These are the 15 best luxury hotels to book in the Golden State, where experiences range from world-class culinary destinations and beachfront retreats to storied city hideaways.
Recent stories
Stay Here Next
JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa is luring beach and nature lovers to South Korea’s largest island.
The Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park in Tokyo has debuted in a leafy corner of Shibuya.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels New York outpost has arrived—with plenty of red velvet, clever design, and a nightlife hub that dreams bigger than the usual hotel bar.
With the appointment of a celebrated new chef, Château du Sureau is offering your next great meal.
On the heels of a recent renovation, this historic Relais & Châteaux hotel added a farmhouse villa that’s perfect for groups of friends and families.
Ulum, a new spin-off of the Under Canvas brand, offers travelers to Moab a more elevated experience.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve recently welcomed Loapi Tented Camp, a collection of six private villas that come with their own butlers, private chefs, and safari guides.
The latest luxury hotel to open in Istanbul has become one of the city’s most coveted places to stay.
The new Lotte Hotel Seattle is a design-driven retreat with historic roots in the heart of the city.
Featured Partner: IHG Premier
Get Rewards Made for You with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase. Earn up to 26X points at IHG® hotels, plus automatic Platinum Elite status and an Anniversary Free Night each year. Apply now to start earning with the card made for you.
Hotels
1717 Champa St, Denver, CO 80202, USA
Kimpton Hotels are known for their playful energy—think nightly social hours, colorful design schemes, and pet-friendly amenities. Located within easy reach of downtown’s museums and theaters, as well as restaurants and shopping in LoDo and Larimer Square, the Hotel Monaco Denver fits the mold. Renovated guest rooms blend cool neutrals and bright accent hues with rich leather headboards, designer wallpaper, and yoga mats with a dedicated channel for guided workouts; spa rooms have separate soaking tubs, and suites have their own sitting areas and sleeper sofas. A $10 per night fee covers speedy internet, loaner bicycles, discounts on drinks at Denver’s Family Jones distillery, and free coffee and evening wine. If you prefer imaginative cocktails, head to Panzano, a northern Italian restaurant with a surprising number of gluten-free items. But if a moment of bliss is all you need to revive you for another day of distillery hopping, the Aveda spa has a sauna and Vichy shower and provides five-minute chair massages during the evening social hour.
60 Tanager Way, KY1-1303, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman, known for its sprawling Seven Mile Beach and world-class scuba diving, has its first new resort in more than a decade. Most of the 266 rooms at the Seafire offer views showcasing the sunsets that inspired the property’s name. The three restaurants include the seasonal, small-plate Ave, whose 24-seat chef’s counter, Avecita, serves a Spanish tapas tasting menu. At the bar off the lobby, try a cocktail featuring tepache, a beverage made from fermented pineapple rinds.
Hotels
Via Giulia, 62, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
The St. George, opened in 2007, was recently purchased and renovated by Indigo, an international luxury hotel chain. The new owners have taken care to preserve the unique elements of the original structure, including an exterior of roughly hewn travertine. These white limestone blocks were laid in the 16th century by Bramante; Pope Julius II commissioned the architect to build the Palace of Justice on his newly laid Via Giulia. Bramante never completed the project, but part of the building has been adapted into the current structure. Inside, the surfaces are smooth-polished limestone punctuated with contemporary art. Throughout, the decor blends modern design with classic details, often in the form of art pieces inspired by the very Renaissance masters who once strolled the cobblestones outside, so many centuries ago.
After a day traversing the city, unwind Roman-style, in the St. George’s subterranean spa. Never mind that they call the spa facilities a Turkish bath; the hot and cold bathing ritual was perfected by the ancient Romans not far from the hotel itself. After indulging in spa treatments, head to the rooftop bar for drinks and views of the river to Trastevere.
After a day traversing the city, unwind Roman-style, in the St. George’s subterranean spa. Never mind that they call the spa facilities a Turkish bath; the hot and cold bathing ritual was perfected by the ancient Romans not far from the hotel itself. After indulging in spa treatments, head to the rooftop bar for drinks and views of the river to Trastevere.
Hotels by destination
From refurbished heritage shophouses to sprawling all-villa concepts, these are the best hotels for a truly local stay in Singapore.
Dubai has plenty of hotels to choose from, but these will truly connect you to the emirate and its culture.
If you’re planning a trip to the most European Canadian city (and you should), check out—and into—one of these 10 best hotels.
There’s no shortage of amazing stays in Japan’s capital—and these 15 hotels are the city’s best.
These intimate, design-forward retreats across Mexico City will have you feeling like a local in no time.
Hotels by type
From Turks and Caicos to St. Lucia to the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean is home to some of the world’s most luxurious resorts. Whether you’re after world-class accommodations, indulgent spa treatments, or white-sand beaches on private islands, you’ll find it all here, along with amenities like tennis courts, golf courses, infinity pools, and more.
These are the villas of our bucket list dreams: over (and under!) lagoons in the Maldives, Belize, Indonesia, and one special escape in Swedish Lapland.
Take glamping to a whole new level at one of these bubble hotels, many with see-through roofs for stargazing.
Summer vacation rentals are booking up fast in the United States in 2021.
Several new design-forward hotels offer a less expensive, more immersive way to visit Japan’s capital city.
City Guides