The Lodge at Sea Island Named The Best Hotel in The U.S.

The Lodge at Sea Island claimed top spot on U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking, moving up one spot. Guests enjoy world-class golf and classic luxury in rooms that boast exposed beams and marble bathrooms. Five-star hotel edged high-end brands and big-city hotels, with The Jefferson in Washington taking second place. A luxury five-star lodge that resembles an English country manor and has sweeping views of the Atlantic from the Georgia coast has been named the best hotel in the U.S. The Lodge at Sea Island edged high-end brands and big-city hotels to claim top spot on U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking, moving up one spot from last year’s second-place finish. With rates starting from $395 (£280) a night, the 40-room hotel, on St Simons Island, offers a private setting with classic luxury, with guests returning every year for romantic breaks or world-class golf getaways. Guest rooms boast rich wood furnishings, exposed beam ceilings, overstuffed chairs, hardwood floors, hand-crafted Oriental rugs and marble bathrooms. There is a 24-hour butler service to cater to guests’ needs and one of the quirks is a nightly performance by a bagpiper at sunset. U.S. News & World Report said it chose The Lodge because it is a perennial favourite among experts and travellers thanks to its amenities and high standards. Second place on this year’s list went to The Jefferson, one of President Barack Obama’s favourite haunts in Washington, DC. Set in the heart of the nation’s capital, The Jefferson is a 95-room Beaux Arts-style boutique hotel that is just a few blocks from the White House. Las Vegas’ ARIA Sky Suites claimed third spot and was followed by Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii and The Peninsula Beverly Hills, which rounded out the top five. Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, ranked sixth, while The Langham in Chicago was seventh. Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, Waldorf Astoria in Chicago and Auberge du Soleil in California’s Napa Valley took spots eight through 10. U.S. News & World Report said its editors chose the top 10 after evaluating more than 1,750 hotels across the U.S., taking into account each property’s star rating and reputation among guests and experts. Travel editor Erin Shields said: ‘A great hotel can make your vacation, but travellers don't have to waste time searching for the perfect accommodations. ‘The hotels on our list are adored by both travellers and expert reviewers for their high-quality amenities, comfortable rooms and exceptional services.’ The publication also named its top hotels for Canada (The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal), the Caribbean (The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman), and Mexico (Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen).