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America's Best Hotels 2010

America's Best Hotels 2010

By Joshua Pramis

November 15, 2011

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Susan Seubert / Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Hualalai

T+L readers vote for their favorite places to stay in America, from big city hotels to small country inns.

Across the street from the well-manicured Rittenhouse Park, Philadelphia’s luxurious Rittenhouse hotel features large rooms, great views, and top-notch service—qualities that have helped this hotel become one of America’s best.

At least, that’s the opinion of Travel + Leisure readers, who voted it No. 11 in the U.S. (and No. 54 in the world). Every year, we ask our readers to share their favorite spots with us. The result? Our annual World’s Best Awards, which highlight the top players in the travel industry around the globe.

And this year, almost a third of the world’s top 100 hotels are right here in America. What is it that makes a hotel worthy of the title “World’s Best”? It’s no one thing, but rather the right combination of location, décor, service, and attention to detail. And the very best places have an almost indefinable quality that makes each guest feel truly special.

Sure, you’ll find some of the usual suspects on this list. The Little Nell, for example, has long been Aspen’s go-to place for discriminating travelers. And it hasn’t lost its charm, coming in at No. 21 in the country. It remains the quintessential marriage between nature and luxury—perfect for those looking for a ski retreat (it’s Aspen’s only ski-in/ski-out hotel) and amazing cuisine in the same location.

But the America’s Best Hotels list sports some surprises as well. San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara jumped from No. 64 in the world last year all the way to No. 4 (and No. 2 in America). Its spacious cottages—with fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs—certainly didn’t hurt its ranking, but perhaps it was our voters’ increased need for seclusion this year that helped catapult this resort up the charts.

And while San Ysidro has been around for years, it doesn’t take long for travelers to recognize great new properties. Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, which opened in 2008, made an impressive debut on the World’s Best List, at No. 20 overall and No. 3 in the U.S. Shooting up 92 stories, the polished steel and glass building features floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of the great views.

With such stiff competition, it’s not easy to crack this list, much less claim the title of America’s Best Hotel. So which came in at No. 1? Read on to find out.

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#25 Auberge du Soleil (91.61)Rutherford, California

Courtesy of Auberge du Soleil

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#24 Meadowood Napa Valley (91.67)St. Helena, California

Courtesy of Meadowood

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#23 Sofitel Washington D.C. LafayetteSquare (91.72)

Courtesy of Sofitel Lafayette Square

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#22 Four Seasons Hotel (91.77)Chicago

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels, Chicago

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#21 Little Nell (91.78)Aspen, Colorado

Courtesy of The Little Nell

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#20 The Peninsula (91.92)Beverly Hills

Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#19 Montage Laguna Beach (92.15)California

Courtesy of Montage Resort

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#18 Ritz-Carlton New York, CentralPark (92.17)

Kelly Kollar

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#17 Sutton Place Hotel (92.27) *$Chicago

Courtesy of Sutton Place Chicago

$ denotes Great Value (room rates of $250 or less)
* denotes a World’s Best Debut

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#16 Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (92.28)Dallas

Courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#15 Halekulani (92.43)Oahu

Courtesy of Halekulani Hotel

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#14 Fearrington House Country Inn (92.47)Pittsboro, North Carolina

Courtesy of Fearrington House Restaurant & Country Hotel

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#13 Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (92.52)Colorado

Courtesy of Sonnenalp

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#12 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (92.74)Hawaii

Susan Seubert / Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Hualalai

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#11 Rittenhouse Hotel (92.97)Philadelphia

Courtesy of Rittenhouse, Philadelphia

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#10 Little Palm Island Resort &Spa (92.97)Little Torch Key, Florida

Courtesy of Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#9 The Peninsula (93.09)Chicago

Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#8 Post Ranch Inn (93.13)Big Sur, California

Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#7 Inn at Palmetto Bluff (93.43)Bluffton, South Carolina

Courtesy of Inn at Palmetto Bluff

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#6 Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (93.43)Wyoming

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Jackson Hole

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#5 Hotel Bel-Air (Reopening in 2011) (93.67)Los Angeles

Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#4 Woodlands Inn – A Salamander Inn (94.12)Summerville, South Carolina

Courtesy of Woodlands Inn

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#3 Trump International Hotel &Tower (94.32) *Chicago

Courtesy of William Huber/ Trump Hotel Chicago

* denotes a World’s Best Debut

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#2 San Ysidro Ranch, A RosewoodResort (96.17)Santa Barbara, California

Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, San Ysidro Ranch

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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#1 Triple Creek Ranch (96.76)Darby, Montana

Courtesy of Triple Creek Ranch

See the full results of the 2010 World’s Best Awards.

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America's Best Hotels 2010

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#25 Auberge du Soleil (91.61)Rutherford, California

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#24 Meadowood Napa Valley (91.67)St. Helena, California

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#23 Sofitel Washington D.C. LafayetteSquare (91.72)

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#22 Four Seasons Hotel (91.77)Chicago

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#21 Little Nell (91.78)Aspen, Colorado

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#20 The Peninsula (91.92)Beverly Hills

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#19 Montage Laguna Beach (92.15)California

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#18 Ritz-Carlton New York, CentralPark (92.17)

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#17 Sutton Place Hotel (92.27) *$Chicago

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#16 Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (92.28)Dallas

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#15 Halekulani (92.43)Oahu

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#14 Fearrington House Country Inn (92.47)Pittsboro, North Carolina

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#13 Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (92.52)Colorado

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#12 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (92.74)Hawaii

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#11 Rittenhouse Hotel (92.97)Philadelphia

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#10 Little Palm Island Resort &Spa (92.97)Little Torch Key, Florida

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#9 The Peninsula (93.09)Chicago

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#8 Post Ranch Inn (93.13)Big Sur, California

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#7 Inn at Palmetto Bluff (93.43)Bluffton, South Carolina

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#6 Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (93.43)Wyoming

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#5 Hotel Bel-Air (Reopening in 2011) (93.67)Los Angeles

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#4 Woodlands Inn – A Salamander Inn (94.12)Summerville, South Carolina

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#3 Trump International Hotel &Tower (94.32) *Chicago

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#2 San Ysidro Ranch, A RosewoodResort (96.17)Santa Barbara, California

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#1 Triple Creek Ranch (96.76)Darby, Montana

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