U.S. News and World Report has come out with its annual list of top hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada.
The Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawai’i Big Island earned twin awards by being named best hotel and best resort in the U.S. The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto was named Canada’s top hotel and Four Seasons Resort in Whistler, B.C. was named Canada’s top resort.
Hawai’i had four spots in the top ten resorts list and three places in the list of top ten hotels. South Carolina had two resorts in the top ten and California had two hotels in the top ten.
The U.S. News hotel lists for the U.S. skews toward resort-like properties and doesn’t have as many big city places as I would’ve expected. But there were awards for New York City, Beverly Hills, Boston and Chicago, as well as suburban Miami.
In Canada, Toronto has four spots in the top ten hotels list. Whistler has three spots in the top ten resorts list.
U.S. News also looked at top hotels and resorts in Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico. Adare Manor in Ireland (a brilliant place to stay that I enjoyed some 15 years ago) was named top hotel in Europe, while the amazing Jade Mountain in Saint Lucia was named best hotel in the Caribbean.
Here’s a look at some of the big winners.
TOP U.S. HOTELS
The Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on Hawaii Big Isand
- Four Seasons Hualalai, Hawai’i Big Island (a stunning resort on the Kona side of the island)
- Acqualina Resort and Residence on the Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
- Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, Hawai’i Big Island
- The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, New York City
- The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
- The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California (gorgeous hotel with amazing history)
- Raffles Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
- Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, Lana’i, Hawai’i (another personal fave)
- Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California (casual but elegant spot near San Dieg0; here’s a review)
- The Peninsula Hotel, Chicago
TOP CANADA HOTELS
The restaurant and bar at the St. Regis Hotel Toronto is called Louix Louis. JIM BYERS PHOTO
- Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ontario (never stayed, but the food at Boulud Cafe is terrific)
- Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver, B.C. (Stylish and sexy. I had lunch last week at their terrific restaurant and bar, Botanist.)
- Four Seasons Hotel, Montreal, Quebec
- The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal, Quebec (great Champagne bar)
- Four Seasons Resort, Whistler, B.C.
- Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver. B.C. (smashingly good)
- The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, Ontario (lovely rooms, great spa and fabulous food at TOCA restaurant)
- The St. Regis, Toronto, Ontario (terrific restaurant and bar, Louix Louis)
- Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City (staying there this week!)
- The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario (elegant hotel in Yorkville; here’s a review from a few years ago)
TOP CANADA RESORTS
The Fogo Island Inn is a unique and fabulous place to stay on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
1. Four Seasons Resort. Whistler, B.C.
- Manoir Hovey, North Hatley, Quebec
- Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland and Labrador (unforgettable style, and a place that really gives back gto the local community)
- White Oaks Resort and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
- Fairmont Chateau Whistler, B.C.
- Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta (stunning; perhaps Canada’s most iconic hotel)
- Long Beach Lodge Resort, Tofino, B.C.
- Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa, Victoria, B.C.
- The Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler, B.C.
- Fairmont Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
TOP USA RESORTS
A casita at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California. JIM BYERS PHOTO
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawai’i Big Island
- Acqualina Resort and Residence on the Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
- Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, Hawai’i Big Island
- The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
- Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, Lana’i, Hawai’i (another personal fave)
- Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California
- The Cloister, Sea Island, Georgia
- Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
- The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Maui, Hawai’i
THAILAND TOURISM LAUNCHES WHITE LOTUS MICROSITE
The Big Buddha on Koh Samui in Thailand. JIM BYERS PHOTO
