It’s been a busy year in the travel industry…and for me personally, as became the year I traveled the most.
Visiting new and familiar destinations and experiencing new hotels and cruise ships, plus some fun non-work trips using those ever-important vacation days, 2025 was a whirlwind.
As we reflect on the end of the year, which featured tons of major stories, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the hotels that stood out the most for me in 2025.
Best Overall Rooms - Rondoval Suite at Sandals Regency La Toc, St Lucia and El Cielo Winery & Resort Suite
When you stay at 31 different hotels, it’s hard to pick just one room, so I’m cheating a bit here and picking two.
The Rondoval Suite at Sandals Regency La Toc, St Lucia was simply stunning, with butler service and my own private pool. It was easy to see why these new suites are such a big hit for Sandals.
My suite at El Cielo Winery and Resort in Baja California, Mexico was another stand out on the year, with a great bed, plenty of space, and one of the best balconies of the year for me overlooking the vineyards.
Rondoval Butler Villa Suite at Sandals Regency La Toc (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Best Family Stay – Art of Animation, Walt Disney World Resort
We stayed in the Cars Family Suite, themed after the Cars movie, which my kids absolutely loved (and me too honestly). It was super cute, incredibly spacious for our family of four, featured a kitchenette and two full bathrooms.
Best Bed - Westin Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
I had heard the hype of the Westin’s Heavenly Bed but never experienced them until this year. I’m happy to report that even internationally, these beds are phenomenal. It’s not every day you consider buying a bed from a hotel, but that’s the power of a wonderful mattress.
Best Room View - Sandals Dunn’s River, Jamaica
My final international trip of 2025 delivered quite the experience with the Skypool Suite. The room and bathroom area are both massive, and then there’s the balcony with its own pool. I had a pool on my balcony that overlooked the resort pool that was overlooking the Caribbean Sea…it was amazing.
Best Wow Moments - W Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The first ever all-inclusive from the W brand, the W Punta Cana featured the most wow moments for me with the resort, the infinity pool, the room and its king size bed (which by the way, every room at this resort has a king size bed), the outdoor show in the room, the huge balcony with a terrific view, the cool speakeasy on property…it was like everywhere I turned was another moment that surprised me.
Best in Dining - Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, Georgia
My wife and I had a lovely staycation at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. We had no idea just how delicious every single meal would be though. A lovely little coffee shop, a delightful French-inspired restaurant, an Irish Pub, and a Southern-style chophouse exceeded all our expectations. Oh and we can’t forget the charming charcuterie board during the wine tasting, the treats during teatime, and the cooking class with an expert chef. It was a weekend full of fantastic food and beverage experiences.
Best Hotel Pool – Ava Cancun
This resort hands down had the best pool options I visited in 2025. The showstopper is the 2.8-acre saltwater lagoon called Ava Bay. It also features a family pool, an adults only pool, and a dedicated water park for kids.
Best Rooftop - The Wildbirch Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska
Newly renovated, the Wildbirch Hotel took the top rooftop spot for me this year because the first moment I walked out I saw Denali, the highest peak in North America. It took my breath away and I definitely stood there, staring intently, for a long time.
Best in Entertainment – Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, so this should come as no surprise. The casino floor and the various shows provide plenty of fun, plus it’s prime location on the Strip gives guests easy access to many other entertainment offerings.
Best Service and Staff – Sandals Regency La Toc, St Lucia
The whole staff though at this resort was next level, but a major shout out to my butler Ange, who was superb at his job and made my time at Sandals Regency La Toc in St Lucia.
What were your favorite hotel experiences in 2025? Let me know your thoughts and follow me on social media: @EricBowman_
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