The Best Hotels and Resorts in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean: The Gold List 2026
Consider The Gold List the answer to the question our editors get asked more than any other: what are your favourite places to stay? Our annual collection, passionately selected by our international team, reveals which seaside resort we return to every August and the city hotel that gets everything right. Now all you have to do is pick the experience that’s right for you – and get travelling.
See the full The Gold List of the best hotels in the world
AmanhotelAmangiri, Utah, USA
$$$If a luxury hotel existed on the moon, it might feel like Amangiri. In the ochre canyons of southern Utah, it’s less resort and more mirage, a minimalist masterpiece carved from desert stone. Though its aesthetic appeal is undeniable (the pool alone deserves design awards), there’s so much more to this unique spot. Sleek service, world-class dining, and immersive cultural experiences make every stay restorative. The design – all clean lines and concrete—cleverly frames its 165-million-year-old sandstone surroundings like art. Each of the 34 suites, which have limestone walls, private terraces, and flickering fireplaces, embodies laid-back luxury. Guests can drift between the serene pool and Aman Spa, or head off on an unforgettable adventure, whether hiking to Broken Arrow Cave to watch resident artist Ulrike Arnold at work, horseback riding through the dramatic landscape to see ancient petroglyphs, or exploring canyons that are 6 million years old with a Navajo guide. If there were ever a place to ditch your phone and completely surround yourself in raw, awe-inspiring nature, this is it. From £3,420. —Sarah Allard
hotelCoral Sands, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Have you ever felt like greeting the day as if you were Barbie throwing your doors open to a world bustling with people living ideal lives on a pink beach next to a turquoise sea? Well, if so, Coral Sands Inn & Cottages is for you. This property on Harbour Island in the Bahamas is set on a stretch of beach where the sand is colored pink by a mixture of pulverised coral, tiny red-tinted shells, and foraminifera. A recent redesign of the interiors, unveiled in December 2024, revealed a charming seaside aesthetic: Seashell details are everywhere (7,000 in the restaurant alone), and canopies with wildflower prints are hung over four-poster beds. Days can be spent at the beach bar by the turquoise sea, drinking frosé and eating conch fritters. Begin your evenings with a Pink Mermaid cocktail and then, perhaps, see Harbour Island itself, with its wild chickens and lovely locally owned restaurants. If you can, stay in one of the cottages with wooden steps leading down to the rose-colored shores. From £986. Ruaridh Nicoll
Hermitage BayhotelHermitage Bay, Antigua
$$$This constellation of 30 villa suites, situated on a lush, jungle-covered hillside, features private infinity pools landscaped with pink bougainvillaea, mahogany-trimmed rooms, mosquito-netted beds, rattan ceiling fans, and wraparound terraces with sea views. Guests at the tranquil 14-and-over resort head to the palm-thatched beach bar and white-sand beach. Food at the all-inclusive is a standout (the tarragon lobster is a favourite), not to mention the daily “sunset and sushi” cocktail hour, during which guests can dine on fresh tuna, snapper, and mahi-mahi nigiri made by Nobu-trained chefs. No wonder, considering the property was purchased in 2024 by Daniel Shamoon, co-owner of Luxury Hotel Partners, which boasts Spain's Marbella Club, Puente Romano Marbella, and several Nobu hotels, including one slated to open in 2026 on Antigua's sister island, Barbuda. From £1,470. Adam H. Graham
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Le Toiny St BarthshotelHotel Le Toiny, St Barths
$$$The namesake hillside resort set above Toiny Bay gives “wild” an unexpected new meaning when it comes to sceney St. Barts: On the shrubby southeastern point of the island, this unfussy haven is where an in-the-know social set head to find serenity. The star amenity here is the private beach, accessible via a three-minute Defender ride down switchbacking roads Le Toiny’s stretch of soft sand is considered the sole private hotel beach on all of St. Barts. Plus, some of the oldest traditional English-style cottages on the island, dating back to the 1700s, can be found beside the beach club (one is currently used as treatment areas for the spa). The suites and villas were redesigned in 2024 to create airy living spaces that draw your eye outward to the leafy open-air surroundings and azure water views just beyond your private pool deck. From £1,330. Shannon McMahon
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Kona Village, A Rosewood ResorthotelKona Village, a Rosewood Resort, Hawaii, USA
When I heard the news that the Big Island’s storied Kona Village Resort was set to reopen as a Rosewood after it was destroyed by a tsunami back in 2011, I immediately texted my mom: Do you think it’ll still be as magical? I was lucky enough to grow up visiting the Hawaiian resort with my extended family and – like many of its devoted regulars – felt a deep connection to it that bordered on the spiritual. Set along a rugged stretch of lava rock on the island’s western coast, the resort was a true barefoot hideaway, with simple thatch-roof hale (bungalows), palm trees that swayed in the plumeria-scented tradewinds, and a no-television-or-phones rule that encouraged disconnection. I worried its timeless spirit might not survive the rebuild. But I needn’t have. On my recent visit back as a “legacy guest,” I found a reimagined property that manages to both honour and elevate the original. There are 150 hale now, which have TVs this time around, sure, but still exude a sense of peace by way of soothing wooden walls, neutral palettes, and earth-toned regional art. The iconic Shipwreck Bar & Sushi, a breezy beachfront hangout carved from the original owner’s boat, was lovingly restored and now gleams with a sleek new wooden finish (don’t miss the legendary mai tais). A gorgeous new spa, Asaya, is built into the lava rock and offers luxurious, locally inspired treatments. Legacy guests like me will appreciate these tasteful upgrades. And new guests will feel lucky to join the club. From £892. Annie Daly
Will Pryce/Mayfair House Hotel & GardenhotelMayfair House Hotel & Garden, Florida, USA
This architectural marvel, first built in 1985, puts you in the middle of the best that Coconut Grove, Florida, has to offer. This hotel lives and breathes style, with moody peacock blue and terra-cotta-toned rooms, some with giant clawfoot tubs; a soaring open atrium lined with lush plants; and a buzzy lobby bar set in a hollowed-out fountain. Rooms range in size from 400 square feet all the way up to 1,000 and, as such, never disappoint in terms of space. Even the balconies (95% of rooms have one) are more than generous, making the property ideal for larger groups and families. Brunches boast avocado toast and Key lime pancakes in the courtyard, while dinner is a heartier affair with dishes of woodfire-grilled snapper and Iberico pork “churrasco” with umami butter. After dinner, rum-centric cocktails are served up nightly with vibey tunes and a view of the Grove that stretches all the way to the bay. From £227. Ayesha Khan
The Beverly Hills Hotel/Dorchester CollectionhotelThe Beverly Hills Hotel, Dorchester Collection, California, USA
$$$Stepping inside the Beverly Hills Hotel, you instantly feel like the main character in a film. Red-carpeted steps lead into the lobby with its iconic pink and green palm decor. The “Pink Palace” right on Sunset Boulevard, tucked into 12 acres, is like a cocoon. Make like Elizabeth Taylor, who spent six of her eight honeymoons here, and book Bungalow 5, inspired by the legendary actress. The Polo Lounge is the place for a Hollywood power lunch. It’s not just the Old and New Hollywood vibe that makes this hotel fabulous; it’s the way the entire staff treats you like you’re a star. From £795. Dana Kravis
Carmel BrantleyhotelThe Gasparilla Inn, Florida, USA
A storied icon of American hospitality, The Gasparilla Inn sits on its eponymous barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The historic 1913 landmark has evolved into a vibrant pageant of old-Florida grace: an expanded 63-room inn surrounded by yellow clapboard cottages, a golf course on its own island, and a sprawling beach club that’s set amid manicured palms, bougainvillaea, and banyan trees, and fronts one of the state’s most magnificent beaches. Every detail here feels correct: interiors by Kemble Interiors showcase an exuberant mix of coastal maximalism and island whimsy. Each space looks lovingly composed, from the pink-tinged ladies' sitting room and the floral-saturated main hall with its “green goddess” tones and orchids to the coral-and-cream ocean cottages overlooking the Gulf. Owned by just three families throughout its 113-year history, the Inn protects its heritage and privacy with near-reverent care. Tradition still rules here, as brass keys hang where they always have, reservations are made by phone, and loyal guests return season after season to the same beloved rooms. The Gasparilla Inn endures as the epitome of old-Florida magic: historic, timeless, and still undeniably relevant. From £360. Paul Rubio
Courtesy The Inn on Biltmore Estate/Photo by Matthew TurleyhotelThe Inn on Biltmore Estate, North Carolina, USA
$$Why is extravagance so alluring? It’s a fair question, especially in earthy Asheville, North Carolina, where tattoos and craft beer are more the norm than 19th-century French Renaissance opulence – with one exception: the Biltmore Estate. George Vanderbilt’s grand 250-room ode to the Gilded Age has remained America’s largest private home and a top state attraction, and The Inn on Biltmore Estate is the ideal way to experience it. With views of the mountains and the estate’s 8,000 acres, the Inn on Biltmore Estate offers luxury hospitality in the vein of the Vanderbilts, but with contemporary amenities and no pretension. Think Gilded Comfort Age. From £266. Stephanie Hunt
Courtesy PrimlandhotelThe Lodge at Primland, Auberge Collection, Virginia, USA
$$Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Primland is like a luxury outdoor camp for all ages, complete with horseback riding, hiking, fishing, an aerial adventure course, and nightly s’mores around the firepit. There is plenty in store for those who head to this Virginia gem, not the least of which is its exceptional dining options and world-class golf course with stunning views from every hole. For a real treat, head to the observatory for a guided stargazing session – I can guarantee by the end of it you’ll be interested in buying your own telescope. Due to the massive size of the property, you’ll either make liberal use of the valets to shuttle you around from one activity to the next or want to bring your own car. At the heart of it all is The Lodge, with 23 suites and 30 rooms, but guests can also book the one (slightly removed) luxury six-bedroom residence, a variety of mountain homes, or the tree houses located in a secluded corner of Primland’s 12,000 wooded acres. From £452. Jamie Spain
hotelThe Lowell, New York, USA
In an era when what’s newest and fastest often gets the spotlight, The Lowell, quietly holding court on a leafy block on New York City’s Upper East Side since the 1920s, remains a bastion of class and elegance. Sometimes you may need to wait a few minutes for one of the two elevators that service the hotel’s 74 rooms and suites, all reimagined by Michael S Smith, the designer behind the White House updates during Obama’s presidency. But that’s okay; while you wait, you can quite literally stop and smell the flowers – gorgeous fresh bouquets are placed throughout the hotel. There are real room keys and actual light switches to flick, analogue vestiges from simpler days that ironically make things easier than the latest innovations. There are dozens of lovely, throwback touches, such as the Club Room, a sophisticated convivial space off the lobby and adjacent to the hotel’s French restaurant, Majorelle, with oak parquet floors, a fireplace, and a small bar, for the exclusive use of hotel guests. And while this neighbourhood might never be the most avant-garde sweep of Manhattan, it isn’t totally caught in amber. Previously, downtown brands (Foundrae, Khaite, Ulla Johnson, Toteme) have opened outposts on nearby Madison Avenue, and the Frick Collection, a few blocks to the north, recently revealed a massive renovation. It seems like the storied Upper East may just be entering another Gilded Age. From £990. Rebecca Misner
Kindra Clineff/Courtesy The PointhotelThe Point, New York, USA
A one-time Gilded Age escape hatch and the last surviving Adirondacks Great Camp operating as a hotel, The Point was built in the early 1930s by William Avery Rockefeller II and still channels a rustic gentility and simpler way of life. There’s (almost) no WiFi, just 11 rooms, and a vintage-style Hacker-Craft for summer cruises; winter days can be spent snowshoeing or ice skating across the lake. Guests dine communally in the lodge’s great hall (stone hearth, twig chairs, and black-tie nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays) on elevated country fare (foie gras, venison), before ending the night by, say, inner-tubing in tuxes and gowns down a snowbank. While fellow guests become actual friends you’ll swear you’ll return with next year, it’s the staff that make it feel like a home: pop into the kitchen for grilled cheese at midnight (why not? It’s all-inclusive!), ask about local sugaring techniques, and have maple syrup delivered to your room unbidden. When your car’s pulled around for the long drive home, you’ll find a to-go mug of your favourite coffee in the cupholder – because that’s just what family does. From £2,590. Alex Postman
Sheldon ChalethotelSheldon Chalet, Alaska, USA
Perched on a five-acre rock outcropping ten miles from the summit of Denali, Sheldon Chalet is a place that defies imagination. Awe sets in as soon as the helicopter departs Anchorage or the frontier town of Talkeetna, and soars above ancient river valleys where wildlife can be spotted. Approaching Denali, guests fly around granite walls through the famous Great Gorge and see the chalet appear like a mirage floating in the clouds. The lodge sits at the head of the roughly 35-mile-long Ruth Glacier and nearly as stunning as the location are the alpine chic interiors and high-touch service. Within minutes of arrival, staff materialise with glasses of Taittinger Champagne. With no cell signal or wifi, guests unplug. Some sit by the fire in the living room and gape at the snow-capped peaks from the panoramic windows. Others join guided ski tours or glacier treks. In winter, the aurora borealis puts on an unbelievable show, best viewed from the chalet’s observation deck, where staff are at the ready with warm blankets and cocktails. From £24,310 per night. Jen Murphy
Courtesy Wickaninnish Inn/ Jeremy KoreskihotelWickaninnish Inn, Tofino, Canada
$$From November to March, ferocious storms roll through Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast, bringing with them gale-force winds that whip up the waters. The small town of Tofino used to hunker down during those blustery, rainy months, until the Wickaninnish Inn pioneered storm-watching season. Built on a rocky headland surrounded by old-growth rainforest at the north end of Chesterman Beach, the inn has a front-row seat to Mother Nature’s dramatic performances. Expansive hurricane-proof windows are key features in all 75 rooms, and the Pointe Restaurant is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Pacific. The concierge team can arrange anything from bear-watching excursions to hikes in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. In winter, intrepid guests don wellies and raincoats and head to the beach to feel the spray of the tempestuous sea, then return to mugs of cocoa and the warmth of the inn’s roaring fire. From £410. Jen Murphy
