Today, the word “luxury” has been degraded by overuse. But for experienced, demanding luxury travelers,” luxury hotel” has to mean something specific, because guests paying high hotel rates, have a right to expect high standards of hospitality: in service, in rooms, in dining, and in everything else good hotel offer. The hospitality industry generally accepts hotel star ratings designated by Forbes, by AAA, and other critically-minded organizations. Yet there are no set standards for” luxury hotels,” and both four-star and five-star hotels generally describe themselves as “luxury.”
A Selection of True Luxury Hotels
These gracious hotels have been scrutinized by luxury travel writers and have been deemed no-doubt-about-it luxury hotels.
- New York: The Pierre Hotel
- Adirondacks: The Point
- Santa Barbara: El Encanto
- Taipei, Taiwan: Regent Taipei
- Algarve, Portugal: Bela Vista
- Nice, France: Le Negresco
- Palm Beach, Florida: Eau Palm Beach
- Spain: Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine
- Nicaragua: Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa
- Zurich, Switzerland: The Dolder Grand
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Casa Velas
- Chicago: The Langham, Chicago
- Miami, Florida: Turnberry Isle
- Amalfi, Italy: Monastero Sant Rosa
- Helsinki, Finland: Hotel Kämp
- Thailand: Ritz-Carlton Phulay Bay
- Fiji, Micronesia: Turtle Island Resort
- Las Vegas: Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace
- North Island, New Zealand: Eagles Nest
- Baltimore: Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore
- London: The Langham, London & Corinthia Hotel London
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: The Inn of the Five Graces
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida: The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
- Scotland: Cameron House & Andy Murray’s The Cromlix
- Vancouver Island, Canada: Wickaninnish Inn
- Near San Diego: Fairmont Grand Del Mar
- Bali, Indonesia: Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali
- Riviera Maya, Mexico: Zoetry Paraiso Bonita
- Cancun, Mexico: Le Blanc Spa Resort & NIZUC Resort
- Turks & Caicos, Caribbean: Parrot Cay by COMO
- Beaver Creek, Colorado: The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
- Toronto, Canada: Shangri-La Hotel Toronto
- Maui, Hawaii: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
- Nevis, Caribbean: Four Seasons Resort Nevis
