Next up in my Best of 2018 series is a short list of hotels that impressed me most.
I took rooms in lots of hotels over the course of 2018. Most were perfectly fine, and I would be cool with booking any of them again. That said they hardly left much of an impression.
A few did though. Here’s a look at four in particular that wowed.
Please note, this list merely reflects how I chose to spend my time during the year and is comprised of well established and brand new venues as well as businesses that are somehow related to where work and play took me.
Items appear in alphabetic order, not ranked.
Best Hotels
Hotel Castell de Ciutat
Carretera N260, Kilometro 229, 25700 La Seu d’Urgell, Lérida, Catalunya, Spain
Surrounded by mountains with almost every window yielding an epic view, this Relais & Chateau luxury hotel sits proud and pretty on a hilltop overlooking the ancient Catalan city of Seu d’Urgell. Best spot to enjoy the panoramas? From the perfectly placed outdoor Jacuzzi next to the indoor pool and highly rated spa facilities of course! Beautiful vistas or not, Castell de Ciutat was worth my time for the phenomenal dinner I had in the property’s restaurant was exquisite, featuring seasonal and regional ingredients, bolstered by wines from one of Catalunya’s most renowned cellars and presented with gracious service.
Hotel Miyajima Villa
1165 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture 739-0505, Japan
A minute’s stroll from the wharf receiving ferries coming from nearby Hiroshima, Hotel Miyajima Villa is a modern but cosy hotel that’s convenient for all the activities and sightseeing on the island. I loved my compact loft with forested mountain views and the traditional onsen (thermal bath) with sweeping views across Hiroshima Bay and the city on its other side.
Hotel Roya
Carretera d’Espot a Sant Maurici, 1, 25597 Espot, Lérida, Catalunya, Spain
A made-from-scratch dinner, a solid night’s sleep in an extremely quiet and dark room, and easy access to the majestic lakes and snowy peaks of Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park made my stay at this humble little two-star hotel high up in the Pyrenees village and ski resort of Espot, Catalunya an ideal overnight.
The St Anthony
300 East Travis Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205 USA
A 110-year old luxury hotel set in downtown San Antonio near to the Alamo, Market Square and River Walk – The St Anthony was a wonderful home-away-from-home for a few nights (too few in retrospect!). My suite’s bed was probably the most comfortable I’ve slept in all year. Starting my morning with swimming laps in the rooftop pool was a lovely way to wake up for big days of Texas fun.
Honourable Mention
Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, 120 S Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, USA
More of the Best of 2018 to follow!
