The newly released 2026 Best Hotels list from U.S. News & World Report revealed the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii’s Big Island retains the number one spot for Best Hotels in the United States. The resort further leads the rankings as the Best Resort in the USA, Best Resort in Hawaii, and the Best Resort on the Big Island.
The annual list features more than 31,000 hotels across 400+ destinations to help travelers identify properties that suit their needs. In the United States, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and The Langham Chicago rounded out the top three. The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto nabbed the top spot in Canada, Adare Manor takes the honors in Europe, and Jade Mountain reigned supreme in the Caribbean.
"The hotels highlighted in U.S. News' 2026 Best Hotels rankings set the standard for top-tier customer service, stellar amenities and truly memorable guest experiences," says Zach Watson, senior data editor, travel at U.S. News. "Recognition in this year's rankings sets hotels and resorts apart as the industry's best, and each list provides a central starting point for travelers seeking the best options for them."
Beyond the headline winners, the list works best as a planning tool to help travelers narrow choices based on how they intend to travel. Here are our top choices for resort escapes, urban hotels, wellness properties, and hotels outside the US.
Start With the Resort When the Hotel Drives the Trip
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai returned to the top of the rankings again this year, thanks in part to the level of service the brand is known for. Once checked in, there is little reason to leave the resort, especially when so much comfort sits within easy reach, including details guests may not realize they wanted until they arrive.
“Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is honoured to be named the #1 Hotel and Resort in the US for the second consecutive year, along with top resort in Hawaii and on the Big Island,” says Charlie Parker, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
“This is a tremendous accolade made possible by the extraordinary efforts of our team members and the continued loyalty of our guests, who together create the sense of connection, care and excellence that define the Hualalai experience.”
For travelers who plan a stay around the hotel itself, Four Seasons Resort
Hualalai turns a single booking into the focus of the vacation. The Kona Coast property succeeds by giving travelers reason to stay put, much like The White Lotus reframed how viewers think about resort stays.
Set on former plantation land where black lava meets white sand along the Kona Coast, vacationers rotate among oceanfront pools, protected swimming coves, multiple dining venues, and a full-service spa without having to build days around off-property plans, keeping the resort at the center of each stay.
Travelers frequently note the personal touches of their stays at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. One visitor said they “felt welcomed from the moment we checked in,” describing the service as attentiveness they had “never experienced,” and another wrote that they “rarely left the resort as we enjoyed our time so much,” citing snorkeling with tropical fish and sea turtles in the pools.
Choose City Hotels That Compress Experience Into Limited Time
City stays require an entirely different set of expectations. A rising share of travelers is seeking shorter city hotel stays, with one-night bookings accounting for over 40% of searches in mid-2025. People generally stay fewer nights, have fuller days, and benefit most from hotels as a calm place to come back to.
In the United States, The Langham Chicago ranked third on the 2026 Best Hotels list. Its location along the Chicago River occupies the lower floors of a sleek skyscraper designed by modernist architect Mies van der Rohe. Visitors can step directly into the city’s architectural core without sacrificing quiet once the day winds down.
The lobby exudes grandeur with soaring ceilings and a dramatic art installation of floating glass orbs. It's an ideal base for exploring the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, River North galleries, theater, and riverwalk. A generous indoor pool gives resort-like vibes beyond a simple city base, and the award-winning Chuan Spa tempts guests back to the property.
One visitor wrote that the hotel “made the city feel manageable,” noting the location and service as reasons they returned after previous stays. Another wrote that club-level access with lounge seating and river views made their stay feel “like a true five-star experience.”
Look to Spa-Driven Hotels When Rest Leads the Agenda
Some trips prioritize rest over sightseeing, and hotels built around spa programs continue to rank highly, as seen in the Caribbean results, where Belmond Cap Juluca placed second overall.
At Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel on Anguilla's pristine Maundays Bay, guests tend to respond as much to the setting as to the staff, citing its stunning turquoise water, sweeping views, expansive grounds, and deep sense of privacy in the generously sized suites. Yet it is the vibrant culture and palpable energy of the island's indigenous Arawak heritage that infuses the property.
The resort's impressive 18,000-square-foot Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain centers on elements fundamental to both Anguilla's natural environment and Guerlain's wellness philosophy: water, salt, and botanicals. Its guiding principle draws on "naniki," a term in the Taíno Arawak language meaning "spirited" and "full of life."
The spa embraces an open-air design with panoramic views of Maundays Bay and incorporates water features throughout to evoke the island's healing essence. One visitor wrote that they “planned very little beyond spa appointments and meals,” noting that the setting made it easy to settle in without feeling pulled toward outside plans.
International Hotels to Consider
The 2026 Best Hotels list also highlights properties outside the United States. In Canada, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto took the top spot. The city often stands in for New York on screen, including in Suits, and the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto fits that same role for travelers who value a city hotel that works quietly in the background. Set in midtown's swanky Yorkville neighborhood, the hotel offers easy access to dining, galleries, and shopping, with little planning beyond stepping outside.
In Europe, Adare Manor leads the regional rankings and operates more like a self-contained estate than a hotel. It combines Old World aristocratic grandeur and genuine Irish charm. On the expansive 840-acre estate along the banks of the River Maigue in the picturesque village of Adare, guests gravitate towards long meals and extended walks across the sweeping parklands, formal gardens, peaceful forests, and woodland paths in this magnificent neo-Gothic luxury resort.
In the Caribbean, Jade Mountain ranked highest, a result that aligns with its emphasis on privacy, dramatic views and time spent largely on property. That strength also reflects a practical consideration for St. Lucia itself, where narrow roads, long transfer times and limited infrastructure make moving around the island time-consuming.
Ultimately, the U.S. News 2026 Best Hotels rankings highlight a world of possibilities. For those planning ahead, these properties are proof that the right hotel can transform any trip into something extraordinary. In a crowded travel landscape, they remain the destinations worth prioritizing.
The complete 2026 Best Hotels rankings are available on the U.S. News & World Report travel website.
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