TOP WORLD HOTELS

Nayara Springs, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Score: 97.00

At Nayara Springs, each of the 16 villas comes with its own plunge pool, drawing on mineral-rich spring waters from Arenal Volcano next door. Venetian mirrors, hand-loomed rugs, and hammocks add to the easy-breezy vibe at this secluded jungle retreat, complete with a spa and yoga or Pilates offered daily. Get to know your neighbors—namely howler monkeys and blue morpho butterflies—on a tour with one of the local guides. It’s just one of the experiences that your personal host can coordinate.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Score: 96.27

At Southern Ocean Lodge, each of the 21 suites is outfitted with limestone floors, works by local artists, and an outdoor terrace. Don’t look for an AC switch—it’s unnecessary here: the lodge was built to take advantage of natural weather patterns on Kangaroo Island. Book the glass-walled Osprey Pavilion suite for a private plunge pool and hand-carved granite bath, or try your luck fishing Hanson Bay. Chef Tim Bourke will incorporate your catch into a dish along with local produce

Ocean House, Watch Hill, RI

Score: 96.20

A Victorian oceanfront hotel renovated to the tune of $146 million, this 1868 property is as grand as ever. Croquet lawns nod to old-world glamour, while 49 light-filled guest rooms and 22 private villas feature modern bathrooms and custom-made furnishings. Consider visiting in the off season—moody skies, long walks on the private beach, and cozy treatments at the hotel spa make for a romantic stay. We recommend requesting the Grand Deluxe Room 301 for its ocean views, freestanding tub, and blue-tiled fireplace.

Singita Sabi Sand, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa

Score: 95.82

Singita Sabi Sand game reserve comprises two lodges with interiors by emerging African designers: Boulders, a stylish rustic property built into the landscape, and Ebony, a lodge that puts more of a vintage spin on safari. Spend an indulgent night indoors—well-stocked wine cellars and private outdoor showers come standard—or embrace your adventurous side with a mountain-bike ride through the bush or a photography-focused safari. For once-in-a-lifetime views of elephants bathing in the Sand River, book Ebony Lodge’s Suite 1.

Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Score: 95.76

Built on the former hunting grounds of maharajas, the Oberoi Udaivilas sits gracefully on its own island near Udaipur. Upon arrival, you’ll be met at the airport by a car and driver, guided onto a private boat, then ferried across Lake Pichola and into the gardens and fountains of the Udaivilas estate. Book one of nine Premier rooms for a private pool, terrace, and views of wildlife including peacocks, spotted deer, and wild boar. Then wander through the on-site Bada Mahal, an 18th-century former palace with delicate frescoes. Come back to the lakeside property a second time to receive traditional mirror-work coasters or jewelry boxes—departure gifts given to repeat visitors.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Score: 95.67

At the Four Seasons Hong Kong, rooms start at around 500 square feet and blend modern décor with Asian-infused details like lacquered-wood tables and silk cushions and throws. Walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads and decadent spa treatments like a ginger lemongrass soak will help ease any jet lag, then try one of two excellent on-site dining options. Lung King Heen serves innovative Cantonese cuisine, while chef Shinji Morihara prepares some of the city’s finest kaiseki and teppanyaki at the elegant Japanese Inagiku. Don’t miss the property’s rooftop deck, where twin swimming pools overlook Victoria Harbour.

The Peninsula Bangkok

Score: 95.47

The Peninsula Bangkok’s luxurious 37-story property was designed to be a wave shape, granting every room expansive views of the Chao Phraya River and the skyline across the water. Teak floors, marble bathrooms, silk-covered furniture, and high-tech control panels outfit the Grand Deluxe rooms, which also have V-shaped windows intended to enhance the scenery. Guests love the 21,000-square-foot spa, where the attentive and highly trained staff turn pampering into an art form through treatments like chakra balancing and Thai yoga massage. Feeling peckish? Ask the concierge to map out a walking route of nearby Chinatown, lined with dumpling restaurants.

Capella Pedregal, Los Cabos, Mexico

Score: 95.25

A sublime ocean-side property within walking distance of Cabo San Lucas’s popular nightlife, Capella Pedregal has everything you want in a beachfront boutique: a large main pool; 12,000-square-foot spa, where signature treatments are based on the cycles of the moon; and an alfresco restaurant, El Farallón, with daily seafood specials. During the whale-watching season (December to March), guests can spot gray whales from the beach—or perhaps even from their own bathroom or bedroom window.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, HI, the Big Island

Score: 94.96

All 243 rooms at the Four Seasons’ gorgeous, isolated resort are in low-rise bungalows with ocean views. The grounds border the dramatic volcanic rock coast, with seawater and freshwater swimming pools; an open-air spa teems with tropical vegetation; and yoga, personal training, and fitness classes are offered daily. For families, there’s a tricked-out teen lounge and baby-proofed rooms for guests with infants. The gorgeous private 7,100-square-foot oceanfront golf course is carved into the underlying black lava, but if golf isn’t your specialty, check out the resort’s Hualalai Cultural Center for lessons in Hawaiian history, lei making, and the art of hula.

Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Score: 94.83

At this 392-room property, interior designer Adam Tihany evokes the feel of contemporary Hong Kong. The hotel’s Japanese black pines are pruned according to bonsai traditions, and when guests step off the elevator at the 23rd-floor lobby, they encounter what he calls a “gold bullion wall,” a shimmering blast of gilded geometry. The hotel achieved LEED Gold certification, acknowledgment of the complex’s energy- and resource-conserving features. Its spa offers 17 treatment rooms; the sleek pool deck has fabulous views over CityCenter; and the property’s five restaurants and bars include Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, the Michelin-starred chef’s first U.S.
venture.

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

Score: 94.56

Located at the highest point of the island, Jade Mountain celebrates the natural beauty of the Caribbean Sea and of St. Lucia’s iconic peaks, the Pitons. Inside, each of the Nick Troubetzkoy–designed sanctuaries (don’t call them rooms) features 15-foot ceilings and only three walls, offering open-air, panoramic views of the landscape. Rinse off in the rain shower, take a dip in the private infinity pools, or just take time to unplug. Telephones, televisions, and radios are absent from the suites for uninterrupted island tranquility.

One &Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico

Score: 94.44

Tucked away on the tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, One&Only Palmilla is a favorite of celebrities and the stealth-wealth set. There’s the emphasis on individual service that makes this big resort feel like a boutique hotel (guests are called by name, for example), and pets are welcome, with poolside doggie cabanas and a special menu for Fido. For the resort’s human guests, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten heads up Market restaurant, which turns out tuna “ribbons” with avocado and radish-and-ginger marinade nightly. The airy rooms have red tile roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Sea of Cortés, but large groups should splurge for a night in the Villa Cortez, the hotel’s only stand-alone suite, with four bedrooms, a private gym and spa, a pool, a stocked kitchen, and a dedicated staff of 12.

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Score: 94.34

A fleet of 14 Rolls-Royce limousines is the first sign of The Peninsula Hong Kong’s glamour factor. Then there’s the lobby, where bellboys don old-school uniforms including pillbox hats, and a string quartet plays classical music. Tucked-away elevators whisk guests to the 297 rooms and suites, including renovated Tower rooms gleaming with burl-wood cabinetry, vintage-inspired hardware, and cream-toned upholstery. Modern electronic panels control the rooms’ lighting, window treatments, and music and video selection, but we suggest keeping the shades up—you won’t want to miss the heart-stopping views of Victoria Harbour and the towering buildings of Hong Kong Island. Be sure to ask for one on a higher floor (they extend from the 17th to the 27th floors), where the vistas only improve.

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park Area, South Africa

Score: 94.29

At Bush Lodge, the flagship of Sabi Sabi’s collection in Kruger National Park, thatched suites are decorated in earthy color schemes and courtyards feature sculptures created from uprooted trees and salvaged wood. Twice-daily game drives, firelight dinners, and spa treatments keep parents occupied, while kids can enroll in the EleFun Centre, a program offering conservation activities and outdoor fun.

The Peninsula Shanghai

Score: 94.09

On a stretch of the historic Bund waterfront,The Peninsula Shanghai’s granite-clad building is a Modernist reflection of its Art Deco–era neighbors, the Shanghai Club and Sassoon House. Interiors feature gleaming brass and mahogany elevators and 235 guest rooms that combine embossed glass lamps and black lacquer screens with the 21st-century amenities that modern travelers will appreciate. All come with VoIP phones, portable master control panels, and spa tubs with music and light settings, but your most valuable asset here is Simon Huang, the savvy chief concierge.

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

Score: 94.07

A cypress-lined road leads to the rolling 4,200-acre Tuscan estate, whose structure dates back to the 10th century. Film director Luchino Visconti once lived in this peaceful castle—now a luxurious hotel that draws visitors in search of quiet. The resort’s 41 rustic suites incorporate oil paintings and reclaimed terracotta, while Essere Spa, originally the estate’s wine cellar, features seven treatment rooms and massages incorporating orange and basil essential oils. Available for rent on a weekly basis, the Tuscan Farmhouses are set among the vineyards and built of stones, bricks, and terracotta found on the estate.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Florence

Score: 94.00

Built into the 15th-century Palazzo Scala della Gherardesca and a 16th-century former convent, Florence’s Four Seasons hotel is the city’s first true resort. In addition to the opulent décor and 15th-century frescoed halls, perks include a spa, an outdoor pool, and an 11-acre private park. Room amenities go beyond the usual satellite TV to include DVD players, iPod docking stations, twice-daily maid service, and Wi-Fi. Service, under manager Patrizio Cipollini, is top notch. The staff is happy to arrange wine tastings in the Chianti region, about 40 minutes away, or family-oriented visits to the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, or the nearby Pinocchio Park.

Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a Montage Resort, Bluffton, SC

Score: 93.86

Life at South Carolina’s Inn at Palmetto Bluffseems to move at the pace of a deep-southern drawl. Set on coastal marshland, this resort encourages guests to take it easy with fireplaces and private screened-in porches. Take your pick among spa treatments, fly-fishing, and a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, or venture out on a naturalist-led alligator “hunt.” Bird-lovers also have the opportunity to paddle a complimentary kayak or canoe through the lagoon to spy more than 100 species, including bald eagles, great blue herons, and snowy egrets.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Score: 93.82

Opened in 1876, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a rich literary history. Guests including Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, Noël Coward, and James Michener all stayed here, soaking up views of the Chao Phraya River from floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s also a favorite spot among present-day celebrities, and with an opulent spa, nine restaurants, and personal butler service, it’s easy to see why. Request a deluxe room in the River Wing for access to a private balcony, and after hours wander into the Bamboo Bar for perfectly mixed cocktails like the Singapore Sling.

The Ritz Paris

Score: 93.82

Opened in 1898, The Ritz has maintained its status as a Parisian institution for more than a century. It was the world’s first hotel to have a private bath in every room, and now swan-shaped, gold-plated faucets grace the tubs. Would you expect anything less from the iconic hotel where Coco Chanel once lived? Traditional white-glove service, a Roman-style pool, and a Michelin-starred restaurant only add to the lap-of-luxury experience. The hotel is currently undergoing massive renovations, but when it finally reopens in 2015, swing by the Bar Hemingway, and prepare to be entertained by legendary bartender Colin Field and tales of his romantic life.

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Score: 93.81

On the east bank of the Vltava River, four buildings from different architectural eras (Baroque, Neoclassical, Neo-Renaissance, Modernista-revival) make up the luxuriousFour Seasons Hotel Prague. Remodeled in 2012 by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, rooms in the contemporary wing feature black and white décor, while Renaissance rooms are outfitted with Czech details like crystal chandeliers. Traveling with a bibliophile? Ask the concierge to arrange access to parts of the Strahov Monastery and its library, which are not ordinarily open to the public.