It’s an exciting year for hotel openings, with everything on the horizon from tropical all-inclusives in Costa Rica to zen hideaways in Kyoto, Sydney beach resorts to wellness retreats in the heart of London — and everything in between.
What’s more, many of the hotels we’re most excited about are bookable using points, meaning you can experience them at a fraction of the cost other travelers are paying.
I’ve already had the good fortune to check out some of this year’s most gorgeous new hotels and resorts, including the art-filled Capella Kyoto and landmark Six Senses London.
But here are the other seven points hotels that I’m most excited to check into in 2026.
Andaz Lisbon
The next European outpost of Hyatt’s casual-chic Andaz brand opened in the Portuguese capital in April, and I’ve been itching to redeem some World of Hyatt points there ever since. I’m thinking I’ll pass through the city on my way to the Douro Valley up north for a bit of wine-tasting this fall.
Located in the baroque Baixa district, the hotel has 170 rooms and suites, many of which overlook the city’s imposing Praça do Comércio, and which feature playful locally inspired decor touches such as cork wood accents and rich-toned velvet furniture. The main restaurant, Luzzi, serves contemporary Lusitanian cuisine including small plates and fresh seafood.
I’m just hoping by the time I get there that the spa is up and running.
Rates here start at $380 or 20,000-40,000 World of Hyatt points per night since this is a Category 6 property.
JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve
Marriott has been making a foray into safari since the opening of its JW Marriott Masai Mara lodge in Kenya a few years back. When it opens in July, its latest camp will take up residence in the country’s Solio Game Reserve near Mount Kenya, which is known for its rhino conservation work, though guests can also count on spotting (so to speak) leopards and cheetahs.
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The camp features a full four restaurants and bars, including a vegetarian eatery, which is rare on safari, plus a leisurely pool for long afternoon naps and 20 tented guest suites that start at over 1,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, and which boast plunge pools of their own.
Rates at the JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve start at $2,223 per night, based on double occupancy, or 233,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur
The Malaysian capital is experiencing a hotel boom these days, seemingly set off by the sky-high Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, which opened last year. Next up? Both a Waldorf Astoria and a Conrad from Hilton in the city’s Golden Triangle, the city’s main shopping and nightlife area. The Waldorf Astoria, which is currently accepting reservations starting in January 2027, will be home to 272 suites, each ranging from 860 square feet upward, with palatial bathrooms that feature freestanding bathtubs.
The hotel will also field a variety of restaurants including three concepts by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Indian cuisine from a chef Garima Arora and menus inspired by royal Malaysian banquets at Istana.
Rates at the Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur start at $545 or 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos Grace Bay
I don’t visit the Caribbean often since I’m based on the West Coast, but when the weather starts turning dreary later this year, you can bet I’ll have my eye on a quick jaunt down to Turks & Caicos to check out this new IHG property.
The Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos officially opened in March near the world-famous Grace Bay Beach and has a mere 56 rooms and suites, giving it a boutique feel. The decor is beach-chic, with pastels and seashell-inspired patterns. The hotel also has a casual Italian-Caribbean restaurant and a cute cafe. It’s just a quick walk to the beach, though guests can also lounge around the courtyard infinity pool.
Rates at the Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos Grace Bay start at $294 or 48,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. (If you’re looking to redeem World of Hyatt points instead, there’s an Andaz opening imminently in Turks & Caicos, too).
JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa
I fell in love with Costa Rica’s rugged Pacific coastline and wildlife-rich jungles when I first visited in 2024 and I’ve been dying to get back ever since. While I haven’t had the chance to check out new luxury hotels like Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique or Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve yet, I am hoping to cash in some Marriott points to visit the all-new JW Marriott Costa Elena in Guanacaste when it opens this fall.
The hotel will have 415 rooms and suites, including a high-end kind of hotel-within-a-hotel called the Griffin Club, with butler service and dedicated pool and beach access. The hotel will also have a 16,000-square-foot Spa by JW for post-beach pampering and a whopping 11 bars and restaurants serving everything from Costa Rican cuisine to Japanese, Italian and fresh-caught seafood.
Rates at the JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa start at $580 per night, though points rates do not yet appear to be available. I’d guess that they will start at around 100,000 points per night based on double occupancy, though.
Conrad, The Ilisian Athens
Athens is a mix of ancient and modern, and this latest location from Conrad is no exception. The hotel opened in April and takes over the former Hilton Athens (which originally opened in 1963), transforming it into a mutlifaceted luxury development.
The hotel itself has 278 rooms and suites, many of which overlook the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill, and interiors were overseen by AvroKO with a minimalist-modern bent. There’s also a huge wellness complex featuring a longevity clinic, indoor and outdoor pools, and a spa. Guests will also find an all-day French-Greek brasserie called Byzantino and a stylish Japanese restaurant, Onuki, that overlooks the pool and features fresh sushi and an extensive Sake menu.
Rates at the Conrad, The Ilisian Athens start at $450 or 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Cape Town Edition
Cape Town is one of my all-time favorite destinations, and the city is home to a preponderance of excellent and affordably priced points hotels. Joining their ranks is one of the next installments of Marriott’s design-forward Edition Hotels.
The Cape Town Edition will be located on the V&A Waterfront, a favorite with visiting tourists for its shops and restaurants. It is an all-new build from Shanghai-based architects Neri & Hu in collaboration with hometown firm StudioMas. The hotel will have 142 rooms and suites, with plans for six residences, too, and guests can expect the brand’s signature white-on-white aesthetic paired with blond wood furniture and floors.
It will feature a rooftop bar, presumably with stunning views of Table Mountain, as well as a spa and pool.
The hotel is currently scheduled to open in September, but paid and points rates are not yet available. Based on pricing at other Editions and Cape Town’s other higher-end Marriott hotels, though, I expect nightly rates to run at around $450 or 90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
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