Our anonymous hotel reviews factor in everything associated with our stay, from location to soundproofing — plus, of course, service. The amenities on offer greatly affect a hotel’s rating as well. Sometimes, a particular feature impresses us to such an extent that it becomes substantially responsible for our endorsement of a property. These amenities from our travels in 2025 deserve special commendation.

Best Pool: Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
Koh Samui, Thailand

Every villa at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui comes with its own plunge pool. But pure bliss — and a perfect piña colada — can also be found at the beachfront infinity pool, whose waters seem to merge with the Gulf of Thailand. Reclining on shaded sunbeds overlooking the pool, we found the Cocorum bar perfectly positioned just behind us, ideal for effortless ordering and instant service. As the sun sank into the horizon, staff lit fire pots around the pool, and we watched a dramatic tropical storm roll in. The scene felt cinematic, like a moment lifted straight from a film or a beautifully shot TV series.

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Best Beach: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Hotel
St. Lucia

While the south side of St. Lucia is the most desirable thanks to its superior hotels and exceptional hiking and boating opportunities, most of its beaches are composed of dark volcanic sand. One exception fronts Sugar Beach resort, where Viceroy imported 7,500 tons of sand from Guyana to create an immaculate white-sand beach abutting the crystal-clear waters of a secluded bay. Framed by the towering Pitons, this idyllic stretch is ideal for both light adventure and leisure. We enjoyed exceptional snorkeling and glass-bottom kayaking as well as languid afternoons spent beneath plush thatched-roof lounging pods. With attentive service, fresh ceviches and expertly crafted cocktails, our time spent on the beach felt wonderfully indulgent.

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Most Glamorous Bath: One&Only Portonovi
Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Almost as big as the bedroom of our Panoramic Bayview Room, the bath offered a memorable panorama of the Bay of Kotor and palm trees through a wall of windows above the soaking tub. On another wall, two closets bearing high-quality wooden hangers flanked a built-in dressing table, and two separate vanities stood opposite one another. A frosted glass wall with a lacy pattern afforded the spacious walk-in shower some privacy. And in the bath’s center, three midcentury-inspired pendant lights dangled above a chaise longue. It was the kind of bath that induced relaxation and contentment as soon as you stepped inside.

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Best Room With a View: Sun Sanctuary, Jade Mountain
St. Lucia

Russian-Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy designed 29 of Jade Mountain’s 30 hillside accommodations to have just three walls, aiming to make guests feel fully integrated into the natural jungle landscape. His vision came alive the moment we stepped into our expansive 1,800-square-foot Sun “sanctuary.” With no fourth wall, nothing separated us from the sea and sky, and from the edge of our in-room infinity pool, St. Lucia’s iconic Pitons seemed almost within reach. The minimally decorated interiors of natural stone and tropical hardwoods placed the breathtaking scenery firmly in the spotlight. This suite perfectly highlighted the ultimate view of St. Lucia.

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Best Spa: Six Senses Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana, Switzerland

While the glamorous ski-in/ski-out Six Senses Crans-Montana is sure to please outdoor enthusiasts, the resort’s showpiece is its 21,500-square-foot spa. This vast sanctuary features a spectacular indoor pool crowned by a ceiling of hundreds of illuminated wooden rods, suspended in stalactite formations. The Recovery Lounge is equally impressive, outfitted with state-of-the-art biohacking equipment, including red-light therapy masks, musical massage loungers, flotation pods and compression boots. The combination of gorgeous design, cutting-edge technology and sublime tranquility fosters a wellness experience of rare distinction.

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Best Gardens: Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de La Messardière
Saint-Tropez, France

This sybaritic resort in the French Riviera countryside has much to recommend it, including superb restaurants, attentive service and a chic beach club, but it’s perhaps the gardens I’ll most remember. Hedges of blooming oleander lined the driveway up to the entrance. Outside the spa, white roses and an arbor of jasmine perfumed an elevated lawn furnished with comfy seating groups. Umbrella pines, cypresses and mature olive trees punctuated the grounds and flanked the chic lounger-lined lap pool. Terraces with more olive trees, roses and other flowers spilled down a hill from there toward the kids’ club and the Mediterranean beyond. Everywhere I turned, the fragrant gardens formed a composition I wanted to photograph.

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