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Top 20 Mainland U.S. Hotels

1. Bellagio, Las Vegas
Bellagio didn’t just reinvent Las Vegas as a luxury destination; its approach — importing celebrity chefs, designer shops, fine art, and a super spa — influenced the entire world of hotels. CL readers’ favorite and the top choice of Hollywood A-listers like George Clooney and Julia Roberts, the Bellagio has newly made itself the go-to hotel for collectors by adding an art advisory service. (888) 987-6667 or (702) 693-7111, www.bellagio.com

2. Mansion on Turtle Creek, A Rosewood Hotel, Dallas
The restored Italian Renaissance-style Sheppard King home hosts the intimate, elegant Mansion on Turtle Creek. You’d expect a great dining room in a mansion, and this Mansion makes dining a point of pride. Longtime chef Dean Fearing recently left, but newcomer John Tesar amply fills his toque and will soon oversee a dining room redo. No wonder rock stars, fashionistas, dignitaries, and foodies bunk here. (800) 527-5432 or (214) 559-2100, www.rosewoodhotels.com

3. The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas
Never one to rest on its laurels, the all-suite Venetian has embarked on a room renovation program that will install multiple flat-screen TVs, WiFi, Anichini bed linens, and a more contemporary look in all rooms by year-end. Marquee chefs Mario Batali and David Burke both debut new restaurants here, and the new TAO Beach brings the nightclub scene poolside. (877) 883-6423 or (702) 414-1000, www.venetian.com

4. The Phoenician, Scottsdale
The gold standard in the Valley of the Sun, The Phoenician has announced a new fractional residence club to be completed by January 2008. (800) 888-8234 or (480) 941-8200, www.thephoenician.com

5. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
New brownstone homes with golf course views, a south tower renovation, and a Nicklaus Design-reconfigured golf course update this classic mountain retreat recently visited by Jay Leno. (800) 634-7711 or (719) 634-7711, www.broadmoor.com

6. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Fresh from a multimillion-dollar room and lobby redesign, rooms at the Four Seasons Chicago now feature leather window seats, WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and a sleeker look. (800) 332-3442 or (312) 280-8800, www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs

7. The Peninsula Chicago
This hotel houses Chicago’s reigning best spa, with a window-wrapped, top-floor lap pool. The Peninsula rises a spot since last year’s survey — no doubt thanks in part to the recent spa renovation and expansion, including ESPA branding. (866) 288-8889 or (312) 337-2888, www.peninsula.com

8. Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Allergy-friendly Spa Lifestyle Rooms with in-room fitness equipment and a new South Beach Experience, along with a yacht to transport you there, make the Mandarin one of Miami’s best addresses. (866) 888-6780 or (305) 913-8288, www.mandarinoriental.com/miami

9. Four Seasons Hotel New York
New stateside home of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, New York’s most lavish Four Seasons will boast the country’s most expensive suite — $30,000 per night — occupying the entire 52nd floor when it opens later this year. (800) 819-5053 or (212) 758-5700, www.fourseasons.com/newyork

10. St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, California
Surf butlers to help you hang five and facials from Italy’s Terme di Saturnia skin care line endear guests including Terence Howard and John Travolta. (800) 722-1543 or (949) 234-3200, www.stregismb.com

11. The Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach
Top ocean-view rooms with patios and fireplaces overlook the famed Links at Spanish Bay, celebrating its 20th anniversary of celebrity this year. (800) 654-9300 or (831) 647-7500, www.pebblebeach.com

12. Omni La Mansión del Rio, San Antonio
Omni Hotels acquired the beloved La Mansión and its intimate neighbor the Watermark last year, installing pillow-top beds, duvets, and flat-screen TVs this summer. (888) 444-6664 or (210) 518-1000, www.omnihotels.com

13. (tie) The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach
Former Four Seasons Beverly Hills chef Ressul Rassallat now cooks up fare loaded with luxuries at The Lodge’s contemporary fine dining room Club XIX. (800) 654-9300 or (831) 647-7500, www.pebblebeach.com

13. (tie) The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel)
Chicago’s esteemed Ritz recently closed its gilded dining room in favor of more market-driven fare served in The Café. More fresh air: a Saturday night cupcake buffet and a girl’s getaway package that includes a raid on the pastry pantry. (800) 819-5053 or (312) 266-1000, www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc

15. Montage, Laguna Beach
Montage’s clifftop views alone are calming, boosted by a trend-forward spa with new aroma balancing treatments, wellness classes, and retreats with your personal trainer. The reward: a private session with the sommelier. (866) 271-6953 or (949) 715-6000, www.
montagelagunabeach.com

16. Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, California
Come for the board at the Michelin-starred restaurant and stay for the bed, especially in one of two private cottages renovated last summer. New for sybarites: spa treatments paired with wine, and a new pool. (800) 348-5406 or (707) 963-1211, www.aubergedusoleil.com

17. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
The 1909 Nob Hill grande dame, updated with a $12.5 million investment last summer, now ingratiates frequent guests by storing clothing and personal items between visits upon request. (800) 241-3333 or (415) 296-7465, www.ritzcarlton.com

18. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Chef Laurent Tourondel checks in to the New York Ritz this summer with the seasonally minded BLT Market, and the hotel’s La Prairie spa takes years off, using diamonds on your body and caviar on your face. (800) 241-3333 or (212) 308-9100, www.ritzcarlton.com

19. St. Regis Hotel, New York
New York’s Beaux Arts landmark St. Regis debuted its 1,700-square-foot Bottega Veneta Suite earlier this year featuring suede and leather treatments throughout. Michelin triple-starred chef Alain Ducasse moves into the kitchen next fall. (888) 625-5144 or (212) 753-4500, www.stregis.com

The Platinum List

Isn’t it great to hear firsthand from a friend about a wonderful travel experience, complete with tips on where to stay and where to play? Welcome to the ever-popular Celebrated Living Readers’ Choice Platinum List, which is like having more than 38,000 friends share their travel preferences in one superb best-of-the-best list. And what a list it is: 130 luxury hotels, 48 legendary golf courses, 26 sumptuous spas, and 10 top cruise lines.

Two highlights of the survey, for me, actually take the form of statistics — we received 10 percent more entries than last year, and a whopping 79 percent more of you reported you read Celebrated Living regularly. As editor, that’s music to my ears.

For your eyes, our Platinum List has a handsome new design, courtesy of CL’s talented art director Marilyn Calley. The pages are fresh, engaging, and filled with images that will make you say “I want to go there,” or, also fun, “We’ve been there and loved it!” As one reader commented, “These picks are a mix of places already visited and those I dream of visiting.” See for yourself, beginning with a handy pullout compilation list on page 49.

Of course, we wanted to entice and reward you for taking the time to weigh in with your outstanding travel knowledge. Grand Prize winner Henry de Lagarde is glad he participated. He was randomly chosen to win a two-year lease on a 2007 Lincoln MKX, MKZ, or Navigator (he chose the MKZ and is pictured with it here), and 500,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Ten Second Prize winners received 50,000 miles each. Quite an incentive, I’d say.

We hope you’ll agree that the rest of this summer issue is as entertaining and enlightening as the Platinum List. There’s a feature story on Heidi Klum, a look at chartering fabulous yachts, five great summer motorcycle rides and several bikes to enjoy them with, a tour of several cool European castles, and more. Or, for those weekends when you want to just sit back and enjoy your own backyard, check out our cocktail story, with recipes perfect for poolside sipping — and for contemplating where you’d like to go next.