Decadence, culinary excellence, breathtaking architecture, boundless amenities—these are all elements that go into creating the perfect luxury hotel.
But with thousands of hotels across the globe claiming to be “luxury,” there are some that simply stand out amongst the crowd.
On Saturday, international travel and vacation publication Travel and Tour World unveiled its annual list of the top 100 luxury hotels in the world. The 2026 global ranking is a prestigious honor for high-end retreats and resorts, with Travel and Tour World utilizing a team of curators and experts to decide on this year’s rankings.
These indulgent getaways are ranked on various factors, including personalized service, architectural design, wellness and culinary offerings, sustainability, privacy, personalized experiences and overall luxury feel that comes with staying there.
Travel and Tour World says the consideration process spanned each continent, from well-known chain brands to boutique hoteliers, as its team sought to identify the hotels that “continue to shape global travel” while inspiring the most affluent of travelers in search of once-in-a-lifetime stays.
“Luxury hospitality has transcended mere opulence to embrace authenticity, innovation, impeccable craftsmanship, and profoundly personalised experiences,” the publication’s editor-in-chief Anup Kumar Keshan writes. “Today’s discerning travellers seek far more than lavish accommodation—they aspire to immerse themselves in destinations where architectural splendour, culinary mastery, holistic wellness, sustainability, privacy, and intuitive service converge seamlessly.”
Keshan says the hotels that top this year’s list are not just well-known luxurious properties, but “global icons” that reshape and redefine travel.
What is the best luxury hotel in the world?
The luxury hotel that took the crown in Travel and Tour World’s 2026 ranking may surprise some people. It’s not located on a tropical island oasis; it’s not nestled in an exclusive haven high in the French Alps; it’s not even near a major metropolitan city.
The No. 1 luxury hotel in the world for 2026 is located in America’s Mountain West, hours from the nearest neighboring major cities, in Southern Utah.
According to Travel and Tour World, the best luxury hotel in the world is Amangiri in Canyon Point.
“Widely regarded as one of the world’s most exclusive luxury retreats, Amangiri offers an extraordinary escape … designed to blend seamlessly into its rugged surroundings, the resort combines minimalist architecture with expansive suites, private pools, personalised wellness programmes, and curated outdoor adventures,” Travel and Tour World writes. “Guests enjoy remarkable privacy, exceptional service, and unforgettable experiences ranging from canyon explorations to spa rituals, making Amangiri a benchmark for ultra-luxury hospitality and experiential travel.”
Amangiri features 34 “modernist suites,” a satellite wellness retreat camp, luxury spa and pools inspired by the desert landscape, and two restaurants that serve flavors of the American Southwest.
Exclusivity, privacy and seclusion are among the hotel’s most notable features and selling points. Amangiri is located more than five hours south of Salt Lake City, about two hours east of St. George, Utah, and about four hours northeast of Las Vegas. It’s modern-yet-rustic elegance in the literal middle of nowhere.
All stays do, however, include roundtrip transfers from Page Municipal Airport in Page, Arizona, a bit more than 30 minutes from the grounds. Additionally, your reservation also includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for two guests, in-room refreshments, daily scheduled guided group hikes, daily wellness classes, and custom itinerary planning services.
Aman Resorts, the Swiss-based parent company of Amangiri, describes the property as a “place untouched by time.”
“Set within 900 acres of the Colorado Plateau, the Utah resort of Amangiri echoes the tranquillity of the otherworldly landscape that surrounds.”
While the property is a site to behold, the average person will never have such an opportunity. As of Saturday, June 27, you can expect to spend at least $4,000 per night at Amangiri—and that’s on the low end. Many stays top $5,000 or $6,000, with select dates even creeping up into five-digit territory per night.
This dream getaway will remain that for most—a dream. We will instead have to settle for scrolling the gallery of images on the resort’s website and pretend to be sequestered in the heart of the Utah desert.
Other luxury hotels that made the list
Travel and Tour World’s 2026 rankings is a diverse list of extravagant accommodations from all corners of the globe.
The runner-up on the list is another non-tropical locale in North America, this one located on Vancouver Island on the West Coast of Canada that is accessible only by boat or seaplane.
The No. 2 luxury hotel in the world is Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, which Travel and Tour World says offers an “extraordinary blend of adventure and luxury” with “safari-style tents, gourmet cuisine, guided wilderness excursions, sustainable tourism initiatives, and immersive outdoor experiences allow guests to reconnect with nature without compromising comfort.”
Reservations at Clayoquot come with several luxury offerings, including guided wellness experiences, complimentary gourmet dining, a selection of premium beverages and access to mountain bikes, e-bikes and watercraft.
Travelers can expect to pay several thousands per night while staying at Clayoquot. The resort’s shorter 3-4 day packages cost anywhere from $3500 on the low end to $5775 on the high.*
(Prices listed here are in USD, although the resort prices on the hotel website are listed in CAD)
Behind Amangiri and Clayoquot are three other well-known luxury resorts, with Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil landing at No. 3; Le Bristol Paris in France landing at No. 4; and the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles rounding out the top 5.
Other notable luxury hotels to make the list include the Waldorf Astoria in New York City (11), San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California (21), Four Seasons Hotel Firenze in Italy (31), the St. Regis Cairo in Egypt (63), Peninsula Hong Kong in China (79), the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles (86), and Amanjena in Marrakech, Morocco (92).
Here’s a list of the top 20 luxury hotels in the world for 2026, according to Travel and Tour World.
| Rank | Hotel | City | Country |
| 1 | Amangiri | Canyon Point, Utah | United States |
| 2 | Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge | Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia | Canada |
| 3 | Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil |
| 4 | Le Bristol Paris | Paris | France |
| 5 | Hotel Bel-Air | Los Angeles, California | United States |
| 6 | Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club | Surfside, Florida | United States |
| 7 | One&Only Mandarina | Riviera Nayarit | Mexico |
| 8 | Rosewood Mayakoba | Playa del Carmen | Mexico |
| 9 | The Mark | New York City | United States |
| 10 | Fogo Island Inn | Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada |
| 11 | Waldorf Astoria New York | New York City | United States |
| 12 | The Lowell | New York City | United States |
| 13 | One&Only Moonlight Basin | Big Sky, Montana | United States |
| 14 | Fairmont Banff Springs | Banff, Alberta | Canada |
| 15 | Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | San José del Cabo | Mexico |
| 16 | Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort | San José del Cabo | Mexico |
| 17 | Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise | Lake Louise, Alberta | Canada |
| 18 | Four Seasons Resort Whistler | Whistler, British Columbia | Canada |
| 19 | Chablé Yucatán | Chocholá, Yucatán | Mexico |
| 20 | Wickaninnish Inn | Tofino, British Columbia | Canada |
For the complete list of Travel and Tour World’s top 100 luxury hotels, including summaries and descriptions from the curation team, click here.
If you could stay at any of these luxury resorts, which would you choose?
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