Top 5 Destinations to Experience True 5-Star Resort Living
We’re all looking for that luxurious private oasis. Well, we’ve found it in these five 5-star destinations.
The luxury travel industry grows much faster than the rest of the sector, and over 70% of tourists prefer resort vacations. With an upcoming season 4 of The White Lotus rumored to continue the wellness retreat theme on the French Riviera, a March 2026 report on the best luxury destinations named Mallorca, Spain, as the perfect choice for those who want to experience this luxury lifestyle. Travel experts from Maui Elite Property analyzed how these places compare in safety, scenic views, and prices, drawing on firsthand experience.
To explore the top luxury hotels of the world, go here.
The experts compiled a list of all luxury accommodations in each destination and compared them across key factors that affect resort vacations. The report focused on safety, the ocean, and scenic views, as well as on spa and wellness center and outdoor pool availability, which were presented as percentages reflecting how many resorts have them. The report also provides average 5-star prices for comparison.
Here’s a quick look at the 5 best destinations for a luxury resort stay:
Mallorca, Spain
Expert Experience Score: 9.54/10
Evan Harlow, a real estate agent, shares: “Mallorca leads the list, with great services and accommodations. 98 out of 100 tourists will be guaranteed a beautiful ocean view behind the window, and that’s something that no other place can offer. Almost all destinations on the list have spas and pools. They’re the features that any hotel can build with proper investments, but you cannot buy the view. And over 130 luxurious hotels with spas and outdoor pools will only strengthen this perfect resort fantasy.”
Here are the best luxury hotels in Palma de Mallorca.
Maui, the US
Expert Experience Score: 9.4/10
“Maui is the only destination where every luxury hotel has a scenic view and outdoor spas and pools. No other place in the study matched the 100% for wellness retreats and sceneries, meaning there are no misses when choosing a place to stay here. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is literally where The White Lotus was filmed, and it consistently gets high reviews: a 4.9 for service quality and 4.8 for villas and personal cabanas. Everything here is top quality.”
Here are the best 5-star hotels in Maui.
Punta Cana, The Dominican Republic
Expert Experience Score: 9.26/10
Punta Cana is another great place for leisure in sunny tropical weather. There are over 80 5-star resorts and 500 luxury properties for renting, and all top hotels have award-winning restaurants and private beaches. These comforts are also affordable for travelers on a tighter budget, with rates as low as $300 a night in the best hotels.
“A lot of people avoid the Caribbean Islands, thinking it’s not as protected as other destinations, but safety ratings and personal experience say otherwise. It’s even safer than Mauritius and Cancun, and it’s a shame that many skip this town for no reason,” adds Evan Harlow.
Here are the best 5-star hotels in Punta Cana.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Expert Experience Score: 9.14/10
“Zanzibar hotels are an oasis surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens. They offer bungalows, suites, and villas, and in 9 out of 10 resorts, a private outdoor pool or spa is included, just for $275 a night. It is a perfect match for the White Lotus atmosphere, offering high-quality services, wellness retreat options, and restaurants serving a fusion of European, African, Arabic, and Indian cuisine. There are 450 luxury accommodations to choose from, so it’s never all booked.”
Here are the top luxury hotels in Zanzibar.
Mauritius
Expert Experience Score: 9.01/10
“Every tourist will see why Mauritius resorts get some of the highest ratings. The view of the Indian Ocean is a must-have feature for almost all resorts here, as award-winning spas offer massages and temperature-controlled swimming pools, and hiking trails are a great addition for active tourists. Most resorts here have fitness centers, too, along with kids’ activities and golf courses.”
Here are the best hotels in Mauritius.
Amento: The Ultimate Resort Footwear
From Mallorca to Mauritius, not all of the world’s top resorts have level landscaping and completely benign grounds. In fact, some of our favorite places are set on top of mountains, in tropical settings, and on rocky shores, which require at least a little effort to navigate. Time and again, we’ve found that flip-flops, sandals, and tennis shoes with socks just don’t cut it in the top resorts, which often feature significant walking distances from private cabins or villas to main pools and other facilities. After all, the best resorts are designed to enhance privacy and provide scenic, tranquil settings, and what works for you at home won’t work for you here. Even when high-end resorts provide golf carts or specialized “swim-up” suites, still, for walking around the resort and finding your way along a trail at night to go to dinner… what is on your feet? So, for feeling properly protected, we’ve found the perfect lightweight but secure footwear.
For female-identified folks: The Amento Hovera Women’s Sport Sandal is designed for those on the go, as the excitement about your new setting takes hold! Ultra-lightweight and breathable, the Hovera features flexible arch support, a cushioned footbed, and quick-dry straps for all-day comfort after swimming or sweating. This is our pick for exploring the grounds of your new location, having a dip in the pool, and then walking to lunch or dinner, or maybe down to the private beach. These are super-lowkey, nonslip, athletic, and attractive. They pack like a dream!
For male-identified folks, try the Amento Wingra Lightweight Outdoor Sandal. These are engineered for all-day, relaxed comfort, but they can also handle rugged performance. Plus, they are adjustable to all parts of your foot. This is perfect for that Tanzania beach excursion, sail, jungle hike, and straight onto dinner when you get back to the resort. No need to change. What a discovery! I mean, what other shoe can you swim in, hike in, and walk back through the resort lobby in, looking stylish? Could it be that you just need one pair of shoes this vacation?
