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  1. Home
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  3. America's Best Hotels 2010

America's Best Hotels 2010

By Joshua Pramis
November 15, 2011
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Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
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.

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#25 Auberge du Soleil (91.61)Rutherford, California

Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford)
Credit: 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

Meadowood Napa Valley
Credit: Courtesy of Meadowood

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

Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square
Credit: Courtesy of Sofitel Lafayette Square

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#22 Four Seasons Hotel (91.77)Chicago

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels, Chicago

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#21 Little Nell (91.78)Aspen, Colorado

Little Nell
Credit: Courtesy of The Little Nell

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#20 The Peninsula (91.92)Beverly Hills

The Peninsula
Credit: Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

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#19 Montage Laguna Beach (92.15)California

Montage Laguna Beach
Credit: Courtesy of Montage Resort

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

Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Credit: Kelly Kollar

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#17 Sutton Place Hotel (92.27) *$Chicago

Sutton Place Hotel
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.

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#16 Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (92.28)Dallas

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

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#15 Halekulani (92.43)Oahu

Halekulani
Credit: Courtesy of Halekulani Hotel

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

Fearrington House Country Inn
Credit: Courtesy of Fearrington House Restaurant & Country Hotel

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#13 Sonnenalp Resort of Vail (92.52)Colorado

Sonnenalp Resort of Vail
Credit: Courtesy of Sonnenalp

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#12 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (92.74)Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Credit: 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

Rittenhouse Hotel
Credit: Courtesy of Rittenhouse, Philadelphia

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

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Credit: Courtesy of Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

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#9 The Peninsula (93.09)Chicago

The Peninsula Chicago
Credit: Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels

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

Post Ranch Inn
Credit: Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn

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

Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Credit: Courtesy of Inn at Palmetto Bluff

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#6 Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole (93.43)Wyoming

Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole
Credit: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts, Jackson Hole

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

Hotel Bel-Air
Credit: Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air

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

Woodlands Resort & Inn
Credit: Courtesy of Woodlands Inn

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

Trump International Hotel & Tower
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.

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

San Ysidro Ranch, A Rosewood Resort
Credit: 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

Triple Creek Ranch
Credit: Courtesy of Triple Creek Ranch

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

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    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

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