Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Hotels + Resorts
  3. America's Best Hotels 2010

America's Best Hotels 2010

By Joshua Pramis
November 15, 2011
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin

1 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: 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.

1 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#25 Auberge du Soleil (91.61)Rutherford, California

Credit: Courtesy of Auberge du Soleil

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

2 of 26

3 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Meadowood

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

3 of 26

Advertisement

4 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Sofitel Lafayette Square

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

4 of 26

5 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#22 Four Seasons Hotel (91.77)Chicago

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels, Chicago

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

5 of 26

6 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#21 Little Nell (91.78)Aspen, Colorado

Credit: Courtesy of The Little Nell

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

6 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#20 The Peninsula (91.92)Beverly Hills

Credit: Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

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

7 of 26

8 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#19 Montage Laguna Beach (92.15)California

Credit: Courtesy of Montage Resort

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

8 of 26

9 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Kelly Kollar

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

9 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#17 Sutton Place Hotel (92.27) *$Chicago

Credit: 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.

10 of 26

11 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#16 Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (92.28)Dallas

Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

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

11 of 26

12 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#15 Halekulani (92.43)Oahu

Credit: Courtesy of Halekulani Hotel

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

12 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Fearrington House Restaurant & Country Hotel

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

13 of 26

14 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#13 Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (92.52)Colorado

Credit: Courtesy of Sonnenalp

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

14 of 26

15 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#12 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (92.74)Hawaii

Credit: Susan Seubert / Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Hualalai

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

15 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#11 Rittenhouse Hotel (92.97)Philadelphia

Credit: Courtesy of Rittenhouse, Philadelphia

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

16 of 26

17 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

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

17 of 26

18 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#9 The Peninsula (93.09)Chicago

Credit: Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

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

18 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn

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

19 of 26

20 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Inn at Palmetto Bluff

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

20 of 26

21 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#6 Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (93.43)Wyoming

Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Jackson Hole

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

21 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air

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

22 of 26

23 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Woodlands Inn

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

23 of 26

24 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of William Huber/ Trump Hotel Chicago

* denotes a World’s Best Debut

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

24 of 26

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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

Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, San Ysidro Ranch

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

25 of 26

26 of 26

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

#1 Triple Creek Ranch (96.76)Darby, Montana

Credit: Courtesy of Triple Creek Ranch

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

26 of 26

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Joshua Pramis

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 26
2 of 26 #25 Auberge du Soleil (91.61)Rutherford, California
3 of 26 #24 Meadowood Napa Valley (91.67)St. Helena, California
4 of 26 #23 Sofitel Washington D.C. LafayetteSquare (91.72)
5 of 26 #22 Four Seasons Hotel (91.77)Chicago
6 of 26 #21 Little Nell (91.78)Aspen, Colorado
7 of 26 #20 The Peninsula (91.92)Beverly Hills
8 of 26 #19 Montage Laguna Beach (92.15)California
9 of 26 #18 Ritz-Carlton New York, CentralPark (92.17)
10 of 26 #17 Sutton Place Hotel (92.27) *$Chicago
11 of 26 #16 Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (92.28)Dallas
12 of 26 #15 Halekulani (92.43)Oahu
13 of 26 #14 Fearrington House Country Inn (92.47)Pittsboro, North Carolina
14 of 26 #13 Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (92.52)Colorado
15 of 26 #12 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (92.74)Hawaii
16 of 26 #11 Rittenhouse Hotel (92.97)Philadelphia
17 of 26 #10 Little Palm Island Resort &Spa (92.97)Little Torch Key, Florida
18 of 26 #9 The Peninsula (93.09)Chicago
19 of 26 #8 Post Ranch Inn (93.13)Big Sur, California
20 of 26 #7 Inn at Palmetto Bluff (93.43)Bluffton, South Carolina
21 of 26 #6 Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (93.43)Wyoming
22 of 26 #5 Hotel Bel-Air (Reopening in 2011) (93.67)Los Angeles
23 of 26 #4 Woodlands Inn – A Salamander Inn (94.12)Summerville, South Carolina
24 of 26 #3 Trump International Hotel &Tower (94.32) *Chicago
25 of 26 #2 San Ysidro Ranch, A RosewoodResort (96.17)Santa Barbara, California
26 of 26 #1 Triple Creek Ranch (96.76)Darby, Montana

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

America's Best Hotels 2010
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.