The Most Expensive Hotels in the World May Not Be on this List

The most expensive hotels in the world may not be the best hotels in the world. For that, you have to look toward Tripadvisor, which recently announced the winners of its 2023 Travelers’ Choice^® Best of the Best Hotel Awards. Keep in mind, for Tripadvisor whether it is of the most expensive hotels in the world or even the best hotels, the judges are the travelers – the mom and pops and families, the corporate or luxury traveler … anyone with enough time on their hands and motivation to send comments into the digital travel platform during or after their stay.

The awards offer information and even inspiration by revealing the best places to stay in the U.S. and around the world, according to a 12 months of review data (January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022) from real travelers covering more than 1.5 million hotels, to determine travelers’ highest-rated accommodations of the year. And the winners are…

Top 2023 Hotel Trends

This year, wellness is top of mind for travelers whether seeking the most expensive hotels in the world or the best resorts for putting their health and their moods on the right track. All-inclusives and hotels set in relaxing Caribbean destinations rank highly in the 2023 awards.

The 2023 awards, particularly in the U.S., feature many new winners, suggesting that as more people traveled and left reviews over the past year, they ventured to new places, both at home and abroad.

Asia tops the charts for travelers this year, proving that the market has bounced back as a tourism destination. Nine of the top 25 Hottest New Hotels are in Asia, along with eight of the Top Hotels in the world. Asia also offers its selection of the most expensive hotels in the world, or would be expensive except that in many destinations, those luxuries are more affordable for Americans.

Brazil takes the cake with the most winners on the world list this year, with Istanbul beating out other cities. In the U.S., Charleston has the most unique winners, followed by New York City and Washington, D.C.

Top Hotels in the World According to Guests

This year’s No. 1 Hotel in the prestigious Top Hotels category is Rumbagh Palace in Jaipur, India. Dubbed “The Jewel of Jaipur,” this 1835 palace-turned-luxurious hotel holds unbelievable extravagance and is known for its polo bar, historic suites, and high tea.

In the U.S., while it is not the most expensive hotels in the world, The Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, ranks No. 1 for travelers as a close approximation. The luxurious, cosmopolitan hotel provides a rare duality in contemporary design and draws inspiration from the historic city it calls home and is known for its chic rooftop bar, food and beverage offerings, and warm Southern hospitality.

The distinguished Top Hotels list is a diverse ranking with winners from 19 countries around the world. On the U.S. list, 21 different cities are home to a 2023 winner.

Top 10 Hotels in the World

1. Rambagh Palace – Jaipur, India

2. Ozen Reserve Bolifushi – Bolifushi Island, Maldives

3. Hotel Colline de France – Gramado, Brazil

4. Shangri-La The Shard, London – London, United Kingdom

5. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

6. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

7. Romance Istanbul Hotel – Istanbul, Türkiye

8. Ikos Dassia – Dassia, Greece

9. Ikos Andalusia – Estepona, Spain

10. Padma Resort Ubud – Puhu, Indonesia

Top 10 Hotels in the U.S.

1. The Perry Lane Hotel – Savannah, Ga.

2. Hotel Emma at Pearl – San Antonio, Texas

3. Hotel Madera – Washington, D.C.

4. The Lancaster – Houston, Texas

5. Acqualina Resort & Residences On The Beach – Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.

6. Atticus Hotel – McMinnville, Ore.

7. Montage Laguna Beach – Laguna Beach, Calif.

8. The Inn Above Tide – Sausalito, Calif.

9. French Quarter Inn – Charleston, S.C.

10. Pendry Manhattan West – New York City, N.Y.

New for 2023, are hotels for ultimate comfort: The Best Hotels for Sleep, spotlights the top 10 accommodations around the world where guests have rated sleep most highly in their reviews. Topping the sleep list is Dromoland Castle Hotel in Ireland, which is not of the most expensive hotels in the world but is considered No. 1 for serene slumber. For those looking to stay closer to home, the U.S. holds two great spots for shut-eye: the Harbor House Inn in Santa Barbara, California, and Graduate Tucson in Tucson, Arizona.

Dromoland Castle Hotel – Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland
Abigail’s Hotel – Victoria, Canada
Harbor House Inn – Santa Barbara, Calif., U.S.
Hotel de Biencourt – Azay-le-Rideau, France
Boutique Hotel Diana – Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy
Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa – Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Guana Island – Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Kapama Buffalo Camp – Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Graduate Tucson – Tucson, Ariz., U.S.
Baltazar Budapest – Boutique Hotel – Budapest, Hungary

A second new subcategory for 2023 also spotlights relaxation: the Best Hotels with Spas. While many of the most expensive hotels in the world hotels aim to induce those Zen moments, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, according to these raters, is the No. 1 rated Spa Hotel. And the views alone are worth the visit: the spa on the 116th floor.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ikos Dassia – Dassia, Greece
Padma Resort Ubud – Puhu, Indonesia
Sunrise Attitude – Belle Mare, Mauritius
Varu By Atmosphere – Madivaru, Maldives
Voyage Belek Golf & Spa – Belek, Türkiye
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef – Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
The Westin Goa – Anjuna, India
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the hospitality industry continues to rebound, Tripadvisor fans weighed in to identify the Hottest New Hotels for 2023. And for that, it is OBLU SELECT Lobigili in the Maldives. This 5-star resort exclusively for adults features nature-inspired designs that bring to life a secluded, castaway feel, once again proving wellness is paramount for travelers. In the U.S., San Francisco’s design- and art-driven LUMA Hotel takes the crown.

Those looking for more bucket list adventures and Instagram-worthy photo-ops can explore the most Out-of-the-Ordinary Hotels for a stay to remember:

+ Patagonia Camp in Chile is No. 1 in the world. Within Torres del Paine National Park, this is the first luxury camp in South America with a chic collection of glamorous Yurts. Glampers rejoice!

+ There are two U.S. winners this year: Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and The Verb Hotel in Boston.

For the Best Family-Friendly Hotels these properties hadthe stuff for kids, plus all the perks for parents.

-No. 1 in the world: Ikos Andalusia in Estepona, Spain.

-No 1. In the U.S.: Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club in Fort Lauderdale. The resort is also No. 18 in the world, the only U.S. hotel awarded among the best in the world.

You don’t have to stay in the most expensive hotels in the world to experience great hospitality. Sometimes the best stay can be found in a cozy bed and breakfast. Last year’s favorites reign supreme: The Toulson Court in Scarborough, United Kingdom takes the No. 1 spot in the world for the second year in a row, and Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod is No. 1 in the U.S. once again.

Luxury Hotels are often the most expensive hotels in the world and are recognized places with above-and-beyond hospitality and amenities. These properties are not the most expensive but they are the top pick for luxury, according to Tripadvisor comments. Those crowns belong to Rambagh Palace in India, which is also the No. 1 Top Hotel. In the U.S. it is Hotel Emma at Pearl in San Antonio.

Small Hotels, too, can make a big impression. For travelers’ favorites under 30 rooms look to the White House Hotel in Istanbul, for the second consecutive year. In the U.S., the top small hotel is Adobe Grand Villas in Sedona, Arizona

Finally, the go-to Best All-Inclusive Hotel that offers everything vacationers could want (and more), all in one place: Ozen Reserve Bolifushi in the Maldives is No. 1 in the world.