Best in stay: The Elysian and 5 other top-rated hotels

More than a museum: the award-winning 21C Museum Hotel in Louisville, Ky.

By Mark Chesnut

The Elysian Hotel Chicago may have been voted the No. 1 hotel in the United States in the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards. But that Windy City oasis of cool is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to award-winning hotels around this hemisphere. After poring over countless awards including the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List, Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and the AAA Five Diamond Award, we’ve cobbled together a list of five additional hotels that should be on every traveler’s itinerary wish list.

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
This 450-room Florida hotel offers lovely Gulf Coast views, eight sumptuous dining venues, an indulgent spa with 30 treatment rooms and more than 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

Four Seasons Hotel, New York
Designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, this New York hotel draws travelers with its classic style, well-appointed guest rooms and prized location on east 57th Street, in the heart of one of the Big Apple’s most upscale shopping and business districts.

21C Museum Hotel, Louisville
You don’t need to stick to the biggest cities to find great style and service. 21C Museum Hotel brings true creativity to the hotel scene in Kentucky’s largest city, with more than 5,000 square feet of contemporary art-filled event space and an award-winning restaurant, Proof on Main. Stay tuned for new 21C hotels scheduled to open in Cincinnati, Ohio and Bentonville, Arkansas.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo
Los Cabos is a perennial choice for travelers seeking luxury south of the border, and Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, is one of the Mexico hotels that can take credit for that. Check into a 960-square-foot Oceanfront Luxury Suite and you’ll be in for a treat, with stunning views of the waves breaking on the Sea of Cortez.

Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, St. James, Nevis
Set on 30 lush acres on the tiny island of Nevis, this Caribbean hotel is graced with blissfully white sand beaches, delicious gourmet dining and expert spa treatments. Perfect for a romantic, peaceful vacation or a well-deserved incentive trip.

Related resources

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Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America.

Tagged: Caribbean, Florida, Hotels, Mexico