If you had to guess the location of the world’s best hotel, you’d probably choose exotic Abu Dhabi or luxurious Singapore or some world-class setting like Paris or Tokyo. But Montana? (No offense intended to the Treasure State.)
In this year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels list compiled by Travel + Leisure magazine, U.S. hotels were big winners, including the Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana, which took the top spot as chosen by readers. The Triple Creek Ranch, an adult-only resort, offers activities ranging from hiking and wine tasting to wildlife spotting and helicopter tours above Yellowstone National Park.
SLIDESHOW: 22 Amazingly Crazy Hotels
Three U.S. hotels ranked in the top 10 this year, including Triple Creek, while none made the cut last year. Only one European hotel made the top 10 list: the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest.
For nearly 20 years, Travel +Leisure has asked its readers to vote for their favorite hotels and resorts, evaluating them in categories that include value, food, service, rooms and location, to come up with the world’s best 50 hotels.
This year, readers went for historic gems such as the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest, Hungary, a magnificent 1906 Art Nouveau structure, and the Ocean House in Rhode Island, an 1868 Victorian oceanfront hotel.
Also popular were hotels where guests can connect with nature and get pampered, too, such as the Naraya Springs in Costa Rica or the Singita Sabi Sand in South Africa.
Here are the world’s 10 best hotels, according to the Travel + Leisure list:
- Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana
- Naraya Springs, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest, Hungary
- Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia
- Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island
- The Langham, Chicago
- Singita Sabi Sand, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
- Londolozi Game Reserve, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
- Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Naturally, all of these hotels offer some of the best luxury amenities, including spas, golf courses, private beaches and outstanding dining options. And naturally this entire list could change next year – depending on who answers the survey and where the travel hot spots are.
Click here to see the 22 Amazingly Crazy Hotels
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