Top Hotels To Visit In 2026

If your list of “some day” destinations is growing ever longer, 2026 is the year to start ticking things off. Perhaps it’s time to return to a classic - Paris, Athens or the South of France, places that reinvent themselves no matter how many times you visit. Or maybe you’re craving something more unexpected: Rwanda’s gorilla-filled forests, Bhutan’s temples steeped in mythology, or even planning a trip around the World Cup in the American Midwest.

There is a lot of world to go around. And with new, design-led hotels joining Mr & Mrs Smith every week, this is your boarding call. Consider this your curated guide to where to stay in 2026, not just destinations, but the hotels that will define the journey.

Paris, France

Hôtel Balzac

Paris never dates, and neither does its hotel scene. In 2026, the French capital continues to set the benchmark for boutique luxury, with a new wave of design-forward openings breathing fresh energy into its historic streets. Hôtel Balzac is a standout addition in the refined 8th arrondissement, housed in a grand Haussmannian mansion just moments from the Champs-Élysées. Inside, Thirties-inspired interiors meet a Japanese-influenced spa, creating a quietly indulgent retreat after days spent museum-hopping, strolling boulevards or lingering over candlelit bistro dinners.

Elsewhere, Pigalle’s Maison Souquet Hotel & Spa leans into Parisian intrigue with brocade-draped rooms and a hammam spa that nods to the building’s former life as a maison close. Its sister property, Maison Proust, offers a literary flourish in the Marais, while family-friendly Hôtel Noucha and design-led La Fondation prove that staying slightly outside the centre can be deeply rewarding.

Algarve, Portugal

Palácio de Tavira

The Algarve has long been loved for its climate and coastline, but 2026 brings a more refined reason to visit. Palácio de Tavira, from the group behind Cap Rocat and Vermelho Melides, restores an 18th-century aristocratic residence in the quietly charming fishing town of Tavira. Set near the Gilão River, this elegant retreat offers rooftop pools, seafood-led dining and an atmosphere that feels worlds away from the region’s busier resorts. Days here unfold slowly, wandering cobbled streets, crossing Roman bridges and exploring the lagoons and birdlife of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Oaxaca, Mexico

La Valise Mazunte

Oaxaca’s hotel scene continues to impress, and La Valise Mazunte is one of its most striking additions. Perched along cliffs above the Pacific, this intimate collection of open-air villas is designed for total immersion in nature. With sweeping ocean views, minimalist architecture and a sense of barefoot luxury, it’s a place to disconnect completely. Nearby, Kymaia Hotel blends sustainability with spirituality, while Hotel Humano in La Punta captures Oaxaca’s laid-back surf culture with rooftop cocktails, sunrise yoga and a slow, sun-drenched rhythm.

Athens, Greece

Emerald Hotel Athens

Athens rewards curiosity. Slightly gritty, endlessly fascinating, and constantly evolving, the Greek capital’s hotel scene reflects its layered character. Emerald Hotel Athens brings boutique luxury to a central townhouse between Syntagma and Monastiraki, offering just five rooms, a Mediterranean restaurant and a relaxed courtyard bar. For a calmer perspective, Monastik Living near the Temple of Zeus promises hillside serenity with Parthenon views, while northern suburb Kifissia offers a chic local scene and refined stays such as The Twentyone.

Puglia, Italy

Palazzo Piccinno

Puglia’s sun-drenched landscapes and slow-living ethos feel particularly irresistible for 2026. Palazzo Piccinno, an adults-only noble residence reborn in the heart of Salento, offers an intimate escape with a hidden courtyard pool, neogothic interiors and a sense of hushed indulgence. Further north, Vista Ostuni gazes towards both sea and hilltop citadel, blending cinematic Italian glamour with contemporary polish — Negronis included.

Kansas City, USA

Crossroads Hotel

The World Cup arrives in North America in 2026, and Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the host cities. Crossroads Hotel places you in the city’s creative heart, housed in a former brewing depot with gallery spaces, pop-ups and a strong sense of local identity. It’s an ideal base for experiencing a city on the rise, where contemporary culture meets layered history.

Somerset & the Cotswolds, United Kingdom

The Newt

Closer to home, 2026 is shaping up to be a golden year for rural British escapes. The Newt in Somerset remains one of the most immersive countryside stays in the UK, with guests split between Georgian Hadspen House and its working estate. Days are spent wandering gardens, sampling cider, baking bread and indulging in hyper-local dining. Nearby, design-led stays in the Cotswolds continue to quietly redefine modern British luxury.

Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden

Ellery Beach House

Just beyond Stockholm lies Lidingö, an island retreat where Ellery Beach House brings Palm Springs glamour to Scandinavian shores. Adults-only pools, a restorative spa and forest-fringed beaches make this a refined yet relaxed escape, with easy connections back to the city when you want an urban fix.

Rwanda

One&Only Nyungwe House

Safari remains firmly at the top of many travellers’ wishlists, and Rwanda offers one of the most meaningful ways to experience it. One&Only Nyungwe House pairs rainforest immersion with refined comfort, while nearby camps such as Wilderness Bisate and Magashi Peninsula create itineraries that balance gorilla trekking, Big Five sightings and community-led conservation.

Bhutan

Pemako Punakha

For those seeking a truly transformative journey, Bhutan delivers. Pemako Punakha immerses guests in the country’s spiritual heritage, with ceremonial welcomes, prayer-flag-lined courtyards and spa rituals rooted in ancient traditions. It’s a destination that feels both grounding and otherworldly, a capital-A adventure for 2026.

Why book your 2026 stay with Case Travel

Mr & Mrs Smith hotels are designed to be memorable, but when booked through Case Travel, they become part of a wider, beautifully considered journey. Our direct partnership allows us to match you with the right hotel for your style, add Smith Extras, and design the rest of your trip around it, from flights and transfers to experiences and concierge details.

If 2026 is the year you finally start ticking destinations off your list, we’d love to help you decide where to stay. Simply get in touch, and we’ll curate a journey that’s as special as the hotel at its heart.