Last Updated on February 10, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
If you’ve explored my blog, you’ll know that boutique hotels are the key to my heart. I love the way each one is unique and tells its own story — from the thoughtful design details to the local flavors on the breakfast table — and how staying in a boutique hotel can transform any trip into something truly memorable.
As we head into 2026, I’ve been daydreaming about the bucket list hotels I’d love to experience in the year ahead. This list is a mix of dreamy boutique hotels in the U.S. (close to home) and a few European hotels that have completely captured my imagination. Will I stay at all of them? Probably not — but this is my 2026 hotel bucket list, and I’m manifesting at least a few (and sharing them here so you can dream along with me).
You’ll notice that all but one of these hotels are in California. Since planting ourselves more “permanently” here in 2022, I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what the state has to offer. Which is why I have a feeling 2026 will be the year of California-based adventures — from boutique hotels by the beach to cozy hideaways tucked into wine country!
I’m starting this list with the properties closest to home — the ones I can most realistically visit for a quick weekend getaway — and ending with the furthest (in Puglia, of course…shocker!). That one might take a little extra planning (and convincing!) to make happen.
Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach – Laguna Beach, California
Playing tourist in your own backyard can be surprisingly magical — sometimes a one-night staycation in Laguna Beach is all you need to shake things up and see a familiar town from a fresh perspective.
I’ve been obsessed with the Le Petit Pali properties for quite some time now, and the Laguna Beach location feels like the perfect excuse for a dreamy one- or two-night escape. This boutique hotel is perched along the iconic Coast Highway (Highway 1) at the southern end of Laguna Beach, just steps from Treasure Island Beach and Goff Cove — two of Laguna’s most picturesque stretches of sand.
The property itself is a two-story building with 41 king and suite rooms, an intimate, cozy lobby, and a sparkling pool shaded by palm trees. Guests are spoiled with thoughtful little luxuries, like a complimentary Champagne Continental Breakfast featuring delicious pastries from local bakery Rye Goods, seasonal fruit, and even mimosas for those who want to start the morning with a little something sparkly. Can’t forget the sweetest part… Every evening, freshly baked cookies are delivered to your room!
For my Orange County locals, Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach firmly deserves a spot on your staycation bucket list. But honestly? This Southern California boutique hotel belongs on everyone’s 2026 hotel bucket list. For me, checking in here would be the ultimate local getaway — proof that you don’t always have to travel far for a bucket list-worthy escape.
Hideaway Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara, California
If 2026 ends up being a year of closer-to-home escapes (like our weekend in La Quinta for my 29th birthday), Hideaway Santa Barbara is high on my list. Tucked just a few blocks from the beach in the quiet West Beach neighborhood, this boutique inn is the epitome of effortless coastal style: airy, sunlit, and full of that signature Santa Barbara charm.
Hideaway is full of that classic California design with a soft, modern palette: think whitewashed walls, natural wood, woven textures, and light bedding. The rooms are intimate and thoughtfully curated, letting in lots of natural light.
Each morning starts with a complimentary gourmet breakfast, and with its location, you’re close to everything — the Funk Zone, the harbor, State Street, wine tasting rooms — yet the property still manages to be tucked away. For anyone who loves boutique hotels with character, design details, and a sense of calm, Hideaway is exactly the kind of coastal retreat that has me dreaming of a stay!
Villa Mara – Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
If you’ve ever dreamed of a getaway to Carmel-By-The-Sea (and I do quite often), let Villa Mara be at the top of your list for your coastal stay. Located near the water’s edge, Villa Mara pairs elevated, contemporary design with warm, refined California comfort. Expect leafy courtyards, coastal-inspired décor, simple yet plush bedding, and the soothing sound of waves just beyond your doorstep. It’s intimate, elevated, and effortlessly chic — exactly what a boutique coastal California escape should be.
The 16-room boutique gem offers a calm, refined escape where understated luxury meets seaside simplicity. Beyond the rooms, the entire property is designed to slow you down and make you linger: lush garden grounds dotted with firepits, water-features, and intimate seating areas — a rare kind of privacy and calm for a beachside stay.
For someone like me — who loves soft, feminine aesthetics, European-inspired travel, slow living, and dreamy destinations — Villa Mara Carmel feels like the perfect blend: coastal California charm meets quiet, boutique-hotel elevation.
Beltane Ranch – Glen Ellen, California
There is something about a family-run spot that will always speak to my soul. Beltane Ranch is a six-generation-owned-and-operated farm stay in California’s Sonoma Valley, complete with estate vineyards, gardens, and olive oil all right there on-site.
Along with relaxing on the porch and taking in the stunning views, there’s so much to do at Beltane Ranch! You can wander the 105-acre property, home to vineyards, olive groves, gardens, and orchards, meet the animals, take a 4×4 tour through the acres and acres of land, and taste estate wines made with care and deep respect for the land (Beltane is all about regenerative farming).
It’s the kind of romantic, laid-back getaway that dovetails beautifully with a “slow travel, slower living & dreamy destinations” mentality (like mine) — especially for someone who cherishes vineyards, history, & sunny afternoons sipping wine beneath ancient oak trees.
VISTA Ostuni – Ostuni, Italy
Never say never, but I’m not sure that a trip to Europe is on our bingo card for 2026, especially following our extended stay for our destination wedding in Puglia and 12-day Italian honeymoon extravaganza. But, if it is somehow in the cards, I’d love to make a return to Puglia, the region in Southern Italy that absolutely stole my heart.
A hotel that opened in August 2025, VISTA Ostuni would be one of my top choices for at least a part of that potential trip (or even just a rooftop aperitivo). Perched just outside the White City, VISTA is a design-forward hotel inspired by olive groves, limestone, and that dreamy Apulian light. Think clean lines, neutral textures, and earthy tones that feel both modern and deeply rooted in the surrounding land.
It feels like the kind of stay that matches the Puglia I fell in love with: luxe yet homey, intentional, effortlessly beautiful. A place where mornings start with sea-salt air and cappuccinos on your terrace, and evenings melt into sunset-colored skies and long, leisurely dinners at one of the best restaurants in Ostuni.
If Puglia ends up calling our name in 2026… I can’t imagine a more magical stay!
Every year feels like a new chapter in the way we travel — what we’re craving, what feels inspiring, and what kind of beauty we want to soak up next. Whether 2026 takes us across the world or keeps us closer to home, these hotels are the ones calling my name: places rooted in thoughtful design, slow living, and that little spark of magic I always look for when I travel.
Here’s to future getaways, sun-drenched mornings, cozy nights, and the kind of trips that remind you how beautiful the world can be!