Services

You Won’t Believe Where the Best Hotel in the World Is

ferrantraite / Getty Images

The best hotel in the world isn’t some urban hotspot in Tokyo, Paris, or New York, or some romantic hideaway on a beach in Mexico or on an Alpine mountaintop.

According to the 2019 edition of Travel & Leisure’s annual readers’ poll ranking the top places to stay around the world, it’s a veritable palace on a lake in Rajasthan, southwest of New Delhi in northwestern India — the Leela Palace Udaipur. Prices for this perfection range up to $6,550 a night for a suite — considerably more than what a room will cost at the most expensive hotels in America.

Earning a score of 98.89 out of 100, the 72-room, eight-suite luxury property was praised for its “breathtaking view of Lake Pichola,” its feeling of “glamour and romance,” its great service, and its sumptuous spa. 

Udaipur is obviously a good destination for those who love luxury hotels, as the Travel & Leisure list includes two other establishments there, the Taj Lake Palace at number 38 and the Oberoi Udaivilas at number 49.

The Mumbai-based Leela company operates nine properties around India. The Leela Palace New Delhi also made the list, at number 31.

Travel & Leisure asked readers to rank hotels according to facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. The results spanned 33 countries and every continent but Antarctica. Asia was the winning region, with 22 of the top 100. Africa came next, with 17. There is also a good representation of the best hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean.

The world’s second-best hotel, according to the poll, was The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. Number three was the Singita Sabi Sand in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve. There were 14 U.S. properties on the list in all, including The Lowell in New York City (number 98) and two in California’s Napa Valley, the North Block Hotel (tied for number 55) and Meadowood Napa Valley (number 75).

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.