The Best Resorts in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards
Now in its 36th iteration, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises, islands, and luggage. This year, you traveled farther and deeper; seeking out remote properties; sailing on smaller, more intimate ships; and prioritizing destinations you’ve been waiting years to visit. At least that’s what a staggering 526,518 of you told us in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Seventy-five percent of you told us that you used up all your vacation days, often to take longer, immersive trips—the kind that resorts on distant plains or stamp-size islands are well-equipped to deliver. Now, you can use the results to decide where you’re going next—these are the best resorts in the world, according to our readers.
View the Reader's Choice Award winners for best hotels in the world here.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Eden Rock - St Barthshotel50. Eden Rock, St. Barths
$$$ |
Gold List 2018, 2022 
Hot List 2018, 2020 
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023From the small plane that flies you to the Caribbean island, the red roofs of Eden Rock in the middle of St. Jean beach resemble butterflies clustering on a rock. St. Barts is French, legally and spiritually, and a relaxed insouciance infuses every part of the hotel, shifting it romantically from the Americanized luxury nooks of other Antilles. You drift between the stepped levels: first the amber glow of Rémy’s Bar, then the pastels of the open-sided Sand Bar restaurant, where breeze-cooled guests eat under wicker monkeys hanging from the ceiling. And then, finally, the glorious beach with its red-and-white loungers and “frozé” cart handing out slush-puppy rosé. The rocky setting means the bedrooms are forced into variety—some slick and glittery, with plunge pools and vast bathrooms; others calm, in sand-colored rattan, with original art and books by Camus and Chandler. Eden Rock was reborn after being hit by Hurricane Irma in 2017, yet the hazy afterglow of a golden age remains—that air of debauched sophistication instilled by its founder, the roguish smuggler-adventurer Rémy de Haenen, and wafted by regulars such as Greta Garbo and Robert Mitchum. This is a French expressionist work of light, water, and raffish hedonism.
Courtesy Troutbeckhotel49. Troutbeck — Armenia, New York
$$ | Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023It's the country retreat you wish your multi-millionaire great aunt invited you to every weekend. This historic inn about two hours north of NYC has been pulling in the literati and politicos for more than two centuries, but it only just expanded and seriously stepped up the vibe. This is still a country inn (tick off the reading nooks: the fireplace, the bar, the library) but one you'll absolutely hate to leave on Sunday night.
Courtesy Virgin Limited Editionhotel48. Ulusaba Private Game Reserve — Sabi Sand, South Africa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023One of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition collection of retreats, this private game reserve has 21 rooms and suites spread over two lodges. At the Rock Lodge, enjoy a post-game drive cocktail with panoramic views of the Drakensberg Mountains. Just 500 meters away at the Safari Lodge, walk between treehouse-style rooms on swinging rope bridges or just watch the zebras and impala stroll by on their way to the nearby watering hole.
Courtesy Nita Lake Lodgehotel47. Nita Lake Lodge — Whistler, Canada
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Comfort is paramount at this lakeside property in British Columbia's fun-loving mountain resort town: double-soaker tubs, basalt-rock fireplaces, and heated floors offer an intimate counterpoint to the town's sportier side. The lodge is a short jaunt from the Creekside lifts and offers free shuttles and ski storage lockers at the base of Whistler Mountain; come summertime, you'll have your pick of complimentary cruiser bikes, paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks. The spa makes use of the surroundings with rooftop hot tubs overlooking the mountains. When it comes time for meals, the Lakeside Restaurant serves modern alpine cuisine, while the Cure Lounge & Patio is the place to go for a chorizo-topped Caesar (this is Canada, after all), a barrel-aged old fashioned, or a local spin on a gin fizz made with spruce tip syrup.
Courtesy Wharekauhau Country Estatehotel46. Wharekauhau Country Estate — Ocean Beach, New Zealand
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2023This upscale Relais & Châteaux property, popular with Dutch and British royals, is worth the 45-minute drive southwest of Martinborough for the green setting alone. The luxurious farm stay sits on 3,000 acres abutting Palliser Bay's Pacific coastline in one direction, and soaring New Zealand mountainscapes in the other. Edwardian cottage suites and villas with beamed ceilings, private kitchens, and fireplaces give it a luxe lodge feel, while heated indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and gym, and flatscreen TVs keep comfort top of mind. The on-site farm-to-table restaurant offers a four-course degustation-style tasting menu powered by the wine country land around you, and activity options include horseback riding, wine tasting, archery, stargazing, and coastal e-bike tours.
Courtesy The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marinahotel45. The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023You’d be hard-pressed to find a more elegant and well-equipped place to stay by the water than at the 92-room Beach Club, which opened in October 2016. Directly across the harbor from downtown Charleston on Patriots Point in historic Mount Pleasant, the resort is just a free, fifteen-minute trolley shuttle and seasonal water taxi ride from this Southern foodie haven. Modern meals are served in the Fish House, occupying the same building as the creatively-curated Marina Store, which sells everything from scented soaps to tomes on local history.
Moris Morenohotel44. Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa — Manalapan, Florida
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Set on a secluded private beach on seven acres of the Atlantic coast with breathtaking ocean views and lush tropical gardens, the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is true Florida gold coast. Spacious accommodations offer a Capri-meets-Santorini-meets-Palm Beach vibe, and feature private balconies with hanging chairs to enjoy ocean views. The resort includes the Forbes Five-Star, award-winning 42,000 square foot Eau Spa, three Har-tru tennis courts, two pools, and outstanding child and teen clubs and programs. There are also four restaurants on site, and it's just minutes from lively Palm Beach nightlife and shopping.
Photo by Jen Judgehotel43. Vermejo — Raton, New Mexico
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2023Ted Turner’s Vermejo is the closest thing to a private national park. Roughly 550,000 acres draped across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Vermejo is the largest privately owned ranch in the U.S., spanning two states (New Mexico and Colorado) and encompassing several early 1900’s coal-mining and saw-mill towns, as well as Anasazi-era cliff dwellings. The recently restored Casa Grande, a stone-walled, seven-bedroom mansion, is one of nine lodgings on the ranch, and its most storied. Built in 1909 for a Chicago businessman, it was sold after his death to Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler in 1926, whose regular guests included Herbert Hoover, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The grandeur of the mansion hearkens back to this era, from the marble-pillared great room’s dining room table outfitted in china and crystal to the grand piano. The property languished between several owners, and it was Turner who had the vision to turn the sprawling property into a modern-day conservation-minded ranch. Fly-fishing season is from May to September and the property offers endless amounts of hiking. Staying at Casa Grande gives you a taste of what Fairbanks et al. might have experienced back in the mansion’s heyday; rooms are impeccably done in European antiques and toiles, private dining room service is available if you don’t want to join the others at the main lodge (the bison burger, crispy buttermilk marinated quail, and fresh-caught trout are musts), and staff can bring you a G+T on the porch as you watch the wildlife creep out of the woods at sundown.
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Sanctuary Retreatshotel42. Sanctuary Olonana — Masai Mara, Kenya
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2023This camp, named for a Masai warrior, sits on acacia-dotted plains and prides itself on its eco-friendliness, using solar power and recycled water. Watch hippos wallow in the Mara River from one of 14 luxury tents with canopied beds, writing tables, screened windows, and verandas with daybeds. For meals, expect dishes such as Malindi sole, prepared with ingredients picked directly from the camp’s garden and served on the main deck—or book a picnic meal in the bush. Available activities include game drives in specially designed jeeps that offer 360-degree views of the savannah (and its inhabitants), visits to a local Masai village, and hot air balloon rides over the plains for a bird’s-eye view of the migrating herds.
AVABLUhotel41. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay — Kauai, Hawaii
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023This opening on the Edenic island of Kaua’i, a.k.a the Garden Isle—where the tallest palm trees still dictate building-height limits—is a veritable homecoming for the eco-driven, plant-loving 1 Hotels brand. This beachfront location overlooking the iconic Hanalei Bay, with the waterfall-striated Hihimanu, Nāmolokama, and Māmalahoa mountains in the distance, has to be one of the prettiest on the planet. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has all the ingredients you might want to cook up a truly magical Hawaiian getaway: a swimmable beach right out front, a legendary surf break a short paddle away, a stunning main pool (and a sleek adults-only one), great on-site bars and restaurants, a cute town nearby for exploring, and easy access to excellent hiking. But what makes this property truly stand out in an archipelago dotted with luxe oceanfront resorts is that it’s also a legitimate wellness destination, with cutting-edge spa and medi spa offerings as well as serious fitness and mind/body programming. Against the backdrop of 1 Hotel’s sustainability DNA, this property feels like the 2.0 lifestyle hotel we’ve all been waiting for.
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spahotel40. JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Readers' Choice Awards 2023
Max Seigal/El Nido Resortshotel39. El Nido Resorts (Lagen, Miniloc & Pangulasian) — Phillippines
Readers' Choice Awards 2023
W Costa Navarinohotel38. W Costa Navarino — Greece
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023A chug through Messinia’s olive-dotted countryside, past bare-chested octogenarians driving ancient tractors, brings you to this 32-acre waterfront property, designed in the form of a Greek coastal village. The first W hotel in Greece offers everything you’d expect from the famously fun, tongue-in-cheek brand—poolside DJs, geometric cushions, a central infinity pool begging to be Instagrammed—plus some added doses of wellness, eco-consciousness, and inclusivity. In line with the rather chummy W vernacular (staff quarters are labeled “Talent”), there are 246 Fabulous, Spectacular, and Wow! room options spread throughout the property—try to book one of the infinity swim-up rooms, which grants access to a shared ground-level 90-meter pool. Like the other hotels in the Costa Navarino collection, there is a true sense of warmth at the heart of the hotel from the 350 staff members—even though it is a big brand hotel, ultimately this is a family-run business, and that hospitable embrace is felt throughout.
Courtesy Rosewood Hotelshotel37. Rosewood Miramar Beach — Montecito, California
$$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023Arriving at Rosewood Miramar Beach, with its military-straight rows of white roses and pristine clapboard cottages, feels like landing on a postcard-perfect street in Cape Cod. If it all seems a little too perfect, well, there was time to get things right. The former Miramar by the Sea Hotel occupied these 16 oceanfront acres from 1889 until it closed for renovations in 2000. The hotel sat half-demolished for years, its second act tangled in red tape. It took SoCal billionaire developer Rick Caruso and the Hong Kong–based Rosewood Hotel Group to push the project through. And while it may have been tempting to scrap the past after such a treacherous road to reopening, the new Miramar deliberately throws back. Lemon-yellow-and-white striped umbrellas flank a rectangular pool where the Scoop Shop serves up fountain drinks, ice cream cones, and burgers. Overlooking the ocean, there’s Caruso’s, the type of place where you order a martini with your cacio e pepe alongside a heaping dollop of la dolce vita (the chef hails from Harry’s Bar in Rome)—and, in a state where “formal flip-flops'' are a thing, one that blessedly enforces a dress code. In case you start to feel too lost in the 1950s, an outpost from Malibu Farm and a Goop boutique remind you that this is indeed modern-day Cali.
Kip Beelman/Courtesy Salish Lodge & Spahotel36. Salish Lodge & Spa — Snoqualmie, Washinton
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023Built in 1916 as a rest stop for travelers, this Cascade Mountains lodge is set above 268-foot-high Snoqualmie Falls. The setting for the TV series Twin Peaks, the mountain lodge offers rooms in blues, emeralds, and turquoises (to mirror the colors of the sky, the Snoqualmie River, and Puget Sound) with custom-built furniture. A honeybee apiary on the hillside by the lodge produces honey for the spa and the Dining Room, where local artisanal cheeses are also served.
Alila Hotels and Resortshotel35. Alila Villas Uluwatu — Bali
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023The striking latticework rectangles of Alila Uluwatu, an all-villa resort set high on a cliff on the Bukit Peninsula, has become an icon for contemporary Bali. This Indonesian island is less about the beaches, more about the balés—sure, you can find tempting stretches of sand, but you couldn’t do better than settling into a cabana by the infinity pool here to enjoy those Indian Ocean panoramas. And if you do need to dip your feet into the sea, it’s only 600 steps down the cliff-hugging stairway to get to it. Spacious stand-alone suites have inviting daybeds by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which open out to private pools. Bathroom are outfitted with a large tub, his-and-hers toiletries, and all the amenities you could dream of. Service here is inspired; at check-in, you'll be asked whether you’d like it invisible or extra-attentive—categorized into "private," "discreet," or "indulgent." Your private butler is a tablet click away.
JASON DEWEY/The Ritz-Carlton, Kapaluahotel34. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua — Maui
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Winding along the entrance to the Ritz-Carlton, you’ll notice the topography looks different from the coastal scenery you’ve passed en route from Maui’s main airport. Kapalua is marked by lush, towering pine trees and windy weather; it might even be raining when you pull up to the hotel, giving the place a mountain-lodge feel. Indeed, if you’re aiming for seclusion and relaxation, rather than sunny beach days, the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua is just the spot. And if you’re staying a while or traveling with children, opt for a residential suite which has a full kitchen and up to two bedrooms. Just be sure to reserve your chairs in advance before you go to the pool.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts/©2013 Carlos Martínhotel33. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita — Mexico
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023At this 1,500-acre hidden oasis north of Puerto Vallarta, no request is too outlandish—readers have shared stories of dedicated servers, like one who walked into the ocean, in his uniform, to bring them their drinks. Red-roof garden casitas are done in a sea-and-sand palette, with Mexican art and louvered doors. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course at Pacifico takes the game to the extreme: Be prepared to swing for a hole that's on an island 200 yards offshore.
Kindra Clineff/Courtesy The Pointhotel32. The Point — Upper Saranac Lake, New York
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023There’s that moment, on every trip, when your mindset switches from “everyday, real life” to “blissed out, vacation life.” At The Point, it happens on the approach. You’ll turn off one country road, and onto another that takes you deeper into the woods. After a few minutes, you’ll come to a log gate, the words "The Point" spelled out (in all caps) in the archway in a tangle of branches. As the gate swings open and you slowly drive through, it feels like you’re entering another world. Or, at the very least, leaving this one behind. Built in the early 1930s as a private retreat for William Avery Rockefeller Jr. (John D. Rockefeller's grand-nephew), it was purchased in 2016 by two of its longtime guests, Laurie and Pierre Lapeyre, who set about refreshing—not redoing—the property. The kitchen (which has a 24/7 open door policy) is run by Chef Loic Leperlier, who spent time at multi-Michelin starred restaurants; and if guests get curious about what he's cooking up, they can even tag along as he forages nearby for Chanterelle mushrooms or birch syrup. A heads-up: There's no wifi on the property (you can only access it in the front office which houses the shop and gallery). But after a few hours, you're too busy taking hikes, kayaking, boating, reading books, and enjoying cocktail hour to even notice.
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Ingalls Photography/Blackberry Mountainhotel31. Blackberry Mountain — Walland, Tennessee
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2023While every hotel now trades on its experiential offerings, only the very best have the talent to follow through with resonance and meaning. Blackberry Mountain, a ground-breaking adventure-and-wellness retreat in rural Tennessee, knows that experiences alone aren’t enough; experienced people are crucial, too. This property comes from the family behind the wholesomely ground-breaking Blackberry Farm, which transformed the U.S.’s foodie-escape scene. And like its sister hotel, this 36-room mountain retreat makes a point of hiring staffers who are extremely good at what they do, whether trail running or vinyasa yoga, mountain-biking or mushroom foraging. Naturalist Boyd Hopkins has traced every corner of the 5,200-acre Smoky Mountain wilderness—he takes guests scrambling up, up, up to Cat’s Paw Ridge in search of bobcat and black bear. Master potter Polly Ann Martin can teach even the clumsiest newbie to throw a near-perfect vase, while a deep-dive consultation with Dr. Jill Beasley, Blackberry’s naturopath, will have guests wishing they could get her on speed-dial for when they return home. Inside the stone-and-timber cottages are roaring fires and floor-to-ceiling windows for gazing at the misty blue peaks of the Smokies. But the most memorable part of this singular playground—even more than the unspoiled surroundings—are the unforgettable people who bring it to life.
Courtesy Ritz-Carltonhotel30. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023Rows of palm trees herald the entrance to the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, a towering, Italian-inspired resort where attentive staff greets you at the porte-cochère and welcomes you into the marble lobby with a glass of sparkling wine. Guest rooms are modern and subdued with private balconies and ultra-plush bedding, and the large, marble bathrooms have plush terry-cloth robes, oversize towels, and Asprey Purple Water toiletries. If you can fit it in, make time to check out the spa: The Ritz-Carlton’s massive, 40,000-square-foot space has 40 private treatment rooms, a cafe, and a serene outdoor pool. The Grand Citrus Escape treatment uses herbs and citrus grown onsite and honey from the resort’s bees to hydrate and soothe your skin from head to toe.
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Courtesy Elewana Collectionhotel29. Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp Masai Mara — Kenya
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2023If you really want to be surrounded by nature on safari, this tented camp with just eight suites is the way to go. With no fences or boundaries, you’ll fall asleep to the sound of lions, leopards, and hyenas making their way across the Maasai Mara. (Don’t be surprised if you spot animals wandering through in the daytime from your tent’s veranda, too.) The experience here leans more towards the glamping side of safari lodges—but you won’t be without creature comforts, as the tents are fully furnished with indoor plumbing and hot showers. You won’t have to jockey for a view of the wildlife on game drives or bush walks either, since Elewana’s location and surrounding savannah is only accessible to the 11 other nearby lodges, keeping Land Cruiser traffic down.
Courtesy Tetherow Lodgeshotel28. Tetherow Lodges — Bend, Oregon
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Located just 10 minutes outside of downtown Bend, Tetherow is a complex of vacation rental homes, event spaces, and a golf course that has all the amenities and comforts of a larger resort, but the intimacy and personality of a smaller hotel—since the Lodges only contain 50 rooms. It's no secret that Tetherow attracts a particularly outdoorsy and active set, and especially golf fanatics. But if you're the type to just sit in the hot tub with a glass of wine while your partner hits the links, that's alright, too. Golf is the name of the game here, and Tetherow Golf Club is a 7,298-yard Scottish links-style course that has won numerous accolades and consistently lands at the top of critics' lists. The pros in the golf shop are happy to get anyone and everyone setup with the right instructor for a proper golf lesson. "Tetherow Sport," the property's new fitness center features the best in workout equipment, as well as a huge selection of group workout classes, activity gear, a year-round outdoor pool, hot tub, fire pits, and plenty of fabulous views. And being only 20 minutes from Mount Bachelor, there are ample opportunities for mountain sports at all times of year.
Courtesy Cheval Blanc Randhelihotel27. Cheval Blanc Randheli — Maldives
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023It stands to reason that the Cheval Blanc Randheli, a relatively recent resort from luxury conglomerate LVMH (owners of Louis Vuitton, Céline, Dior, etc.), would set the bar high. The white sands and turquoise waters of the Noonu Atoll, in the northwest Maldives, are the backdrop for 45 one- and two-bedroom villas. As looks go, it doesn’t get chicer than this, but the whimsical touches—turtles drawn in the sand along the path to the villa, thoughtful little notes from your butler left alongside the pitchers of fresh juice—are what truly give this place its character.
Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Lanaihotel26. Four Seasons Resort Lanai — Hawaii
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020, 2022 Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Lanai’s undeveloped red-rock interiors and wild beaches preserve the Hawaii of old, and luckily, when billionaire Larry Ellison bought 98 percent of the island in 2012, including this hotel, he envisioned a regenerative tourism model that would protect all that natural beauty. Perched on a rocky cliff overlooking sparkling Hulopoe Bay, Lanai’s only oceanfront hotel (one of just three on the island) could easily overshadow this sleepy one-town destination. But the hotel’s spa menu, with different massages that specifically address achy muscles from golf, tennis, and horseback riding, is a testament to the popularity of activities that get guests off-property to play and explore. Pen-and-ink drawings depicting Hawaiian lore and historic artifacts, like a 19th-century koa-wood outrigger canoe in the lower lobby, pay homage to the past, while trendy restaurants like Nobu Lanai and Malibu Farm, a Peloton-equipped gym, and eco-minded touches like refillable water stations firmly root the resort in modern times. Even with a full house, the 213-room sanctuary feels like it’s all yours thanks to its clever design. Koshi-wood lattices, koi ponds, and other Japanese influences create an aura of zen in common areas. And cabanas cocooned around tropical gardens and palm-shaded pools with cascading waterfalls double as tiny oases where you rarely encounter other guests.
Courteys Hermann Bungalowshotel25. Hermann Bungalows — Palm Springs
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023This is the place for ultimate Palm Springs mid-century luxury, designed with the most sumptuous details and suited for the natural landscape—including prime poolside San Jacinto Mountain views. It's also an uncommon experience: a resort within a resort. One is luxury while the other is “ultra-luxury.” The latter is Hermann Bungalows, a uniquely chic 24-suite lodge opened by designer-hotelier Steve Hermann in 2022. It’s adjacent to L’Horizon Resort & Spa (25 rooms), which Hermann opened in 2015 after a $10 million renovation of an existing mid-century property. Bungalow guests enter through L’Horizon’s lobby to reach their own fully contained hotel, whose design inspiration is rooted in the mid-century-modernism architecture of Richard Nuetra. Guests can stay in the privacy of the Hermann Bungalows, or access all of the amenities of L’Horizon Resort, including its pool, the Spa, and the elegant SO.PA restaurant.
Courtesy Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resorthotel24. Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023This coastal getaway is located on sugar-sand beaches, and offers sparkling pools, delicious dining, and three championship golf courses. Located in the Palmetto Dunes beachfront community, several dining options are on-site and private balconies overlook the oceanfront. Rooms options feature sofa beds, kitchenettes, and additional living space for families. Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort provides 14,000 square feet of meeting space. The poolside Buoy Bar brings tiki vibes to the lowcountry, and famed Arthur Hills Golf Course is less than two miles away.
Courtesy One&Only Mandarinahotel23. One&Only Mandarina — Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
$$$ | Hot List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023This glossy, globetrotting hotel group might pick up new destinations as if they were passport stamps, but each is uniquely rooted in place. Here, along the Riviera Nayarit on the wild Pacific coast, that means drawing deeply on Mexico’s magic, with considered references to the Indigenous Cora and Huichol people. Bedrooms, whether oversized treehouses or ocean-facing villas, are a celebration of local culture, from the traditional textiles and pottery to the robes by contemporary Mexico-based label Candor. The spa, set in a natural volcanic-rock garden, is based on ancient healing practices and offers treatments including temazcal sweat-lodge rituals. The hotel has also tapped the country’s top chef, Enrique Olvera—of Mexico City’s Pujol—for Carao, where feasts begin with fresh ceviche and end on homemade cinnamon buñuelos. Meanwhile Alma, an open-air, garden-to-plate spot helmed by French-Mexican Olivier Deboise, is centered around wood-fired, Pan-American-meets-Mediterranean dishes. It might be a step up from the surf hotels down the road, but one that still feels very much in step with Nayarit’s spirit.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spahotel22. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023Two words: lazy river. Kids and kids at heart will fall hard for this multi-functional resort spread across 600-plus acres. During the day, 40 event spaces (capable of hosting more than 6,000 people) make networking easy, but once you’re off the clock, there’s a Pete Dye–designed golf course, expansive water park, adults-only spa, and high-tech sports bar. Not that you’d want to but if you ever decide to leave, the resort is within an hour drive of Natural Bridge Caverns, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and the Lone Star State’s up-and-coming wine country.
Getty/Courtesy Mohonk Mountain Househotel21. Mohonk Mountain House — New Paltz, New York
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023If you're looking to escape, come here. It's the purest form of relaxation, and you can make as much of everything it offers as you like. A secluded sanctuary, the hotel itself resides on a spectacular mountain preserve and looks out onto a large lake. Rooms are homey and classic, with porches outfitted with rocking chairs. Mohonk provides a daily schedule with something to do at any and every hour. Best of all, there's something for everyone, from yoga to golf, archery to horseback riding, and even wine tasting. Food is included in your daily room rate, and there's daily afternoon tea and cookies, as well as a library (complete with complementary reading glasses, just in case you've misplaced yours) where you can read the paper in front of a warm fire.
Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Palm Beachhotel20. Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Two oceanfront pools, an expansive beach, and a restaurant and bar built up in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco—these are the pillars of the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach. While it’s no daunting task to beautify the Florida island’s landscape (Mother Nature has handled that herself), this resort takes that perfection and compounds it with stunning design and an overarching aura of enchantment. Pool service is on point, as are the activities on offer for when lounging in the sun feels a little too intense. Water and beach sports, cooking classes, biking, and more: the six-acre spread has it all.
Courtesy St. Regis Punta Mita Resorthotel19. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort — Mexico
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023At this decade-old resort in a gated community along the Pacific, the tile-roofed casitas have Mediterranean-Mexican style with creamy whites accented by lime green and fuchsia tones and colorful handcrafted tiles. There’s a wide array of restaurants and bars, from the fine-dining Carolina to Sea Breeze for fish tacos and ceviche to the Avocado Vegan Bar. The staff here seems to work magic, whether that's charging taxi fares to your hotel bill or getting a doctor to make a house call to your room.
Courtesy La Cantera Resort & Spa/Photo by Sammy Todd Dyesshotel18. La Cantera Resort & Spa — San Antonio
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Built atop one of the highest points in San Antonio, the resort boasts views that truly can't be beat, which is why we recommend booking a room with a balcony. In addition to an adults-only floor and luxe villas perfect for large groups, guests will delight in the exclusive spa treatments and memorable dining options—from a concept dedicated entirely to charcuterie boards to a juicery that offers mood-enhancing Lotus Wei elixirs. The star, however, is Signature, a restaurant that is a feast for the senses, serving up seafood and wild game in an old-world setting.
Yi GeunSoo/Courtesy The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawihotel17. The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi — Malaysia
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021, 2023There are myriad reasons why The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi could be considered the ultimate luxurious hideaway to reconnect with nature. The resort's location—nestled in Malaysia's 10-million-year-old rainforest right on the beaches of the Andaman Sea; its spa—a collection of six overwater pavilions with a menu of treatments inspired by the island's generations of shamans and midwives; its four beachfront restaurants and bars, featuring classic Malaysian design elements right on the shores of the sea. But we think the magic lies in how the resort captures the island's character. Jungle flora and fauna beckon from the windows of each of the 90 suites and 29 villas (which also offer beachfront views). Guests can participate in traditional jewelry making or textile printing, or opt for more adventurous activities like a hike through the rain forest or water skiing on a nearby volcanic lake. Of course, flopping down on nearby Pantai Cenang Beach for the entirety of your stay is also an option.
Courtesy Banyan Tree Hotels & Resortshotel16. Banyan Tree Veya Phuket
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2023This resort, designed as a Thai village and built on rehabilitated wasteland, has "perfect, private luxury villas" that fringe a saltwater lagoon and the beaches of Bang Tao Bay. Each low-rise villa is set next to a private landscaped garden and has his-and-hers dressing areas, an open-air sunken bath, teak-framed floor-to-ceiling windows, and dominant colors of black, gold, and red. The 24 two-bedroom pool villas have private infinity pools along the lagoon, plus 24-hour butler and in-villa chef services and a separate check-in lobby. Multiple dining options include fresh fish served at the lagoon-facing Sala Terrace.
Photo by Graciela Cattarossihotel15. Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection — Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
$$ | Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Cabo San Lucas is a town full of resorts that are either too fusty, too fancy, or too family-friendly, but Chileno Bay is the rare option that feels both sophisticated and hip. Follow the throng of weekending thirty-somethings to the resort's cool open-air restaurant, or to a little taco shack on the beach with an excellent selection of small-batch mezcal. The beach that the hotel is on is probably the only real swimming beach in Cabo—no small thing, since it can be kind of painful to be at a "beach resort" and not be able to take a dip in the ocean. (Cabo's waters are notoriously choppy, rough, and not swimmer-friendly).
Courtesy Montage Palmetto Bluffhotel14. Montage Palmetto Bluff — Bluffton, South Carolina
$$ | Gold List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Never mind that Justin Bieber had his wedding here—Palmetto Bluff is nothing if not lost in time, and that’s precisely the appeal. Set on 20,000 acres of wildlife sanctuary on South Carolina’s May River, it’s a romantically haunting landscape of Southern oaks draped in Spanish moss, the iconic state palmetto, cranes flying overhead, and live gators sunning on the banks in the hazy early morning. (Cautionary note when fishing—gators also love large-mouth bass and will snap them right off your line). Technically, Montage Palmetto Bluff is a resort, with the archetypal Southern mansion or inn acting as its anchor, but in reality it’s a small, charming village—albeit one with multiple pools, restaurants, bars, and a spa that the resort manages. Kids play wiffle ball in the main square at dusk, couples walk their dogs with a drink in hand and say hello as you pass them; there’s even a daily late afternoon “porching” session with drinks and s’mores at the fire pits. It’s slow, languid living in the best possible way.
Courtesy Arusha Coffee Lodgehotel13. Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge — Tanzania
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023Nestled in the foothills of Mount Meru, 30 cottages are surrounded by one of Tanzania's largest coffee plantations for an ideal pre- or post-safari stopover near the town of Arusha. The aroma of freshly ground beans wafts over the rooms and suites' wood-beamed interiors. Don't miss the coffee-making experience—beans are cooked in a skillet to release their oils, and then ground using a massive mortar and pestle—to have fresh Tanzanian coffee with the local villagers and learn more about the area firsthand. A private swimming pool, garden terrace, and indoor-outdoor restaurant serving up meals and picnic lunches (or 24-hour room service if you prefer) make it a cozy stay with impeccable service.
Courtesy JW Marriotthotel12. JW Marriott Orlando — Florida
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023The towering JW Marriott Orlando sits on 500 acres at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. Step through the grand, marble-tiled lobby to the outdoor patio and relax with a glass of wine by the firepit. Rooms are spacious and serene, with neutral decor and pastel highlights. Business travelers will appreciate the large desk and ergonomic chair; the pillowtop mattress and superb bedding guarantee an excellent night’s sleep. The JW Marriott also happens to have one of the best hotel pools in Orlando; float past waterfalls and under bridges on the lazy river, or take a dip in one of the many onsite pools. Lounge chairs and shade umbrellas are plentiful.
Lolebezihotel11. Lolebezi — Zambia
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023Built on a five-hectare concession through which a narrow inlet known locally as the Discovery Channel joins the Zambezi River, this resort is in one of the best spots on one of the most beautiful rivers in Africa. The Dubai-based concession owner, Irfaan Yousuf, bought the property for his wildlife-loving wife, named it after their son, Lole, and brought in the charismatic African Bush Camps founder Beks Ndlovu to build and run it. Lolebezi is more a lodge than a bushcamp, with enormous flat-roofed, glass-fronted rooms filled with green and gold interiors that wouldn’t be out of place in a contemporary boutique hotel. Outside, loungers look out over a reed-fringed riverside on which elephants munch and hippos harrumph, and two sand-floored fire pits are set up for flame-lit drinks under the stars. To take full advantage of a few hours of downtime in the afternoon, my room had a capacious netted bed, a swing chair for whiling away hot hours, an outdoor thatched sala (whose grass roof an elephant nibbled as I lay birdwatching beneath), and a little plunge pool. Unusually for a remote bush lodge, the tech is pretty sophisticated, from air conditioning and good Wi-Fi to clearly annotated light switches.
Ingallshotel10. Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection — Santa Fe
$$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023For ages, Santa Fe has lured visitors with its rich history, cultural diversity, mystical landscape, and extraordinary art scene. All of these charms combine at Bishop’s Lodge, a century-old resort that reopened in the summer of 2021 after a $75 million renovation. It’s a high-end yet unpretentious place to immerse oneself in nature, adventure, spiritual healing, and local traditions, bundled in the signature comfort of the Auberge Resorts Collection. The Stream Dance Spa, with treatments rooted in ancient rituals and holistic treatments, like sacred sound therapy, is sure to be the highlight of any visit.
Courtesy Cottar’s Safarishotel9. Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp — Masai Mara, Kenya
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023On arrival at Cottar's 1920s Camp in your open-air Land Rover, you immediately feel you’ve stepped back in time. It was established by the grandfather of the current owner, Calvin Cottar, and today, it has the highest number of Gold Level guides of any safari property in Africa. The camp has great traditional interiors, full of campaign and colonial antiques and lined with kilims, cotton dhurries, and paraphernalia from decades of African safaris. There are nine tents in total (two honeymoon tents, four double tents, and three family suites), all with bathrooms, and some even have living rooms with fireplaces.
Chatham Bars Innhotel8. Chatham Bars Inn — Massachusetts
$$ | Gold List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Eevery inch of the property’s 25 acres (CBI has quietly picked up more throughout the years) is intoxicating. There’s the cool Atlantic breeze hitting the bluff, a sand-swept wedding in the distance (remember when?), a private beach launch to a secluded sandy spot. Scattered atop a seaside bluff, the "charming New England–style cottages" have bay windows, fireplaces, and private decks or patios with views of the ocean, grounds, or golf course. There’s an oceanfront pool, downtown Chatham steps away, a lobby fireplace roaring upon your return. It oozes nostalgia, and that’s why guests return—kids a little older, parents a little wiser, grandparents in pearls taking in the view a little bit longer—to summer on the Cape. CBI has perfected the good stuff: views (see the fishing boats at the pier, fog sitting on the water?), a seaside spot to rest your head (nothing beats the ocean view cottages), and family fun. And that’s what the Cape is all about.
Stevie Mann/Courtesy Elewana Collectionhotel7. Elewana Elsa's Kopje Meru — Kenya
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Meru National Park has it all: lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, kudus, and even a sanctuary filled with black and white rhino. One of the best home bases to see it all? Elewana Elsa's Kopje, named after the real-life orphaned lion cub Elsa, whose rescue and return to the wild was dramatized in the 1966 movie Born Free. Built up on a hill with a full view over Meru’s savannah, the lodge offers game drives, fishing in Meru’s rivers, and bush walks for those looking to explore, as well as an infinity pool, private decks for each suite, and massages by appointment for those who don’t want to stray far from the lodge. You can also set up breakfasts out in the bush—and sundowners, too, before it’s time to turn in.
Elsa Young/Courtesy Londolozihotel6. Londolozi — Sabi Sand, South Africa
$$$ | Gold List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Situated within 6 million acres of pristine wilderness, Londolozi has been owned and run by the Varty family for over 90 years. The word londolozi comes from the Zulu language and means “protector of all living things.” Once endorsed by Nelson Mandela, who described it as “a dream I cherish for a model of nature preservation in our country,” it’s one of the best places in the world to see leopards in the wild. Some of Londolozi’s most popular features are its state-of-the-art photographic studio and its Healing House. Breeding herds of elephant and buffalo roam throughout Londolozi, while white rhino and lion concentrations are among the highest on the African continent.
Courtesy Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resorthotel5. Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort — Maui
$$$ | Gold List 2021 Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023Hawaiian hotels may differ in size and price, but most have a pretty predictable common denominator, the beach. Which is why the opening of this hotel is such a major shakeup. For starters, it’s 1,800 feet above sea level and a 20-minute drive to the nearest sandy stretch. Then there’s the fact that it’s on Lanai, the smallest and least-visited of Hawaii’s inhabited islands. And it’s an adults-only wellness retreat, meaning the usual lounging in the sun while alternating between shave ice and spam musubi snacks doesn’t make it onto the daily schedule. All to say, Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is about as niche as it gets. It’s also quite possibly the loveliest spot to give mind-body wellness a real shot.
Courtesy Wentworth by the Seahotel4. Wentworth by the Sea — Newcastle, New Hampshire
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023Old-world luxury abounds at Wentworth by the Sea, a grand, nineteenth-century estate on the Atlantic. The coastal retreat has a red mansard roof and three towers, and looks out on granite outcroppings. If you're really interested in feeling like you've gone back in time, you're in luck: Interiors brandished with such details as traditional damasks, intricate woodwork, brass accents, and pinstriped wallpaper will make you feel like you've wound back the clock. The dining room at Longitudes, through which waiters navigate with platters of Prince Edward Island mussels and lobster rolls, overlooks the marina; Roosevelt’s Lounge offers a casual atmosphere with a fireplace.
Courtesy Twin Farmshotel3. Twin Farms — Barnard, Vermont
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Twin Farms, an 18th-century Southern Vermont farmhouse that once belonged to Nobel Prize–winning writer Sinclair Lewis, is the perfect spot to get away from the city and relax amid maple and pine trees. Our readers laud the first-rate service at this rural retreat. One of only a handful of Relais & Chateaux properties in New England, the food here is superb, with chef Nathan Rich putting together a highly seasonal menu drawn from Vermont produce, meats, and dairy. Beyond the dining room, there’s a guide readily available for walks through the surrounding woods, an on-call chauffeur for local outings, and even someone to bring you milk and cookies at any hour.
Courtesy Uxua Casa Hotelhotel2. Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa — Trancoso, Brazil
$$ | Gold List 2018, 2019, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Surrounded by dense rainforest and teetering high on a ridge overlooking the powder-sand-fringed Atlantic, Uxua fits right into the post-hippie utopia of Trancoso. Working with local artisans, Dutch owner Wilbert Das (Diesel’s former creative director) has turned the hotel into a collection of rustic renovated casas, cottages, an intimate treehouse, and a tribal-inspired spa. All are cloaked by hummingbird-flecked tropical gardens and centered around a pool lined with green aventurine quartz, which, for those not up on their healing crystals, is said to be very therapeutic. Interiors are haute-boho: roomy indoor-outdoor sitting rooms and airy living spaces with dazzling-white walls and muslin-canopied beds, accented with lots of reclaimed wood, antiques, and vintage finds including brightly painted Virgin Mary statuettes. A decked path runs through mangrove forests to the beach, where there are enormous day beds for post-breakfast snoozing and a beach bar fashioned from an old fishing boat—just stay horizontal and another Caipirinha will soon find its way to you.
Courtesy L'Horizon Resort & Spahotel1. L'Horizon Resort & Spa — Palm Springs
$$ | Gold List 2016 Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023L.A.-based residential designer Steve Hermann spent two years (and millions of dollars) turning the historic William F. Cody–designed L’Horizon into a luxurious boutique hotel. He didn’t alter the footprint much—the main house and 25 bungalows were built in 1952—but he added an open-air spa and an alfresco restaurant and gut-renovated the interiors. Hermann wanted the decor to work with the mid-century architecture without creating a time warp. As such, each bungalow is a mix of modern (custom hair-on-hide rugs, industrial-chic machined brass lighting and fixtures) and vintage (furniture from Percival Lafer, Mullhauser, Knoll, and Katavolos). And while it is a fun hotel, more private club than frat party, it’s also a place for quiet indulgences: The pool is guests-only; unexpected treats are brought to your room every afternoon (could be a scoop of ice cream, could be a shot of tequila); and roaming poolside therapists offer complimentary foot and shoulder massages. Request a west-facing bungalow with an outdoor shower and watch the sun go down over the San Jacinto Mountains while shampooing.