Meadowood Spa reception Courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley
Forbes Travel Guide revealed its 2017 Star Award winners, a selection of the world’s best hotels, restaurants and spas.
Who’s new to the list? This year’s additions include 181 hotels, 32 restaurants and 40 spas.
Forbes Travel Guide used boots-on-the-ground research and a “proprietary algorithm” to ferret out the best properties, bestowing on winners a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended award.
Five Stars represents the best of the best. Among the newbies, 22 hotels nabbed top honors, 76 landed a Four-Star award, and 83 hopped on the Recommended list.
America Scores with Five-Star Award Winners
The United States didn’t outshine the world, but it cracked double digits. Ten U.S. hotels, restaurants and spas joined the Five-Star club.
Among hotels, California edged out Florida, 2-1.
* Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego
* Solage, An Auberge Resort in Calistoga, California
In the restaurant category, Las Vegas grabbed all three spots.
* Picasso
* Wing Lei
Four spas spread the bliss across three states.
* ESPA at Vdara in Las Vegas
* Meadowood Spa in St. Helena, California
* Palm Beach Spa at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
* The Spa at Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California
Meet the Superstars of Five Stars
Forbes Travel Guide has no plans to introduce a sixth star in its rating system, but certain U.S. properties deserve special recognition. Here are the eight hotels that won the luxury trifecta—Five-Star ratings for their hotel, restaurant and spa.
* The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs
* The Cloister in Sea Island, Georgia
* Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego
* Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas
* Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island
It doesn’t get better than that anywhere in the world. That is, unless you’re staying at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong or Wynn Macau. Each tallied six Five-Star awards for its hotel, spa and four restaurants, a new record.
