Cond Nast Traveler Reveals Favorite Hotels Around The World: 2022 Gold List – Forbes

Belmond Splendido Mare

For the first time, the 2022 Gold List features a singular global list curated by the editors of Cond Nast Traveler's seven international editions in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Italy, India, the Middle East, and China.

The Gold List is the publications annual list of editors' favorite hotels from around the world, all highlighting the gold standard of service and hospitality. From the sustainable-focused Shinta Mani Wild eco retreat in Cambodia, to the Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany, to The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel in New York, these are exceptional places selected by the editors.

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel New York

I spoke with Jesse Ashlock, Deputy Global Editorial Director & U.S. Editor, Cond Nast Traveler about why these hotels & destinations stood out to their global editors. While we traveled more in 2021 than in the year before, it was nevertheless another long, strange year in which we continued to rethink the very meaning of travel. In a certain way, this has made our Gold List franchise even more resonantthese are the hotels, cruise experiences, and destinations our editors carry in their hearts always.

Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director, Cond Nast Traveler tells me, The term luxury is always evolving, but right now, it's clearly about experiences and connections. After a year or more of sheltering, people have realized the value of travel in their lives, how enriching and important it is to spend time in beautiful and exciting places with people we love, discovering local cultures and being able to partake and share these new experiences. And while wellness and slow travel have become very popular, we are also finding our audiences very invested in traveling more consciously and sustainably, with a clear desire to give back to local communities in some way. People are spending not just more money on their trips, but more time, and they're proactively trying to make better choices.

Here are the 45 Gold List hotels from around the world that CN editors selected as their favorites for 2022:

Royal Pavilion Villa at Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

This spectacular desert oasis is located 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi with 140 rooms, 14 suites, and 52 pool villas. There are tons of activities here, including falconry, dune bashing, and an overnight bedouin adventure.

Poolside at Park Hyatt Sydney

Park Hyatt Sydney

With stunning views of the Sydney Opera House, 155 large contemporary guestrooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to private balconies.

Shinta Mani Wild

Shinta Mani Wild

On the banks of the Tmor Rung river, deep in the Cardamom Mountains, is this low impact camp of 15 tents from the brilliant mind of designer Bill Bensley. To get there, guests are transported along a zip line over lush forests and waterfalls.

Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver BC

Located in the heart of Vancouver, this property features 156 old-world-style rooms and suites.

Songstam Lhasa Linka

Bulgari Hotel, Beijing

An urban resort in the heart of Beijing's leafy Chaoyang District, this Italian-style 119-room hotel is surrounded by sculptured gardens. Located in the heart of Vancouver, this property features 156 old-world-style rooms and suites.

Songtsam Lhasa Linka, Tibet

Built on a hillside overlooking the nearby Potala Palace, the interior design of the 45 rooms and suites is inspired by the lifestyle of Lhasa natives.

Nayara Tented Camp

Nayara Tented Camp

On the sloping hillsides of the Arenal Volcano, these 21 canvas tented rooms are all located on stilts within the jungle canopy. Ravines, swaying bridges, and resident sloths contribute to this adventurous retreat.

Anassa Hotel

Anassa Hotel

Located on a secluded hillside with breathtaking sea views, this Mediterranean village-style property with 166 rooms, suites, and residences, fronts Asprokremmos Beach and also features a huge Thalassa spa.

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

Located on Jumeirah Beach Road, the elegant resort has direct access to the coastline and a private beach. The resort offers 237 rooms, including suites.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

One of my favorite hotels in the world, this elegant property was built in 1869 as a private mansion; it opened as a hotel in 1887. Its 118 rooms and suites are nearly impossible to book, and for a good reason, it is pure luxury only for the rich and famous.

Le Bristol Paris

This iconic French property features 190 renovated rooms and suites in the heart of Paris. The hotel also offers a lush, 13,000 square foot courtyard garden and a stunning rooftop swimming pool.

The Vasilicos, Santorini

The Vasilicos, Santorini

Located at the highest point of the Caldera, this very intimate property features only eight suites and is adjacent to a monastery.

Mandarin Oriental

The first flagship hotel for the brand, the iconic hotel, has been overlooking Victoria Harbour for over 57 years. There are 432 guest rooms and 62 stunning signature suites, and there are also nine bars and restaurants, including two Michelin-star venues.

Leela Palace New Delhi

Leela Palace New Delhi

Modern, regal, and opulent, this iconic 260 room contemporary property is located in the exclusive Diplomatic Enclave. The rooms are among the largest in India, and the suites are available with private plunge pools and butlers. The Rooftop infinity pool offers dramatic views of the city.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Located on Chittar Hill and set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens, with peacocks and a subterranean Zodiac Pool, the hotel within the palace offers 70 Art Deco-style rooms and suites. Still partly home to the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, it has operated as a heritage hotel since 1972, with Taj Hotels arriving in 2005.

St Regis Florence

Belmond Splendido Mare, Portofino

Located in the curve of Portofino harbor and on the legendary Piazzetta, the famed property started as a charming guesthouse for fishermen and weary travelers. Now there are fourteen reimagined rooms and suites filled with mid-century antiques.

Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany

Located in the heart of Tuscany near Siena, the stunning resort offers up a holistic spa, cooking school, Michelin-starred restaurant, 300-acre organic farm, vineyards, and 13-acre beautifully manicured gardens. Each of the 22 rooms and suites are individually styled, inspired by the villas rich history.

The St. Regis Florence, Florence

Set along the Arno River with stunning views of the Ponte Vecchio, this 15th-century, Renaissance-era palace offers 99 rooms and suites. Rooms are adorned with rich velvets and brocades, while beds are crowned with royal-style drapes. There is a Michelin-starred Tuscan cuisine and a decadent spa.

Aman Tokyo

Occupying the top six floors of the recently-built Otemachi Tower, this urban retreat offers 84 rooms and suites, each with panoramic city views. The zen-like Aman Spa and indoor pool is the real attraction here.

Lew Wilderness

Lewa Wilderness

One of Kenya's original safari lodges, just nine rooms are scattered among the Lewa Wilderness landscape. Six thatched cottages are tucked into the hillside overlooking the Eastern Marania Valley, plus three garden cottages. The safari experience here has fans raving where only three vehicles are allowed at a wildlife sighting, ensuring an exclusive game viewing experience.

1 Bedroom Water Retreat with Slide at Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi

This private island property is an Instagrammer dream with 63 large Robinson-Crusoe style beachfront villas and eight Water retreats, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms. It is one of the larger resort islands in the Maldives, and they are a leader with their sustainable focus.

One&Only Palmilla

One&Only Palmilla, Cabo San Lucas

A longtime favorite of mine, this stunning Los Cabos resort is a legend in the area. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez, the resort sits on 55 acres and offers 174 guest rooms, including its signature four-bedroom Villa Cortez and the four-bedroom Villa One. The 20,000-square-foot One&Only Spa at Palmilla is a highlight.

La Mamounia

La Mamounia, Marrakech

This beautiful palace hotel in the heart of Marrakesh offers 135 rooms and 71 suites. The corridors of the property magically reproduce the Medinas narrow streets. There are four restaurants, a gorgeous spa, and lively evenings in the rooftop lounge with pool.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay

Set on a 6,000-acre sheep and cattle farm overlooking dramatic sea cliffs and 80-degree views of the Pacific Ocean. With 24 spacious cottage suites and a four-bedroom Owners Cottage, this luxury retreat includes a spa and par 71 championship golf course.

Explora Sacred Valley

Explora Valle Sagrado

Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, this adventure-oriented lodge with 44 spacious rooms and six larger suites is all about exploring. The hotel is a complex of long, low, minimalist buildings linked by elevated walkways and has a spa located in a refurbished colonial bathhouse from the 17th century.

Grootbus Private Nature Reserve

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

Located along the easternmost point of the Western Cape, these two exclusive luxury lodges and two villas are hidden in aprivate reserve where ancient forest rolls down to the sea. All 27 free-standing contemporary suites have private decks overlooking the crescent of Walker Bay.

The Ritz-Carlton Abama

Finca Cortesin, Casares

Located between Marbella and Sotogrand, this luxury hotel and spa has its own championship golf course. The hotel has 67 suites and six exclusive villas built around two courtyards. The stunning spa also features Spains only Snow Cave.

The Cotton House, Barcelona

This city hotel is located on Gran Via, one of the citys most popular streets. Once the 19th-century headquarters of the Cotton Producers Guild, much of the original design was perfectly preserved including its 1957 spiral staircase. There are 83 rooms white and bright modern rooms and suites.

The Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife

This huge holistic retreat offers up 459 Moorish style rooms & suites as well as a large spa, the largest Kids club in Europe, and ten restaurants, including a Michelin-starred Japanese fusion restaurant

Eden Rock St Barths

Eden Rock St. Barths

With the perfect location perched on rocks fronting St Jean Bay, this chic iconic celebrity-studded property was the first hotel on the island and features only 37 rooms and suites. World-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten oversees the dining here, and rock star General Manager Fabrice Moizan is among the best in the business.

Ocean pool villa at Six Senses Yao Noi

Six Senses Yao Noi

Arrive by speedboat from Phuket to this resort located on a cliff overlooking the stunning Phang Nga Bay; this eco-friendly property offers 56 thatched roof villas, including four suites and two residences. Every villa features a butler, and the spa is styled after a traditional longhouse designed as a small stilted village at the heart of the resort.

Heckfield Place

Heckfield Place, Hampshire

This secluded 18th-century estate-turned-countryside-hotel is just one hour out of London and offers 45 bedrooms, spaced between the original main house and the newly built modern wing. There are 400 acres of woods, where guests can enjoy falconry, fly fishing, and visit the estates biodynamic farm.

The Connaught, London

Located in the heart of Mayfair, this stunning property boasts the recent Best Bar in the World title, as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant and a holistic Aman spa. Refined and elegant, the property features 121 guest rooms, the Connaughts suites, including The Mews, spread across three floors with a grand piano and chauffeur; the Princes Lodge, The Library Suite, with a secret bookcase door, and The Apartment, with a private staircase, bar, and kitchenette, as well as a wrap-around balcony.

Bellagio Resort Las Vegas

Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV

With views of the Las Vegas valley or the iconic Bellagio fountains right from your suite, this enormous 3,950 room resort is inspired by the villages of Europe. The restaurants are among my favorite in Las Vegas, including Picasso and Lago.

Chatham Bars Inn

Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA

The rest is here:

Cond Nast Traveler Reveals Favorite Hotels Around The World: 2022 Gold List - Forbes