[This post contains links to hotel sites where if you book, we receive a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Granted, these are our top hotels of the year, so obviously we heartily recommend staying all of them!]
In 2019, we spent 75 nights sleeping in 30 different hotels. Some we collaborated with, others we booked with our credit card points, and some we paid for. We had a wide array of experiences, from a Bed and Breakfast on the Italian coast, to all-inclusive beach resorts, boutique hotels in mountain settings, and plenty of luxury resorts. While it’s hard to rank all of the hotels and resorts we stayed at, we were able to identify our 5 favorite stays this year. Here they are!\
5. Sheraton Miramar Hotel (Chile)
When we visited Santiago, the capital of Chile, we quickly got a bit tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, and looked into smaller, and more quiet neighboring towns to spend a weekend in. This brought us to the Sheraton Miramar in Vinas del Mar, Chile, which is approximately 1.5 hours from Santiago by bus. We were charmed by the beauty and simplicity of Vinas del Mar, but we were surprised by the dramatic location that the Sheraton Miramar was built on. The hotel is basically perched on a small cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and it was simply mesmerizing to watch the waves crash against the rocks next to the hotel. The hotel’s modern look and comfortable amenities made our stay in Vinas del Mar a memorable one. Another big plus was that the hotel was only about a 15 minute taxi ride to Valparaiso, where incredible street art adorns the city center and vibrant, colorful landscapes dot the cliffs that the city is built upon. It’s also 20 minutes away (in the other direction) from the Concon Sand Dunes, basically the only place where we’ve seen sand dunes right next to the ocean. If you’re planning a trip to Chile, we definitely recommend making a stop in Vinas del Mar, Valparaiso, and visiting the Concon Sand Dunes!
4. Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya (Mexico)
This hotel is conveniently situated between along the Mexican Riviera Maya between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. As the only all-inclusive resort on our list, we loved the convenience of not having to worry about how much food and drinks were going to cost. The splash park, wave pool, and beach were all big hits with the kids, but the real highlight for all of us was the Star Camp Kids Club.
Star Camp perhaps the most comprehensive kids club experience that we’ve had at a resort! There are separate sections for different age levels, but what really distinguishes the Star Camp from other kids clubs is the activities. The staff actually take the kids out of the actual kids club and to different parts of the resort, including a nightly performance that the kids put on for parents! And this isn’t just a simple ordeal, it feels like a full-on stage production every night! The kids all dressed up to perform Moana, which meant there were about 15 girls in authentic Moana costumes, 15 boys in Maui costumes, and even supporting characters were represented. While we were there, there were performances for Moana and Frozen, and the kids loved getting on stage while we felt proud that our children were learning how to act and perform.
3. La Paz Peace Lodge and Waterfall Gardens (Costa Rica)
This is the first of two resorts that we loved staying in while we visited Costa Rica. La Paz Peace Lodge is about an hour north of San Jose, and it takes its name from the beautiful set of waterfalls in that area. Each room is beautifully decorated and definitely gives off a forest lodge vibe. Its main attraction is the Waterfall Gardens, which, aside from having walking trails along the waterfalls, also contains an animal sanctuary. In one day, we were able to view sloths, feed hummingbirds, milk cows, and watch butterflies emerge from their cocoons. The experience was fantastic for kids as well, since every animal encounter is pretty close by. There is also a shuttle that takes you from the end of the waterfall trail back to the resort, which makes the adventure much more convenient, especially if you’re going with young children.
2. The Springs Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
If I had to describe The Springs Resort in one word, it would be: spectacular! The resort itself is beautiful and the rooms are conveniently positioned to provide amazing views of the Arenal volcano. The thermal hot springs vary in temperature, ensuring that there’s a perfect dipping spot for everyone. There’s also a kids’ room right outside one of the restaurants, where the kids were able to play while Jess and I enjoyed some much-needed couples time!
Normally that would be enough to make a stay great, but then, the Springs goes above and beyond with their Club Rio Adventure Center. This area of the resorts provides thrilling activities like white-water rafting and rock climbing, as well as family-friendly ones like guided horseback rides along the jungle. There’s even a wildlife preserve where you can learn about the species that are native to Costa Rica. It’s no surprise that the resort has been featured on reality shows like The Bachelor; The Springs Resort truly offers so much and is a place we are hoping to return to next time we go to Costa Rica.
1. Hosteria Pehoe (Chile)
Our top hotel is wildly different from all the other ones on this list! There is no kids club, pool, beach, or really, many family-friendly amenities to be had. Our room was very standard, and only had three beds for the four of us. At this point you’re probably wondering, “what’s so special about this basic place?” Well, the answer is one word: Patagonia. It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you arrive to Hosteria Pehoe. The hotel itself is on an island in the middle of Lake Pehoe, and its lounge area offers breathtaking views of Torres del Paine, the most beautiful mountain range we’ve laid eyes on.
We stayed here for two nights (that we paid for ourselves), and used the excellent location to be able to drive around and access many of the viewpoints in Torres del Paine National Park. But our favorite activity by far was simply enjoying a coffee or hot chocolate in the warm confines of the hotel lounge while watching the clouds and fog roll across the peaks of the Torres. Simply put, staying at Hosteria Pehoe had so many magical, but intangible qualities that made the experience unforgettable despite the lack of traditional family-friendly amenities.
Final Thoughts
For the sake of transparency, Jess and I actually had different thoughts on what the #1 hotel should be! I liked Hosteria Pehoe the most, while she had The Springs Costa Rica as #1. Both of them were absolutely incredible experiences, so I guess in a way you can consider it a tie for first 😂. If you’re visiting any of these cities and countries, we highly recommend you check out each of these hotels!
