The Top 15 Resort Hotels in the Continental United States in 2017
By Lila Battis July 11, 2017
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch
Credit: Courtesy of The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch
There’ll always be a special place in our hearts for the rolling hills of Tuscany and the beaches of Bali. But whether it’s farm-to-fork dining or white sands you’re after, America can easily match the offerings of your favorite international destinations.
For proof, look no further than this year’s list of the best resort hotels in the United States. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations.
This year’s reader favorites are as diverse as the States themselves. In Boca Grande, Florida, the stately, century-old Gasparilla Inn and Club has palm-tree-rimmed beaches and a polished, formal atmosphere. “Old Florida at its finest, and the most genial and genuine service anywhere,” said one reader. Find the ultimate preppy coastal getaway in — where else? — Cape Cod, at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, while just a few hours away, Blantyre would be just as at home on the English moors as it is in the Massachusetts Berkshires.
Still, a few patterns reveal the destinations most likely to satisfy. A third of our winners are clustered in the Southeast, proving that Southern hospitality is as in-demand as ever. Tiny Vermont had an outsized impact on readers, with Twin Farms and Rabbit Hill Inn taking fifth and sixth place, respectively. And be it hitting the back nine in the Santa Cruz foothills or sipping pinot in Sonoma, California is an enduring favorite for travelers.
This year, the American West has captured the imaginations of T+L readers more than ever. Runner-up Triple Creek Ranch, a Relais & Châteaux property, is a relaxed hideaway in the Montana Rockies. And the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, in neighboring Wyoming, debuted at first place, impressing readers with its enviable mountainside location and careful blend of refinement and rusticity. With this many jaw-dropping resort hotels to explore right here in the States, who needs Tuscany?
For proof, look no further than this year’s list of the best resort hotels in the United States. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations.
This year’s reader favorites are as diverse as the States themselves. In Boca Grande, Florida, the stately, century-old Gasparilla Inn and Club has palm-tree-rimmed beaches and a polished, formal atmosphere. “Old Florida at its finest, and the most genial and genuine service anywhere,” said one reader. Find the ultimate preppy coastal getaway in — where else? — Cape Cod, at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, while just a few hours away, Blantyre would be just as at home on the English moors as it is in the Massachusetts Berkshires.
Still, a few patterns reveal the destinations most likely to satisfy. A third of our winners are clustered in the Southeast, proving that Southern hospitality is as in-demand as ever. Tiny Vermont had an outsized impact on readers, with Twin Farms and Rabbit Hill Inn taking fifth and sixth place, respectively. And be it hitting the back nine in the Santa Cruz foothills or sipping pinot in Sonoma, California is an enduring favorite for travelers.
This year, the American West has captured the imaginations of T+L readers more than ever. Runner-up Triple Creek Ranch, a Relais & Châteaux property, is a relaxed hideaway in the Montana Rockies. And the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, in neighboring Wyoming, debuted at first place, impressing readers with its enviable mountainside location and careful blend of refinement and rusticity. With this many jaw-dropping resort hotels to explore right here in the States, who needs Tuscany?
1 of 15
15. Blantyre, Lenox, Massachusetts
Blantyre
Credit: Courtesy of Blantyre
Score: 95.83
1 of 15
Advertisement
Advertisement
2 of 15
14. Old Edwards Inn & Spa, Highlands, North Carolina
Old Edwards Inn & Spa
Credit: Courtesy of Old Edwards Inn & Spa
Score: 95.89
2 of 15
3 of 15
13. Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, California
Farmhouse Inn
Credit: Courtesy of Farmhouse Inn
Score: 96.06
3 of 15
Advertisement
4 of 15
12. Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Chatham, Massachusetts
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club
Credit: Courtesy of Wequassett Resort & Golf Club
Score: 96.21
4 of 15
5 of 15
11. Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, Gateway, Colorado
Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa
Credit: Courtesy of Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa
Score: 96.24
5 of 15
6 of 15
10. Château du Sureau, Oakhurst, California
Château du Sureau
Credit: Courtesy of Château du Sureau
Score: 96.25
6 of 15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
7 of 15
9. Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee
Blackberry Farm
Credit: Courtesy of Blackberry Farm
Score: 96.37
7 of 15
8 of 15
8. The Willcox, Aiken, South Carolina
The Willcox
Credit: Courtesy of The Willcox
Score: 96.38
8 of 15
9 of 15
7. Gasparilla Inn & Club, Boca Grande, Florida
Gasparilla Inn, Florida
Credit: Courtesy of Gasparilla Inn
Score: 96.43
9 of 15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
10 of 15
6. Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, Vermont
Rabbit Hill Inn
Credit: Jumping Rocks Inc
Score: 96.87
10 of 15
11 of 15
5. Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont
Twin Farms, Vermont
Credit: Courtesy of Twin Farms
Score: 97.54
11 of 15
12 of 15
4. Rosewood CordeValle, San Martin, California
CordeValle, California
Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Score: 98.00
12 of 15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
13 of 15
3. Inn at Willow Grove, Orange, Virginia
The Inn at Willow Grove
Credit: Courtesy of The Inn at Willow Grove
Score: 98.13
13 of 15
14 of 15
2. Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana
Triple Creek Ranch
Credit: Courtesy of Triple Creek Ranch
Score: 98.23
14 of 15
15 of 15
1. Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming
The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch
Credit: Courtesy of The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch
Score: 98.77
15 of 15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
By Lila Battis