15 Editor-Favorite Resorts in the US
From rings of cottages in New England to adults-only getaways in Hawaii, the very best resorts in the US are destinations in and of themselves, sprawling microcosms of the places they inhabit. Each with its own pace of life, these resorts stand out for staff that will remember your name and for the kinds of experiences that will leave an impression on you for years to come. These selections come from our Gold Lists of the past five years, Condé Nast Traveler editor-approved collections of the very best hotels and resorts around the globe. Whether you’re looking for world-class wellness offerings, beachfront views, or family-friendly activities, you won’t have to think about much once you’ve checked into one of these unforgettable properties across the country.
Top picks:
- Best for the whole family: Arizona Biltmore, LXR Hotels & Resorts
- Best for solo travelers: Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort
- Best for a romantic getaway: San Ysidro Ranch
Courtesy Woodstock Inn & ResorthotelWoodstock Inn & Resort
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Gold List 2025 
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Woodstock, Vermont
Grand, but not fussy. Of another era, but far from old-fashioned. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is the Goldilocks property that’s managed to evolve with the times while maintaining its quintessential New England charm. Situated across from the town green, the Federal-style mansion feels like a Norman Rockwell reverie. Inside, the cozy lobby serves as a communal living room where guests read newspapers. Outside, families toast s’mores around fire pits and play lawn games. Regular updates to the 200-plus-year-old hotel, including a glow-up of all 142 rooms and the addition of a Scandi-chic spa, ensure that loyal East Coasters keep returning for generations. —Jen Murphy
Courtesy White ElephanthotelWhite Elephant Nantucket
$$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket's hotel scene has grown up quite a bit over the past few years, with exciting new boutique offerings (Faraway, Life House) making waves and drawing younger, more trend-setting travelers to the brahmin island than ever before. But the most tried-and-true hotel here is one of the oldest: the harborside White Elephant, a historic inn-and-cottages resort that masters classic New England chic whilst keeping up with the times. Case in point, the resort celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023 with a complete top-to-bottom renovation of the 54-key hotel and 11 on-site cottages, including a new artist-in-residency program and airy interiors paying homage to the island's basket-weaving and seafaring heritage. Cerulean textiles, brass elephant-head door knockers, wood-and-leather armchairs, and marble accents compliment the ocean and white caps just beyond your window (or spacious seating area and balcony, if you spring for a suite). The serene great lawn and Brant Point Grill make up perhaps the most spacious stretch of waterfront dining on the island—perfect for a hearty lobster-leaning breakfast, or a perfectly balanced cocktail and raw-bar spread if you're just visiting to take in the bobbing sail boats and passing ferries. And it's all mere steps (or a complimentary bike pedal, all of about three minutes) from all the cobblestones, climbing roses, and summer crowds in town—something that, on this historic and well-loved island, you really can't beat. —Shannon McMahon
Courtesy Wynn Las VegashotelWynn Las Vegas
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Las Vegas, Nevada
When my mother and I first moved from the Philippines to the United States in 2003, we came to settle in Las Vegas. Among the entertainment capital’s flashy and over-the-top hotel offerings, my mother—and her preference for refined elegance—most often led us to the Wynn, which opened in 2005 as, in my childhood memory, the first nonthemed resort on the iconic Strip, where facsimiles of Venice, Paris, and Caesar’s Rome dominated the landscape. At the roughly 4,700-key property (which includes the original building and its sibling, the Encore, added in 2008), the theme, if I must name one, seemed to be luxury itself. To return to it now, as it gears up for its 20th anniversary in 2025, feels like a homecoming: Its casinos, high-end shops, and myriad dining and drinking outlets (29 of them, not including the three nightclubs) are better than ever, entertaining guests who’d rather indulge in high thread counts than days—or nights—of Sin City debauchery. As such, the rooms have gotten a significant upgrade in the last few years. My Tower Suite on the 40-something-th floor was tastefully designed, recently renovated in 2022, dressed in warm neutral tones, and equipped with easy-to-use tech like window shades that can open at a specified time and bring in the desert sun as I rose in the morning. The drapery, the bed, the small section of carpet in the bathroom—they all offer the body a rest after a day of taking in the sensory explosion that is the city far below. This place is in a league of its own, unbothered by the gimmicks and stunts of its peers. It is not without its light shows (this is still Vegas, after all), but sheer quality was, is, and always will be the Wynn’s calling card. —Matt Ortile
Courtesy Michael Baxter/Arizona BiltmorehotelArizona Biltmore, LXR Hotels & Resorts
$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Phoenix, Arizona
Once you’re at the Biltmore, there’s no need to really leave. You’re here to be here, though the surrounding desert landscape and Piestewa peak in full view behind the main lawn deliver the “you’re in Arizona” memo. For a hotel with over 700 rooms (amazingly, it doesn’t feel like it), each manages to feel classically luxurious without steering into the cold or cookie-cutter. Plush beds, desertscape artwork, and bulbous ceramic lamps all over make the room feel both set in the Southwest and tony enough for a Waldorf (which it was at the time of reopening). For a resort where you plan to stay on-site most of your time, the food has to deliver—by and large, it does. McArthur’s serves reliable American classics, though Renata's Hearth with its smoke-inspired menu is the place to dress up and dine at after a long day in the sun. You could come here just for the spa, where they lean into astrology, crystals, and chakra opening in a big way, resulting in massages and body work that are just that much more interesting than the usual offerings. There are unsurprisingly a ton of families here thanks to family-friendly features like connecting rooms, activities and areas just for children (such as the very popular kids’ pool), and the ease with which parents can take turns escaping for a yoga or pickleball class (it’s a very big place). That said, no matter how great the spa treatments are, nothing can melt away stress like flinging yourself down the waterslides—don’t write them off as just for kids. —Megan Spurrell
AVABLUhotel1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
$$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024Kauaui, Hawaii
Kauaui's 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has all the ingredients you might want to cook up a truly magical Hawaiian getaway—a swimmable beach right out front, a legendary surf break a short paddle away, a stunning main pool (and a sleek adults-only one), great onsite bars and restaurants, a cute town nearby for exploring, and easy access to excellent hiking. But what makes this property truly stand out in an archipelago dotted with luxe oceanfront resorts is that it’s also a legitimate wellness destination, with cutting-edge medi-spa offerings as well as serious fitness and mind/body programming. Guest rooms are a study in neutrals—sand-hued walls, reclaimed teak ceilings and furniture with rope and reed accents. Potted plants live in woven baskets and stag ferns are mounted on the walls, dried grass skirts are hung like pieces of art, the bathroom walls are lined with lava stone, and the island’s seafaring history comes through in the most subtle of ways—sconces that almost resemble fishing nets, or a single conch shell displayed on a shelf. The service on-site is casual but professional, and everyone from the concierge to the person helping you get set up at the pool is incredibly friendly and more than happy to share their favorite spots around the island. As for the Bamford Wellness Spa, I'm not exaggerating when I say the treatments are transcendent. Menu highlights include treatments that incorporate native Hawaiian medicinal plants like kava and noni, massages on a quartz bed (it’s like lying in warm sand while getting your kinks and knots worked out), and floats in the sensory deprivation tank, where you lose track of time and space in the best way possible: A single 60-minute session can be the equivalent of four hours of REM sleep. —Rebecca Misner
Courtesy The Breakers Palm BeachhotelThe Breakers Palm Beach
$$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024Palm Beach, Florida
For a good part of a century, Palm Beach has been a winter magnet for those attracted to a luxurious oceanfront getaway. And undoubtedly the most recognizable fixture within that pull is The Breakers, a 534-room beachside hotel that presents itself less as a resort and more like a palace—at least that’s what my children said on a recent stay. The majestic narrative is in part due to the grand architecture that emulates 15th-century Italian villas, inclusive of gilded and fresco ceilings hand-painted by Florentine artisans. But if you think The Breakers is stuck in the past, then just take in its annual $30 million reinvestment fund that has given way to contemporary additions like HMF, a vibey lounge named after the property’s founder, railroad and oil tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler, that serves sexy cocktails. The Breakers leans into its Florida feels with a waterside area that’s home to four sparking pools, a private beach, and enough palm trees to populate a rainforest. Guest rooms, marked by neutral shades that deliberately play second fiddle to the view of either turquoise blue ocean or verdant gardens, match the resort’s comfortable sophistication, with linens that feel as decadent as the legendary Sunday brunch. —Nila Do Simon
Chip RiegelhotelOcean House
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Watch Hill, Rhode Island
It's easy to turn back time at the Ocean House. Propped up on a magnificent bluff overlooking Little Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island’s historic Watch Hill neighborhood, the rambling, sunshine yellow Victorian structure recalls the days of the Grand Tour, when men of means would gallivant around the world, and the wealthy were lured from the city to the sea come summer. Though the porticoed property had 159 rooms when it opened in 1868, it ultimately fell into disrepair and was shuttered in 2003. But a $146 million facelift in 2010 left it shiny and new—and a lot roomier. It now has 49 rooms and 18 signature suites, all of which are breezy, bright, and pinstriped, capturing the beach feel but still managing to feel luxurious.—Todd Plummer
Courtesy HalekulanihotelHalekulani Hotel
$$ | Gold List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Oahu, Hawaii
This Waikiki classic hits all the right notes, with an oceanfront location, sophisticated spa, and classic resort feel. Nearly all suites have full or partial ocean views, along with wide marble vanities, simple but sophisticated wooden furniture, and quilted, cream-colored comforters that look like they’d soften any sunburn. Diamond Head suites are super-spacious and totally indulgent: With anywhere between 1,050 and 1,100 square feet of space, and palm trees pressed up against private lanais, we’d be hard-pressed to find anything more picture postcard worthy. The hotel’s oval-shaped pool is affixed to the deck like a sapphire glinting in the sun—probably from the 1.2 million glass tiles it took to make the Cattleya orchid pattern on the bottom. There’s afternoon tea and champagne service on the Veranda, beach-facing Orchids serves a stellar brunch, and there's upscale French dining at La Mer. Halekulani’s sister hotel, Halepuna Waikiki, sits across the street, housing restaurant UMI by Vikram Garg. —Jen Murphy
GettyhotelMontage Kapalua Bay
$$ | Gold List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025Maui, Hawaii
Even when you live on Maui, traveling to the resort community of Kapalua on the far northern tip of the island’s west shore feels like a true escape. You know you’ve arrived when the hotel-packed shoreline gives way to immaculately landscaped wide-open spaces and roads lined with towering Cook pines from the resort’s plantation days when it grew coffee and pineapples. This exclusive 22,000-acre enclave fronts two marine reserves and is home to only two hotels. The 466-room Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is fantastic, but the Montage is in a league of its own. The smallest of its 50 residential-style accommodations clocks in at a palatial 1,250 square feet. And, should you understandably decide to stay put, you don’t have to miss out on any of the hotel’s perks. Dishes, like kanpachi and shrimp curry, from signature restaurant Cane & Canoe are available for room service, and the resort can arrange a full chef’s table experience with wine pairings and live music en suite. But it is worth throwing on a cover-up or a T-shirt over your swimsuit for a visit to the spa. With eight hales—freestanding outdoor treatment rooms surrounded by bamboo gardens—and an infinity pool with island views, it’s a destination in itself. —Jen Murphy
Chatham Bars InnhotelChatham Bars Inn
$$ | Gold List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Chatham, Massachusetts
The Chatham Bars Inn, considered a benchmark of luxury on the Cape, manages to reinvent itself over and over again to keep up with the times. If you’re looking for a full-service resort with all the bells and whistles and then some, this is it, including an eight-acre private farm to sock the resort’s numerous dining and drinking outlets; one of the better spas on the Cape; an expansive pool deck with F&B service; a private quarter-mile beachfront; tennis courts with lessons available; and a 24-hour gym. Check out their popular farm-to-table dinner series, held a few miles away at the resort’s very own eight-acre farm. —Todd Plummer
STEVEN ROTHFELDhotelMeadowood Napa Valley
$$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022St. Helena, California
There are a lot of excellent places to stay in Napa Valley, but Meadowood has been the veritable heart of this region for over 60 years, and it shows. In a nutshell, it feels marvelously, authentically, singularly Napa—from its 36 guest rooms and suites designed by locally based, globally renowned architect Howard Bracken, to its impressive wine center spotlighting the area’s best vineyards, and a spa that taps into the area’s centuries-old legacy as a wellness destination. The guest rooms and suites have a sort of chic barn feel. They aren’t at all rustic–clean lines, a sea of white and neutrals–but the wainscoting and high, beamed ceilings do give fancy farmhouse energy. Cottages and suites all have private porches, and though they are open-planned and airy, the fireplaces, soaking tubs, window seats and comfy sofas keep things cozy. The spa is a real highlight and should not be missed. The space is soothing—low-lit with a big fireplace and deep sofas in the entry area. The vibe is welcoming and a true continuation of the resort’s aesthetic (rather than some minimalist, antiseptic annex, which is often the case), with lots of neutrals and dark grays, olive-hued tones, and organic materials. As far as restaurants go, there’s the Terrace Café—alfresco and open only to guests of the resort and club members—that serves light, local fare. While I was there, I had an excellent ceviche-and-quinoa bowl at the all-day spot Forum. The menu is seasonally inspired (so menu items rotate), leans locally sourced, and has excellent vegetarian options as well as, not surprisingly, a stellar wine list. Like most places in this wildfire-prone part of the state, landscaping on-site is kept to mostly native or drought-tolerant plants that don’t require a huge amount of water (to help prevent fires, the property has sheep and goats to eat the growth). In the wake of the Glass Fire, the property has replanted 2,300 trees and has additional reforestation efforts planned. The resort leans into sourcing locally (wine, food, spa ingredients) and hiring locally. As such, the staff is warm, helpful, and knowledgeable. The quality of service is high but not so formal and fussy—it may be Napa, but this is, after all, California. —Rebecca Misner
Patrick J O'BrienhotelThe Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
$$ | Gold List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The rural drive from Charleston to Kiawah Island is 21 miles, but it’s a drive 100% worth making. Past the entry gate, a beautifully landscaped, winding road is the orchestral prelude to the grand portico of this classic hotel by the sea, where smiling bellhops whisk away your luggage. The soaring central lobby frames views of the ocean beyond. On each side, dual sweeping staircases fill your peripheral vision, curving past two-story murals painted by local artist Karen Larson Turner who captured Kiawah’s Lowcountry landscapes, shimmering with coastal light. Design-wise, The Sanctuary straddles modern and traditional. On the one hand, you’ve got state-of-the-art construction built in 2004 to withstand the occasional hurricane (thick walls, solid windows, no ambient noise). On the other hand, old-school design touches give the hotel warmth and softness: floral drapes, mahogany bed frames, and soft yellow hues. —Allston Mccrady
San Ysidro RanchhotelSan Ysidro Ranch
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Santa Barbara, California
It might seem like a miss to go to Santa Barbara and not stay close to the shore, but the moment you make the turn inland onto San Ysidro Road, you realize that being here isn’t about visiting Santa Barbara; it’s about visiting the ranch. Just 38 cottages, each with their own unique layout, decor, and view, are spread out over 550 acres, but rather than being scattered, they form a ring within the property. At the resort’s center is a collection of gardens as well as a rectangular pool that overlooks the canyon. Some of the curated finds you’ll see throughout are museum-quality art, antiques sourced from billionaire owner Ty Warner’s world travels, and handmade wallpapers (even on the ceilings of the showers). But San Ysidro Ranch isn’t your typical hotel—as its history of having legendary guests like Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, who honeymooned here, or John Huston, who finished writing the screenplay for The African Queen on the property, can attest. And the ranch continues its legacy as a celebrity refuge, as modern-day A-listers use this tucked-away spot to truly hide out and escape—which is what you should do too. —Samantha Brooks
Courtesy Post Ranch InnhotelPost Ranch Inn
$$$ | Gold List 2022, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Big Sur, California
The Post Ranch Inn is nothing so much as a total immersion in the singular landscape of Big Sur, in environs defined by a sense of understated luxury. The Ranch’s 40 rooms have all been designed to both blend in with and have a light touch upon the land, and range from treehouses to clifftop suites with expansive views of the mountains to the east or, better yet, the ocean’s expanse to the west. Engage with the environment some more by exploring the property’s hiking trails, taking a tour of the chef’s garden, or signing up for a falconry lesson. —Lauren Sloss
Courtesy Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons ResorthotelSensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort
$$$ | Gold List 2021 
Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Lanai, Hawaii
Hawaiian hotels may differ in size and price, but most have a pretty predictable common denominator: the beach. That’s precisely why this hotel, which opened in 2019, is such a major shakeup. For starters, it’s 1,800 feet above sea level and a 20-minute drive to the nearest sandy stretch. Then there’s the fact that it’s on Lanai, the smallest and least-visited of Hawaii’s inhabited islands. And it’s an adults-only wellness retreat, meaning the usual lounging in the sun while alternating between shave ice and spam musubi snacks doesn’t make it onto the daily schedule. All to say, Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is about as niche as it gets. It’s also quite possibly the loveliest spot to give mind-body wellness a real shot. —Rebecca Misner
How we choose the best resorts in the US
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
