The World’s Top 10 Hotels; Niagara Falls is the King of Ontario Attractions

A new report from Trip Advisor ranks one U.S. hotel and one Canadian property among the top hotels in the world.

Here’s their top 10 for the world:

1. 1. G.H. Universal Hotel – Bandung, Indonesia
   2. Hotel Colline de France – Gramado, Brazil
   3. Hotel Sporting Family Hospitality – Livigno, Italy
   4. Royal Lancaster London – London, England, United Kingdom
   5. FivePine Lodge and Spa – Sisters, Oregon, United States
   6. La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa – Hoi An City, Vietnam
   7. Abigail’s Hotel – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
   8. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba – Eagle Beach, Aruba
   9. Hotel Moments Budapest – Budapest, Hungary
   10. La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa – Hanoi, Vietnam

Trip Advisor also listed their top 10 hotels for the U.S.

1. 1. Five Pine Lodge and Spa – Sisters, Oregon

1. 2. The Loutrel – Charleston, South Carolina
   3. The Verb Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts
   4. The Bryant Park Hotel – New York, New York
   5. French Quarter Inn – Charleston, South Carolina
   6. The Inn at Christmas Place – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
   7. Ironworks Hotel Indy – Indianapolis, Indiana
   8. Atticus Hotel – McMinnville, Oregon
   9. Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City – Houston, Texas
   10. Faena Miami Beach – Miami Beach, Florida

And here is their Top 10 for Canada:

The amazing Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island.

1. Abigail’s Hotel, Victoria, B.C.
2. Halifax Tower Hotel & Conference Centre, Ascend Hotel Collection, Nova Scotia
3. Exchange Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.
4. Wickaninish Inn, Tofino, B.C. (a sublime experience on the coast of Vancouver Island)
5. Loden Hotel, Vancouver, B.C (European styling in the heart of Vancouver)
6. The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario (a five-star gem in the trendy Yorkville district)
7. Sonora Resort, B.C. (an exceptional resort for wildlife viewing and food)
8. Magnolia Hotel and Spa, Victoria, B.C. (another quiet, supremely stylish gem)
9. 1 Hotel Toronto, Ontario (lovely decor and a strong commitment to the environment)
10. Hotel William Gray, Montreal, Quebec (sexy vibes and a fab rooftop patio/restaurant)

NIAGARA FALLS CROWNED AS TOP ONTARIO ATTRACTION

A new poll of the best places to visit in southern Ontario gives the nod to Niagara Falls, and by a huge margin.

According to insauga.com, the falls captured 55% of the votes in the survey, leaving other destinations in the proverbial dust.

Coming in a distant second was Toronto’s most recognizable landmark, the CN Tower, which earned 33.1% of the votes.

Niagara Falls, Ontario. Kalen Emsley/Unsplash Photo

The Royal Ontario Museum received 168 votes (6.1 %), while the Toronto Islands attracted 5.7% of the votes. For summer, I’d put the islands above the CN Tower or the Royal Ontario Museum. I don’t know of another city in the world that has an attraction as cool and unique as the Toronto Islands on its doorstep.

For those of you unfamiliar with the destination, there are a series of small to moderate-sized islands clustered in Lake Ontario, less than a mile (in parts, only a few feet) from downtown Toronto. There are huge parks with picnic places and plenty of space for a football/soccer game or a round of frisbee, wide canals for canoeing, kayaking or paddle boarding, fabulous sandy beaches, a couple of nice outdoor cafes, and even a legal nude beach at Hanlan’s Point. There are also dozens of privately owned homes with glorious gardens, and the views of downtown are spectacular. 

There’s no arguing with Niagara Falls, however, It’s a truly spectacular destination that I’ve managed to visit dozens of times in my 45 years as a Toronto resident. The falls can be enjoyed all on their own for no charge (except parking), but you can (and should) also try the Niagara City Cruises catamaran that takes you to the bottom of the falls, where you can enjoy the thundering, powerful sound of rushing water that has been flowing over the Niagara escarpment for thousands of years. It’s a truly memorable experience. You also can try the Journey Behind the Falls, which allows you to view things from a tunnel deep inside the rock behind the falls. 

Another great, and new, attraction is the new Niagara Takes Flight ride, which takes you on a very realistic aerial tour of the falls and the surrounding region. It’s outstanding.

The Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls

I also recommend a tour of the remarkable Niagara Power Station, the Butterfly Conservatory and a hike through Niagara Glen.

If you’re hungry, the Table Rock House Restaurant serves outstanding cuisine with an emphasis on local food and wine. The new Hyatt Regency Fallsview is a great place to stay if you’re in the area. Here’s a review I posted earlier this year.