Preferred Hotels & Resorts: Preferred Residences 2025 Edition

Set on 20,000 acres along the May River between Savannah and Hilton Head Island, Montage Palmetto Bluff is a Michelin 2 Keys-recognised resort that translates South Carolina Lowcountry architecture into 200 cottages, guest rooms, and suites. Rates from around $1,070 per night position it at the upper tier of Southern coastal resorts, with eight dining outlets, a 13,000-square-foot spa, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course anchoring the programme.

Four restored 17th-century townhouses on St Barbara Bastion give Iniala Harbour House its address and its character: 23 rooms spread across Valletta's most sought-after harbourfront street, with a two-Michelin-star rooftop restaurant, spa in the ancient stone vaults, and a La Liste Top Hotels score of 92 points for 2026. Rates start at $414 per night.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and La Liste Top Hotels (95 points, 2026), The Broadmoor occupies 5,000 acres at the foot of the Rockies in Colorado Springs. With 784 rooms, multiple restaurants and bars spanning a 19th-century English gastropub to the refined Summit, and wilderness outposts extending another 2,000 acres, it operates at a scale that few American resort properties attempt.

Tucson's northeast foothills have long drawn travelers who want desert terrain without sacrificing comfort, and Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge sits at that intersection. The 50-room property occupies one of the Sonoran Desert's more dramatic canyon-edge positions, placing guests within reach of Ventana Canyon's saguaro-studded ridgelines while remaining a short drive from the city's cultural core.

L'Ermitage Beverly Hills holds the Forbes Five-Star rating as the longest-tenured all-suite hotel with that designation worldwide, alongside Michelin Two Keys and AAA Five Diamonds recognition. A 116-suite independent property on a residential stretch of Burton Way, its 2024 renovation introduced Costa Covo Osteria and a rooftop expansion. Rates from $940 per night. Google rating: 4.6 from 569 reviews.

Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences occupies a clifftop position along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, drawing on hacienda architecture to place 184 rooms and residences above the Sea of Cortez. The property sits in a competitive corridor where design-led independents and global luxury brands compete for the same discerning traveler, yet its colonial aesthetic sets a distinct visual register against the area's more contemporary competition.

Corso 281 is a 12-room boutique property on Via del Corso, one of Rome's central thoroughfares, placing guests within reach of the historic centre's principal landmarks. Its limited key count positions it in the small-scale, character-led tier of Roman accommodation, where proximity and intimacy count for more than resort-scale amenities. For those who want the city at the door, the address makes the case on its own terms.

Positioned on one of the few swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, Montage Los Cabos sits on 39 acres fronting Bahía Santa María with Sea of Cortez views from all 174 rooms. Ranked #67 on the World's 50 Best Hotels list in 2025 and awarded Michelin 2 Keys in 2024, it competes directly with the corridor's other credentialed properties while offering a beach access and cove setting that most rivals cannot match.

Perched on Empire Pass at 9,000 feet, Montage Deer Valley holds a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating and a 2024 Michelin Key, with ski-in/ski-out access to Deer Valley's skier-only trails, a 35,000-square-foot spa, and 174 rooms where marble baths and gas fireplaces are standard. La Liste scored it 95.5 points in its 2026 ranking. The property sits 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport and ten minutes from Park City's Historic Main Street.

Montage Big Sky occupies a rare position in Montana's resort hierarchy: a property with Michelin Key recognition and Montage International's service standards set directly against the Lone Mountain terrain. With 150 rooms, ski-in/ski-out access, an 11,000-square-foot spa, and five dining venues drawing on local ranching and fishing traditions, it brings a level of hospitality infrastructure previously absent from Big Sky's accommodation scene.

An 80-room resort and spa property in Davenport, Florida, positioned within the Greater Orlando corridor that draws visitors heading to the region's theme parks and natural attractions. The Visions Resort and SPA offers a self-contained retreat format with spa facilities, placing it in the mid-tier resort segment that serves both leisure travelers and those seeking a quieter base west of the city.

Salamander Washington DC occupies a key position along the Southwest Waterfront, where views of The Wharf and the Tidal Basin frame 373 rooms and 51 suites following a full property transformation. The hotel's signature restaurant, Dōgon, is helmed by James Beard Award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi, and the wine program has earned recognition from Star Wine List (2026). Reagan National Airport and two Metro stations make it among the most accessible luxury addresses in the city.

Set on a 532-acre estate between Marbella and Sotogrande, Finca Cortesin is an independent Andalusian estate hotel earning a Michelin Key (2024) and 96 points in La Liste's Top Hotels 2026. Its 67 suites, multiple dining concepts including one Michelin-starred Kabuki Raw, a 2,200m² spa, and a Cabell Robinson-designed championship golf course position it among Spain's most complete luxury retreats.

On Park Lane where Mayfair meets Hyde Park, Grosvenor House Suites occupies a site with Westminster ducal roots and a present built around discretion. The 2025 World Travel Awards named it World's Leading Luxury Hotel and Residences, placing it in a narrow peer set of apartment-format properties that compete on space, privacy, and Les Clefs d'Or concierge depth rather than room count.

Primus Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao occupies the western business corridor of Shanghai, offering a scaled property with two distinct room configurations totalling 156 and 393 keys respectively. Positioned for transit-oriented stays near Hongqiao's transport hub, it represents a practical tier of Shanghai accommodation built around corporate and connecting-traveller demand rather than destination luxury.

Opened in 2019 within the UNESCO-designated Dolomites, Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti holds Michelin 2 Keys (2024), a World Travel Awards win as Italy's Leading Luxury Resort 2025, and a 90-point La Liste Top Hotels rating. The 88-suite property sits in the Madonna di Campiglio ski area, pairing modernist mountain architecture with a 5,000-square-metre spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant focused on Trentino-Alto Adige ingredients.

Dromoland Castle in County Clare traces its ownership to the O'Brien clan, Gaelic Irish royalty from the tenth century, making it one of a very small number of Irish castle hotels with that depth of lineage. The present Gothic revival structure dates to the nineteenth century and sits eight miles from Shannon Airport, with 75 rooms across a wooded lakeside estate. It holds the World Luxury Hotel Award for Global Winner in the Luxury Historical Hotel category.

On Kamala Beach's Millionaires' Mile, Andara Resort & Villas occupies a hillside position that separates it from Phuket's crowded resort corridor. Sixty-three villas and suites spread across a lush estate, most with private plunge pools and unobstructed Andaman Sea views, while freestanding villas add butler service and private chefs. At $739 per night, it competes in the same tier as Phuket's most design-serious properties.

Opened in 2012 on the exclusive Oberbort hill above Gstaad village, The Alpina Gstaad holds a Michelin 3 Keys distinction (2024) and a 98.5-point placement on La Liste Top Hotels 2026. Its 56 rooms occupy a five-acre alpine property, with a Six Senses Spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant under Martin Göschel, and a wine cellar holding over 1,700 vintage labels.

Occupying the restored officers' quarters of historic Fort Baker within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cavallo Point Lodge sits at one of the Bay Area's most architecturally compelling positions: 142 rooms split between Colonial Revival heritage buildings and contemporary new structures, with the Golden Gate Bridge framing the southern view. Awarded Michelin 2 Keys in 2024 and rated #1 Best Hotel in the San Francisco Bay Area by Travel+Leisure, it rates approximately $774 per night.

Set on 220 acres of East Cork parkland, Castlemartyr Resort pairs an 18th-century manor house with the ruins of a 13th-century Templar castle. The property holds a two-Michelin-star restaurant, an ESPA spa, and a Ron Kirby-designed golf course, placing it among a small cohort of Irish country-house resorts where serious dining and serious wellness occupy the same address.

A 32-story tower on Sunny Isles Beach, Trump International Beach Resort Miami positions itself at the northern edge of Miami's luxury corridor, between Bal Harbour and Aventura. The resort earned Star Wine List recognition in 2026 and draws guests with its ocean-facing Italian restaurant, 8,000-square-foot spa, and the area's only on-site watersports rentals — a practical edge over comparable coastal properties.

A four-star hotel on Carrer de Mallorca in the heart of Eixample, Hotel Balmes occupies a mid-century building that has been progressively repositioned within Barcelona's competitive urban hotel tier. With 111 rooms and a central location a short walk from Passeig de Gràcia, it sits in the practical upper-midscale bracket that most of the city's business and leisure travellers rely on.

Spread across 258 acres of rolling Sonoma vineyards and oak groves, Montage Healdsburg sits at the convergence of Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander valleys. The 130-bungalow resort earned Michelin 2 Keys (2024) and La Liste's 98-point hotel rating, with a 15.5-acre estate vineyard, two restaurants, and an 11,500-square-foot spa setting the standard for contemporary wine-country luxury in Northern California.

A large-format residential-style hotel in Miami's Park West neighborhood, The Elser Hotel and Residences Miami offers 646 rooms positioned for guests who want extended-stay flexibility within reach of downtown and the Design District. Its scale places it in a different tier from Miami Beach's boutique offerings, making it a practical downtown anchor for longer visits.

Operating since 1923 on 220 acres at the foot of the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai Valley Inn holds La Liste's Top Hotels recognition (93 points, 2026) and a Pearl Recommended Hotel designation (2025). The Spanish Colonial resort sits 90 minutes northwest of Los Angeles and runs five dining outlets, a 31,000-square-foot spa, and a George C. Thomas-designed golf course that has hosted seven Senior PGA Tour events.

Positioned along Tanjong Pagar Road in Singapore's most commercially dense southern corridor, Amara Singapore operates as a 389-room full-service hotel with direct access to one of the city's fastest-evolving hospitality districts. Where neighbours like Capella Singapore and Raffles Hotel Singapore trade on heritage or seclusion, Amara occupies a different tier: urban utility combined with a neighbourhood that has genuinely changed around it.

Set on a state-protected nature preserve between Jacksonville and Daytona, Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Palm Coast occupies one of the few genuine beachfront resort positions on Florida's northeastern coast. Two professional golf courses, a full water park, and a multi-treatment spa anchor a property scaled for extended stays. With 275 suites across multiple towers, the resort operates at a remove from both the historic district tourism of St Augustine and the theme-park density of Orlando.

Leiro Residences sits along Fuengirola's Higuerón corridor, one of the Costa del Sol's quieter premium addresses, with 50 rooms positioned between Málaga city and Marbella. The property occupies a stretch of coastline where design-led residential-style stays have replaced the older resort-block model, appealing to travellers who want proximity to both urban Málaga and the western coast without committing to either end.

Texas' only Forbes Double Five-Star Hotel and Spa, The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston occupies a 38-story tower on 10 oak-studded acres near The Galleria. With 250 rooms starting at 500 square feet, a $3 million wine cellar, seven signature restaurants including the first Mastro's Steakhouse in Texas, and a Michelin Key awarded in 2024, it holds a clear position at the top of Houston's independent luxury tier. Rates from $552 per night.

Set on a 30-acre oceanfront bluff in Laguna Beach, Montage brings Arts and Crafts architecture and California coastal living together at a scale few properties on this stretch of coastline match. With 262 rooms, a 20,000-square-foot spa, and multiple dining formats from a reimagined Mediterranean restaurant to a bluff-side grill, it holds Michelin 2 Keys (2024) and a La Liste Top Hotels score of 97.5 points (2026).

Boston Harbor Hotel occupies a prime position on Rowes Wharf, where the harbor meets the Rose Kennedy Greenway. With 232 rooms across harbor-view and skyline-view configurations, La Liste recognition at 96 points (2026), and an annual wine festival that draws serious oenophiles each winter, it anchors the waterfront luxury tier in a city increasingly competitive at the upper end of the hotel market.

HS HOTSSON Hotel CDMX Condesa Sur sits on Avenida Revolución in the Tacubaya edge of Miguel Hidalgo, operating 103 rooms within reach of Condesa's tree-lined streets and Roma Norte's restaurant corridor. The property occupies a practical mid-tier position in Mexico City's hotel market, where neighbourhood access and room count matter as much as brand affiliation.

A 280-room hotel on Carrer de Ramon Llull in the Sant Martí district, Tembo Barcelona sits at a scale that places it in Barcelona's mid-to-large urban hotel tier. Its address positions guests within reach of the city's coastal edge and the 22@ innovation district, making it a practical base for both leisure and extended-stay itineraries.

A 30,000-acre all-inclusive ranch resort in Saratoga, Wyoming, Brush Creek Luxury Ranch Collection earned a 93.5-point score on the 2026 La Liste Top Hotels list. The property spans a stately 38,000-square-foot lodge, cabin suites, a full-service spa, and Orvis-endorsed fly fishing across the Platte River Valley, with all lodging, dining, beverages, and activities included in the rate.

Hawks Cay Resort occupies a full island on Duck Key, Florida, positioning it among the Florida Keys' larger full-service resort properties. With 374 rooms and direct access to both Atlantic and Gulf waters, it draws families and boating-focused travelers who want the Keys' open-water character without sacrificing resort infrastructure. Plan bookings well ahead for winter and spring break windows.

Set on 24 acres along Maui's northwest coast in the Kapalua resort area, Montage Kapalua Bay holds a Michelin 2 Keys distinction (2024) and a 96-point La Liste ranking (2026). Its 56 all-suite residences range from one to four bedrooms, each with full kitchens, wine fridges, and private lanais. The Cane and Canoe restaurant anchors a dining programme built around fresh local seafood beneath a soaring canoe-house ceiling.

Sherwood Suites sits on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa in District 3, a quieter residential stretch that separates it from the branded towers of District 1 while keeping the city centre within easy reach. With 157 rooms across a suite-format property, it positions itself between the boutique independents and the mid-scale international chains that dominate Ho Chi Minh City's accommodation market.

A former 1930s power company headquarters in Oslo's Frogner district, Sommerro has been converted into a 250-room Art Deco hotel with seven dining outlets, a restored public bathhouse, and the city's first rooftop pool. It won Best Hotel in Norway 2023 at the Grand Travel Awards and appears on both the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List and the Travel + Leisure IT List.

Opening in February 2026 on the Charleston waterfront, The Cooper sits along Concord Street where the Cooper River meets the city's historic peninsula. With 191 rooms and membership in Virtuoso's exclusive Preview Program, it positions itself within a select tier of pre-opening properties the network considers among the world's leading hotels. The proximity to the pineapple fountain and the French Quarter places it at the geographic and cultural heart of the city.