world top hotels

Who says staying at the world’s
best hotels has to cost a
fortune? Travel + Leisure has
ranked the top 500 hotels on
earth, and —surprise!—more
than 50 of them cost $250 or
less.
Ranking hotels is no small
undertaking. Every year, we ask
our readers to vote on the
places they ’ve stayed recently (to
participate in this year’s survey—
and enter for a chance to win a
$10,000 trip Thousands of readers share their
expert opinions on their favorite
— and not so favorite—
properties.
What did we discover in 2009?
That in a year filled with
challenges, our readers still love
hotels that deliver unique
experiences and stellar service —
particularly if the price is right.
In fact, the No. 1 hotel in
California —the new 200-room
London West Hollywood, set in
the Hollywood Hills and known
for its rooftop bar scene —is one
of those $250-or-less properties.
Not surprisingly, the hot rooftop
scene is also a draw across the
country at the Peninsula New
York, ranked No. 3 in New York
City.
But the top hotel in America was
an unexpected choice: the Inn at
Palmetto Bluff, a secluded golf
and spa resort in Bluffton, SC.
It’s clear that travelers are
looking for an escape from the
daily grind.
Beaches, of course, make for an
idyllic getaway, and Waikiki ’s
Halekulani remains a fan favorite
even after 25 years, taking the
No. 1 spot in Hawaii. The
Halekulani wasn’t the only iconic
hotel to take top honors: the
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
placed first in the Thai capital
(up from No. 3 in 2008), and
Buenos Aires’s Palacio Duhau-
Park Hyatt (with its 700-label
wine cellar and weekly tango
lessons) ranked first in South
America.
Sometimes, however, getting
away is all about intimacy, and
our readers also love small
hotels. The 32-room Domaine
des Hauts de Loire, two hours
from Paris, once again took top
honors in Europe. And Francis
Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux
Lodge (No. 1 in Central America)
stole the show for its proximity
to Mayan ruins.
But what everyone wants to
know is: which hotel took top
honors as the best in the world?
Last year ’s overall winner, Singita
Sabi Sand, in South Africa’s
Kruger National Park, didn’t
repeat its victory. Its replacement
— also in South Africa—is truly a
contender: it was the highest-
scoring hotel in the history of
our survey.
So when you’re planning your
2010 getaway and looking for
that perfect hotel —the one that
combines luxury, service, and
location —this is the list to
consult. You may even find your
dream hotel at a great price.