Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards list—the annual survey of T+L readers—is out, and once again chockfull of stunning stays. Of the 100 hotels spanning 33 countries across five continents, 18 in the U.S. made the list. While only one made it to the top ten, there are two more U.S. hotels in the top 100 than there were last year.
The top of the list is dominated by safari lodges and island resorts, but the U.S. holds its own with properties that feature wide-open spaces, knockout design and deeply local flavor.
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Leading the American pack is Primland Resort, a 12,000-acre mountain escape in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Ranked number nine overall, this is the second year it’s broken into the global top ten. This resort offers seclusion, stargazing and a level of serenity that feels almost otherworldly.
Close behind is The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos, California at number 12. Housed in a reimagined 19th-century inn, it’s a slice of wine country perfection just steps from dozens of tasting rooms in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley. Readers raved about its "relaxing vibe" and small-scale charm.
San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, CA, landed at number 21, and for good reason. With 550 acres of rolling greenery, ocean views and its own 15,500-bottle wine cellar, it’s less a hotel and more a fantasy estate. Guests come for the privacy of the 38 standalone cottages and stay for the fireplaces, fresh California fare and the kind of stillness you don’t get anywhere near a city.
Other U.S. entries include The Norumbega in Camden, Maine; Quisisana Resort in Center Lovell, Maine; The Jefferson in Washington, D.C.; and Wildflower Farms in Gardiner, New York in the Northeast. Down in South Carolina, The Dunlin in Johns Island, Wentworth Mansion in Charleston and Hotel Harness in Greenville were also honored. Out west, Villa Mara Carmel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana; Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada; Madeline Hotel & Residence in Telluride, CO; Solage in Calistoga, California; and The Ranch at Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California made the list. And all the way out in Hawaii, Maui's Montage Kapalua Bay and Fairmont Kea Lani were both recognized by readers.
In total, nearly 180,000 readers rated hotels based on rooms, food, location, service and value, with standout hospitality pushing properties to the top. Find the full list of the best hotels in the world here.