Friday, January 27, 2012

Top Hotels in South Africa

Safari Lodges at Phinda Private Game Reserve

Readers' Choice Rating 98.6

This camp on rehabilitated land formerly used to grow pineapple, cotton, and sisal, near the Ubombo Mountains, earns four perfect scores. Guests experience “all the comforts, but get them in the wilderness,” where zebras, impalas, and wildebeests roam. Six different lodges, ranging in design from avant-garde to pueblo-influenced, are set on a cliff face, in a dry sand forest, or by an extinct volcano. Some have high-gloss wood floors, rich fabric…

Singita Sabi Sand, Kruger Nat'l Park

Readers' Choice Rating 96.4

A former game farm adjacent to Kruger National Park, this “truly amazing” two-lodge camp and private villa is surrounded by groves of acacia, thornveld, and marula trees on the Sand River. “It’s spectacular through and through.” Ebony Lodge celebrates Africa with stone, thatch, and splashes of tribal colors, while contemporary Boulders Lodge has earth tones, glass walls, and private pool decks. South African wines complement dishes such as chermo…

Londolozi, Sabi Sand, Kruger Nat'l Park

Readers' Choice Rating 96.4

Securing numerous perfect scores, this five-camp preserve in a riverine forest offers “the vacation of a lifetime. Everything is fabulous.” In a perfect-scoring location on the Sand River, perfect-scoring accommodations include Pioneer Camp, with three private suites decorated in Ralph Lauren style, and Varty Camp’s chalets with earth tones and private pools. Enjoy freshly baked muffins on the deck at sunrise while watching elephants below—“an ab…

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Kruger Nat'l Park

Readers' Choice Rating 96.3

Don’t let the remote location fool you: “I’m very picky when it comes to eating, and the staff always made sure there was food that I liked. They made the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had!” There are four lodges on this reserve: Selati Camp has a colonial feel, while at Earth Lodge, the furniture is made from trees uprooted in floods, and all the suites have plunge pools. “It’s absolutely amazing luxury in the middle of the bush.” Expect…

Steenberg Hotel, Cape Town

Readers' Choice Rating 95.7

Located on Cape Town's oldest wine farm, which has buildings dating to 1682, this newcomer is a 20-minute drive from the city center. Set against the slopes of Steenberg Mountain with "gorgeous, grand views" over False Bay, the buildings have been restored and declared a national monument. "Lovely themed farmhouse suites," with period antiques and exposed wooden beams, afford views of the vineyard, the golf course, or the bay; the 1,700-square-fo…

MalaMala Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, Kruger Nat'l Park

Readers' Choice Rating 94.4

Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2012, this reserve has three camps on the banks of the Sand River, built in rondavel-style abodes and airy buildings with white-paneled ceilings. Thanks to the reserve's water hole location, "it's the best place to see all the animals"—the Big Five, serval cats, side-striped jackals, blue wildebeests, and six different species of mongoose. Traditional decor includes South African artwork and handwoven rugs.…

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, Franschhoek

Readers' Choice Rating 94.3

Gaze at the Franschhoek Mountains, vineyards, or orchards from this white-on-white Cape Dutch property that scores perfectly in design. Its 63 rooms are in soft tones of beige and white, with simple gilt-framed paintings, single orchids on coffee tables, and white canopied beds. Perfect-scoring "mind-blowing food" includes Le Verger's African-, Asian-, and European-influenced menu; at Dish, order the beef fillet stuffed with wild mushrooms and Ca…

The Saxon, Johannesburg

Readers' Choice Rating 92.5

"Everything is over the top" at this former private home of an insurance magnate, where Nelson Mandela worked on his book Long Walk to Freedom. The grounds comprise six acres of gardens with a koi pond, while the reception area has a central glass dome. "Exceptionally comfortable rooms" are characterized by contemporary African art, brown-latticed shutters, large bay windows, and shams with local motifs. Minibars are stocked with regional wines.…

Cape Grace, Cape Town

Readers' Choice Rating 90.7

This sandstone-shaded mainstay on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has a backdrop of Table Mountain and is "one of the most beautiful hotels in the world." Signal Restaurant serves "extraordinary food with amazing service" in dishes like cumin-crusted ostrich and Malay-spiced springbok loin. Bascule Bar claims it stocks the Southern Hemisphere's largest selection of whiskeys. "Every part of the hotel, from rooms to restaurants, was welcoming an…

Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Town

Readers' Choice Rating 90.5

At this Cape Dutch hotel on former farmland in Camps Bay, you have "the ocean at your doorstep and the Twelve Apostles mountain range as a backdrop." The all-white landmark has pastel rooms with baroque interiors, some with canopy beds, and ocean and mountain views. "Excellent and very accommodating staff" scatter rose petals on room floors and light candles in the bathrooms for guests. The spa has glass-enclosed thatched gazebos and treatment ro…

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in United States

Our love affair with the great outdoors endures— just look at the hotels that debut this year

U.S. Hotels & Resorts Readers Love Year After Year

What better way to mark 25 years of Condé Nast Traveler than by celebrating the superstars of the Gold List? These "Platinum Circle" properties in the United States have made the list every year for the past five years.

United States

Popular States

California

Colorado

Florida

Hawaii

Illinois

South Carolina

Nevada

New York

Texas

Of the 34 properties that appear for the first time ever on the U.S. section of the Gold List, more than half promise an experience that’s as much about the natural surroundings as the plush beds, intuitive service, and tour-de-force meals. Take, for example, the 18-cottage hotel in the Florida Keys with 1,100 feet of private beach and 700 coconut palms; the three inns in California and Oregon wine country; the Colorado, New York, Utah, and Wyoming properties next to ski slopes; or the coastal Maine retreat where guests are encouraged to play croquet and badminton on the hotel lawn. Newcomer urban hotels are a mix of historic structures and new builds, which is why a 105-year-old former bedding company building in Milwaukee and a 2-year-old lakefront oasis in Chicago made the list.

New to the Gold List: Hotels and Resorts in the United States

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in Canada

British Columbia loyalists and Francophiles shaped this year's collection

Rank 1

Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, Cambridge

Earning three perfect scores, this American Federal Revival getaway in the countryside an hour from Toronto “provides every comfort you could wish for.” Perfect-scoring design highlights the estate’s past—it was built as a summer home for the granddaughter of John Jacob Astor in 1898. Garnering a perfect score, modern-country guest rooms are “beautifully done, with a luxurious bathroom” and a wood-burning fireplace. The “excellent dining” includes Ontario wines and seasonal picks from the property’s garden. Obtaining perfect marks, “staff are faultless. No really—faultless.” “We loved the welcome plate of cheese, walnuts, and honey.”

Readers' Choice Rating 95.7

Rank 2

Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City

This “gem of a hotel” overlooks the St. Lawrence River in the Old Port. “Extremely well designed,” the three historic buildings are decorated in antiques and photographs that reference the buildings’ pasts. “Lovely and charming rooms,” some with heated bathroom floors, are done in colors reminiscent of the Quebec landscape, while the furniture is as sleek as the Bose sound system. Indulge in French Canadian dishes such as Cap St-Ignace guinea hen and the “best French toast” at Panache. The hotel recently launched Panache Mobile, a food truck serving a variation on the hotel restaurant’s menu. “Lie in bed and watch ships sail by on the St. Lawrence—what a memory.”

Readers' Choice Rating 94.6

Rank 3

Hotel Nelligan, Montreal

“A state-of-the-art hotel in Montreal’s arts district,” it consists of three stone-and-brick nineteenth-century buildings. Guest rooms with exposed-brick walls are outfitted with cherrywood furnishings; writings by the French-Canadian poet Emile Nelligan appear in paintings throughout the property. Versus dishes up modern French cuisine like marinated duck breast, Quebec lamb done three ways, and rack of deer. The signature white sangria is a summertime draw on the Nelligan Terrace. “The concierge is one of the best you’ll ever come across.”

Readers' Choice Rating 93.8

Rank 4

Hôtel Le Germain-Dominion, Quebec City

This Old Port property joins two adjacent historic buildings, blending iron and glass with wood and stone. “Well-appointed rooms” have dark woods, exposed-brick walls, and bathrooms with lots of brushed chrome and frosted glass. While there’s no on-site restaurant, continental breakfast is served. “Wonderful staff” circulate a monthly list of their favorites—restaurants, galleries, shopping, and so on. The pet-friendly hotel will even provide a mat, water, food bowls, and a pet bed for your pooch.

Readers' Choice Rating 91.6

Rank 5

Sooke Harbour House, Vancouver Island

“A favorite Canadian home away from home,” this small inn and restaurant on the west coast of Victoria Island is beloved for its “intimacy, quiet, views, service, and fresh food.” The “excellent chef” prepares dishes that focus on local and seasonal seafood. Each room is uniquely designed and named—the Grandifolia has a wood sculpture of a tree created by a local sculptor—with art, paintings, and glasswork throughout. Some have wood-burning fireplaces or bathtubs for two. The location means “a wonderful proximity to wilderness, kayaking, beaches, and spectacular starlit nights.”

Readers' Choice Rating 91.4

Rank 6

Hazelton Hotel, Toronto

In the heart of exclusive Yorkville, near shops like Prada, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, this “modern and hip” hotel, where “staff greet you like a longtime guest,” has “an inviting brick exterior—it’s not a traditional, square, modern high-rise.” “Large and cozy” rooms have L-shaped custom leather headboards, walk-in closets, deep soaking tubs, and bathrooms with heated floors. “You feel like you’re in a home, not a cookie-cutter hotel room—I wished that room was my apartment!” The restaurant, One, serves Mediterranean dishes featuring Ontario produce. “I still crave the lobster!”

Readers' Choice Rating 90.8

Rank 7

Auberge du Vieux-Port, Montreal

With a diverse past as a grocery store for sailors and even a leather factory, this 1882 inn in Old Montreal is “highly recommended.” It’s near the Place Jacques-Cartier and Notre-Dame Basilica, so “the positioning is fantastic.” “Super-chic rooms” have beamed ceilings, exposed-brick walls, whirlpool tubs, and windows facing the St. Lawrence River or the cobblestoned streets. Eighteen new accommodations were added in the summer of 2011. “Great concierge and staff” can recommend nearby restaurants if Narcisse Bistro, where the menu tilts toward French, doesn’t appeal.

Readers' Choice Rating 90.4

Rank 7

Queen's Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake

On the site of the Old Niagara Harbour and Dock Company headquarters, this Georgian retreat is replete with large columns, Venetian windows, and a sweeping lobby staircase. “Lovely accommodations” in blues and golds are nautically themed, reflecting the waterfront location. Many have fireplaces, and all have hypo-allergenic duvets. Tiara serves Canadian cuisine with “wonderful, wonderful views of the Niagara River.” The pool is filled with salt water, and you’ll find “friendly staff at every turn.”

Readers' Choice Rating 90.4

Rank 9

Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver

The curved glass tower across from the Canada Place cruise ship terminal is the newest and “nicest of the Fairmont properties in Vancouver.” “Ultra-modern rooms” are done in beige and natural tones; some look onto the pool terrace and have private patios with outdoor fireplaces. Oru, a pan-Asian bistro, has a menu with dishes like fennel-cured beef, Malay steamed honey mussels, and tandoori lamb chops with cumin dal. The extensive selection of treatments at the “Zen atmosphere” Willow Stream Spa—which has three lounges and a yoga studio—is “to die for,” including men’s facials, seaweed body wraps, and maternity massages.

Readers' Choice Rating 83.6

Rank 10

Opus Montreal

Occupying the intersection of the tony rue Sherbrooke Ouest and the lively boulevard St-Laurent, the 136-room Opus strikes the right balance of hip, refined, ...

Readers' Choice Rating 88.8

Top Hotels in Mexico

Sahit Muja Best Hotels in Mexico

Ten stunning hotels, whether you want a vacation in the city or by the sea.

Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende

Rank 1

Las Mañanitas, Cuernavaca

Situated 90 minutes by car from Mexico City in a town with a springlike climate year-round, this “enchanting hacienda” and gardens were built in 1955 on grounds where “lovely but loud peacocks” roam freely. Suites have wood beams and tile floors; some have fireplaces, others covered terraces. Dinner in the alfresco restaurant—where sopa de tortilla and oxtail stew are among the many traditional dishes—is “an experience not to be forgotten.” “Staff ensure that everything is flawless.”

Readers' Choice Rating 93.8

Rank 2

La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo

Replete with terra-cotta walls and thatched roofs, this complex of multi-tiered adobe dwellings on a cliff above Zihuatanejo is “outstanding in every sense”: The cascading architecture takes advantage of the contours of the “breathtaking rocky setting.” Rooms have petal-strewn bedspreads, Mexican folk art, and oversized pink marble showers. Staff are so good “all hotel chain owners should come for a week to see the Nordstrom of service.” Enjoy daiquiris at the bar at sunset before taking a dip in the saltwater pool and the adjoining whirlpool by the sea.

Readers' Choice Rating 91.6

Rank 3

Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende

Readers' Choice Rating 88.8

Rank 4

JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City

Readers' Choice Rating 85.3

Rank 5

Quinta Real, Monterrey

Readers' Choice Rating 84.8

Rank 6

Quinta Real Guadalajara

Readers' Choice Rating 84.4

Rank 7

Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa, Puerto Vallarta

Readers' Choice Rating 84.3

Rank 8

Four Seasons, Mexico City

Readers' Choice Rating 84.2

Rank 9

Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta

Readers' Choice Rating 81.6

Rank 10

Camino Real, Oaxaca

Readers' Choice Rating 81.1

Top Hotels in Australia & the Pacific

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in Australia & the Pacific

Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay

Rank 1

Observatory Hotel, Sydney

Guests extol the “quiet out-of-the-way location,” in The Rocks district, of this cream-colored property close to the Sydney Observatory. This “comfortable and lovely hotel” spread over four floors has “spacious and well-appointed” rooms with colonial-style sash windows, period balconies, custom-made mahogany furniture, and tapestry curtains with tasseled rope tiebacks. “We love the indoor pool with its ‘starlit’ ceiling.” Service is “just great.” Galileo restaurant re-creates a Parisian salon; pore over antique globes while sipping a cocktail at Globe Bar.

Readers' Choice Rating 91.1

Rank 2

Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay

“The location alone–just a five-minute stroll from the Sydney Harbour–makes this a stand-out hotel.” The broad white tower between the historic Rocks area and the business district just completed a $20-million renovation of all rooms and public areas, bringing vibrant blues and punches of reds to accommodations. Order wood-fired pizza and beers on tap at the Customs House Bar. “This staff exemplify why Australia has a reputation for friendliness.” The indoor heated pool is filled with salt water.

Readers' Choice Rating 89.9

Rank 3

Westin Sydney

Readers' Choice Rating 87.0

Rank 3

Langham Hotel, Auckland

Readers' Choice Rating 87.0

Rank 5

Establishment Hotel, Sydney

Readers' Choice Rating 86.8

Rank 6

Westin Melbourne

Readers' Choice Rating 86.2

Rank 7

InterContinental Sydney

Readers' Choice Rating 85.7

Rank 8

Hilton Sydney

The Hilton is primarily tailored to the needs of its executive clientele. Every guest room serves up the muted modernism expected of a 577-room, five-star ...

Readers' Choice Rating 84.6

Rank 9

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Readers' Choice Rating 84.5

Rank 10

Sheraton on the Park, Sydney

Top Hotels Thailand

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels Thailand

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Readers' Choice Rating 97.9

“Every hotel could learn something from this one. Staying here is an experience not to be missed.” The oldest hotel in Thailand, this property on the Chao Phraya River has a colonial Authors’ Wing, a contemporary River Wing, and a Garden Wing overlooking the pool. “It’s a beautiful location, with views of the river and its fascinating life.” All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and are decorated with teak and Thai silk upholstery in colors of…

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, Chiang Mai

Readers' Choice Rating 95.7

“This place is a fairy tale come to life.” The grounds, all 60 acres of them, and “the people, they envelop you like a hug. You never want to leave.” The design re-creates an ancient Lanna kingdom city, full of moats, fortified walls, and gateways. Rooms have views of gardens or a paddy and are filled with artifacts, Thai silks, and local hill-tribe textiles. Perfect-scoring staff are “unlike any I have ever encountered. They are magicians.” Nort…

Four Seasons, Chiang Mai

Readers' Choice Rating 94.8

This resort on a working rice farm is “almost like heaven” with its views of the rice paddies and Doi Suthep mountain beyond, even from “the gorgeous infinity pool.” The architecture blends thirteenth-century Burmese, Indian, and Chinese elements, including steeply pitched roofs. “Magnificent rooms” with vaulted ceilings have teak floors, private salas (open-air spaces), and art from the Siamese kingdom. Pool villas display the typical north-Thai…

The Peninsula Bangkok

Readers' Choice Rating 94.2

Sitting on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, this W-shaped tower was designed so that all rooms have river views. Accommodations have marble bathrooms with a television above the bathtub, and silk-clad finishes; some suites even have outdoor hot tubs. Guests value the “immensely attractive” waterfront location and the “amazing international breakfast” at The River Café and Terrace—it’s “the best in town!” The three-tiered pool is surrounded by lu…

Amanpuri, Phuket

Readers' Choice Rating 93.2

The perfect-scoring design at this resort on the Andaman Sea is “out of this world” according to guests, who stay in pavilions sprinkled among the hillside on the site of a former coconut plantation. Each pavilion has a large orchid-filled vanity in the bathroom and sala (open-air space), rattan furniture, and Thai silks. Common areas are fashioned from granite and hardwood. Dinner ranges from torch-lit barbecues on the beach to Naoki, where Japa…

Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok

Readers' Choice Rating 92.3

At this two-wing waterfront property near the Taksin Skytrain station, decor mixes Western and Asian influences. Rooms with Thai silks have a brown-on-beige color scheme that contrasts with the colorful Thai portraits above headboards. Service is “always excellent.” Salathip serves local cuisine in teak pavilions adjacent to a garden where bougainvillea, orchids, and birds-of-paradise bloom; Angelini’s Italian includes pan-fried foie gras escalop…

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai

Readers' Choice Rating 90.7

Set on a jungle hillside along the Mekong River, this “simply stunning property” has views of three countries—Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. The “diversity of activities” includes elephant trekking, bird watching, cooking classes, and more. Complete with handcrafted furniture, mosquito nets, and a hand-hammered copper bathtub, the “tents are amazing, as are the views.” Three tents have custom-made wooden hot tubs on the decks, with views of the sur…

Banyan Tree Phuket

Readers' Choice Rating 88.6

This resort, designed as a Thai village and built on rehabilitated wasteland, has “perfect, private luxury villas” that fringe a saltwater lagoon and the beaches of Bangtao Bay. Each low-rise villa is set next to a private landscaped garden and has his-and-hers dressing areas, an open-air sunken bath, teak-framed floor-to-ceiling windows, and dominant colors of black, gold, and red. The 24 two-bedroom pool villas have private infinity pools along…

JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok

Readers' Choice Rating 88.4

Despite being on Sukhumvit Road in “an active, energetic area with shops, banks, restaurants, malls, and tailors,” it’s “a little difficult” to get to tourist attractions from here. The former office building has an exterior that’s “rather industrial,” but inside, there are gardens, high ceilings, and ubiquitous Thai touches. “Luxurious rooms” have marble, wicker, and wood paneling; stand-alone glass-walled showers have rain showerheads. Sunday b…

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

Readers' Choice Rating 88.0

This tower is located among the shops and businesses of Rajdamri Road, next to the Erawan Shrine. “The area is a little noisy, but it’s fun, and there’s plenty to do nearby.” Dining options include Tables, which serves French classics prepared on “live” cooking tables. and the Erawan Tea Room offers afternoon tea overlooking the shrine next door. Enjoy a treatment with Comfort Zone skin products at the spa, set in a garden; six cottages enable ov…

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Top Hotels in South Africa

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in United States

Our love affair with the great outdoors endures— just look at the hotels that debut this year

United States

Choose a state

Popular States

New to the Gold List: Hotels and Resorts in the United States

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in Canada

British Columbia loyalists and Francophiles shaped this year's collection

Sahit Muja Best Hotels in Mexico

Ten stunning hotels, whether you want a vacation in the city or by the sea.

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels in Australia & the Pacific

Sahit Muja: Best Hotels Thailand