Known for its annual rating of the world’s leading luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, Forbes Travel Guide has revealed its 2019 World’s Best Rooms list.
Spanning 41 rooms across 17 countries, the list was compiled from detailed data gathered by the company’s expert inspectors, who stayed at each hotel incognito and paid their way as seemingly ordinary guests.
During their stay, they evaluated up to 900 exacting standards – from the quality of the linens to the variety of goods offered in the minibar. The resulting 41 winners achieved faultless scores on guest room and bathroom standards measuring luxury, comfort, cleanliness and convenience.
The US is home to the most hotels on this year’s list, with 12 properties recognised including The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Nobu Ryokan Malibu and The St. Regis Aspen Resort. China came in second with six featured hotels, followed by France with four.
These are just a few of the stunning resorts with rooms that received a flawless rating:
The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland
Since its 2013 opening across from the Andermatt train station – 1,447 metres above sea level – The Chedi Andermatt stunned guests with its inspired, East-meets-West design.
Designed by star architect Jean-Michel Gathy, the property may look like a high-rise Swiss chalet from the outside, but its interiors seamlessly blend alpine-chic with warm Asian accents – all the way from its authentic Japanese restaurant to its chakra-balancing spa treatments.
The hotel also boasts a handful of indoor and outdoor pools, an extensive wine and cheese cellar and a cigar library. Inside each of its 123 rooms, you’ll find soft leather sofas and dark wood furnishings, traditional Japanese chabudai tables and a roaring fireplace – not to mention an unrivalled Hästens bed.
Bulgari Resort, Bali
Bali is brimming with decadent beachside resorts, so when Bulgari Hotels & Resorts decided to build in Uluwatu, the boutique hotel industry held its breath. Perched on a cliff 150 metres above the Indian Ocean, Bulgari Resort Bali’s 59 villas and five mansions combine traditional Balinese design with custom Italian style.
In this private tropical oasis, guests have exclusive access to a multitude of services and activities. From helicopter adventures and visits to the local market with your own personal shopper to yoga classes or day excursions to nearby islands – every want and need is anticipated and catered for.
Be sure to stop in for a treatment at the signature Bulgari Spa, do some shopping at the two Bulgari stores, or ride the inclinator down through the jungle to the resort’s private beach.
Encore Macau
Comprised of 410 exquisite suites, the Encore Tower is the perfect place for a luxurious escape, with each space designed offering the best in service and amenities.
While it’s housed within the sprawling Wynn Macau Hotel property, the care given to guests of the Encore Tower rivals gives it the impression of an intimate boutique hotel.
Upon entering the glamorous lobby, you’re greeted by an enormous tank of jellyfish behind the reception desk, a chandelier put together from more than 1,300 rock crystals, glossy marble pillars and oversized flower arrangements.
Of course, Encore has its own deluxe spa, chic dining and shopping outlets including Chanel, Cartier and Piaget, and it’s connected to Wynn’s casino, restaurants and bars, pool and lush gardens.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico
Sitting on some 20 beachfront hectares, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is ideal for nature lovers. After a complete refresh in 2018, the plantation-turned-luxury hotel shows an even deeper respect for its Caribbean surrounds.
It offers an array of amenities and facilities including the impressive Spa Botánico, two spectacular 18-hole golf courses, a range of dining experiences, the Encanto Beach Club featuring adult and family pools, and the Rockefeller Nature Trail.
Whether you choose to stay in a decadent suite, a private beachfront residence or the massive 744-square-metre Su Casa estate, a staff of dedicated embajadores (ambassadors) are at the ready to fulfil any request.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, France
Having hosted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill, palatial opulence is expected from the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel.
From its sumptuous rooms and airy terraces to its lively Club Dauphin – which sits beside one of the world’s most beautiful swimming pools – this landmark hotel is at the forefront of Riviera life.
Each glamorous guest room promotes indoor-outdoor living and offers spectacular views stretching from Nice to Monaco. When hungry, guests have the choice of Michelin-starred Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine at Le Cap, craft cocktails and small bites at Le Bar or a private dinner and wine tasting in the world-renowned wine cellar, Le Salon Des Collections.
Which of these stunning One&Only Resorts would you choose?
