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This article is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more.
Some of the world’s best hotels are dotted all over the USA.
The country isn’t only a treasure trove for travellers seeking high-end dining, natural wonders, and pure adrenaline, but also home to many unique places where one can stay — places that simply couldn’t be imitated in any other corner of the world.
Location and design are two elements that help separate a great stay from an unforgettable one. You can’t have supreme comfort and a genuine sense of luxury without also considering aesthetics. That’s why the country’s most successful hotels make the most of historic buildings or epic locations, channelling a sense of place and setting that elevates the guest experience (both inside and out).
Below, you’ll find 20 of the most beautiful hotels in the USA: from luxury camps rooted in secluded valleys, and historic city mansions given contemporary facelifts, to countryside castles and moody lakeside lodges.
Camp Sarika by Amangiri
Where Is It?
Canyon Point, Utah
Deeply immersive and hard to forget, Camp Sarika by Amangiri is one of the country’s front-runners when it comes to luxury travel and a definitive bucket list experience for nature lovers.
Just four hours from Las Vegas, this secluded 600-acre property is tucked into a cinematic corner of southern Utah, surrounded by a protected valley, three national parks, and the Navajo Nation Reservation. The seamless blend of Old West and modern luxury is unparalleled in the country, with 10 high-end pavilions for extra privacy.
Hotel Emma
Where Is It?
San Antonio, Texas
Located in the historic Pearl District of San Antonio, Texas, the tasteful Hotel Emma is, according to TripAdvisor, the USA’s #1 luxury stay for 2023. The devil’s in the details for the 146-room hotel’s soaring success — from the elegant 3,700-book library to the exclusive rooftop pool.
San Antonio is one of the USA’s oldest cities known for its historic missions, the Battle Of Alamo, and iconic Riverwalk. It’s also one of only two spots in the country with UNESCO City of Gastronomy status – bolstered by its mouth-watering Tex-Mex cuisine. Use this stay as a base to explore top-tier dining experiences like nearby Best Quality Daughter, the inventive Clementine, as well as the Thai-Texas fusion of Curry Boys BBQ.
Commodore Perry Estate
Where Is It?
Austin, Texas
The lively city of Austin holds some of the country’s best urban hotels. Yet few are as inspired as the dignified Commodore Perry Estate — an inspired transformation of a historic Italianate mansion that dates back to the 1920s.
Located in central Austin, the Commodore Perry Estate is a lavish base for travellers looking to sink their teeth into the city’s outstanding food scene and great live music venues. Gold-standard hospitality from the reliable Auberge Resorts Collection ensures guests don’t want for anything, while the generously sized rooms are as attractive as the hotel’s elegant public spaces, which lean on stately details like a spiral staircase, antique light fixtures, and English-style manicured gardens.
Little Palm Island
Where Is It?
Florida Keys, Florida
An obscure four-acre island in the Florida Keys once frequented by former President Harry Truman has been turned into the country’s only private island resort.
Following a 2.5-hour drive south from Miami, a wooden motor yacht, affectionately named “Truman,” transports you to this lush, palm-fringed paradise with 30 thatched-roof luxury bungalows framed by an exotic landscape of mangroves, sandbars, and off-the-grid privacy. It’s now considered the USA’s finest example of barefoot luxury and represents the very best of the ‘keys’ laidback lifestyle.
The Plaza
Where Is It?
New York, New York
What makes New York’s most famous hotel such a prized institution is its storied history and deeply rooted connection to Manhattan. Located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 58th Street with commanding views over Central Park, The Plaza has hosted extravagant high-society soirees like Truman Capote’s 1966 black and white ball and been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, including Home Alone 2, Seinfeld, Sleepless in Seattle, and Almost Famous.
The hotel is conveniently placed to explore Central Park, Midtown and the Upper East Side, as well as Hell’s Kitchen all by foot, with easy access to the FDR for adventures in the LES and over to Brooklyn.
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
Where Is It?
Half Moon Bay, California
While many visitors to San Francisco head north into the wine country, it’s just as wise to head south of the city and explore the vast beauty of the Half Moon Bay peninsula. One of California’s most picturesque regions offers an unrivalled combination of classic small coastal towns, rural charm and stunning natural beauty.
It is also home to the state’s most lavish Ritz-Carlton property, less than an hour’s drive from SF. That is the 261-room Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay — a grand and thoroughly impressive hotel with magnificent ocean views, a 36-hole golf course and an acclaimed Navio restaurant.
Maison De La Luz
Where Is It?
New Orleans, Louisiana
Coming from the same group behind the Ace Hotel brand, Mansion De La Luz located in the warehouse district — minutes from the historic French Quarter — sticks out like a sore, bejewelled thumb in the heart of New Orleans.
The 67-room boutique hotel centres aesthetic brilliance, working up theatrical common spaces that feel ripped straight from a Wes Anderson film. The Art Deco appeal extends to the large rooms and suites, as well as the best-in-class destination bar with a secret bookcase that opens into a private salon. Whether you’re travelling to New Orleans for jazz, Creole fare, or the Superbowl, Mansion De La Luz needs to be your base.
Fairmont San Francisco
Where Is It?
San Francisco, California
The Fairmont hotel brand is one of the most recognised symbols of luxury in North America, and it all started with this grand 606-room hotel sitting pretty atop San Francisco’s ritzy Nob Hill.
Once home to the “Big Four” – four famous San Francisco railroad entrepreneurs who built their mansions on the top of the hill in the late 1800s – the neighbourhood still boasts a sense of wealth and privilege, as well as must-see attractions like the Grace Cathedral, Cable Car Museum, and Nob Hill Masonic Centre. As the city’s most impressive property, the stately building represents the glitzier side of the Bay Area, with a stunning lobby and elegant suites, the best of which have large, homely balconies looking over the hilly city.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe
Where Is It?
Santa Fe, New Mexico
With an adventure centre dedicated to exploring the fabled landscapes of New Mexico, this unique 65-room resort is the perfect base in the country’s oldest capital city.
Postured on 57 acres in the rolling Sangre de Cristo foothills, only 10 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, Rancho Encantado feels like a set piece from Breaking Bad, consisting of well-appointed casitas that look out to dramatic rock formations and dusty hiking trails. Start your day on a mountain bike or in a hot air balloon, then spend the afternoon perusing the hundreds of local art galleries and sampling one of the most colourful culinary scenes in the USA.
Shore Lodge
Where Is It?
McCall, Idaho
Shore Lodge is all about its idyllic location, nestled alongside the pristine waters of Payette Lake in the spectacular Salmon River Mountains in McCall, Idaho, a scenic two-hour drive from Boise.
Direct access to year-round mountain sports is part of the appeal, especially when there are so many ways to relax back at the lodge, which has 77 rustic suites designed as traditional alpine accommodation. The star feature is the Japanese-inspired spa and hot tub, especially valuable after a long day on the slopes.
The Kentucky Castle
Where Is It?
Versailles, Kentucky
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in Europe when arriving at the 13-room Kentucky Castle, just a short drive from Kentucky’s capital Frankfort, on the outskirts of Lexington. Rex Martin and his wife Caroline built this impressive property in 1969 after finding inspiration on a honeymoon in Europe, erecting an incredibly unique 110-acre estate just outside of Lexington.
While it’s changed hands many times, the current owners have transformed the timeless building into a luxury boutique hotel with a spa, swimming pool, its own Bourbon bar, and a farm-to-table restaurant. Make a day trip to Churchill Downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby or tour the world’s longest cave, located in the Mammoth Cave National Park less than two hours drive away.
Adero
Where Is It?
Scottsdale, Arizona
You’ll find ADERO high in the red-faced desert hills of Arizona, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, between the dramatic McDowell Mountains and picturesque Verde River.
ADERO is pitched as a high-end oasis ideal for luxury adventure travellers wanting to experience the area’s hiking, biking, golf courses, equestrian trails, lively festivals, and epic stargazing at night. While adrenaline surrounds the property, inside, it’s all about relaxation and romance, best expressed by any of the 177 rooms, which all have private balconies benefitting from unobstructed views of Arizona’s famed Four Peaks and McDowell Mountain Range.
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Jackson Hole
Where Is It?
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole refers to the 42-mile-long valley between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountains in Wyoming that consists of several towns, of which Jackson is the largest. A short drive from Jackson is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, one of the USA’s top-rated ski resorts, which is home to the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Jackson Hole.
A perfectly formed alpine retreat of wood, stone, and an unrivalled sense of luxury. Four Seasons puts its best foot forward in the face of the mighty Teton Mountains, where each of the 156 rooms and suites is designed after pine trees and green valleys. That’s exactly what you’ll find surrounding the property, offering a plethora of adventure activities while a cosy stone fireplace and plush amenities await each night.
Post Ranch Inn
Where Is It?
Big Sur, California
Better views of the California coastline don’t exist than that of Big Sur, a 90-mile-long stretch of majestic rocky cliffs, lush mountains, panoramic beaches, and coastal redwood forests, twisting along Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon.
Minutes from Loma Vista, a historic property that’s home to the world-renowned Big Sur Bakery, Post Ranch Inn is rightfully considered one of the USA’s finest eco-resorts. Offering just 39 individually designed rooms with each either facing the mountains or the Pacific, reclaimed redwood panelled walls fit seamlessly with Big Sur’s immaculate landscape. If you can peel yourself away from your 180-degree wraparound verandah, the hotel’s Sierra Mar restaurant is a fine-dining institution, hinged on cinematic cliff-edge views so you can watch whales at breakfast.
The Point
Where Is It?
Saranac Lake, New York
Right at the top of New York State, two hours south of Montreal, Canada, and two hours west of Burlington, Vermont, the beloved The Point estate dates back to the 1930s when it was built as a private retreat for John D. Rockefeller’s grand-nephew.
Now making the most of the 75-acre peninsula on which it stands, The Point is the kind of secluded Upstate New York stay that most people could only dream of. Atmospheric, incredibly private, and only reserved for a few guests at a time, with just 11 rooms, this is a blend of nature, luxury and old-school hospitality.
Triple Creek Ranch
Where Is It?
Darby, Montana
Elevated by perfect views of the craggy peaks of Bitterroot Mountains, Triple Creek Ranch is a 1.5-hour drive south of Montana’s Missoula Airport and balances the great American outdoors with uncompromised luxury.
With just 25 cabins on offer, guests can enjoy relative privacy while spending their days making the most of the all-inclusive menu of activities, from horseback riding, fly fishing, and hiking, to playing tennis, learning archery and, in winter, snowshoeing. Then, it’s simply a matter of giving oneself over to the ranch’s upscale amenities — from the fine-dining restaurant to the well-appointed pool deck.
Alila Napa Valley
Where Is It?
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California just over an hour’s drive from San Francisco. It is amongst the world’s top wine destinations, boasting more than 400 wineries and wine-tasting rooms.
Surrounded by some of Napa Valley’s greatest hits, including the famed Beringer Vineyards, Alila transforms a 1905 Victorian-style farmhouse into St. Helena’s finest stay. Almost all of the 68 rooms and suites come with terraces, presenting immaculate views across one of the world’s most renowned wine regions. Needless to say, signature restaurant Acacia House has an extensive wine list that’s worth the visit alone and best enjoyed by the outdoor fire pits.
The Cloister at Sea Island
Where Is It?
Sea Island, Georgia
Georgia’s foremost symbol of luxury, Sea Island, is a 1.5-hour drive from Savannah, Georgia to the north or Jacksonville, Florida to the South. The private, gated island is only accessible to Sea Island Club members and guests of any three of its five-star hotels.
Its most accessible, The Cloister, stands out with its stately design and Mediterranean-style amenities. Fringed by palms, the Palazzo-style Sea Island has no less than seven high-end restaurants, so when you’re done with the days horseback riding, boating, and fishing, you can choose somewhere like the Georgian Room to end your day, eating fresh lobster under gold and crystal chandeliers, while indulging in some charming, old-school Southern hospitality.
Montage Healdsburg
Where Is It?
Healdsburg, California
With 90-plus vineyards and wineries, Michelin-star dining, boutique shops, and charming historical eateries, Healdsburg’s easy access to Sonoma County makes the Montage an ideal base for a romantic getaway.
Surrounded by moss-covered California oak trees, this 258-acre estate in Sonoma wine country showcases the region’s best produce. Wines and beers mostly come from the productive Russian River area and diners benefit from the hyperlocal approach at signature restaurant Hazel Hill. Everything about the Montage Healdsburg champions its location, so this 130-room resort feels like a true one-of-one stay for anyone who wants deeper immersion into one of the country’s most bountiful culinary hotspots.
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection
Where Is It?
Wanship, Utah
Located a 45-minute drive east of Salt Lake City and 25 minutes north of Park City, in northern Utah, The Lodge at Blue Sky feels like a natural extension of its epic setting, surrounded by the pine-covered foothills of the Uinta Mountains.
Local limestone and glass define the resort’s attractive facade, but it’s much more impressive being inside looking outwards to the property’s private canyon, flecked with steel Creekside Cabins and an infinity pool. Rivers, streams, and high alpine lakes make up the 3,500-acre property, so hiking around this gorgeous part of the USA is a must.
This article is sponsored by VisitTheUSA.com.au and is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more, and thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
