ToP Luxury Hotels 2024

Sarah and I absolutely love luxury hotels. What was once not given a single thought has now become one of our favorite parts of traveling. While we don't ever plan trips around a luxury property (okay, maybe for Calala Island), we do aggressively seek out the luxury hotels where we're going. Based on this, we wanted to share our ToP Luxury Hotels 2024. We plan to update this list each year. Have no fear, more budget-minded travelers, we plan to share a ToP Mid-Tier Hotels 2024 list too!

RELATED: Read about Derrick's ToP Business Class products he flew in 2024.

Method to the Madness: How the Rankings Work

Simply stated, there is no rhyme or reason to these rankings of the ToP Luxury Hotels 2024. It is purely subjective. While I occasionally write a detailed review of a hotel and include things like the quality of linens, WiFi, temperature controls, lighting, blackout curtains, quality of toiletries, etc., this list is not meant to be an objective ranking based on these things. However, each of those factors, and many more, help shape my experience in some way. However, the vast majority of my rankings are 2 things: the experience and the ambiance. At one property that might be based solely on interaction with staff, while at another property it is based on our room alone.

RELATED: Want to stay in the best luxury hotels in the world? Follow our list of ToP Monthly Cards and pick a card to earn points and miles for your next trip.

Sarah & Derrick's ToP Luxury Hotels 2024

Alila Ventana Big Sur

Our 2024 got off to a *perfect* start. For the 3rd year in a row, we spent New Year's at Ventana Big Sur. I can't say enough great things about this property and it is our favorite hotel on planet Earth. We're headed there again soon for trip #4 and have already booked trip #5.

Pros: This property is all-inclusive, sans alcohol and some activities, so there are no hidden costs. There is plenty to do, especially if you spend time off-property. If you just want to be chill, a warm fire, comfortable leather chairs, and 24 hour room service allow you to seldom leave your room.

Cons: This property is adults-only. Additionally, it is a Category 8 Hyatt property, meaning it costs between 35,000 and 45,000 Hyatt points per night for a Standard Room. With only 3 dining options, one of which is rarely open, the dining options can become boring after 3+ nights.

Hotel Alfonso XIII

If you thought this list would be dominated by World of Hyatt properties, you're wrong! Only a few weeks after leaving Ventana Big Sur, we traveled to Portugal and Spain. In Seville, we stayed at the Hotel Alfonso XIII. Oh my gosh. It absolutely checked ALL of the boxes. Perfect location. Perfect service. Beautiful rooms. Attentive service. We absolutely loved this stay and would return in a heartbeat.

Pros: Location, location, location. The breakfast buffet is one of the best I have ever experienced. The olives and fresh-squeezed orange juice were perfection.

Cons: Typical Marriott points cost of a bajillion points per night, so we opted to book via the ToP travel agency and pay cash with lots of luxury perks. Flamenco dancing classes throughout the afternoon and late evening rattled the walls (literally) and was extremely loud throughout the hotel.

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal

We opted for this hotel during our Abu Dhabi stay for 2 reasons: 1) we had an Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts credit to use and the hotel was only slightly more than our $200 credit, and 2) we only had 1 night in Abu Dhabi and the Grand Mosque, which is directly across the street, was one of our main sights to see. Boy are we glad we did. This hotel was amazing and we were upgraded to a penthouse suite that covered an entire FLOOR of the building. Also, we're foodies and dinner at one of the restaurants was a highlight of our 10 day trip. It's world-class all around!

Pros: Cheap cash rates make this affordable for cash stays or with Marriott's dynamic points pricing. The unique hotel/residence style property makes for crazy upgrades, like our penthouse suite that was an entire floor. It was easily 1,800+ square feet.

Cons: Other than the Mosque, there is nothing around this property. You need to rent a car or do ride share to get anywhere else. The property is massive, so those with any mobility issues will have difficulty navigating this facility.

Intercontinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu

Quite possibly our most unique hotel stay of 2024 was in Lyon, France. The Hotel Dieu is as historic as it is beautiful. This military hospital turned hotel, is the site of the world's first x-ray. Not to be outdone by its history, it is a marvelous 5 star luxury hotel on the banks of the Rhone River. The Dome Bar is an amazing restaurant and bar in the main hotel area.

Pros: Perfect location in the heart of the City and on the banks of the Rhone River. Despite Taylor Swift coming into town the following day, our stay was very cheap (cash or points) and we used a Free Night Certificate earned on our IHG Premier Card to cover this stay in full.

Cons: No real negatives about this property specifically. Overall, the IHG loyalty program is not great, so you can't expect much with status. We received nothing, despite Platinum status.

Thompson Madrid

We went back and forth whether or last choice was Thompson Madrid or Thompson Dallas. Frankly, we loved both of these properties. At the end of the day, Thompson Madrid wins for us. Yes, everyone loves it and it is definitely not in the “unspoken” or “underrated” camp, but this property deserves all its praise. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would return again and again. The staff are likely the best we've encountered in any hotel. They go above and beyond at every opportunity to make your stay special and memorable. And don't even get me started on breakfast. I could eat that stuff every single day of my life and die a happy man.

Pros: great location near the Puerta del Sol, a short walk to the Palace and Gardens, and more. The breakfast is truly fantastic and more than you can possibly consume. The staff are second-to-none and go out of their way to make your stay delightful.

Cons: The front door is setback from the street, so a short walk is required. For those with mobility issues, do not plan to move your own luggage and request assistance. Many interior rooms do not have views. Also, this hotel seems to be near capacity at all times, so space available upgrades for elites are difficult.

ToP Luxury Hotels 2024 – ToP Thoughts

Sarah and I were blessed with another year of travels all over the world and to many luxury properties. It was fun to look back on our year and assemble the ToP Luxury Hotels 2024. We hope you had some luxury hotel stays in 2024 and you have many more booked for 2025!

What was your favorite luxury hotel stay in 2024? Come to the ToP Facebook group and let us know.