It's that time of year again — and one of the TPG Travel Team's very favorite seasons: We get to share with you the hotels that wowed us the most in 2025. Every single year, our team of travel experts and global contributors sets off across the world to check in to some of the most highly anticipated hotels, from all-inclusive resorts on paradisiacal Caribbean islands to points hotels in bustling metropolises and boutique properties that get us off the beaten path.
And 2025 was a big year for the hospitality world, especially when it came to major points openings and long-awaited renovations. Two of the most legendary and luxurious points properties reopened in a couple of our favorite cities. After waiting eight years, New Yorkers and Hilton loyalists rejoiced as the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York welcomed guests back into its hallowed, chandelier-adorned halls. And on the other side of the world, the Park Hyatt Tokyo, famously the backdrop for "Lost in Translation," celebrated its opening earlier this month — and TPG was one of the first guests to set foot in both.
While we love city slicking, we also made plenty of time for getting outside. And to our delight, one of the main travel trends we noticed this year was how accessible major points companies have made experiencing the outdoors. This past fall, Marriott debuted Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, an all-new collection of over 450 outdoor-centric hotels (including brands like Trailborn Hotels and Postcard Cabins) that offer Bonvoy members easy access to outdoor adventures like skiing and snowboarding, hiking, glamping, water sports, and more. Similarly, just this month we saw Hilton launch Hilton Honors Adventures, allowing members to unlock nonhotel, outdoor-focused experiences using points (including the company's partnership with AutoCamp, which you'll see featured on this list). And true to form, Hyatt continued to wow us with enticing new Under Canvas locations near treasured national parks.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
