The Best Hotels in the World: 2019 Readers' Choice Awards
Proving once again we have the world's best traveled readers.
For our 32nd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey—yes, more than three decades—a record 600,000 registered voters weighed in on their favorite hotels around the globe. Some hotel stays are utterly forgettable—decent food, standard sheets, and a middle-of-the-road location. But some, you'll remember for the rest of your life. The following list ranks the 50 best hotels in the world according to Traveler readers in this year's survey. The impressive number of 2019 results were especially exciting for us: we’re ever curious about where you go, what you loved, and who you went with. As you continue to travel, we continue to listen. Here are the hotels you loved most this year.
The Rittenhouse is to Philadelphia what the Plaza Hotel is to New York City. Like the Midtown institution, the Center City hotel has an illustrious history, attracts a monied crowd, delivers on personalized service, and offers views of Philadelphia’s landmark public square and park. Each of the recently renovated guest rooms and suites is generously proportioned (from 450 to 600 square feet). That said, try to secure a room with a park view—because of the building's cantilevered facade, interior rooms contain pointed corner nooks (occupied by a desk or a table and chairs) that either feel like a spacious refuge or a Feng shui nightmare. While the central location puts you within a short stroll of some of the city's best restaurants (Stephen Starr's Parc, for example), Scarpetta, located in the hotel, also shows up: expect elegant Italian plates such as crispy fritto misto, braised rabbit pappardelle, and a full vegetarian menu.
The 22 rooms at this 13,000-acre winery are each completely unique: in the Chile suite, sisal covers the walls and the doors are carved from cork; in the Norge suite (in honor of Alex Vik’s Scandinavian heritage), contemporary works by Norway’s best-known artists hang alongside rare folk textiles. You can ride horses through the vineyards, or taste en primeur vintages in the oak-paneled library. Note that this property used to be called Viña Vik Millahue.
"Coûte que coûte" goes the punning family motto of Sir Charles Coote, for whom the opulent Ballyfin estate was conceived in the early 19th century. "No matter the cost" is how this loosely translates, proving as apt an adage in the 21st century as it was then. Many millions of euros may have been lavished on this stately pile in Ireland's County Laois, both in its original construction and, more recently, its painstaking restoration. For the architectural historian, the house is a head turner—the culmination of Regency craftsmanship brought together in lusciously modeled plasterwork, scagliola in varying colors, stained glass, and staggeringly intricate parquetry. For the sybarite, the house is a place of comfort and grandeur, not least in the Gold Drawing Room where walls are hung with lustrous silk and vast windows frame views of the 28-acre lake. New this year is Ballyfin’s 21st room and first standalone property: the tiny Gardener’s Cottage (surely Ireland’s ultimate love-nest), overlooking, to the rear, the walled gardens, which supply Ballyfin’s kitchen with organic fruit and vegetables. The grounds are made for strolling in the complimentary wellies, with grottoes and rockeries, a folly and a fernery, a rose garden, and an aviary. There is no finer Irish-country house experience.
From the second you walk into The Westbury in Dublin and up the grand, bifurcated staircase, it’s hard not to be impressed. Settle into one of The Gallery's plush armchairs for afternoon tea, grab a seat in The Sidecar for a perfect martini, or book a table at WILDE, an impeccable restaurant with a luxurious 1930s feel, for a full meal. Upstairs, the rooms and suites are light-filled and tranquil, with large bathtubs and Irish art; beds are dressed in crisp Lissadell linens and sumptuous Blanc d'Ivoire throws, and bathrooms have marble and heated floors. (If you're really looking to go all out, splurge on the Presidential Suite, a penthouse with its own bar and a huge bathroom—complete with a private sauna and steam room.) You’ll feel a strong, welcoming vibe at every turn—the staff here is endearingly helpful. The Westbury is a classic city meeting place, and it's ideal for a special occasion—you’ll find guests celebrating big birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones. In December, The Gallery is filled with folks taking a break from Christmas shopping on Grafton Street. This is unbridled Irish luxury at its finest, and the service is always exemplary. Doubles from $250.
These two white towers are set in a tropical garden in the shopping and residential Ortigas Center district. Interiors have marble floors, wooden rails, Asian paintings, and floral arrangements. "The exteriors are a bit nondescript, but it's so beautiful inside." Rooms in the Tower Wing set the tone with hues of brown and red and cityscape views; the Garden Wing has views of either the cityscape or the hotel's landscaped gardens. "Service is always excellent." Multiple restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, from Japanese at Senju to Cantonese at Summer Palace to Italian at Paparazzi, where framed black-and-white images of Hollywood and European celebrities hang on the walls. Chi, the spa, has an herbal steam room and suites with sunken tubs.
To celebrate the Philippines welcoming more tourists than ever before, the Conrad Manila opened in 2016 with an eye-catching design meant to bring to mind the cruise ships that fill the Manila Bay it overlooks. And while the on-land Conrad includes the best of cruising, with 347 rooms, six restaurants, a 24-hour fitness center and spa, and an infinity pool, it’s also hyper-connected to the city of Manila, and just a 15-minute drive from the airport. What’s more, the hotel’s design has been recognized with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) award for breaking new ground in sustainable hotel design, including smart room lighting that changes to suit the time of day.
This hipster hotel in Chicago's River North neighborhood has a tech bent: In addition to free Wi-Fi, 100 MB bandwidth, and keyless room entry via an app, Acme recently rolled out Amazon Echos in every guest room and ESP Guitars in every suite. It’s not all gadgetry, though. Killer cocktails can be found in all three of the hotel's bars: the scene-y Berkshire Room, the cozy Bodega Bar, and Bunny Slope, an après-ski themed lounge complete with a Jacuzzi.
Although Florence's Il Salviatino has a Fiesole address—the neighborhood set along the hillside summer retreat of great Florentine families come and gone—this 44-room grand villa is actually located on the slope of the town’s famous hill (not the most atmospheric part). Nevertheless, once you’re on the hotel’s vast grounds, the panorama is still pretty spectacular. The 15th-century property itself is impressive, with a steep, white plaster façade, handsome common areas including an entrance hall with a vaulted brick ceiling (where carriage horses used to be housed), and a wood-paneled library with antique leather-bound volumes. There is no formal check-in, but "service ambassadors" are concierges and butlers in one.
This family-owned inn sits on 15 verdant hillside acres on the Dominican Republic's Samaná Peninsula, with views of the Atlantic in the distance. The Victorian colonial design evokes an 18th-century plantation house (this one filled with eclectic art, including a collection of wooden sheep). Beautiful rooms in earth tones have Brazilian hardwood floors, antiques such as Chinese bamboo storage trunks and Indian ivory cabinets, and mahogany soaking tubs. Enjoy drinks on the terrace or, for head to the Beach Restaurant for a seafood lunch. It's only a few miles—and a free shuttle ride—from the main hotel.
This D.C. landmark (it's the Watergate of Nixon-era fame—er, infamy) was vibrantly restored in 2016 and has since become a favorite among everyone, from politicians to vacationers. The luxurious 336-room hotel is in Georgetown, so it’s not exactly next to most of the District’s prime attractions, but don’t let that deter you. The mid-century modern icon still keeps a few relics from its past, namely the staircase in the lobby and the indoor pool, but most interiors are fresh and new with modern flair. Even the staff’s uniforms were designed by Mad Men costume designer and stylist Janie Bryant. Most rooms have balconies, a rarity in D.C. Bathrooms are a combo of Zebrano marble and granite.
Set in São Paulo's fashionable Jardins district, and close to the wallet-busting shops of Rua Oscar Freire, the Fasano is a magnet for all that's young and fresh in this South American city. To wit: The lobby, you'll notice, is a popular meeting spot for local glitterati, though if that’s not quite your scene, the terrace at Nonno Ruggero restaurant, overlooking the neighborhood, is a better bet. Set aside time to enjoy the spa on the top floor, which has a heated pool, two ofuro bathtubs, and Hans Wegner chaise. As for the 60 spacious suites and rooms, the beds that have Egyptian cotton linens and goose-down pillows.
At S Hotel you get the laid-back vibe of a stay in Jamaica with a bit of South Beach glitz—they even line the deck of their sleek pool with some of the island’s famous white sand. If that isn’t enough sand for your liking, the hotel also offers private access to idyllic Doctor’s Cave Beach and its gentle surf. Inside, the ocean view rooms are big enough to pass for apartments in some big cities. And they lay a minimalist black and white color scheme over a beachy aesthetic (think, lots of wicker furniture, including covering the bathtub) that will leave you feeling maximally relaxed. If it doesn’t, there’s always the Irie Baths and Spa, which has three underground plunge pools (hot, warm, and cold) that provide kinetic energy therapy and send you out feeling totally relaxed, in addition to the usual the massages and skin treatment options.
Located in Québec City's Old Port on Îlot Hunt, an area facing the St. Lawrence River, Auberge Saint-Antoine is a Relais & Château property filled with artifacts that date nearly as far back as the city's foundation. Its contemporary services, décor, furnishings, and tech amenities anchor the Auberge Saint-Antoine firmly in the present, making it a top-level stay. Rooms overlook the River on one side and the courtyard on the other, so pick lodgings with a view if possible. Each of the 95 rooms is unique, featuring its own antiques and local designer touches. (And we wish every hotel had one of the Auberge's ingenious "Do Not Disturb" buttons next to their beds.)
With black and white-striped awnings on the West Indies-inspired architecture, balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and a wooden bridge linking to the beach, The Pearl Hotel could be snatched straight out of our Emerald Coast beach town dreams. Rooms come with rainfall showerheads or soaking tubs, mini cheesecakes by the beds each night, and iPads with software for making quick reservations. The Florida hotel also has a dedicated strip of beach, dotted with complimentary beach chairs and oversized umbrellas. The two adults-only sloping pools are surrounded by decks with towel service and poolside dining. For those looking to get active, the hotel offers access to golf courses, tennis courts, bike and boat rentals, and access to a nearby fitness facility.
Built in 1927, Peru's Country Club Lima Hotel has long been the go-to stay for visiting heads of state. From its historic architecture, to the collected antiques and artwork housed throughout, the entire estate oozes sophistication with an elevated country club aesthetic. Its 83 rooms have been updated so that their traditional, colonial style—think dark mahogany furniture, high ceilings, and ornate headboards—is complimented by modern amenities, like a whirlpool bathtub in some rooms, and designer toiletries. Plus, the property, which is located in the upscale business district of San Isidro, has a full-service spa, small plunge pool, gym, 24-hour business center, and a lobby bar that serves what some say are the best pisco sours in the city.
There are a million different directions that your eyes can wander to in the 21c Museum Hotel in Lexington, Kentucky, thanks to the incredibly ornate lobby, fabulous front desk, and the healthy amount of contemporary art peppered throughout the hotel. Lockbox, the hotel's restaurant, doesn't disappoint: Order like a local, and enjoy a bourbon before you dive into their country ham hushpuppies or seed-crusted catfish. The vibe of the place permits a LBD or dinner jacket, but doesn't frown on casual, either. Still, the crowd here is posh, and you better believe they're Instagramming every nook and cranny of the place.
It may take a knock for its lack of outdoor space, but if you have to watch the Bosphorus Strait from indoors, there is no better place than the Shangri La. Sumptuous grays and neutrals in the lavish rooms create a seamless quality from door to sea. The hotel's Cantonese Shang Palace sets the standard for Istanbul dining, and the Turkish bath experience is elevated at CHI spa.
In many ways, the North Block Hotel is the anti-boutique hotel: There are few gimmicks at this Mediterranean-inspired stucco-and-stone stay. Instead, its draws are its laidback, sophisticated style, its top-tier service, and its proximity to the wining and dining of downtown Yountville, California. Hidden behind plantation-style shutters and breezy archways, the spare, smartly-done lobby sports no space for live musical performances or fierce face-offs at leather-upholstered pool tables. And its 20 rooms, situated around a central outdoor courtyard, are equally simple and well-appointed. Try to book a suite on the second floor for prime views of the rolling Napa Valley hills. At the on-site spa by Francis & Alexander, the Un-Corked treatment—a foot and back exfoliation massage that uses wine corks to stimulate reflex points—is an effective (if a little kooky) revelation. Grab a bite on-site at Redd Wood, an upscale osteria-styled eatery by James Beard Award nominee Richard Reddington, where wood-fired pizzas and charcuterie platters are the order of the day.
Ten years after the debut of the ultra-sleek PuLi, Shanghai's most stylish hotel finally has a sibling property. The PuXuan Hotel and Spa, near Beijing's Wangfujing shopping district, has 116 rooms done up in soothing wood tones—try and get one with a view of the Forbidden City—as well as restaurants specializing in Cantonese and French cuisine. The PuXuan has quickly become the hotel of choice for Beijing's art crowd—no surprise as the hotel is in a modernist cube-shaped building, and located atop Guardian Art Center, a museum, gallery, and auction space, and across the street from the National Art Museum of China. Make time for the spa, a highlight at both the PuLi and the PuXuan, whether you only have a half-hour for a massage or a full day for lounging.
Enjoy the ultimate Istanbul experience at this hotel on the Bosphorus, which blends a former sultan’s palace with a modern building. Palm trees and gazebos embellish the hotel’s outdoor space, but the centerpiece is a perfectly maintained waterfront infinity pool. Beige and blue interiors have 19th-century furniture, custom wool carpets, and soaring columns. Rooms are a mix of East and West and have beds with sturdy headboards and partial canopies. Turkish and Ottoman cuisine are the attractions at Tugra. Turkish afternoon tea in the Gazebo Lounge is highly recommended.
Once a low-rise cityscape of crumbling French colonial-era villas, brutalist concrete blocks, and an occasional pagoda, Phnom Penh’s skyline has been dramatically and spectacularly transformed by the Vattanac Tower, Cambodia’s highest skyscraper. The 39-story steel and glass structure, shaped like a mythical Chinese dragon symbolizing health and prosperity, has drawn mixed reviews but the Rosewood Phnom Penh, which occupies its top 14 floors, only garners accolades. To say that a 175-bedroomed hotel with five restaurants, swimming pool, spa, patisserie, and whiskey library feels cozy may sound far-fetched. However, awash in toffee tones with an occasional pop of rust, long on dark wood, travertine marble, creamy leather armchairs, and ikat-patterned rugs, it’s akin to staying in a very grand private residence. In a city where the blending of traditional and modern has been less seamless than its regional counterparts in Bangkok and Hanoi, this Rosewood pulls it off easily. With its star attraction, Sora, the cantilevered sky bar, there is no where else you should stay in this town.
Santiago’s first true design hotel, Hotel Magnolia opened in the summer of 2016 to understandable fanfare: Set in a renovated 1929 mansion at the foot of hilly Cerro Santa Lucía park, a few paces from the city’s old town and the Bellas Artes national gallery, the 42-room pad gifted the city’s visitors a truly fashionable (albeit sufficiently charming) place to lay their heads. There’s a just-right juxtaposition of the old with the new: a Neo-Gothic facade, stained glass windows, and black-and-white marble floors in the foyer add gravitas to an otherwise-modern design, where rooms boxed up in light wood paneling and finished off with neutral linens give off more than a hint of Scandi sensibility. Pick any night of the week to swig a glass of silky Santa Ema cabernet sauvignon on the open-air rooftop terrace, with a sprawling view of downtown and Santa Lucía hill to keep you company.
The bougainvillea-filled grounds at the grand La Mamounia, inside Marrakech's medina, are as lovely as those of its neighbors, though Jacques Garcia’s sultry, layered interiors are the real star, particularly the mosaic walls with terraces that look out onto jasmine and roses. Few hotels are as synonymous with their destination as La Mamounia. Frankly, if you don’t end up overnighting in one of this former palace’s tiled guest rooms, it’s almost as though you were never in Marrakech at all. That’s because this opulent, more-is-absolutely-more pocket of palm trees, landscaped gardens and fountains, where sultry lobby spaces and bars are draped in silks and dark velvets, has come to embody all those reasons we travel to Marrakech in the first place. Inside its hammam, a mosaic of blue, red, and pine-green tiles, are cheery therapists who offer clay body wraps (head down early for a pre-treatment dip). By the utterly enormous pool, a flurry of bow-tied waiters rush between the Brits and French and, with increasing frequency, Russians and Turks, lying about all day long, with bottles of Moroccan rosé and surprisingly well-mixed Old Fashioneds, moving equally as swiftly between the languages. In the incredible bedrooms, the sweeping Moorish curves on the balcony doors are emulated in the archway to the bathrooms, themselves a symphony of tilework and gold-framed mirrors. Doubles from $410.
Set on four acres on the outskirts of the Point Reyes National Seashore, an hour north of San Francisco, Olema House at Point Reyes offers a restful stay on the West Marin Coast, complete with views of Olema Creek, the Inverness Ridge, and Mt. Wittenberg. The 24 individually appointed rooms, which include two cottages, all tout heat-warmed floors, down comforters and pillows, and artisan Americana decor. Should you dine at the hotel—and you should—the local, seasonal menu from Due West pulls from the bounty of nearby ranches, farms, and the bay, with ingredients like Tomales Bay oysters, house-cured pork belly, and summer squash. The complimentary breakfast includes fresh pastries, fruit, and charcuterie.
Housed in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by lavender and cypress trees, this Relais & Chateaux property is a draw for both its proximity to Aix-en-Provence (it's a 15-minute walk to Cours Mirabeau) and countryside seclusion. The 23 rooms and suites have either a private garden of views of the sprawling grounds, and each one is outfitted in toile, cream, and crimson Louis XV furnishings. The outdoor pool is, of course, a highlight, as is the on-site wine cellar and spa. Head to the restaurant for a seasonal menu that pairs Provençale, French, and Mediterranean dishes with Bordeaux, Burgundy, and local wines—all served on the terrace during the summer.
Located only a few miles from St. Moritz, this Engadine valley resort combines views and wellness in an elegant, beautiful bundle. With sweeping views of the Roseg Glacier, as well as forests of Swiss stone pine and larch, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were on the set of Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, what with its horseshoe-shaped façade. Snow hounds and non-skiers alike flock to the hotel's 113 rooms and suites dressed in Neo-Baroque style, and take to the outdoors as well as a game of bowling at the alley, all while fueling up on cheese fondue and raclette. The spa marries traditional therapies with a more holistic approach, plus there's a trio of grottos (steam bath, saltwater, and floating) for max therapeutic relaxation.
Less than a quarter mile from the golden-sand Kalo Livadi beach, one of the longest on Mykonos, the Archipelagos Hotel is about as idyll a retreat as you’ll find, despite sitting on one of Greece’s more popular spits of land. Take in a Cycladean sunset from your post on the pool deck, or, if you prefer, from the comfort of your room. Designed like an amphitheater, many of the set-ups offer views of the region’s azure waters. Come breakfast, stake out the buffet, a princely spread of fresh pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, and dried fruit to sustain you for the day ahead—whether that means a hike up the isle’s rocky crags, or one parsing past issues of The New Yorker by the pool.
Contemporary art installations and exhibitions are woven throughout the complex of five 19th century warehouses that include the 91-room boutique hotel ideally located in downtown Louisville on Museum Row. (That's a total of 9,000 feet of exhibition space open to visitors.) The art greets you as you arrive, with a double-size replica of the David right outside, to Asleep in the Cyclone, a multi-media installation inside a guest room that you can book. Ready to dive into that buzzy restaurant scene you've heard Louisville has? Go no further than downstairs, where Jonathan Searle's Proof on Main, garners fans (and media attention) for foods that highlight the Ohio River Valley, like smoked Kentucky catfish dip, Florida shrimp pan roast, and skillet cornbread with pimento cheese. The bar holds its own with more than 120 bottles of Kentucky bourbon.
If it all sounds a bit over the top, it is. Just uphill from the pretty French village of Hautvillers where Dom Perignon lived and died, is the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa, architect Giovanni Pace’s stunning refurbishment of an historic coaching inn where Napoleon Bonaparte supposedly overnighted. It's the regions first modern five-star hotel (with the area’s only destination spa). Very large bedroom terraces, indoor and outdoor pools, and jacuzzi all offer panoramic views of the world-famous (and now UNESCO World Heritage-listed) vineyards, while the top-floor bar has access to the cellar's 257 different Champagnes as well as views that look over the vineyards. Restaurant Le Royal, with its giant images of Napoleon’s women and witty plates decorated with excerpts from his love letters, won a Michelin star within six months of opening; the casual restaurant, also overseen by chef Jean-Denis Rieubland, glitters beneath crystal pendants intended to evoke the gloss of Champagne.
An Italian palace feel on the California beach, Casa del Mar is the other iconic Santa Monica ocean-front property along with Shutters. Rooms feel romantic yet residential, with Italian linens and private patios facing a peaceful inner courtyard. You'll have a coffee machine steps from the bed, large marble bathrooms with the most tasteful products, then once you're dressed for the evening there's live entertainment every night in the lounge. This place is always worth it: for the views, fairytale four-poster beds, and the warm light that makes the adjustment from beach to room the smoothest possible.
The Hassler Roma describes itself as the "Stairway to Heaven," and, like the song, it’s an icon. The recent revamp of the Roman hotel, completed in early 2018, has done it wonders, the mahogany concierge and reception desk is polished and welcoming. The beige and brown hues are still there, but now they’re classic, rather than old-fashioned. The concierge desk is packed with old-world charm, with the staff taking real pride in their work. They’ll handwrite you a map, then ask you how your day was when you come back that evening.
Drive just 40 minutes northeast of Punta Del Este’s sunny beaches and swank resorts, and you’ll hit this Uruguayan sanctuary: a 12-suite Spanish colonial spread dropped into 4,000 wind-whipped acres of rugged countryside, just a mile from the coast. More than half of the white-walled estancia’s footprint is taken up by interior pockets of outdoor space—gardens, courtyards, walkways. The rest holds its other charms, like individually designed rooms, courtesy of Uruguayan artists: The master suite Vik, for example, is wrapped in rich, dark woods, while the Trujillo suite’s bed is anointed by a massive nude painting. Make a plan to test out the massive indoor barbecue surrounded by tin walls—a nod to the galpons, or sheds, used by gauchos, and hosed in graffiti for one of the hotel’s many art-driven kicks.
This 13-acre property, enviably sited in San Miguel de Allende's centro, is without peer in a town that has its share of swank hotels. Portals and stone paths lead to tiered swimming pools, two-person cabanas, covered patios, and a tequila bar, and the 67 rooms are grand and outfitted with regionally sourced hardwood floors and Spanish colonial furnishings. Even a standard king, at an already-generous 535 square feet, comes with special treatment: A bubble bath lit by candles is drawn at turndown upon request. Views from the rooftop Luna tapas bar make a seat here especially sought-after at sunset.
Smack in the middle of downtown Santa Fe—and just a stone's throw away from the 17th-century San Miguel Chapel—Inn of the Five Graces is a reflection of the city's vibrant and eclectic tastes. While the adobe exterior is a classic piece of Southwestern architecture, the interiors are decked out with everything from Persian textiles and Afghan rugs to antique furniture sourced from across the U.S. Each room is designed differently, leaving guests spoilt for choice, but all come with kiva fireplaces, hand-laid tiled mosaics in the bathrooms, and luxurious bath products made in nearby Taos. Don't leave without taking advantage of the made-to-order breakfast, which can be delivered straight to your room: After all, you haven't really been to New Mexico until you've eaten a breakfast burrito smothered in green and red chili.
St. Petersburg is steeped in old world charm, a gracefully-aging decadence of which Hotel Astoria is the truest embodiment. Having stood in its exact place on St. Isaac's Square since 1912, it's no act either—the hotel has retained its classic baroque facade and luxurious air throughout the highs and lows of the past century (though don't take that to say they've skimped on updating the interior or adding in all the mod-cons international travelers expect; quite the opposite). Every traveler to the city knows High Tea at the hotel is a must, but guests will be treated to the same iconic experience through every moment spent here—something worth staying the night for.
La Réserve owner Michel Reybier had great success with his Geneva and Ramatuelle outposts. Yet there was general astonishment when, in 2015, La Réserve Paris sashayed into town, teaching the city’s grandes dames new tricks. It's the most beloved address in the French capital for fashion editors and the go-to for regular visitors to the city who want to feel like they’re staying in a private mansion, with just 40 rooms in a fine hôtel particulier designed by Baron Haussmann for Napoleon III’s half-brother the Duc de Morny in 1854. Its position, on a quiet, tree-lined street moments from the Place de la Concorde, is propitious. Then you cross the threshold and—ka-boom!—it’s an explosion of color and texture in the best way imaginable. There’s brocade taffeta, velvet drapes and silk wallpapers in the richest shades of emerald and ruby. No crevice has gone ungilded. This is somewhere you'll want to come back to time and again. Doubles from $1,055.
Peruvian chain Aranwa’s first hotel is a dreamy Andean wonderland spread over a canal- and lake-filled compound beside the Vilcanota River, far from the clusters of resorts in the Sacred Valley. One hundred-fifteen spacious rooms are sprinkled about the property in the carefully restored 18th-century hacienda, the resort’s centerpiece, and several more modern buildings with minimalist decor. When taking a day off from Machu Picchu or valley tours, you’ll find loads to do at the Aranwa: Stroll the orchid-filled glass pyramid, browse the art gallery or library, shop for alpaca scarves, soak in the infinity pool, watch a film in the private cinema, or take a treatment in the 25,000-square-foot spa. Personable staff are on hand to give lifts around the property in a fleet of eco-carts, or to entice an alpaca or peacock to pose for a photo op. Locally sourced ingredients are the norm here, and much of the fruit and herbs in the gourmet restaurant Pukawi are grown right in the resort’s hummingbird-filled gardens.
Just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, this 16th-century colonial-style mansion has been thoughtfully updated with intelligent oxygen enrichment systems, heated floors, and hot tubs in its 43 suites. Wellbeing and cuisine are among the standouts here, but it's not just about how you feel—it's what you see, too. The hotel houses more than 300 pieces of art, including paintings from the Cuzco school, carvings, and sculptures, so make time to take a lap (or three).
This Oslo hotel may have only opened its doors this past March, but the building—if you couldn’t pick it up from the name—has long had ties to the other side of the Atlantic. Built in 1919 as the offices for the Norwegian America Line, a cruise ship line that ferried folks to the United States, the landmark has since been fully revitalized. Its entry into the 21st century includes 122 elegant guest rooms balanced democratically between old world charm (think, high ceilings and herringbone floors) and punchy, mod accents (velvet headboards, mirrored accent walls), a Finnish sauna, and a gym that has more design flair than any place you’ve ever worked out before. You’ll also find yourself in close proximity to some of Oslo’s most popular sights—the National Opera and Ballet, the Akershus Fortress, the Royal Castle, Ekebergparken—but head to Gustav jazz club, the swank in-house music spot, for a night on the town, all without setting foot outside.
Alila Fort Bishangarh is India's only warrior fort turned hotel. The restoration and conversion into a hotel was a 10-year process—and the end result could have been very dark and foreboding (it is an imposing fortress with a maze of hallways and eight-foot-thick walls, after all). Yet while the original structure has been restored and many original features and details have remained, the place is airy, light, and contemporary. And the location, in the famed Aravalli Hills near Jaipur, is much more accessible than many of Rajasthan’s more remote palace hotels, so it’s an easy add-on during a Golden Triangle itinerary.
Legend holds that on his pilgrimage across Asia, the Buddha stopped to rest where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers merge, in the middle of what we now know as Luang Prabang. He prophesied that a rich and powerful metropolis would rise along these somnolent, muddy banks. Though that apex only lasted from the 14th to the 16th century, this Kingdom of a Million Elephants lived on for architect Bill Bensley, who celebrated this era at Rosewood’s low-slung riverside retreat on the sleepy periphery of this Laotian temple town. Minimalist it is not. Hilltop tents overflow with romantic touches—chubby camp beds, clawfoot tubs, silk and velvet accents. At riverfront villas, the rush of water somersaulting over time-smoothed boulders acts as nature’s alarm clock for an early morning meditation with monk-in-residence Sommaiy, who also leads guests past this UNESCO World Heritage City’s 30-plus wing-tipped gold spired temples to humble forest shrines where revered abbots practice esoteric Sak Yant tattoo art. Deep community ties mean guests take tea with Tiao Somsanith Nithakhong, a local royal turned patron of lost Lao arts, or join a procession of 800 saffron-clad novices gliding through rice fields and primary forests for a private blessing ceremony. Rosewood’s elephant figurine–festooned cocktail bar is a delightful aerie arched over the waterfall, and make sure to ask to see the secret boutique, stocked with finds like kaleidoscopic scarves woven by the hotel’s neighbors, a cooperative of young disabled Laotians who are some of the town’s most promising artisans. Doubles from $675.
This is a hotel you might've dreamt of when you were little—though we doubt you were this imaginative. The place truly is a palace, though from the front, it's tough to discern its size: You pull into a private, paved drive, with a fairly modest entrance, and a beautiful, if somewhat smallish lobby, and it's not until you make it out to the back of the hotel that you realize its scale. Set on a hill overlooking the aquamarine (yes, actually aquamarine) waters of Lake Geneva, you'll first notice the immaculately manicured gardens, the thin strips of outdoor pools, and the piqued tent tops under which people are taking their lunch al fresco. There's also the [Anne-Sophie Pic](https://www.cntraveler.com/restaurants/paris/la-dame-de-pic) restaurant, proud owner of two shining Michelin stars; expect refined, European plates, and one hell of a cheese cart. Hard to believe, but it only gets better from there.
We all dream of a romantic, seaside Italian getaway, and this one in a restored seventeenth-century monastery, just three miles from Amalfi, might be it. With just 20 rooms, terraced gardens, clifftop Mediterranean views, and a pool that seems to float over the sea, you'll find yourself right at that point of enjoying the seclusion without feeling isolated. You can mingle with the other adult guests (children under 16 not allowed) who, like you, no doubt also are looking for a little R&R by Italy's famous Amalfi Coast. Stroll the four levels of terraced gardens, and don't miss the spa, which includes sauna and steam rooms, a hydro pool, and tepidarium. You can enjoy a martini with a side of chess at the library and bar, before dining on local Campanian specialties at Il Refetorio, the on-site restaurant. It's la dolce vita straight out of central casting.
Guests may be surprised to hear that this exquisitely restored 1835 palace in Jaipur, with all its courtyards and pageantry, wasn’t built for a queen—but rather, for the queen’s favorite handmaiden. Later on, it was used as a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge, though it’s since comfortably taken its place as one of Rajasthan’s most luxurious hotels. Enjoy an evening of Champagne, moonlight, and candles in a private dining tent illuminated by flaming torches and pitched on the palace greens, and make sure you get to the Steam bar, which occupies a restored train.
At the Royal Mansour Marrakech, located inside the medina, the draw is privacy—its beautifully tiled riads have their own pools dotting lush gardens that are made for afternoon strolls. Of course, that seclusion isn't the only defining factor: The palatial resort, founded by King Mohammed VI to showcase the best of Moroccan artistry and hospitality, was built over three years by 1,200 master craftsmen. It’s a swoon-worthy showpiece of Moroccan decorative art, starting with the 2.5-ton etched bronze doors that open upon your arrival. Each of the 53 individual three-story riads comprises a mini courtyard (with a canopy that automatically unfurls if rain is detected); a sumptuously appointed living room; an equally dazzling bedroom with silk-covered walls, hand-painted arched doorways, and generous MarocMaroc bath amenities; and a private rooftop terrace with a fireplace. You and all this space are tended to by a gracious staff, in particular a butler who appears silently through the riad’s kitchen service entry (staff travel unseen via an underground tunnel system). Although Djemaa el Fna square is within walking distance, there’s much to keep you ensconced in this city sanctuary, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a magnificent spa, and two superb restaurants, La Grande Table Marocaine and La Grande Table Française (both overseen by chef Yannick Alléno from Paris’s Le Meurice), as well as the indoor-outdoor La Table, which serves a formally presented breakfast and lunch—by white-gloved staff. Doubles from $1,200.
Over the years, guests here have included Elizabeth Taylor, Wallis Simpson, and the Shah of Iran. Winston Churchill used to rent two cabanas, one to paint in and one “for naps” (and drinks, as during Prohibition spirits were served illegally here). Set in Surfside at the less-developed northern end of Miami Beach, this hacienda-style hotel has been brilliantly extended by Richard Meier, whose 12-story glass towers seem to float above the terra cotta tiles of the original 1930s Mediterranean-style pantile roofs, and interiors by Joseph Dirand. The cabanas now house part of the charming spa, where even the brushed-brass key pads on the lockers are a thing of beauty, as well as a handful of Cabana Studio bedrooms, each a pale-but-interesting essay in contrasting textures: canvas, rattan, and travertine. Of course, the restaurants are as much of an attraction: The Surf Club by superchef Thomas Keller opened its doors in summer 2018, and Le Sirenuse Miami comes from the owners of its namesake hotel in Positano. Densely planted with exotic palms, the latter evokes a cultivated jungle, a setting that is almost as memorable as Antonio Mermolia’s deft cooking, where the attention to detail extends to dyeing the ice over which they serve oysters the bluish-green of an iceberg. Try the Kumamotos, flown in daily from Washington state and dressed in a zingy citronelle emulsion. "Spectacular" was the word the Miami Herald ran in a headline for the Surf Club in November 1959. And so it is, nearly 60 years on.
It'll take a second for your Uber or Lyft to find the right pull-in for the 1 Hotel: It's on a busy Sunset Boulevard corner and its concrete exterior decorated with sprawling lush plants fades into the background compared to the sparkling billboards scattered in view. It makes sense then that you feel as if you've stepped far from Los Angeles when you walk into the lower-level lobby, with exposed wood beams on the ceiling, natural-toned fabrics on the couches and chairs and the lobby bar, and, yes, even more plants. Beyond just looking good, the hotel's natural, leafy decor serves a greater purpose. (Be sure to check out the petrified moss mural between the lobby and ground level.) The WeHo location is 1 Hotel's first West Coast outpost—and it maintains all of the brand's sustainable initiatives. From a chef's garden filled with herbs and veggies for the four on-site restaurants and carpets made from recycled plastics pulled out of the ocean, it's a floor-to-roof mission.
A real-life jewel in Lake Pichola, this 18th-century palace is a sweep of courtyards, corridors, and pavilions inlaid with stone, gilt molding, and mirrors. It was originally built as a palace for the prince Maharana Jagat Singh and was completed in 1746. Today, guests reach the four-acre man-made island in Udaipur via private boat and are taken to rooms with hand-painted motifs, mosaics, silk bolsters, swings, and stained glass. With 65 rooms and 18 suites, set in the middle of the lake, guests rave about rooms with views of the shore, including City Palace, Aravalli Hills, Machla Magra Hills, and Jag Mandir. Restaurants at the hotel are open only to guests; opt for wood-fired Rajasthani specialties at Neel Kamal. Formal attire is required at the rooftop Bhairo restaurant, but you'll be rewarded with prime cuts of steak. When you're ready to get off the lake and sight-see, ask the concierge to set you up with a tour of the local lakes and attractions in one of the hotel's vintage cars.
Opened in 1844 and operated by the same family ever since, this property has hosted the likes of Joan Miró and Plácido Domingo. Set in a garden near the Bahnhofstrasse shopping drag (Zurich's equivalent of Fifth Avenue), the hotel looks right onto Lake Zurich and the Alps—but that's not the only nice view. Inside, rooms tastefully mix Art Deco, Louis XVI, and Regency styles, and are individually decorated in neutral tones with red, purple, and teal accents—though, if you're lucky, you'll get a room with a balcony on the water. Baur's is more casual brasserie, though if you're really keen to splurge, the Michelin-starred Pavillon is worth the indulgence.
The chic Philippe Starck decor at this Los Angeles hotspot rockets guests into the future as soon as they walk in. Fresh off a $22 million renovation in 2018, the hotel has retained the playground-esque feel that Starck created through a unique blend of dining, drinking, and lounge spaces that are mostly decorated with mid-century modern furnishings, with surrealist touches. With a food program run by the inimitable chef José Andrés, who has made the SLS a hotspot for trend-followers and foodies in the know, you're guaranteed to eat well here. The hotel offers complimentary car service within a two-mile radius. Starck designed the Ciel Spa to resemble "a dreamscape" and that it is, with ethereal white decor and treatment rooms featuring huge, free-standing bathtubs.
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