Whether you buy early, shop last minute, are traveling far away or keeping it close to home, there’s one truism to travel right now: It’s crazy expensive. So it may be counterintuitive that the best way to snag a deal these days is to stay somewhere brand-spanking new.
“New hotels sometimes underprice themselves when they first open,” explains Becky Pokora, travel rewards staff writer at Forbes Advisor. “It’s part of an effort to attract more attention and to determine what customers are willing to pay,” she continues. Take the brand-new 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. Its opening discount was 30% off — plus $100 to $500 in resort credits, depending on length of stay.
The strategy works whether you’re paying with cash or points, but the savings can be more profound with the latter. For one thing, points are an opaque currency, which means that hotels can manipulate them without reputational risk. Points pricing can also be adjusted without affecting industry benchmarking figures like average nightly rates.
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It’s not just that points discounts can be steeper. They can last longer, too.
The Hilton Orlando, as seen from the Aquatica tower in the International Drive area, Orlando, Florida, July 1, 2019. (Dreamstime/TNS)
World of Hyatt, for instance, charges fixed-point values depending on what category level a hotel falls into, and it reevaluates those designations on an annual basis. That means that if a new opening gets placed at a lower level while it finds its footing, consumers will get a decent amount of time to cash in. The rates you see published in dollars online, meanwhile, can fluctuate in real time, according to demand.
Other programs, such as Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards, have dynamic rewards pricing that keeps points rates closely aligned with the dollar cost. Here, the advantage of using points is that you can stack promotions. In recent months for instance, American Express has offered as much as a 50% point bonus on sums transferred to Hilton Honors, extending discounts that much further.
As spring and summer plans come into focus, it can be worthwhile to look for exciting openings wherever you’re headed. Here are a few examples of especially good deals at new hotels we’ve found lately — all bookable through popular loyalty programs and in prime destinations.
Andaz Mexico City Condesa
Loyalty program: World of Hyatt
How much it’ll cost you: As little as 12,000 points
Many of Hyatt’s design-focused Andaz hotels, including the Andaz Mayakoba near Cancun, Mexico, start at 21,000 points per night or more, but this funky Mexico City opening—with a dog-friendly “wooftop” co-working space and neon purple escalators—is currently charging only about half as much. It’s set in an historic building with art deco details whose ground level is shared with the adjacent Mondrian hotel, smack-dab in the center of the leafy, artsy Condesa neighborhood. Right outside, you’ll find a large array of parks, shops and galleries. The rooftop Cabuya restaurant is fast becoming a local hotspot for its fresh Mexican seafood, a good sign that buzz is growing—as will the rates.
Loyalty program: Hilton Honors
How much it’ll cost you: Roughly 95,000 points
Sitting on 100 mangrove-filled, beachfront acres just south of the international airport, the Waldorf Astoria Cancun is an oasis for travelers who want the quick convenience of Cancun without the party vibes of its busy hotel zone about 20 miles north. Tranquility here takes the shape of two zigzag-shaped pools, a spa with 21 treatment rooms and pristine white lounge chairs on the sand, where staffers arrive at the touch of a button to take your drink order. That’s comparable to what you’d get at Maui’s fiercely popular Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort where a redemption night can go for around 500,000 points.
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
How much it’ll cost you: Around 49,000 points
Most Maldivian resorts, including this one, have knockout overwater bungalows. But no other hotel on the archipelago has a hydroponic farm as large as the one at Le Méridien Maldives. The 4,600-square-foot greenhouse supplies half a dozen restaurants at the resort and is even large enough to host private dinners. A kids’ club and separated family pool offer high-design amenities for the non-honeymoon set, which can be hard to come by here. An outdoor movie theater and “Marine Hub,” at which you can learn about turtle and manta ray conservation, are geared toward all ages. Add an overwater, ayurvedic spa and you find just as many bells and whistles as at Le Méridien’s sibling properties that use Marriott’s Bonvoy points, the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, JW Marriott Maldives and Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands — all of which command twice as many points per night.
Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
How much it’ll cost you: Roughly 76,000 points
Ian Schrager’s influence on this Marriott brand has catapulted it to the top of the design scene. Wherever an Edition opens, influencers are quick to follow. The Madrid location is no exception. The brand’s signature white-on-white aesthetic provides an antidote to the peak-tourist location right near the city’s “golden triangle” art museums and bustling Gran Via. Its rooftop pool, the largest in the city, is a destination unto itself in summer months, as is the greenhouse-like Oroya restaurant overlooking Madrid. Nonetheless, spring and summer nights are going for around 76,000 points. That pales in comparison to Editions in London and Miami Beach, which both go for around 106,000 points. (While those are more expensive markets, geography plays only one part in explaining the steep price difference.)
Loyalty program: World of Hyatt
How much it’ll cost you: As little as 12,000 points
Not far away is World of Hyatt’s answer to the Edition: Thompson Madrid. Although many Thompsons, like those in Dallas, New York, and Zihuatanejo, Mexico, are listed as Category 6 hotels under Hyatt’s eight-category designation system, this one is almost inexplicably listed as a Category 4. Even if the hotel didn’t have such a scene-oriented rooftop pool and floor-to-ceiling windows in character-packed rooms occupying two heritage buildings on central Calle de la Montera, this would constitute an incredible deal. Once travelers to Madrid discover the property’s charms, its rates are sure to rise.
Loyalty program: IHG One Rewards
How much it’ll cost you: Roughly 77,000 points
The Kimpton St Honoré, which occupies a former luxury-brands-only outpost of the reinvented Samaritaine department store, now has 149 luxe guest rooms behind its art nouveau façade. It competes with a plethora of top-shelf hotels in the City of Lights with rooms that take in the Eiffel Tower’s sparkling lights and the world-famous Paris Opera House. It has the architectural bones of a palace hotel, but comes with funkier design and standard rooms that rarely climb above three digits. (Not always the case with other fine Parisian properties.)
Here, “new” is relative. Since it opened amid the Covid-19 pandemic, IHG fans have needed time to discover this French gem, so points prices are lower than at sibling hotels nearby. Many guests will love it for the perks that it offers just by being a Kimpton hotel. Brandwide features include an especially generous “Forgot it? We’ve got it” program that doles out everything from tweezers and apparel tape to humidifiers, deodorant and phone chargers; every visitor has access to in-room yoga mats and cute bikes on which to hit the town.
The Leta Hotel Santa Barbara
Loyalty program: Hilton Honors
Opened: A while ago … but rebranded in August 2022
How much it’ll cost you: Roughly 65,000 points
Here’s a unique exception to the “new” rule: The Leta Hotel in so-hot-right-now Santa Barbara has been around for some time; it’s a former Kimpton hotel but has recently rebranded as part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. Such rebrands may as well be new when it comes to points redemptions: At the very least, Hilton will treat (and price) it as such.
The Leta’s surf-inspired décor and such in-room amenities as Frette bed linens and Atelier Bloem toiletries are clear markers of a luxury hotel, as are the in-room turntables and vinyl collections. Yet it’s typically priced lower than its sibling hotels nearby. Rates here are currently hovering around 60,000 points, depending on the season; that’s 10% to 30% less than the nearby Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.
25 must-visit hidden gems from across the US
From big cities to iconic national monuments to well-known tourist traps, there’s no shortage of popular vacation destinations within the United States. However, sometimes the most memorable trips happen when you seek out unexpected, under-the-radar spots that you never would’ve known about without some prior research.
For instance, although the U.S. is home to 63 national parks, famous ones like Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park tend to get the lion’s share of tourist attention. On your next excursion, why not try an underrated gem like New Mexico’s White Sands National Park or Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park?
Even if nature isn’t your scene, there are plenty of other underrated activities across the country that deserve to go on your bucket list, from Indianapolis’ City Market Catacombs to the interactive art within Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf.
Still, finding those under-the-radar gems can amount to quite a bit of work. So to help you get started, Stacker has compiled a list of 25 must-visit hidden gems from across the United States, using travel guides, news articles, national park and company websites, and more. Read on to find out where your next unexpected yet great vacation could be. You can thank us later!
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The World’s Largest Mailbox, Casey, Illinois
The town of Casey, Illinois is no stranger to breaking world records—it’s home to the largest chair in the U.S.—and the world’s largest mailbox, which was created as part of businessman Jim Bolin’s Big Things in a Small Town workshop. Measuring a whopping 5,743.41 cubic feet, the Casey mailbox is also fully functional and features a built-in stairway where visitors can mail letters of their own.
Mermaid statues and European influence in Solvang, California
Tucked away just two hours from Los Angeles, the quaint town of Solvang, California, is modeled after Denmark and Spain. With its Copenhagen-esque mermaid statues and Spanish cathedrals, you’ll be surprised you’re not in Europe! Solvang is also conveniently close to Santa Barbara wine country so you can top off your trip with some wine tasting.
Salty dunes at White Sands National Park in Tularosa Basin, New Mexico
New Mexico is home to one of the most underrated national parks: White Sands National Park. Giant wave-like dunes of white gypsum salt cover 275 miles of desert, making it the largest gypsum dune field in the world.
The world’s only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
While it might not be one of the buzziest tourist traps, the tiny town of Mitchell, South Dakota, draws over 500,000 annual visitors thanks to its local Corn Palace. Built in 1892, the palace is made entirely of corn and corn husks. It hosts a yearly festival to celebrate the state’s main crop each August.
On the set of ‘The Truman Show’ in Seaside, Florida
If you’ve ever seen the fake city where Jim Carrey’s character lives in 1998’s “The Truman Show,” you might’ve assumed that the pastel, cartoonish city was entirely constructed for the film. However, it was mainly filmed in the real-life town of Seaside, Florida, which was initially built in the 1980s as a planned community. Located about 20 minutes from Panama City Beach, the quintessential beach town seems from another era.
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Underground waterfall in Ruby Falls, Tennessee
Ruby Falls is America’s tallest underground waterfall, meaning that it’s literally a hidden gem. Located within Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee, visitors can descend 260 feet by elevator to see Ruby Falls’ ancient cave formations and wander its cavern trail.
Bishop Castle in Rye, Colorado
Yes, there really is a castle located in central Colorado! Bishop Castle is hidden in the foothills of the San Isabel National Forest and was constructed by its namesake, Jim Bishop, in 1959. It features stained glass windows, wrought-iron bridges, and even a steel, fire-breathing dragon.
The wonders of Fly Geyser in northern Nevada
The Fly Geyser was accidentally created in 1964 as a result of an artesian well, but the results are still spectacular. Because different mineral deposits—such as algae, iron, and sulfur—coexist, the water from the geyser spews five feet in the air in numerous vibrant colors. Although Fly Geyser is located on private property, visitors can still book tours to see it on the weekends.
Wild horses in Assateague Island
The 37-mile-long barrier island, Assateague Island straddles both Maryland and Virginia. Although it’s arguably best known for its wild horse population, the spot is a true nature lover’s oasis, and visitors can often spot bottlenose dolphins, endangered peregrine falcons, and over 200 additional species of birds.
Byodo-In Temple and the Japanese American experience in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Did you know you can find a replica of a Japanese World Heritage Site in Hawaii? Byodo-In Temple is just that. Located within the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, the replica of the Uji, Japan temple of the same name was opened in 1968 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants coming to Hawaii.
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Take a dip at Hamilton Pool Preserve in Travis County, Texas
Located just 23 miles west of Austin, the stunning natural Hamilton Pool Preserve was first created when an underground river collapsed thousands of years ago. While it’s still off the beaten path, it’s slowly becoming a more popular tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy swimming in the jade green water and taking in the pool’s 50-foot waterfall.
Escape to Apostle Islands in Lake Superior, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Lake Superior is home to a whopping 22 islands collectively known as the Apostle Islands, which offer a secluded escape to visitors. A major highlight is the islands’ gorgeous natural ice caves, which you can explore via kayak in the spring and summer.
First National Monument in Devils Tower, Wyoming
Fun fact: The first official United States National Monument was a strange geological monolith in Wyoming known as Devils Tower. Based in the Black Hills, the rock structure is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indigenous groups and is quite a sight to behold.
The colorful Heidelberg Project in Detroit, Michigan
When Heidelberg Project creator and artist Tyree Guyton returned to Heidelberg, the street where he grew up in Detroit, Michigan, he found it riddled with poverty and substance abuse. To combat these issues, he embarked on the Heidelberg Project, creating guerrilla-art installations using abandoned houses, transformed with polka dots and various painting designs.
Going up the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque, Iowa
Located within the town of Dubuque, Iowa, the Fenelon Place Elevator has been dubbed the world’s “shortest, steepest, scenic railway.” A $3 round trip gives visitors panoramic views of the Mississippi River and three surrounding states: Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
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Explore Mackinac Island in Michigan
Home to the historic Fort Mackinac, Michigan’s Mackinac Island is today a quintessential American summer getaway town. In the virtual absence of cars, you can get around the island by carriage tours and bicycles, in between sampling the island’s famous homemade fudge and taking in Indigenous art at The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
Brick ruins at City Market Catacombs in Indianapolis, Indiana
Beneath the hustle and bustle of the Indianapolis City Market lie the City Market Catacombs, a Romanesque expanse of brick arches that are all that remains of Tomlinson Hall, which burned in a 1958 fire. Now, visitors can take guided tours of the area, while learning trivia about the historic City Market.
Millionaire Village in Jekyll Island, Georgia
Located off the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island was originally built as a lavish getaway for some of America’s wealthiest citizens, including the Rockefellers and the Pulitzers. These days, it’s open to the public, where you can tour historic homes and indulge in nature—65% of Jekyll Island is intentionally kept wild to foster local flora and fauna. Fun fact: The beachy vacation spot was also the site of the first transcontinental telephone call!
Yellow brick road at the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas
Since “The Wizard of Oz” is the first thing many people think of when they think of the state of Kansas, it’s only fitting that Kansas should have an impressive museum dedicated to the fantastical world that author L. Frank Baum created. Located in Wamego, Kansas, the Oz Museum contains over 2,500 pieces of Oz memorabilia relating to both the film adaptation and Baum’s book series.
A macrocosmic adventure at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf is home to more than 70 rooms of immersive, multimedia art installations. It also features the permanent art installation known as “House of Eternal Return,” in which guests piece together the mysteries of a fantastical house through non-linear storytelling.
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Mile High Swinging Bridge in Linville, North Carolina
Brave the heights of Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge, a 228-foot suspension bridge that spans an 80-foot chasm and provides breathtaking 360-degree views of the surrounding North Carolina mountains. While you’re in town, you can also enjoy nearby hiking trails and wildlife habitats at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona
Known as the “Rainbow Forest,” Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park is full of colorful petrified wood fossilized over 200 million years ago. Preserved in time, the site is home to a whopping 600 archaeological sites.
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Winterthur, Delaware
Originally the home of horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont, Delaware’s Winterthur Museum is now one of America’s foremost decorative art museums, displaying nearly 90,000 objects made or used in the country since 1640. It’s also a botanical draw, featuring a 60-acre garden designed by du Pont himself that shows off colorful displays throughout the year.
Drive through Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona
Although the town of Page, Arizona, is located five hours from major cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, the natural splendor of Antelope Canyon more than makes up for the trip. Visitors can tour the Slot Canyon formation’s beautiful red and golden-hued, famously narrow turns.
Mendenhall Glacier waterfalls and icebergs in Juneau, Alaska
Mendenhall Glacier is one of Southeast Alaska’s grandest glaciers, punctuated by waterfalls, icebergs, and lush forests that make it a world-class nature trip. Nearby, guests can also check out an upside-down forest in Mendenhall Valley, flipped upside down by a disgruntled landscaper named Steve in 1985.
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