The 100 Best Hotels in the World

The farther, the better.

That’s one big takeaway from this year’s list of best hotels in the world, as decided by Travel + Leisure readers. Among the top 20 are an industrial-chic expedition property near the southern tip of Chile (the Singular Patagonia), a fishing retreat in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island, more than three hours from Auckland (Huka Lodge), and a do-everything Colorado resort that’s a five-hour drive from the nearest big airport (Gateway Canyons Resort).

The remoteness of many of these properties is a testament to how intrepid and discerning our readers are — they are willing to endure overnight flights, extended drives, and multiple connections for extraordinary lodging. But it also speaks to the ability of the winners to provide such special experiences far outside of traditional travel destinations.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated hotels on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value.

Though there are many faraway hotels in our top 100, plenty of winners were more convenient to reach. The No. 2 property, the Spectator Hotel, is in the heart of charming Charleston. Farmhouse Inn, whose signature is elegant country decor, is nestled in California wine country.

Though smaller, independently owned hotels made up a large portion of the roster, some well-known brands earned kudos, too. The Peninsula Shanghai, known for its expansive rooms and jaw-dropping rooftop bar, marks its fifth consecutive year on the list.

And newcomers really shook up the rankings. The Spectator and the Singular are among them, as are the elegant, old-world Casa Gangotena in Quito, Ecuador, which came in eighth, and equestrian escape at the Willcox, in Aiken, South Carolina (No. 7). Most startling may be the appearance of Indonesian surf retreat Nihiwatu, which has a cult following among the most sophisticated travelers, and makes its debut as No. 1.

100. andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Score: 94.50

More information, andbeyond.com/kichwa-tembo-tented-camp

99. The Resort at Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Score: 94.524

More information, theresortatpedregal.com

98. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

Score: 94.56

More information, tajhotels.com

97. Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa

Score: 94.59

More information, capegrace.com

96. Inn Above Tide, Sausalito, California

Score: 94.62

More information, innabovetide.com

95. Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa

Score: 94.65

More information, singita.com

94. The House, St. James, Barbados

Score: 94.70

More information, thehousebarbados.com

93. River Inn of Harbor Town, Memphis, Tennessee

Score: 94.71

More information, riverinnmemphis.com

92. The Knickerbocker, New York City

Score: 94.75

More information, theknickerbocker.com

91. The Greenwich Hotel, New York City

Score: 94.76

More information, thegreenwichhotel.com

90. Jade Mountain, Soufrière, St. Lucia

Score: 94.85

More information, jademountain.com

89. The Egerton House Hotel, London

Score: 94.86

More information, egertonhousehotel.com

88. The Lanesborough, London

Score: 94.87

More information, lanesborough.com

87. Qualia, Hamilton Island, Australia

Score: 94.89

More information, qualia.com.au

86. The Inn at Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Score: 94.95

More information, seapines.com

84. (tie) Madikwe Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Score: 94.96

More information, madikwesafarilodge.co.za

84. (tie) La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Score: 94.96

More information, lacasaquecanta.com

83. Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Score: 94.97

More information, innbythesea.com

82. Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island

Score: 95.03

More information, oceanhouseri.com

81. Villa Cora, Florence, Italy

Score: 95.04

More information, villacora.it

80. Sonnenalp Hotel, Vail, Colorado

Score: 95.04

More information, sonnenalp.com

79. Le Bristol, Paris

Score: 95.06

More information, lebristolparis.com

78. The Leela Palace New Delhi, India

Score: 95.06

More information: theleela.com

77. Tu Tu’tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon

Score: 95.06

More information: tututun.com

76. Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland

Score: 95.08

More information, gleneagles.com

75. Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa

Score: 95.09

More information, saxon.co

74. Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Sacred Valley, Peru

Score: 95.11

More information, starwoodhotels.com

73. The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia

Score: 95.16

More information, seaisland.com

72. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Score: 95.17

More information, fourseasons.com/goldentriangle

71. The Goring, London

Score: 95.19

More information, thegoring.com

70. La Residence, Franschhoek, South Africa

Score: 95.27

More information, theroyalportfolio.com

69. La Réserve Paris Hotel, Spa & Apartments, Paris

Score: 95.29

More information, lareserve-paris.com

68. The Milestone Hotel, London

Score: 95.32

More information, milestonehotel.com

67. The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida

Score: 95.32

More information, biltmorehotel.com

66. Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand

Score: 95.33

More information fourseasons.com/chiangmai

65. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Score: 95.33

More information, capekidnappers.com

64. The Surrey, New York City

Score: 95.37

More information, thesurrey.com

63. Curtain Bluff, St. John’s, Antigua

Score: 95.40

More information, curtainbluff.com

62. Inn at Hastings Park, Lexington, Massachusetts

Score: 95.40

More information, innathastingspark.com

61. Winvian Farm, Morris, Connecticut

Score: 95.41

More information, winvian.com/cottages

60. Lion Sands Game Reserve, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Score: 95.42

More information, lionsands.com

59. The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India

Score: 95.45

More information, oberoihotels.com

58. J.K. Place Capri, Italy

Score: 95.46

More information, jkcapri.com

57. Zamas Hotel, Tulum, Mexico

Score: 95.49

More information, zamas.com

56. The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Newport, Rhode Island

Score: 95.51

More information, thechanler.com

55. Acqualina, Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Score: 95.53

More information, acqualinaresort.com

54. Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi, Italy

Score: 95.57

More information, hotelsantacaterina.it

53. Brewery Gulch Inn, Mendocino, California

Score: 95.59

More information: brewerygulchinn.com

52. Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada

Score: 95.6

More information: fogoislandinn.ca

51. The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam

Score: 95.63

More information, ghmhotels.com/en/nam-hai

50. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California

Score: 95.69

More information, ranchovalencia.com

49. Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida

Score: 95.76

More information, the-gasparilla-inn.com

48. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, San José del Cabo, Mexico

Score: 95.81

More information: rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos

47. Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland

Score: 95.84

More information, ashfordcastle.com

46. The Lodge and Cottages at Primland, Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Score: 95.87

More information, primland.com

45. Lodge at Sea Island, Sea Island, Georgia

Score: 95.90

More information, seaisland.com

44. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Score: 95.91

More information, arenalnayara.com

43. 41, London

Score: 95.93

More information, 41hotel.com

42. Katikies Hotel, Santorini, Greece

Score: 95.95

More information: katikies.com

37. (tie) Rosewood Sand Hill, Menlo Park, California

Score: 96.00

More information: rosewoodhotels.com

37. (tie) Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland

Score: 96.00

More information: brp.ch

37. (tie) Alpina Gstaad, Gstaad, Switzerland

Score: 96.00

More information, thealpinagstaad.ch

37. (tie) 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Score: 96.00

More information, snhcollection.com/137pillarshouse

37. (tie) Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden, Germany

Score: 96.00

More information, brenners.com

36. Tongabezi Lodge, Livingstone, Zambia

Score: 96.2

More information, tongabezi.com

35. The St. Regis Bali Resort, Nusa Dua, Indonesia

Score: 96.22

More information, stregisbali.com

34. XV Beacon, Boston, Massachusetts

Sore: 96.27

More information, xvbeacon.com

33. Kamalame Cay, Kamalame Cay, Andros Island, Bahamas

Score: 96.3

More information, kamalame.com

31. (Tie) Nayara Springs, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Score: 96.36

More information, arenalnayara.com

31. (Tie) Sol y Luna, Urubamba, Peru

Score: 96.36

More information, hotelsolyluna.com

30. Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Score: 96.39

More information, rosewoodhotels.com

29. Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Score: 96.50

More information, wilderness-safaris.com

28. The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore, India

Score: 96.63

More information, oberoihotels.com

27. Weekapaug Inn, Westerly, Rhode Island

Score: 96.67

More information, weekapauginn.com

26. Old Edwards Inn & Spa, Highlands, North Carolina

Score: 96.67

More information, oldedwardsinn.com

25. Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Chatham, Massachusetts

Score: 96.68

More information, wequassett.com

22. (tie) The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Score: 96.76

More information, oberoihotels.com

22. (tie) The Opposite House, Beijing, China

Score: 96.76

More information, theoppositehouse.com

22. (tie) Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana

Score: 96.76

More information, triplecreekranch.com

21. Château du Sureau, Oakhurst, California

Score: 96.77

More information, chateausureau.com

20. The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

Score: 96.8

More information, thebrando.com

19. Manoir Hovey, North Hatley, Quebec

Score: 96.93

More information, manoirhovey.com

18. Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Score: 96.95

More information, singita.com

17. Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza, Argentina

Score: 96.99

More information, cavaswinelodge.com

16. Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, Gateway, Colorado

Score: 97.00

More information, gatewaycanyons.com

15. Hotel Castello di Casole—A Timbers Resort, Casole d’Elsa, Italy

Score: 97.01

More information, castellodicasole.com

14. The Peninsula Shanghai, China

Score: 97.01

More information, shanghai.peninsula.com

13. Londolozi, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Score: 97.06

More information: londolozi.com

12. Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, California

Score: 97.07

More information, farmhouseinn.com

11. Singita Grumeti, Serengeti National Park Area, Tanzania

Score: 97.11

More information, singita.com

10. The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Bories, Chile

Score: 97.14

More information, thesingular.com

9. Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont

Score: 97.19

More information, twinfarms.com

8. Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador

Score: 97.2

More information, casagangotena.com

Book a trip to Quito.

7. The Willcox, Aiken, South Carolina

Score: 97.25

More information, thewillcox.com

6. The Lodge at Glendorn, Bradford, Pennsylvania

Score: 97.38

More information, glendorn.com

4. (tie) Montage Kapalua Bay, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Score: 97.39

More information, montagehotels.com/kapaluabay

4. (tie) Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Score: 97.39

More information, southernoceanlodge.com.au

3. Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand

Score: 97.65

More information, hukalodge.co.nz

2. The Spectator, Charleston, South Carolina

Score: 97.78

More information, thespectatorhotel.com

1. Nihiwatu, Sumba, Indonesia

Score: 98.35

An extraordinary surf break attracted Nihiwatu’s founders to the plot that became this resort. Villas take inspiration from traditional Sumbanese homes, with thatched roofs and ikat accents. The island’s exceptional seafood is a focus in Nihiwatu’s three restaurants. Guests can fish, ride horses, or trek to the spa, but what really sets Nihiwatu apart is its strong connection with Sumba, Indonesia and its people, who make up 90 percent of the staff. “I would return here again and again,” wrote one T+L reader.

This article originally appeared on TravelandLeisure.com