My Top Five Favourite Hotels
🔝5️⃣ I stayed in 62 hotels last year. 62. I haven’t worked out the number of nights because it might be debilitating. Many of these hotels represented just a bed and a shower on a work trip. Others however were calming sanctuaries of joy and family time.
I’ve rattled 62 down to 5 plus a couple of honourable mentions. Here are My Top Fives Favourite Hotels from 2025 🏩
1️⃣ Mandarin Oriental, Doha 🪭
A beautiful hotel with a lovely mix of Qatari style and contemporary but unpretentious elements. Luxurious room, and impeccable service at every turn. The on-site restaurants were also fab. Situated in the Msheireb Downtown area, where the ancient souk boundaries neo-modern architecture.
2️⃣ The Boca Raton, Florida 🚣♂️
Newly refurbished two years ago. The hotel is situated over various buildings with Lake Boca Raton running in between and served by a little ferry service. On site are two golf courses, a spa, 13 restaurants, a marina, 7 swimming pools, a lazy river, water slides, a tennis and pickleball club plus a Flowrider surf simulator. The rooms with views across The Atlantic were large bright, and airy.
3️⃣ Pan Pacific, London 🥢
This topped my Top Five listing last year. In 2025 I stayed a couple more times in this hotel bang in the middle of the City. Good sized rooms with plenty of mod-cons, the best shower ever and the lounge and bar scene is elegant without being fancy.
4️⃣ Raffles, Doha 🍹
The iconic Katara Towers, a striking architectural marvel shaped like two giant, crossed scimitars symbolizing Qatar’s national emblem. The views are mind-blowing and the people watching amped up from the Mandarin Oriental. Great roof top pool and the rooms were beautifully crafted using local materials finding Qatari inspiration.
5️⃣ Palihouse, Tampa 🌂
I stay here a lot. The Palihouse is part of a boutique roster of hotels, and the one in the Hyde Park area of Tampa is homely, arty and good value. A secretive happy hour and a great breakfast adds to the vibe.
🏩 Honourable Mentions: The Beekman, New York; Hilton Tower Bridge, London; The Watermark, Baton Rouge; Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.
