my 20s (when my eyesight could handle the moody, pitch-black hallways and neon signage, IYKYK!), the newer properties, which feel hip but also approachable, are appealing to my millennial tastes lately.

And this is why the freshly opened W Prague is now on my list. Formerly the Grand Hotel Evropa, the W Prague has retained the Czech art nouveau grandeur of the property, while making it comfortable, cool, and, dare I say, even family-friendly.

I love the bold staircases and funky chandeliers, and I know my son would enjoy the bright gold, velvet sofas and colorful mirrored architectural features in the guest rooms. Plus, it’s a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square.

Rates start at $345 or 56,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night in spring, a season where Prague isn’t snowy and freezing but not overrun with the summer tourism boom. As I hold Marriott Gold status, I should hopefully score an upgrade.

5. Emiliano Rio (Brazil)

I’m a sucker for unique architectural features and vast ocean views, which is why the Emiliano Rio has been on my list for nearly a decade. It opened in 2016 but evokes 1950s vibes.

Not only am I obsessed with the hotel’s exterior, with its massive white pocketed shutters, but the view from many of the rooms and the rooftop pool is as iconic as Copacabana Beach itself. I can picture myself sipping a caipirinha at the pool, humming the “Girl From Ipanema.”

I’d like to spend a couple of nights at the Emiliano Rio as part of a larger trip to Brazil, which would include visits to Santa Catarina Island and the famous volcanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. Although this property is part of Hilton’s Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) partnership, finding award availability is a bit of a challenge, so I might have to pay $598 per night to stay.

6. Las Dunas Formentera (Spain)

The wild Ibicenco island of Formentera represents everything I want to be: free and hedonistic, running barefoot through the sand without a care in the world. Meanwhile, I’m rolling several overweight Samsonite bags through the Ibiza arrivals terminal while chasing my preschooler, rubbing my temples, and wondering why there’s house music playing so loudly at the airport.

But a girl can dream, can’t she?

Just a quick ferry ride off of Ibiza, there are 45 rooms at Las Dunas Formentera sitting directly on the sprawling and pristine Formentera dunes, each with an outdoor patio where you can enjoy sunsets, peaceful mornings, and perhaps channel that barefoot, not-a-care-in-the-world traveler I’d like to be. The hotel’s infinity pool overlooks the Mediterranean’s soft waves, as does the Caliu Restaurant.

Las Dunas Formentera is open seasonally between May and October, and to get the best rates (and beat the crowds), I’ll plan to visit in May or October, when rates start around $479 per night. Although the hotel is a Hilton SLH property, it’s also tough to find points availability, but I’ll keep searching.

7. St. Regis Cap Cana (Dominican Republic)

While I should probably be heading straight for the family-friendly, all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana with my 4-year-old in tow, the breezy, brand-new swim-up suites at the St. Regis Cap Cana and Peruvian cuisine at restaurant Nina from one of my favorite chefs, Diego Muñoz, have put this resort at the top of my list.

It opened in May 2025, so I figured visiting in 2026 would give the hotel time to work out any opening kinks.

I find the numerous inviting beachfront swimming pools, 13-room spa, 7 restaurants, and signature St. Regis butler service intriguing, as well as the sprawling ease of the property.

Although Punta Cana in the rain doesn’t sound like an ideal way to enjoy these pools, heading over during hurricane season reduces rates dramatically, making the starting rates here $587 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. Perhaps an autumn trip is in order.

Final Thoughts

There are still about 25 more properties on my hotel bucket list, including the Hilton SLH Yemaya Reefs in Nicaragua, the newly reopened Park Hyatt Tokyo, Nihi Sumba in Indonesia, the Hilton Yala in Sri Lanka, and the Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman.

In fact, I don’t think my list will ever be complete, but that’s the fun of it — always having somewhere exciting and new on my list where I can analyze pillow comfort and test out the pool.