A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
The nation’s capital is, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. From the historic monuments to the free museums to the explosion of cherry blossoms in the spring, there’s more than enough to keep visitors entertained, no matter how long they stay. Given the number of travelers that Washington, D.C. attracts, it’s no surprise that the area has some of the best hotels around.
Whether you are seeking a vacation by the rocky coastline, in rolling farmland, or nestled in a verdant valley surrounded by mountains, the Northeastern U.S. offers ideal spots. The finest resorts from Maine down to Maryland provide a combination of outdoor adventures and pampering experiences, perfect for rejuvenation.
If you’re planning on heading to the Great American West, we know where you should stay. Consider the lodge in Washington State’s wine country, where each guest room features a stone fireplace and a tub for two. Alternatively, you can choose a modern resort on the craggy Teton Mountains of Wyoming, or opt for a Mission-inflected, cedar-beamed lodge on an Oregon river that offers “do nothing” as an official activity — alongside hiking, golfing, fishing, and visiting the spa. These accommodations include Willows Lodge, Amangani, and Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, among the 10 best resorts in the western U.S. this year.Every year, for the GoTravelDaily World’s Best Awards survey, readers are asked to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. In the hotels category, properties are rated on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value. Hotels are categorized based on their locations, which in the West includes Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.The properties that made this list share some common features. Several are located in ski areas, including Montage Deer Valley, Utah (No. 10) and Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado (No. 4). However, readers also demonstrated a fondness for retreats far from ski towns. For example, Montana’s Triple Creek Ranch, formerly voted best hotel in the world and ranked second in the region this year, offers luxurious log cabins with wood-burning fireplaces and large soaking tubs, making it a favorite for romantic getaways thanks to its adults-only policy.At Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, located along the banks of the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon, exceptional service and serene surroundings are the main attractions. “This is the gold standard for how a lodge should be run,” praised one GoTravelDaily reader. Meanwhile, in Colorado, Gateway Canyons Resort — this year’s top resort in the West — provides thrill seekers with river rafting, rock climbing, and off-roading adventures. Owner John Hendricks, the founder of the Discovery Channel, aims for every visitor to leave having tried something new.No. 10: Montage Deer Valley, Park City, UtahCourtesy of MontageScore: 93.50No. 9: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, Teton Village, WyomingCourtesy of Four Seasons ResortScore: 93.62No. 8: Willows Lodge, Woodinville, WashingtonCourtesy of Willows LodgeScore: 93.80No. 7: Red Mountain Resort, Ivins, UtahJessica SampleScore: 93.91No. 6: Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, Park City, UtahCourtesy of Stein Eriksen LodgeScore: 94.18No. 5: Amangani, Jackson, WyomingCourtesy of AmanganiScore: 94.43No. 4: Sonnenalp Hotel, Vail, ColoradoCourtesy of SonnenalpScore: 95.04No. 3: Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, OregonCourtesy of Tu Tu’tun LodgeScore: 95.06No. 2: Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, MontanaCourtesy of Triple Creek RanchScore: 96.76No. 1: Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, Gateway, ColoradoScore: 97Situated within a canyon on 6,000 acres, Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa is a paradise for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, has developed an extensive range of activities for guests — from hiking through the surrounding red rocks to white-water rafting in the Dolores River and helicopter tours. Car lovers will appreciate the on-site museum showcasing historic automotive beauties, such as a rare 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept car and a 1906 Cadillac Model H Coupe, highlighting a century of American automotive history.
Florida is rightly famous for its theme parks and beaches, but the state’s upscale accommodations are pretty incredible, too. Among Florida’s most notable hotels are pedigreed resorts, sleek beachfront towers, and elegant urban retreats. You need no more proof than our list of the Sunshine State’s best.
When choosing a Hawaiian island to visit, it’s almost impossible to go wrong. After all, the archipelago’s six main islands (there are over 125 in total) offer snowcapped volcanoes, amazing snorkeling, lava-rock deserts, some of the planet’s best beaches, and ancient Polynesian culture. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands on their natural attractions and beaches, activities and sights, food, friendliness, and overall value. For the fifth year in a row, Maui was dubbed the best of Hawaii’s isles. “We never tire of the beaches, activities, excellent restaurants, and lovely people,” said one reader, who has been visiting the island for 30 years. Hollywood A-listers relax at the island’s five-star spas, millionaires invest in property along the coast, and families come to soak up the sun and snorkel above the reefs. On the Big Island, you can spend the day on a spectacular golf course along the coast or hiking around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. “A different landscape from any of the other Hawaiian islands,” opined one respondent. “Black volcanic beaches, tropical waterfalls, active volcanoes, the mountain region. It’s less touristy as well.” Kauai is known for its coastlines, waterfalls, and fantastic hiking. Adventurers can fill an entire vacation with exploring the cliffs, beaches, and waterfalls. One reader, who has been visiting the Hawaiian islands since 1957, said he can “feel more of the Ohana feeling on this island than any other.” Read on for the full list.
Travelers have long looked to Hawaii as the perfect island getaway — and top-notch accommodations are not in short supply. There are oceanfront resorts where private villas spill right onto the sand, hotels that offer sunset views through floor-to-ceiling windows, and fine restaurants perched on cliffs. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated hotels on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value. Properties were categorized as city or resort based on their locations, not on the features of any individual hotel. There were a number of repeat winners among Hawaii’s top resort hotels this year. The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, which came in at No. 3 spot, has appeared on the list for more than a decade, topping it several times. “All I can say is WOW,” one reader said. “We arrived and I felt like the red carpet was rolled out and we were VIPs.” The resort offers more than impressive service — like seven swimming pools, each with a distinctly different feel. King’s Pond is essentially an aquarium carved out of natural lava rock — you can swim among the more than 4,000 tropical fish that call it home. But one newcomer to the category had a very impressive showing: Montage Kapalua Bay, the No. 1 resort in Hawaii this year. All of the guest rooms have full gourmet kitchens, and several readers who took our survey remarked on the resort’s combination of mellowness and polish. The Spa Montage got high marks, too. For a romantic escape you can have a couples’ treatment, then head for the Cliff House, the property’s private dining venue. Read on for the full list.
Canada’s cities are modern metropolises, but locals (and visitors) love that even in the heart of urban living, you’re never too far from nature. The romantic, 55-acre Butchart Gardens are just outside Victoria. In Montreal, cyclists can pedal along hundreds of miles of dedicated paths. Readers who voted these two cities among the best in Canada made note of both features. Each year in our World’s Best Awards survey, we ask our readers to rate their travel experiences with hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. The urban centers that topped the list are very different—Toronto, No. 5, is an unmistakably modern city, while Quebec City has a Parisian feel, with narrow cobblestone streets and European-influenced architecture. It’s been on the World’s Best Cities list for more than a decade, thanks in part to its friendly locals who don’t laugh at tourists’ attempts to resurrect their high-school-level French.But in addition to natural resources, all these winners offer a wealth of experiences for visitors, not to mention dynamic food scenes. Toronto (or the City of Neighborhoods) is especially diverse, featuring Greektowns, Chinatowns, a Koreatown, and even a Little Portugal. Whether you’re close to the border and looking for a weekend getaway, visiting from the far reaches of the world, or a Canadian eager for a staycation, this list highlights the cities that clearly deserve a spot on your travel bucket list.
One GoTravelDaily voter had the unfortunate experience of coming down with pneumonia during their stay at Manoir Hovey in North Hatley, Quebec. The guest was rushed to the nearest hospital by staff at 1:30 in the morning when symptoms became severe. “I was amazed later to receive calls [in the hospital] from the hotel wanting to know if there was anything I needed or what could they do to make me more comfortable,” remembered the guest. With above-and-beyond service such as this, it should come as no surprise that Manoir Hovey took first place for Canada’s Best Resorts and Inns.
Central and South America are home to some of the world’s most lively and distinctive cities, from the moody Buenos Aires to electric Rio de Janeiro. The very best hotels in these vibrant locales live up to their surroundings.
There’s something captivating about Spain and Italy that draws travelers from all over the globe. GoTravelDaily readers have expressed their admiration, with these countries dominating our annual list of the best cities in Europe. Paris slots in at 14, while Kraków impressively ranks at No. 5. Spain is represented by four cities: Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, and San Sebastián, while Italy matches this with four cities, including the prized crown.
Europe’s islands are as distinct as its countries. They range from large and lush to small and rocky, uninhabited and densely populated— each island offers its own unique charm.
Whether it’s a thousand-year-old castle, a chic new Alpine resort, or a grande dame hotel, each of the properties that made our list of the best resorts in Europe has an incredible sense of place. At these properties, travelers can experience the best the country and culture has to offer without ever leaving the grounds.
All great cities of the world have grand hotels, and London arguably has more than its fair share. There are plenty of properties known for their hush and patina, hosting royalty in their tearooms and dignitaries in their bars. They offer refined service as well as a plush spot to lay your head. Moreover, a select few rise above the rest, leading the way in design, hospitality, and class.
From the cypress-dotted hills of Tuscany to thesorbetto-hued villas on the Amalfi Coast, the glittering social scene in Lake Como to the rugged Sicilian seaside, Italy possesses timeless appeal as a travel destination. Moreover, many of the country’s hotels have become enduring classics. Among the properties highlighted as the best resort hotels in Italy—a new category for GoTravelDaily’s World’s Best Awards—are several repeat winners from the Best in Europe list. Apparently, it’s tough to tire of the Mediterranean views from the lap pool at Palazzo Avino, a 12th-century patrician palace in Ravello. This esteemed property was named the top resort in Europe in 2010 and ranks fourth best in Italy this year. The planted terraces at the Hotel Santa Caterina, near the town of Amalfi, also remain appealing—ranking second in Italy this year and was recognized as the best in Europe in 2012.
Whether your French vacation fantasy involves striding through a glamorous 1920s resort on the Côte d’Azur, cozying up in a stone-walled farmhouse in Provence, or bedding down in an 18th-century manor in wine country, there is an exceptional hotel for you on this year’s list of top French resorts. Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily gathers reader feedback on travel experiences around the globe—particular emphasis is placed on the top hotels and resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, and airlines.
“Peaceful yet majestic” is how oneGoTravelDailyreader described Ashford Castle. The hotel is nestled on 350 quiet, scenic acres alongside a lake in western Ireland, exuding a grand presence with its rich history dating back to the early 13th century. It features 83 elegantly appointed rooms furnished in a baronial style, complete with gilded mirrors, four-poster beds, and luxurious velvet upholstery. Furthermore, a range of activities—from tennis to falconry—combined with attentive service has solidified Ashford Castle’s reputation as the top resort hotel in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
It’s easy to see why travelers love the Greek isles, with their whitewashed villas, enticing beaches, and cerulean waters. That’s some serious scenery for the region’s hotels to live up to — but they do. In fact, though mainland Greece might have the Acropolis, the islands of the Mediterranean take the laurels for hospitality. The best hotels on these islands deliver privacy, great design, a sense of place, and views that can’t be beat.
Harajuku fashion, cherry blossoms, and sushi may be some of the first things that come to mind when thinking of Tokyo. However, the Japanese capital’s skyscraper hotels are just as iconic — as is the country’s custom of providing unparalleled customer service.
Southeast Asia is renowned for its immense diversity and breathtaking landscapes. From Cambodia and Vietnam to Thailand, the region offers a plethora of stunning destinations that are certainly worth the long journey. In this vibrant continent, travelers often seek serene luxury, and they can find it in the choices of our readers highlighting the Best Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia.
The South Pacific often lands high on travelers’ bucket lists. The views of the ocean, the fresh cuisine, and the simple ease of accommodations are hard to beat. However, finding the perfect place to stay isn’t so easy. Do you choose something small near the water or a larger fantasy resort where the staff will cater to your every need?
