Top Hotel Amenities, Go-to Beaches for 2022

Planning a trip these days make take more than picking a destination and checking out the distances from hotel to town or beach. With the turmoil of the pandemic and other recent events, the travel landscape has changed and travelers’ preferences along with it, according to a recent survey by Hotels.com. The survey sought to identify the most in-demand and out of touch amenities so far in 2022. Here’s what it found: 

Searches for bathtubs surge

Call it a cry for help or just good old-fashioned self-care, but bathtubs were the most-searched hotel amenity during the peak of the pandemic. Searches so far this year are up 25% compared with 2019 and interest in spas have grown, too (+35%).

Recommendations: 

• Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Hotel Contessa River Walk in San Antonio, Texas
• Hyatt Regency Downtown in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Ski Now, Play Later

The pandemic forced everyone to get in touch with their outdoorsy side, so it’s not all that surprising that searches for ski-in/ski-out hotels have been at peak levels, up 50% since 2019. Interest in properties with ski shuttles and storage are also up 20%.

It’s après-ski all day at these top properties:

• Aspen Mountain Lodge in Aspen, Colorado
• Parkside Inn at Incline in Lake Tahoe, Nevada
• The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia

What’s Cooking 

From baking bread to trying out that crazy TikTok pasta, kitchens were all the craze as the second most sought-after amenity in 2021. The trend is continuing with kitchen searches increasing 15% year-over-year.

Get cooking at these hotels:

• Clementine Hotel & Suites in Anaheim, California
• Floridays Resort in Orlando, Florida
• Homewood Suites by Hilton in Williamsburg, Virginia

Not a Thing:

No Wi-Fi, no problem

Zoom meetings and doom scrolling aren’t on the itinerary this year as searches for properties with free Wi-Fi are plummeting, down 50% since pre-pandemic.

Keep it real at these off-the-grid hotels:

• Allegheny Springs by Casago in Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia
• The Chisos Suite in Terlingua, Texas

No Business Here

Travelers are tired of work from home and turns out they really don’t want to work from anywhere else, either. Searches for properties with business facilities are down 40% compared with 2019.

Properties with amenities that prioritize time off the clock:

• The Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood, Arizona
• Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica, California

What’s Still a Thing: 

Park and Go
 
Don’t retire that road trip playlist just yet. Searches for properties with free parking are up 70% this year as travelers continue to favor destinations within driving distance.

Properties where the parking spot is guaranteed (and free):

• Sonder Hotel Gravier in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Ohio House Motel in Chicago, Illinois
• Residence Inn by Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia
  
  

For those who can’t stand another 10-hour drive, you aren’t alone. Searches for properties with free airport transfers are up a whopping 105% so far this year.

Family First

Families have desperately missed out on quality vacation time together and it shows. Searches for properties with cribs (+65%), childcare (+45%) and connecting rooms (+20%) have increased double digits.

Parents love these kid-friendly properties:

• Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa in Henderson, Nevada
• The Hotel at Midtown in Chicago, Illinois
• Holiday Inn Express in Virginia Beach, Virginia
  
  

And not surprisingly, interest in pet-friendly stays is up 35% in 2022. Recommendation:

• Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, California
  
  
  

Working it Out

Working out really wasn’t a top priority during the pandemic. Searches for gyms were down 30% or more last year compared with 2019. However, in 2022 travelers are getting back into their wellness routine and year-over-year searches for gyms have increased 65%.

Hotels with top-notch gyms and wellness offerings:

• The Perry Hotel in Key West, Florida
• Homewood Suites French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Viva Wyndham Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
  
  

Breakfast is Back

Free breakfast has been the top amenity since pretty much the beginning of time. But the pandemic knocked this fan favorite down a few pegs as hotels traded hot buffets for pre-packaged grab-and-go items. This year, breakfast is back and searches are up 75%.

Wake up to waffle makers and breakfast buffets at these hotels:

• Aloft at the Domain in Austin, Texas
• Embassy Suites in Napa Valley, California
• Tru by Hilton Downtown in Denver, Colorado
  
  

Beaches Baby!

Meanwhile, Tripadvisor made its annual survey of the best beaches in demand, with tried and tested tips to take with you. 

Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. for 2022

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area – Puako, Hawaii

Traveler tip: “It is remarkably challenging to find large, white sandy beaches on the Big Island with water that is peaceful enough for swimming, and this one ticks all the boxes. Even better, right in the middle of the beach and close to shore, there is a small set of rocks that provided some of the best snorkeling we saw on the island! The water was crystal clear and the brightly colored tropical fish plentiful.”

Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida

Traveler tip: “Absolutely beautiful beach with silky quartz sand! Great beach for people watching, sunsets, breakfast/morning walk on the beach and finding sand dollars.” 

Poipu Beach Park – Poipu, Hawaii

Traveler tip: “I highly recommend going at sunset and you will see the sea turtles come onto the beach. It is very magical and something you will not be able to experience other places.” 

Moonstone Beach – Cambria, California

Traveler tip: “Moonstone Beach is a lovely place to walk, unwind and meet friendly dogs. Look for the bench that is partially hidden by the tree.”

Kailua Beach Park – Kailua, Hawaii

Traveler tip: “The water at Kailua was the most beautiful shade of turquoise and almost blinding. There were numerous kite surfers, which only added to the beauty of the beach. There is also a very cute mom-and-pop grocery store behind the beach (Kalapawai Market) that makes delicious made-to-order sandwiches—perfect for the beach.” 
 

Driftwood Beach – Jekyll Island, Georgia

Traveler tip: “I’ve been to many beaches, but none like this one. A great visual sight awaits you when you visit…Go at the ‘golden hour’ to get some great photos, or just hang out for the day and have a picnic.” 

Ruby Beach – Olympic National Park, Washington

Traveler tip: “It’s a delightful spot that is well worth your time. Be sure to bring a sweatshirt or light jacket as Pacific Coast beaches can feel chilly on a windy day. The rock formations here are just gorgeous – if you’re lucky to arrive on a sunny afternoon, try to visit the beach as the sun is descending! If you have very young children, they can wade in the shallow tide pools which are a safe distance away from the surf.” 

Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Oregon

Traveler tip: “Cannon Beach is very big. A beach for people who like to walk. The large sea stacks are great for photographers. Muggy mornings and lots of fog. Great shops to walk through. Parking can be terrible at times…Tip, get there early in the morning.” 

La Jolla Cove – La Jolla, California

Traveler tip: “We just loved the place. If you are an animal lover it is a must. We spent hours watching the seals and sea lions and their frolicking around. You can get to them quite close.” 

Ho’okipa Beach Park – Paia, Hawaii

Traveler tip: “If you love huge, beautiful sea turtles, or if you’ve never seen one, DO NOT MISS this opportunity. Not far from the world-famous Mama’s Fish House, this beach is known as a “resting spot” for sea turtles, who come ashore to rest & sunbathe.” 

Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2022

1.         Grace Bay Beach – Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos 

2.         Varadero Beach – Varadero, Cuba

3.         Turquoise Bay – Exmouth, Australia

4.         Quarta Praia – Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

5.         Eagle Beach – Palm – Eagle Beach, Aruba

6.         Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India

7.         Baia do Sancho – Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

8.         Trunk Bay Beach – Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands

9.         Baía dos Golfinhos – Praia da Pipa, Brazil

10.        Spiaggia dei Conigli – Lampedusa, Italy