The World’s Best Hotels: Insights from GoTravelDaily Readers

Where our readers go, notable figures like Barack Obama follow. This past March, he checked into the Brando, an all-villa private-island resort in French Polynesia. It appears our readers share a similar desire for relaxation; this year, they voted the property as the second best in the world. “We are very busy with work and hardly get a chance to relax,” said one admirer. “At the Brando, if you can’t relax and enjoy yourself — it’s your own fault.”

Annual Reader Survey Insights

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily invites readers to share their travel experiences globally, offering insights into the finest hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and beyond. Hotels were evaluated based on their facilities, locations, service quality, cuisine, and overall value. Hotels were categorized as City or Resort according to their amenities and settings. Interestingly, you don’t necessarily need to travel far to experience world-class accommodations. Twenty-seven of the top 100 hotels are situated within the United States, ranging from an iconic Floridian escape, Gasparilla Inn & Club, to a chic boutique hotel in New York City (the Surrey). A noteworthy addition this year is the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming, where guests can engage in fly-fishing, hiking, skeet shooting, or horseback riding across 30,000 acres of pristine wilderness.

Emphasis on Nature Escapes

Only 17 hotels among the top 100 are located in urban settings, which may reflect a growing preference for outdoor experiences among our readers. Secluded beaches in the Bahamas (Kamalame Cay), lush jungles of Costa Rica (Nayara Springs), and breathtaking floodplains of Botswana (andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp) provide ideal retreats. The urban hotels that made the list are diverse; for instance, the Temple House, a 100-room hotel within a historic Qing dynasty structure in Chengdu, China, ranked No. 19, while the Alfond Inn in Orlando, renowned for its modern art collection, was placed No. 62.

Revealing the Top Hotel

Curious to know where our No. 1 winner is located? To visit, you will need a passport and might want to pack a swimsuit, but there’s no need for a surfboard—this resort offers all the amenities you require.