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
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
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Introducing the 2024 TIME100 Next
- The Reinvention of J.D. Vance
- How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
- Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
- The Many Lives of Jack Antonoff
- 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
- Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
Contact us at letters@time.com