Noteworthy Hotels of 2018

A great number of hotels all over the world were seen in 2018 (and some in 2017 that didn't make it into last year's list in time). From French Polynesia to The Netherlands, and from Seattle to Belize, our hotel reviewer has worked through some of his favorite hotels for business or pleasure.

Situated right on the edge of Seattle's Puget Sound, the Four Seasons Seattle delighted with local touches including a TopPot coffee and donut station, along with surprising amenities like a nighttime sleep bar and a coffee concierge who will hand-deliver hot cups of potent brew each morning. The hotel's Goldfinch Tavern is also one of the city's best eateries.

The St. Regis Punta Mita captivates with Butler Service, spectacular vistas of the Pacific Ocean and flawless dining in the grand style of Caroline Astor's New York City Four Hundred, infused with Jalisco soul. Nestled within the resort community of Punta Mita, a short drive from Puerto Vallarta, the casita-style rooms are difficult to leave, even with the resort's myriad temptations.

Locals and visitors alike flock to Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort, one of a handful of resorts on Tahiti, an island often overlooked for honeymoon heavyweights Moorea and Bora Bora. Set outside of the bustle of Papeete, this tranquil resort promises quiet tropical seclusion fronted by a gold-flecked black sand beach, but the delights of the capital remain conveniently close.

Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa is Polynesian to the core, just like the unhurried, less-trafficked island of Taha'a, whose lagoon it occupies. Bora Bora's distinctive shape is visible a short distance away, but the vibe here is much more low-key, with superb French cuisine and a popular weekly Polynesian revue in the resort's treehouse main restaurant, Le Vanille.

The Hong Kong original is world-famous-and the understaded, proud Peninsula Chicago quietly does it justice by manifesting the best of Eastern graciousness and Midwestern sensibility. Gorgeous lacquered furnishings and bespoke Bernardin china accent impeccable service and some of the best Chinese cuisine in the city. In the winter, the popular SkyRink offers skating and mulled wine.

In Dublin's fair city, there's a hotel that's so pretty-The Merrion. Unassuming from the outside due to Georgian-era building codes, the insides are some of the city's most storied. Locals flock to drawing rooms for tea while guests enjoy accommodation in several converted townhomes. Friendly liveried staff chatter on happily about the best the city has on offer.

Named after the original 1920s building architect Gwen Lux, The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, sits on prime real estate on Chicago's Miracle Mile. Plush rooms (including an expansive penthouse with views for days) have artistic touches from Gwen's notebook for a distinctive Jazz Age character. In the winter, the popular rooftop curling rink is a local draw.

Panama sits at a world crossroads, and the Waldorf Astoria Panama reflects that position. Polished marble and high ceilings punctuate the lobby while the hotel itself, tucked away off the main thoroughfares, feels residential in nature, almost like a grand home instead of a hotel. Staff offer polished service and the lavish breakfast buffet is a hit with guests.

There's plenty of fun to be had at the Four Seasons Houston. Spend an evening exploring Texas cuisine based on fresh gulf seafood and fortified by a fine selection of Lonestar-inspired cocktails, then work on your golf swing in one of the hotel's own TopGolf Swing Suites. There's also an expansive pool deck with towering shade trees for lazy afternoons.

Turneffe Island Resort, off the coast of Belize, is an escapist paradise. Whether the aim is fishing, diving, snorkeling, or relaxation, this resort has activities for all. The most beloved day is the weekly excursion to the Great Blue Hole, followed by a picnic lunch at Half Moon Caye National Reserve. Nightly happy hours and family-style meals cap off perfect days.

New Canopy properties in Washington DC and Dallas are a hot new ticket in the hospitality space. Designed around youthful travelers, these tech-forward hotels offer luxury that's digestible for wandering Millennials. Think local craft beverage tastings, lots of shared plates, breakfast bags to go or artisan buffet breakfasts to sate guest needs.

Steeped in Hollywood lore, the Mayfair was the site of the first Academy Awards after-party. The downtown hotel has undergone an extensive renovation to restore the hotel's public spaces with an eye toward the ethos of the 1920s original. Quirky bar touches highlight the city's atmosphere for creatives and counterculturists, while Eve American Bistro turns out sumptuous, delicious meals.

Pulitzer Amsterdam is perhaps the most Amsterdam of the city's hotels. Converted canal houses taking up nearly a city block house the guest rooms, each slightly different. The interior design is sophisticated and simply in a manner that's wholly Dutch. Guests can tour the city's canals in a plush 1909 touring boat for an Amsterdam experience that's luxuriously private.

There are plenty of resorts in Ka'anapali, Maui, but how many have resident penguins, a nightly luau and a rooftop full of high-powered telescopes for stargazing adventures under the eye of the property's resident astronomer? Hyatt Regency Maui is the only property with all of that, plus fantastic dining and tropical ponds with swans, flamingos, ducks and more.

At the Fairmont Orchid on Hawai'i Island, volcanic lava rock gives way to plush Eden on a turquoise coast where snorkelers can spot green sea turtles at a steady clip. Fairmont Gold guests have access to a well-stocked lounge and other luxury touches for memorable stays, but this resort's gracious employees will make any visitor feel genuinely treasured.

Unassuming Ko'a Kea on Kaua'i's Poipu Beach is understated on an island that has perfected the art of understatement. Perhaps that's why surprise amenities like bottles of wine and flip-flops instead of traditional slippers have such impact. Friendly is a way of life on Kaua'i, but employees at this laid-back resort soon feel like old friends.

Seattle is a city steeped in Northwest sensibility, which means solid comfort without overdoing it on the gilt. Thompson Seattle fits this attitude squarely, allowing guests to drink in the excitement of the city. The location can't be beat-it's just steps from Pike Place Market and most guest rooms have Instagram-worthy views of Puget Sound. Non-guests can check out The Nest for a picture-perfect happy hour.

Airport hotels go in and out of style with the times and they normally follow an exacting formula. Hyatt Regency LAX perfects that formula with soundproof guest rooms and 24-hour dining, but goes further with 24-hour housekeeping and door hangars indicating a guest is a day-sleeper. Distinctly California cuisine and a socially-buzzy pool make this airport hotel rather un-airport like.

This recently remodeled Westin Hapuna Beach on the Big Island's Kohala Coast has a rare amenity for the region: a natural white sand beach. It's also got expansive public spaces for an uncrowded feel and guest rooms have large lanais with day beds and stand-up breakfast bars. Separate adult and family pools give everyone the experience they desire.

The Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa in the Marina Vallarta district isn't the newest, shiniest bauble in the city's portfolio of resort hotels, but the staff are warm, enthusiastic and committed to memorable guest experiences. Whether eavesdropping at beach bars or pool cabanas, it's clear many guests have chosen to return year after year.

There are actually two Hyatts at Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport-the Hyatt Regency where upscale service meets charming extras like airplane-shaped chocolates after dinner and step-out balconies, and the Grand Hyatt, directly inside the terminal so flight departures are just an escalator away and the Grand Met dining room is "city center good".

Brand new in 2018 is the massive Fairmont Austin, where the brand solidly demonstrated it had the mettle to execute a new build property in contrast to its portfolio of historic hotels. Gorgeous interior spaces with live trees, a food hall-inspired restaurant, rooftop pool & lounge and luscious Fairmont Gold Floor, are all top draws for this gorgeous new hotel.

The Arctic Club, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is one of Seattle's most interesting. Occupying a building that was once a gentleman's club for Arctic explorers, the hotel has retained many vintage touches like member photos and original art. There are even whispers of the hotel being haunted, although guests who are frightened can obtain a souvenir walrus for company.

San Antonio's Riverwalk isn't known for being the most docile of attractions, particularly into the evening hours, but the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio serenely holds court on a quieter side of the river. Here, guests can sit outside on the river-level terrace sipping cocktails or dining while tourist boats float lazily by.

Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Washington, just north of Seattle is a surprising gem hidden away among the tall spruce trees. Guests here will find oversized, recently renovated guest rooms with Northwest native artwork, plus a sumptuous selection of restaurants ranging from dim sum to salmon cooked in the traditional style on a ironwood spear over an open fire.