Top 20 Hotels: Editor's Picks


Mainland U.S.
 
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
The Ritz preps you for the South Beach scene with Prada facials and 23-spray “power showers” in the spa. The new David Bouley Evolution restaurant makes the hotel a dining destination. (800) 241-3333 or (786) 276-4000, www.ritzcarlton.com

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona 
From kitchen gardens on the property to organic chocolate in the mini-bars, The Boulders new organic focus includes hiring organic champion chef Wendy Little. Upcoming: casita renovations. (866) 397-6520, www.theboulders.com

Inn of the Anasazi, A Rosewood Hotel, Santa Fe
Since Rosewood took over management of this Santa Fe classic, they’ve spruced up rooms and added a new outdoor dining space, drawing the likes of Tom Ford and Julia Roberts. (800) 688-8100 or (505) 988-3030, www.rosewoodhotels.com

The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows
The Pink Palace debuts a new bar this season, Bar Nineteen 12, inspired by Parisian nightclubs and aiming for the Hollywood jet set. (800) 650-1842 or (310) 276-2251, www.beverlyhillshotel.com
 

Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort lana’i, the Lodge at Koele
Recently branded a Four Seasons, the luxury Lana’i lodge now sports fresh new guestroom décor, including flat-screen TVs. Fireside in the lobby: a new gourmet hot chocolate menu. (800) 321-4666 or (808) 565-4000, www.fourseasons.com/koele

Kona Village Resort, Ka’upulehu
A new dive operation and underwater scooters boost the action at the rustic chic compound of thatch-roofed hale, or bungalows, on a black-and-white-sand beach. (800) 367-5290 or (808) 325-5555, www.konavillage.com


Canada

King Pacific Lodge, A Rosewood Resort, Princess Royal Island  (pictured right)
The floating luxury lodge that operates in summer only plans to reduce its carbon footprint by half, installing a river hydro plant and solar panels, and offsetting carbon emissions of guest travel. (888) 592-5464, www.kingpacificlodge.com


Mexico/Central America/South America

Esperanza, An Auberge Resort, Los Cabos
A new yoga studio, classes, and mats in the rooms boost mental balance. Closing mid-July through October, the resort will double the size of its spa. Recent sightings: Sheryl Crow, Leonardo DiCaprio. (866) 311-2226 or 011-52-624-145-6400, www.esperanzaresort.com

Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico 
Celebrity yoga instructor and author Cyndi Lee now leads yoga retreats at the Riviera Maya’s best beach resort. (866) 454-9351 or 011-52-998-872-8200, www.maromahotel.com


Caribbean

Petit St. Vincent Resort, Grenadines
Hoist a yellow flag for room service outside your stone cottage on the 113-acre island, or have lunch in the resort’s new open-air, seaview pavilion featuring a brick oven. (800) 654-9326 or (954) 963-7401, www.psvresort.com

Point Grace, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies
A new kid’s club launches this summer including evening activities that give parents romantic time alone. Also new: a gourmet menu paired with wines, and a Caribbean-accented menu. (866) 924-7223 or (970) 513-8007, www.pointgrace.com 


Europe

Hotel Splendido, Portofino, Italy (pictured  right)
A new open-air spa in the garden offers treatments based on ancient oriental wellness practices. Past guests: Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg. (800) 237-1236 or 011-39-01-852-67800, www.hotelsplendido.com

Four Seasons Hotel Prague
The Four Seasons delivers keys to the city: private palace tours, town cruises in a champagne-stocked Bentley, private opera boxes. A 2007 Pierre-Yves Rochon redo brings Biedermeier-style furniture and Bohemian crystal chandeliers. (800) 819-5053 or 011-420-221-427-000, www.fourseasons.com/prague


Asia

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Hybrid “Shangri-La Singapore” orchids line the driveway entering the lush, 15-acre grounds. Also new: the fastest Internet broadband in town and IT butlers to help guests connect. (866) 565-5050 or 011-65-6737-3644, www.shangri-la.com


Africa

MalaMala Game Reserve, mpumalanga, South Africa
The new Rattray’s on MalaMala, a deluxe eight-suite safari camp on the Sand River, limits each safari vehicle to four guests for intimate tours. 011-27-11-442-2267, www.malamala.com


Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific

InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Opened May 2006, this Bora Bora hotel offers 80 over-
water villas, an over-water wedding chapel, and a spa using mineral-rich water extracted from 3,000 feet below the surface. 011-689-60-7600, www.boraboraspa.inter
continental.com
 

Business

Chase Park Plaza, St. Louis
Chase Park’s new Club Level offers execs access to the ninth floor private lounge with WiFi, 50-inch plasma TVs, and complimentary food and drink throughout the day. Some $20 million just went into renovating all guestrooms and meeting spaces. (877) 587-2427 or (314) 633-3000, www.chaseparkplaza.com

The Peninsula Bangkok
A new spa offers customized treatments based on traditional Asian practices in a three-story colonial-Thai building with balconied, river-view VIP suites. 011-66-2-861-2888, www.peninsula.com


Family Resorts

Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
A recently completed, $15,000-per-room update installed faux-painted walls, deep soaking tubs, flat-panel TVs, and new bedding. Its perennial family appeal: the tranquil swimming cove. (800) 445-8667 or 011-52-624-145-500, www.hiltonloscabos.com 

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta
Cedar chalets and log cabins allow families to spread out at this Canadian mountain gem where the children’s area, fitness center, and restaurant were recently renovated. (800) 441-1414 or (780) 852-3301, www.fairmont.com  


Mainland U.S. | Hawaii | Canada | Mexico/Central America/South America | Caribbean | Europe | Asia | Africa | Australia/New Zeland/South Pacific | U.S. Business | International | Business | Family Resorts | Editor's Picks