Get out of town: the world's 10 best-reviewed hotels
The world's 10 best hotels according to Expedia range from a boutique in Slovakia to a chain in Nebraska. Only 4 of the world's 10 best hotels are in the US, in cities you might not expect.
The world's 10 best hotels according to Expedia range from a boutique in Slovakia to a chain in Nebraska. Only 4 of the world's 10 best hotels are in the US, in cities you might not expect.
Want the best possible value on a hotel room? Pack your bags, you鈥檙e going to鈥outhwestern Slovakia.
Recently, we wrote about how travel site Orbitz is in the news for showing Mac users more expensive hotel rooms than Windows users. Its competitor Expedia just released a list of the World鈥檚 Best-Reviewed Hotels, based mostly on user input last year 鈥� and only three of the top 10 are in the United States.
Before we get to the top picks, here鈥檚 some of the stats Expedia offered about the hotels on its list鈥�
- World-class. The top 650 hotels are spread across 295 cities in 74 countries 鈥� with听28 percent in the States, 25 percent in Europe, 19听percent听in Asia, and听3 percent听in South America. The 鈥渆lsewhere鈥� category represents听25 percent, but Expedia doesn鈥檛 say where that is.听Africa? Antarctica?
- Fancy doesn鈥檛 mean best. Only听35 percent of the hotels are categorized as 鈥渓uxury.鈥�
- Green is growing. Expedia says 鈥済reen/sustainable鈥� hotels had 鈥渁n outsized presence鈥� on this year鈥檚 list 鈥� 17 percent.
- Running hot and cold. There are 11 鈥渟ki-friendly鈥� hotels, and 116 鈥渂each hotels,鈥� with more of the latter in Mexico than the United States.
- Pack light. Just 87 hotels on the list are 鈥渇amily friendly鈥� 鈥� that鈥檚 about 13 percent.
And here are the 10 hotels topping the list. Since Expedia only gives names, stars, and locations, we poked around their sites to hazard a guess why these top the list.
1.听Marrol鈥檚 Boutique Hotel听(5 stars, Bratislava, Slovakia)
A luxury hotel in a colonial-style historical building. Free breakfast buffet, gym, newspaper, and Internet. Egyptian cotton sheets. And 46 activities onsite or nearby, including rafting, skydiving, snowboarding, hunting, and helicopter rides. Price: $120/night for a queen bed this weekend (with a free welcome drink).
2.听Hotel Al Codega听(4 stars, Venice, Italy)
It鈥檚 in the middle of Venice 鈥� 鈥�200 metres from St. Mark鈥檚 Square and 300 metres from Rialto Bridge,鈥� in 鈥渢raditional style with antique furnishings and wooden floors.鈥� Enough said, right? Free breakfast, free newspaper, but no free Internet. Price: About $180/night for a king or two twins, but booked solid for at least the next three weekends.
3.听Hotel Royal Corin听(4 stars, Costa Rica)
A romantic destination鈥ext to a volcano that鈥檚 visible from your private balcony. Free breakfast, Internet, parking, and newspaper. Price: $263/night for a king bed, sold out this weekend.
4.听Hilton Garden Inn Aberdeen听(4 stars, Aberdeen, Scotland)
鈥淪cotland鈥檚 3rd largest city features an enchanting granite skyline, a听fantastic range of shops and restaurants and a vibrant night-life,听while the city鈥檚 Old Town has a magical air of times gone by.鈥�
5.听Four Seasons Miami听(5 stars, Miami, Florida)
It鈥檚 36 miles from Money Talks News HQ, but far closer to Biscayne Bay (visible from some rooms), Mary Brickell Village, the American Airlines Arena (the Miami Heat鈥檚 court), and Miami Art Museum. Marble bathrooms, Egyptian cotton sheets. Pets allowed, and lots of water and sports activities nearby. Price: $269/night for a city-view room this weekend.
6.听Madison Hotel Hamburg听(4.5 stars, Hamburg/Hanover, Germany)
Short walk to the harbor, St. Michaelis Church, or the subway, and within walking distance of the historic warehouse district. Free Internet and newspaper. Price: $174/night for a king or double bed this weekend.
7.听Element Omaha Midtown Crossing听(3 stars, Omaha, Nebraska)
It鈥檚 5 minutes from downtown Omaha and the most popular zoo in America. Nearby golf and mountain biking. In the 鈥済reen/sustainable鈥� category. Free breakfast, airport shuttle, and Wi-Fi. Price: $179 Saturday and $119 Sunday for a king bed this weekend.
8.听Sonnenalp Resort of Vail听(4.5 stars, Vail-Beaver Creek, Colorado)
One of the 鈥渟ki-friendly鈥� hotels 鈥� close to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Vail Ski Resort, as well as Gerald Ford Amphitheater. Free Internet and newspaper. Price: one king or two double beds for $325 Saturday or $300 Sunday this weekend.
9.听Taj Lands End听(5 stars, Mumbai, India)
Right on the water in Mumbai鈥檚 suburban Bandra district, also in the 鈥済reen/sustainable鈥� category. Contemporary style with marble bathrooms. Nearby golf. Free parking, breakfast, and newspaper. Price: $164/night for a king bed this weekend.
10.听Mr. C Beverly Hills听(5 stars, Los Angeles,听California)
A luxury hotel half a mile from Rodeo Drive; 7 miles from Santa Monica. Marble bathrooms and private balconies. Free newspaper, Internet, and use of an iPad or Macbook. Dozens of activities nearby. Price: sold out this weekend; $320 next weekend for a king bed.
Brandon Ballenger is a writer for听Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.