Hotels in United States

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005

"It's like a comfortable bed,you get in and never want to leave." This hotel built with redwood, Douglas fir, and sand-stone sits on a butte and has views of the Snake River Range: "The location is as spectacular as it gets." Rooms come with platform beds and rough slate countertops. "Everything was superb, from the oatmeal in the morning to the nuts that came with my Beefeater and tonic in the evening." The Grill Restaurant, with a central wood-burning fireplace, serves lobster fritters and a white peach and ice cream champagne float.

40 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

New to the Gold List

Opened in 2003 in a former fruit canners warehouse, it has "a great Fisherman's Wharf location" near Ghirardelli Square and the cable car turnaround. The nautical theme suits the 1900s architecture, exposed brick, and fir beams in rooms, which are equipped with high-speed Internet access. The Blue Mermaid serves seafood and chowders, but "it's noisy, and the food is nothing special."

252 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"The grounds are so lush" at this bougainvillea- and cactus-landscaped pink hotel near the University of Arizona that "it's hard to believe you're in the middle of the desert." Carpenters and master craftsmen work on-site to create reproduction furniture to complement antique pieces in the individually decorated rooms. The Audubon Bar, with an outdoor patio by the main garden, has hand-painted murals and a pianist who plays nightly.

89 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"You could mistake this inn for someplace in Europe." Set amid a 33-acre olive grove, it started out as a restaurant. Each suite has handmade-tile floors, abstract paintings, and a refrigerator stocked with regional wines and cheeses. Enjoy "extremely nice staff" and, at the restaurant, "phenomenal wine-country cuisine" with French-Mediterranean influences.

52 suites

Amenities: Tennis, Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This two-winged 1928 Italian Renaissance-style mainstay at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard has "service that makes you feel at home." The recent $35 million renovation updated contemporary rooms with 42-inch flat-screen TVs and butter-leather headboards and added a spa, a pool, and a fitness center. In June 2006, Cut, the Wolfgang Puck steak house, opened.

395 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Meals at this 1930's former country house in the Smoky Mountains' foothills are "an unforgettable culinary experience"; dishes include North Carolina trout and coffee-rubbed Kentucky bison prepared with herbs from the garden and served with artisanal wines. Rooms, in five buildings, have hickory chairs and double vanities. The property will soon have a farmstead with new suites, a creamery, a honey house, and a general store.

51 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Steps from the New England Aquarium and the Children's Museum, this hotel on Rowes Wharf is "very kid-friendly,we all felt welcome." Rooms in different geographical themes have marble bathrooms, full vanities, and "beautiful views of the harbor's boats." At Meritage, the seasonal fare uses Kobe beef, Nantucket scallops, and Vermont pheasant.

230 rooms

Amenities: Spa

New to the Gold List

Located in the wine country of the upper Napa Valley, this "truly rustic yet luxurious outpost" incorporates the woodlands of its canyon location into its design. The buildings are connected by bridges and decks and "seem to hover above the ground." Rough-hewn wood posts and dry-stacked stone "make the outside unprepossessing, but it's so refined inside": Rooms have handwoven chenille and Tibetan wool carpets. Local ingredients star in the modern California cuisine at The Lakehouse. Try a haiku session in the woods.

46 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"You can't beat the location" of this Union Square hotel that marries two early-twentieth-century buildings. Rooms with handblown glass lamps and cinnamon throw blankets are "well appointed but not large." The Restaurant serves modern French cuisine with Mediterranean influences in a room with cream, gold, and dark chocolate hues and works by Bay Area artists.

110 rooms

New to the Gold List

"It's close to the ocean and the Monterey aquarium and a few hours from San Fran" (hence the perfect Location score). "What more could you want?" Meander along trellised walkways on the "beautifully designed grounds" at this former private home with "a Spanish feel." All rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, and ground-floor accommodations have private patios with whirlpool baths. Herb-poached salmon and crispy calamari are on the menu at Stillwater Bar & Grill.

24 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

With "a prime location" in the historic district, this 20-year-old property mimics a seventeenth-century Italian residence: It has a double staircase, a 12-foot crystal chandelier, and reproduction period furnishings. Guest room decor includes tapestries, lace, and the best accommodations have harbor views. Afternoon tea of scones, lemon tarts, and imported tea is "a highlight."

440 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

New to the Gold List

Built on a mountain ridge near Scottsdale with "spectacular valley and mountain views," this 1999 adobe property is "perfectly situated for hiking trips." The grounds are filled with flowers and sage bushes, while rooms feature hand-made Italian furniture, fireplaces, bathrooms with oversized tubs, and private terraces. Alchemy serves New American cuisine. Spa treatments make use of local clay and amethyst.

40 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Near the Magic Kingdom, this Victorian lakefront resort is in "a prime location." Red gabled roofs contrast with the white facade, and rooms have light woods, marble sinks, wooden moldings, and, in most cases, two queen-size beds and a daybed. At 1900 Park Fare, "the buffet food is not exactly memorable," but Disney characters wander among the tables.

867 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"From the moment you walk in, theres a warmth about the place," says one guest of this resort built on an 1880s homestead. Views of surrounding Boynton Canyon add to the "overwhelming feeling of serenity." Beehive fireplaces epitomize the Southwestern room decor throughout the scattered casitas. Mii Amo Cafe focuses on spa cuisine. "I've been dying to go back since the moment I left."

220 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"It's a grand old hotel that's still grand,the woods gleam, the brass railings shine, and the furniture is in mint condition." This downtown brick and terra-cotta Italian Rennaisance tower has a recently renovated lobby with delicate woodwork; rooms in soft neutrals "give you the feeling of being at home." The Georgian, with 20-foot Palladian windows, serves French-inspired Pacific Northwest cuisine. "Staff are always extremely helpful."

450 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This 1903 ten-story Beaux Arts building in Beacon Hill once housed the Boston School Committee. Today, the original elements such as the cage elevator are incorporated into the "modern yet comfortable design." Rooms in black, tan, and white have artwork and canopy beds. At the Federalist Bar, order the Fed Burger,black Angus sirloin, aged Vermont cheddar, and caramelized onions.

60 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"Personable staff treat everyone like a VIP" at this 1987 Town Lake hotel with wildflower gardens. Warm colors and classical furnishings will soon be joined by flat-screen TVs as part of the rooms' upgrade. Outdoors, guests frolic in the saltwater pool or unwind on the lawn in the shade of the live oaks. On the cocktail menu at the Lobby Lounge is the Rita Suprema, a $95 margarita. The spa will be expanded in the summer of 2007.

291 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Overlooking a wildlife preserve and the Pacific, this ten-year-old golf resort on "200 beautifully manicured acres" comprises a series of low-rise Spanish colonial buildings. "Impeccably decorated rooms" in blue, melon, and rose hues have bathrooms with double vanities. "The service couldn't have been better,everyone bent over backwards to accommodate us." Indoor and outdoor seating is available at California Bistro.

329 rooms

Amenities: Tennis, Pool, Spa, Golf

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"The expansive gardens make you feel like you have the whole place to yourself." Opened in 1927, this Spanish colonial resort between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains is concluding a $225 million renovation that added the restaurant Bella Vista, a 10,000-square-foot spa, and an improved rose garden. Interiors have adobe archways and custom Spanish tiles. Renovated rooms are furnished with Mission-style pieces; suites have heated floors.

207 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Across from the Public Garden, this brick hotel has "clean, classic rooms" that evoke modern New England, with red, blue, and green fabrics and velvet chairs. A short walk from the Charles River and the Freedom Trail, "it makes a great base for sightseeing." At the Bristol, the varied menu includes jerk-spiced swordfish with sweet potato puree. "On our anniversary trip, staff delivered a cake to our room."

273 rooms

Amenities: Pool

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Part of a high-rise, this hotel is "well situated",across from the John Hancock Center. "The grand lobby is stunning," with floral arrangements, chandeliers, and Italian marble. Linger over "beautiful views of Lake Michigan and the city" in most guest rooms, some of which, however, "are due a makeover" (remodeling starts in January 2007). The hotel is "great for families,they gave our kids bedtime milk and cookies." At The Cafe, try the sea scallops or the margherita pizza.

343 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This Kona coast property comprises "phenomenal bungalow-style buildings" that incorporate elements such as lava rock into the design. Meandering torch-lit paths "make for exotic and romantic nighttime walks," and perfect-scoring Rooms,with bamboo, thatch, and slate interiors and lava-walled private outdoor showers,"have to be seen to be believed." The Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, built right into the lava formations, "was never very busy," which made one guest happy. Casual dining and cocktails are the lure at the Beach Tree Bar & Grill. "Impeccable poolside service" includes Evian sprays, complimentary sunglass cleanings, and fresh-fruit skewers.

243 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"It was a shame to leave the beauty and tranquillity" of this Asian-esque resort by a marine preserve. Tropical rooms, all with private lanais overlooking the "lavish gardens" or Hulopo'e Bay and the Pacific, have golden tones and cherry and rattan furnishings. Ihilani serves contemporary Italian; Ocean Grill, seafood alfresco.

236 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This non-gaming spot on the south end of the Strip is "fine if you want to avoid the maze of casinos." Rooms that "typify Four Seasons" are done in neutral hues and have down bedding and marble bathrooms. At Verandah, "staff are as impressive as the risotto al frutti di mare." The spa's desert oasis body treatment is a salt exfoliation followed by an aloe wrap and scented body-butter application.

424 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Peer over downtown from rooms with balconies at this property that "looks like part of a condominium complex." Expect "a young and lively staff." The fitness equipment and outdoor pool are on a half-acre terrace. Gardens serves afternoon tea.

285 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Perfect-scoring Service "epitomizes the aloha spirit": "Staff are fantastic from the moment you walk in until the time you leave." The U-shaped design of this resort on 15 acres gives most rooms,kitted out in tropical colors and wicker furniture,ocean views. Exercise restraint at the Pacific Grill breakfast buffet: "I became addicted to the ricotta cheese and lemon pancakes."

380 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

New to the Gold List

Part of a mixed-use tower near the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the hotel incorporates Art Deco period furnishings. "Lovely modern art and sculptures" decorate the rooms, which have cushioned window seats; suites have silk-covered walls and down-filled couches. Mingle with local scenesters over Brazilian batidas and caipirinhas at the rooftop bar Bahia.

221 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This 52-story landmark has a honey-colored French limestone exterior and a foyer with towering columns and an onyx ceiling. "It's a lovely place just to walk into." "Avant-garde yet classic rooms" are outfitted in relaxing taupe, have custom cabinetry, and are big (about 600 square feet). The recently opened L'Atelier de Jo

368 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"Exceptional service and great attention to detail" are hallmarks of this gray granite hotel in the Museum District. Recent renovations updated the Federal-style rooms, with their satinwood veneers and toile drapes, adding yellow and chocolate color schemes. Chef Martin Hamann's Fountain Restaurant has dishes,such as veal chop with osso buco ragout,that are "to die for."

364 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

The location of this five-year-old tower,in the Yerba Buena Arts District, near public transportation,is "as good as it gets." Enter "a sleek, magnificent lobby" showcasing contemporary works by Northern California artists. Staff

277 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

ake in sunsets and stargaze under wide-open skies at this resort that merges with the surrounding Sonoran Desert. "Wonderfully outfitted" in Southwestern decor, rooms have patio doors that open onto private landscaped terraces; suites include telescopes, plunge pools, and outdoor showers. In addition to beef, seafood, and seasonal specialties, the Acacia steak house serves up panoramic views of Pinnacle Peak and has "first-class staff."

210 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

The top-scoring U.S. property (formerly the Lodge at Koele) is wrapping up a $50 million renovation in February 2007. Its perfect-scoring Design melds the classic hunting lodge and Asian aesthetics using wood, stone, fireplaces, gardens, and original art. "Hawaiian country rooms" in golds and reds have floral prints, wood-paneled beds, and accent plaids "that work given the high-country location." Perfect-scoring staff are "superb: discreet, professional, and delightful,the best in Hawaii." The Terrace, which overlooks the reflecting pond, is the spot for casual dining.

102 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Pool, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

In "a fine Georgetown location right on the main drag," this two-winged hotel opened in 1979. In rooms, which have six-foot soaking tubs, the European touches include Italian linen and furniture. Seasons Restaurant serves regional ingredients in dishes such as roasted Maine lobster with parsnips, bok choy, and Japanese mushrooms. The spa offers seven different types of massage, including prenatal and Thai.

211 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

"Come here for a wonderful aloha experience." The low-rise architecture was designed to reflect Hawaii in the 1920s, with public spaces that open to the outdoors, which is "beautiful and lush, with flowers everywhere." Rooms mix flora and fauna prints with contemporary chaise longues. Built to look like a series of huts floating on a lagoon, Tidepools serves modern regional cuisine such as seared opah topped with blue crab and avocado.

602 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This five-wing oceanfront resort has lush gardens and "pools you usually see only in a water park." The Asian-influenced design gives the place "a tropical ambience." Kincha, a Japanese teahouse surrounded by gardens and 800 tons of rocks imported from Mount Fuji, serves "darn good sushi."

780 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Situated on 6,500 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, this historic estate decked out in Dorothy Draper-style green-and-pink florals has "a charm that's to die for." Staff are "wherever you turn, waiting to help." The main dining room, with its stately columns, is the setting for "incredible pancakes, with the freshest blueberries imaginable." A gun club and an off-road driving school are outdoor diversions.

803 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Pool, Spa, Tennis

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Surrounded by open courtyards, palms, and gardens, this Waikiki Beach mainstay enjoys "a prime location" close to Kalakaua Avenue's shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. "Tastefully decorated rooms" in white with gray and blue accents have bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. Feast on bouillabaisse at La Mer. Unwind with a Samoan-inspired nonu massage at the spa.

455 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa, Water sports

New to the Gold List

Expect "upscale, tasteful, and simple elegance" at this brick block that garners a perfect Location score for its harborfront setting. Accommodations, which have 14-foot ceilings and mostly white furnishings, mix old (exposed brick walls and handcrafted armoires) and new (Wi-Fi and whirlpool tubs). Dining consists of breakfast delivered to your room.

52 rooms

New to the Gold List

At this Paradise Valley "cowboy's hangout," expect Southwestern colors, plantation window shutters, hand-painted Mexican tiles, and leather wingback chairs. The property started as artist Lon Megargee's one-room adobe studio and was subsequently expanded into a guest ranch and then converted to an inn. Lon's serves wood-grilled beef tenderloin against the backdrop of Camelback Mountain. "Everything was secluded. I didn't realize the tennis courts were there until my second day."

35 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Tennis

New to the Gold List

This hilltop "crown jewel" on three acres of gardens with "breathtaking floral color" was once a farmhouse and then a finishing school. Rooms have wood floors, area rugs, and bright tones. Chef-owner Thomas Henkelmann trained Europe, and his eponymous restaurant serves contemporary French meals "that are not to be missed,few places are this special."

18 rooms

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Set on 12 acres of gardens, courtyards, and fountains, the hotel and its "well-manicured grounds" provide a serene base. Surrounding the 1920s Mission-style pink stucco building are guest quarters with private entrances and sometimes fireplaces and tiled patios. The Restaurant serves Californian and Mediterranean cuisine. "Staff are superfriendly."

91 rooms

Amenities: Pool

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2006

This 220-room slate-roof property is "near upscale shops and restaurants." The lobby, with its artwork, velvet couches, and ten types of marble, "smacks of grandeur." European-style rooms in deep, rich hues have "dreamy bed linens." At the 23,000-square-foot spa, try wet treatments using Vichy showers. Get coffee and quick bites to go at the Crescent Gourmet.

220 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005

The modern country inn is in Healdsburg's historic plaza, within "walking distance of great restaurants." The decor is "not fussy but uses rich materials." Airy rooms have dark pecan floors, teak furniture, and poured-concrete vanities in bathrooms. Unwind with wine or a cocktail by the fireplace in the lobby lounge. A cooking school is scheduled to open in June 2007.

55 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

New to the Gold List

Once the First Union National Bank, this Grecian brick and limestone tower reopened as a hotel three years ago. The lobby has 30-foot Doric columns and a carved ceiling. Rooms have a vivid color palette and European artwork; windows between the bedroom and the bathroom enable guests to watch TV while soaking in the oversized Jacuzzi. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant Bank features New American cuisine with Asian nuances.

135 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Amenities: Pool, Skiing

Built during the silver-mining boom, the hotel "combines the Old West with the comfort of modernity." The brick building overlooks Aspen Mountain, and from the terrace "you can watch the sun set behind the Rockies,what colors!" Rooms in tans and floral patterns have custom beds. Starting in April, the property will be closed for most of 2007 for renovations.

92 rooms

New to the Gold List

With ubiquitous sculptures, artwork, and photography, this 1928 brick-and-terra-cotta Neoclassic Revival building "feels more like a gallery." The "terrific location" puts guests close to the MAX light-rail and the Pearl District. Rooms with rich mahogany and bold colors have bathrooms with stainless steel basins. Press the roomis get it now button and "staff appear immediately." Typhoon restaurant serves modern Thai.

127 rooms

New to the Gold List

This 1910 Beaux Arts building in the theater district has a lobby with high ceilings, a two-story French inglenook fireplace, and a hand-painted ceiling portraying the history of flight. Rich persimmon, turquoise, and terra-cotta hues characterize public areas; "small but cute rooms" flaunt stripes and bold patterns. Grand Cafe serves California-French cuisine and has a decor that's evocative of Paris in the 1930s. Have a tarot card reading during the complimentary wine hour.

201 rooms

Amenities: Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

This European-style hotel is on a tree-lined Upper East Side street near Madison Avenue shopping,in the "high-end part of New York that most tourists never see." "Warm and tastefully furnished rooms" have Asian silk fabrics, Paul Garnier clocks, and headboards framed in camel-colored leather. Dine on seafood under the Murano chandeliers and the gold-domed ceiling at Arabelle. "Snappy service makes everything look easy."

149 rooms

New to the Gold List

Opened two years ago on the Embarcadero, near the Ferry Building, "it's a happening hotel, although anyone of any age would be comfortable here." Rooms, some with bay views, have walk-in rain showers, "fabulous beds," and bath products by Fresh. "The food is no match for Boulevard," one of the city's leading restaurants, located nearby.

199 rooms

Amenities: Spa

New to the Gold List

At this four-story French-style property, there's "a kitschy, retro feel to the rooms," which have rounded doorways, deep-red upholstery, and mix-and-match furniture. The chef at Dragonfly takes inspiration from around the globe,hence menu items such as tandoori barbecued prawns and yogurt-marinated Colorado lamb. In winter, glass covers the pool, so "at cocktail hour it feels like you're walking on water."

154 rooms

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Also featured on the Gold List in: 2005, 2006

Nature is the draw at this "simple yet upscale Craftsman inn" on a bluff above Puget Sound. Each guest room has a 180-degree waterfront view from a private porch as well as a whirlpool tub looking onto a fireplace and the water. Rooms are decorated with natural woods and art from the owners' collection. On weekends, the six-course dinner includes local seafood, meat, and cheese.

24 rooms

Amenities: Beach, Spa

New to the Gold List

"Get away from it all" at this 2004 colonial Lowcountry property between Charleston and Savannah. Its cottages and cottage suites are "the nicest accommodations in the United States",pine floors, vaulted ceilings, a screened-in porch,hence the perfect Rooms score. At the River House, "the most charming waiters" deliver regional specialties such as sweet Carolina corn soup and local grouper.

50 rooms

Amenities: Golf, Spa, Tennis