These are the 17 best hotels in the world – according to travellers
One is a private island, some are former palaces, only four are in the US – and many have hosted famous guests including Prince Charles, Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Elton John, Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy
Your hotel can really make or break a holiday.
Condé Nast Traveler just released the results of its 32nd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, which chronicled travellers’ experiences, including unforgettable hotels, all over the world.
Some 600,000 voters provided their thoughts on nearly 10,000 hotels. The hotels that ultimately made the final cut span different price points, destinations and styles.
Here are the top 17 worldwide. Only four are in the US, but two of the top five are in Los Angeles. Other popular destinations include Switzerland and India.
17. Inn of the Five Graces
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Starting rate per night: US$456
The Inn of Five Graces sits in the middle of Santa Fe's historic downtown. In the spirit of Santa Fe being the “oldest continually inhabited city in the US”, each colourful room in the inn was designed uniquely as a testament to the city's old southwestern vibe.
16. Hotel Astoria, A Rocco Forte Hotel
Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Starting rate per night: US$170
Directly across from Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Hotel Astoria has symbolised luxury in Saint Petersburg since opening in 1912. The hotel's charming afternoon tea is a must-do while staying in the city.
15. La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa
Location: Paris, France
Starting rate per night: US$1,047
La Réserve Hotel & Spa is just steps from the Champs-Élysées. With only 40 rooms, the sophisticated boutique hotel has spacious flats and is known for delivering on its promise of “a different vision of luxury”.
14. Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Location: Sacred Valley, Peru
Starting rate per night: US$145
Aranwa Sacred Valley is a restored 17th-century hacienda that opened as a hotel in 1900. There are a total of 115 rooms on the property, but the hotel is part of a larger chain of hotels stretching across Peru. It's an hour away from Cusco and on the way to Machu Picchu.
13. Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel
Location: Cusco, Peru
Starting rate per night: US$205
Aranwa Sacred Valley's sister hotel, Aranwa Cusco, is a 43-suite, 16th-century mansion just steps from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. This hotel has a collection of 300 pieces of fine art, all produced at the renowned Escuela Cusqueña.
12. Amerikalinjen
Location: Oslo, Norway
Starting rate per night: US$269
The Amerikalinjen just opened in March 2019. The 122-room hotel was initially built in 1919 as the offices for a cruise line that would ferry between Norway and the US, hence the name. The hotel is celebrated for balancing its history and its modern flair.
11. Alila Fort Bishangarh
Location: Jaipur, India
Starting rate per night: US$298
The Alila Fort Bishangarh is a converted 230-year-old fortress. The restoration and transformation into a hotel took 10 years to complete. Local materials, such as sandstone, were used to finish the hotel.
10. Rosewood Luang Prabang
Location: Luang Prabang, Laos
Starting rate per night: US$960
A luxury jungle hideaway in Southeast Asia, the Rosewood Luang Prabang is intended to be peaceful. There are some guest rooms in hilltop tents and other villas with personal pools, but the most impressive part of the property is the waterfall and river that runs through it.
9. Beau-Rivage Palace
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Starting rate per night: US$417
The Beau-Rivage Palace has been open since 1861. The storied hotel sits right on Lake Geneva and has been a getaway for famous guests such as Coco Chanel, Nelson Mandela and Tina Turner. The hotel has gardens, recently renovated guest rooms, a world-class spa and a two-Michelin star fine dining restaurant on the property.
8. Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa
Location: Amalfi, Italy
Starting rate per night: US$604
Once a 17th-century monastery, Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa is now a 20-room boutique hotel perched on a clifftop with views of the Mediterranean Sea. While the hotel is celebrated for its state-of-the-art spa, there are many experiences to keep in mind – there's also the possibility of an alfresco meal at a Michelin-stared restaurant on the property.
7. Rambagh Palace
Location: Jaipur, India
Starting rate per night: US$410
Rambagh Palace was built in Jaipur in 1835 as an opulent home for the queen's favourite handmaiden. Later, it was turned into a royal guest house and hunting lodge, and in 1957 it was converted into the luxury hotel it is today. Noteworthy names such as Prince Charles and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis have stayed in one of the 78 massive guest suites.
6. Royal Mansour Marrakech
Location: Marrakech, Morocco
Starting rate per night: US$1,212
A total of 1,500 master craftsmen spent three years building the 53 three-story riads that make up this hotel, which was commissioned by King Mohammed VI. While each has lavish amenities, the grandest one has a home cinema, personal bar and gym, a spa room and could cost in the neighbourhood of US$40,000 per night.
5. Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Starting rate per night: US$600
Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club first opened on New Year's Eve in 1930. It was known for being high society once upon a time – Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill both stayed there – and still is. It has a Thomas Keller restaurant and a stateside offshoot of Positano's famed Le Sirenuse.
4. 1 Hotel West Hollywood
Location: West Hollywood, California
Starting rate per night: US$308
Right on the Sunset Strip, 1 Hotel West Hollywood is conveniently located in the heart of Los Angeles. The 285-room hotel just opened earlier this year. This 1 Hotel outpost is known for doing what the overall brand does best: pursuing sustainability. Everything, from the carpets to the light bulbs, has been carefully designed from recycled material.
3. Taj Lake Palace
Location: Udaipur, India
Starting rate per night: US$432
This 18th-century palace, with 65 rooms and 18 suites, sits on a man-made island in Lake Pichola. It was originally built for a prince and the hotel prides itself on providing royal treatment. As the hotel sits in the middle of the water, guests need to be shuttled out by private boat.
2. Baur au Lac
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Starting rate per night: US$766
The Baur au Lac has been owned and operated by the same family for 175 years. The 119-room hotel enjoys privacy in its own park. It also has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Pavilion. Previous noteworthy guests include Elton John and Joan Miró.
1. SLS Hotel Beverly Hills
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Starting rate per night: US$381
While there are SLS properties in Miami and in the Bahamas, the famed hotelier's west coast outpost opened its doors in 2008 and just underwent a US$22 million renovation. The hotel was originally designed by Philippe Starck and features trendy José Andrés restaurants. The SLS aims to exude a chic, young vibe and even refers to itself as a “modern-day playground”.
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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.