Happy Hoteling Around the World
It's here! A map of over 6,000 hotels in 127 countries.
I can’t even believe I did it, but I did. Happy Hoteling Around the World, the Google Map, is live. For Founding Members (on the post with all the maps), and tomorrow it will be available for purchase on happyhoteling.com.
This is the full database of Happy Hoteling-approved hotels, around the world. It includes nearly every touristed country on this planet of ours. Of course, it retains everything that has ever been shared on here, as well as everything I hadn’t gotten to.
It will forever be a work in progress, my life’s work. The maps of some countries are packed to the brim, others much more sparsely-populated. In general, that’s based on tourism demand to the countries and not just adding hotels for the sake of adding hotels. But also, truly, it will be ever-evolving. The research will never be fully done.
For many of the farther-flung nations, I took deeply to the DMCs and local bloggers and chat boards. I learned so much, as I always do in this world of Happy Hoteling I’ve created. I know I say it a lot, but I am so grateful. I really learn so much about the world from hotels.
As always, you do not need this. Especially in this economy. This is for those who have been wishing and waiting for something of the sort. The avid travel-planners, the people in the trade, the truly hotel-obsessed. Please do not purchase or become a Founding Member if you’re just looking for a hotel for one specific place. Become a paid subscriber and leave a comment requesting that!
This has taken thousands of hours of research and time and energy and compilation. Hours I feel changed from, and admittedly, I should and could be charging more, but can’t in good conscience. The most special in the world. I do feel ok pricing it as is because it is, after all, just a map. There is no context nor organization. There are over 6,100 hotels, making those things impossible for me, at this time.
I have raised the price of a Founding Membership by $15, to $255, and have removed the option to pay what you can, as I do believe I deserve to be paid justly for my time, effort, and expertise. I have kept the price less than it will be on happyhoteling.com ($300) because you do have access to a large amount of names on the map (especially in Europe and North America), and because I respect and revere your presence here on Substack more than anything. It means so very much.
I wish I could give further context to these hotels, but there are over six thousand names, and I am only one person. Maybe someday. But for now, I’m incredibly proud of this map. It’s important to know that it is not organized, it’s too large to do so. I’m mentioning this again as I will not be offering returns.
To use it best, type in somewhere in the world that you want to go or research, and see what comes up on the map. It’s simple. My friends and family are very scared that people will just share it, but I have faith in you, being Good People with Good Taste. You are my people, I cherish you. With that said, please don’t do anything you wouldn’t like done to yourself :)
Of course, as new hotels are discovered and written about here, they will also be added to the map. It is the source. The ultimate resource. I will, of course, continue to share hotel lists here.
To over six thousand special hotels. Private islands to private homes that invite you in. Ultra-luxury to ultra-simple. Far-flung and closer to wherever home is to you. Maximalist and minimalist. Historic and brand new. The hotspots of the world and the lands less-traveled. It’s quite a map.
Happy Hoteling Around the World contains hotels in:
North America & The Caribbean
The United States
Canada (will forever be a work in progress)
Mexico
Cuba, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
The Caribbean islands that belong to other nations
Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Belize
Europe
Italy (the full list)
France, Spain, Portugal, The UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland
Greece, Croatia, Malta, Montenegro, Cyprus
Türkiye aka Turkey
Germany, Belgium, Andorra
Czechia aka Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Azerbaijan
South America
Brazil (full country)
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana
Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina
Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia
Asia
India, Sri Lanka, Maldives
China, Mongolia
Japan, South Korea
Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Taiwan, Singapore
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan – these are all very lean
Nepal, Bhutan
Middle East
Oman, Jordan, Israel, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia (new, I do not support the government, it is for the land and the civilians)
Africa
Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia
Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Rwanda
Cabo Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire, São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius
Oceania (everything is still a work in progress, but my existing repository was solid)
Australia, New Zealand
Fiji, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands
Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting my dreams and trusting my taste and believing in my strange talent of hotel discovery and curation. You are fantastic.
An Amuse Bouche of 20 Special Hotels
In 20 countries.
Las Islas Barú, Colombia – I’ve been meaning to write about this since the start, but today’s the day. There are so many private and small islands off the coast of Cartagena, many Special hotels on them. Beach clubs and restaurants and places to be, and some to see and be seen. This is one where you can choose your own adventure. It’s luxurious but not shiny, barefoot luxury at its best. I’m dying to stay. The Colombia inclusions on the map are very well-researched and full.
The Beige, Cambodia – Cambodia is a country I spent a lot of time researching, as I’m incredibly interested in visiting. Especially Angkor Wat. It’s a tented camp equipped with…air conditioning. A goddamn dream, especially location-wise. Seven tents, including one category with a private pool and hammock-like swinging chair. I finally like something beige that isn’t food.
Kitoki Inn, Canada – Canada is a country that will continue to be researched. It’s so big, and I find it important to do it really right, at this moment in time. Luckily, I did have a quite large repository, especially in places that are most desired for travel and great for wildlife seeking. This, however, is a one-of-one, a ryokan-style inn, in British Columbia. It’s peace in hotel form. I want to stay.
Mujib Chalets, Jordan – Overlooking the Dead Sea, in the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, there is a special, simple place that makes me so thrilled that this is my career. It is a place to go to experience Earth at its most basic and beautiful. And there is air conditioning.
Napper by Rottenberg, Havana – You have to promise me that if you go to Cuba, you will bring things to helo the people. They are in need, and in my book, that’s the only ethical way to travel to Cuba today. There are great places to stay in Havana though, this being one of them. So very of the city, quirky, with a cool patina and mishmash of many things. I love.
Schlössle Hotel, Estonia – When I picture Tallinn, the visual that I so badly want to experience, I see a building with a soul just like this hotel. It’s a Medieval building, and the walls have such a good spirit. It’s cozy and intimate and just where I’d like to stay in the fascinating city.
The Prince of Wales’s Guesthouse, Romania – First, I am not using the apostrophe incorrectly, this is the name. And it is, based on all my extensive research, owned by yes, the King of England. Look, I am no Royal sympathizer, in fact, I found this by the Romanian name, before I realized that this is what it’s formally called. It is a fun fact, and a very special place, in true Transylvania. The staff is all local, the guest house very traditional, all outfitted with Romanian antiques. It’s affordable and very remote, and notoriously, there is no cell service. If you are an all-inclusive guest, there are daily activities included as well. Things true to the land and culture. I Must Stay.
