Highlands Inn, Park Hyatt Carmel

2006-10-24 16:52:02
120 Highlands DriveCarmel, California Score: 82.41 1917 Craftsman-style resort on an oceanside bluff near Point Lobos State Reserve. Competitive Edge: Attentive service in a stylish, rustic setting... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Bernardus Lodge

2006-10-24 16:52:02
415 Carmel Valley RoadCarmel, California Score: 82.34 Sophisticated lodge surrounded by vineyards in Carmel Valley, 15 minutes from town. Competitive Edge: Secluded and romantic, with feather beds, fireplaces, and oversized tubs... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Carmel Valley Ranch

2006-10-24 16:52:02
One Old Ranch RoadCarmel , California Score: 81.94 400-acre golf resort?formerly a working ranch?surrounded by the Santa Lucia Mountains. Competitive Edge: A sophisticated West Coast retreat with plenty of outdoor activities... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

2006-10-24 16:52:02
One Miramontes Point RoadHalf Moon Bay, California Score: 84.21 Dramatic manor-style spa and golf resort set on a bluff, 45 minutes south of San Francisco. Competitive Edge: A pair of outstanding seaside courses, plus a range of amenities for non-golfers... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Beverly Hills Hotel

2006-10-24 16:52:02
9641 Sunset BoulevardLos Angeles Area, California Score: 82.65 Landmark 1912 Mission-style hotel, 5 minutes from Rodeo Drive. Competitive Edge: Still the most glamorous poolside scene in town, with luxe cabanas and an authentic Old Hollywood feel... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

300 S Doheny DriveLos Angeles Area, California Score: 85.76 Contemporary 16-story tower, a few blocks from Rodeo Drive. Competitive Edge: Four Seasons luxury combined with impeccable and discreet service... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Hotel Bel-Air

2006-10-24 16:52:02
701 Stone Canyon RoadLos Angeles Area , California Score: 87.74 Pink Mission-style mansion with 12 acres of gardens in a residential neighborhood west of Beverly Hills. Competitive Edge: A serene hideaway in a central location?Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, and downtown are all just 15 minutes away... More details fr

Peninsula Beverly Hills

2006-10-24 16:52:02
9882 S Santa Monica BoulevardLos Angeles Area , California Score: 90.64 Polished and urbane hotel with a garden and a renovated spa, within walking distance of Rodeo Drive. Competitive Edge: A balance of tranquil ambience and high-wattage bar and pool scenes... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisur

Regent Beverly Wilshire

2006-10-24 16:52:02
9500 Wilshire BoulevardLos Angeles Area, California Score: 86.30 Beverly Hills legend composed of the Neoclassical 1928 Wilshire Wing and the 1971 Beverly Wing. A Wolfgang Puck restaurant opens early this year. Competitive Edge: An ideal location for shoppers, at the junction of Rodeo and Wilshire... More details from the 2006

Shutters on the Beach

2006-10-24 16:52:02
1 Pico BoulevardLos Angeles Area, California Score: 82.40 Shingled oceanfront hotel in Santa Monica, even more cozy since its recent renovation. Competitive Edge: A laid-back beach house feel, with all the perks of a luxury hotel... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills

2006-10-24 16:52:03
9291 Burton WayLos Angeles Area, California Score: 87.03 Asian-influenced 8-story hotel on a tree-lined boulevard minutes from Rodeo Drive. Competitive Edge: Private pied-à-terre-style rooms averaging 675 square feet?they're among the largest in town... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Chateau Marmont

2006-10-24 16:52:03
8221 Sunset BoulevardLos Angeles Area, California Score: 82.99 1929 French castle-inspired hotel perched on a hill above the Sunset Strip. Competitive Edge: A Hollywood icon, swarming with celebrities and renowned for its discretion... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Auberge du Soleil

2006-10-24 16:52:03
180 Rutherford Hill RoadNapa/Sonoma, California Score: 87.16 Proven?al-inspired hideaway set among olive groves and vineyards in mid-Napa Valley, well-sited for touring wineries. Competitive Edge: Plush, private, and pampering, it's ideal for a romantic getaway... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Lei

Meadowood Napa Valley

2006-10-24 16:52:03
900 Meadwood LaneNapa/Sonoma, California Score: 80.65 Sprawling resort and private club with beautiful interiors, surrounded by 250 wooded acres, near St. Helena. Competitive Edge: An in-with-the-in-crowd atmosphere (many famous winemakers are club members), sans stuffiness... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006

Villagio Inn & Spa

2006-10-24 16:52:03
6481 Washington StreetNapa/Sonoma, California Score: 81.82 Cluster of 2-story stucco buildings and Italianate gardens, on Yountville's lovely main street. Competitive Edge: A prime location for dining at the area's renowned restaurants; French Laundry is right down the block... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006

Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1 Ritz-Carlton DriveOrange County, California Score: 84.71 Family-friendly resort with an air of formality on a bluff above the Pacific, a short shuttle ride to the beach. Competitive Edge: One of the oldest hotels in the area?and also one of the freshest, thanks to a recent $40 million overhaul... More details from the 2006

Montage Resort & Spa

2006-10-24 16:52:03
30801 South Coast Hwy.Orange County, California Score: 82.32 Luxurious Craftsman-style resort on 30 oceanfront acres near downtown Laguna Beach. Competitive Edge: Classic California interiors in one of the state's most beautiful settings... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

1 Monarch Beach ResortOrange County, California Score: 81.12 Tuscan-inspired spa and golf resort with an impressive art collection. Competitive Edge: Guests have access to the members-only Monarch Bay Club, one of the area's most pristine beaches... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Island Hotel Newport Beach

2006-10-24 16:52:03
690 Newport Center DriveOrange County, California Score: 80.99 20-story tower popular with business travelers, 1 mile from the beach. Competitive Edge: Great for business and leisure?across the street from the 200-plus stores of Fashion Island... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

1401 South Oak Knoll AvenuePasadena, California Score: 82.53 1907 landmark on 23 acres in an exclusive community in the San Gabriel foothills; the main building has just completed extensive renovations. Competitive Edge: The much lauded Dining Room?one of the country's top hotel restaurants... More details from the 2006 T+L 5

Inn at Spanish Bay

2006-10-24 16:52:03
2700 17-Mile DrivePebble Beach, California Score: 86.74 Scottish-style golf resort between the Pacific Coast and the Del Monte Forest on the Monterey Peninsula. Competitive Edge: A younger vibe makes it the Tiger Woods to sister property the Lodge's Jack Nicklaus... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Le

Lodge at Pebble Beach

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1700 17-Mile DrivePebble Beach, California Score: 86.84 1919 cream stucco buildings overlooking Carmel Bay, in the heart of the Pebble Beach community. Competitive Edge: A classic golf-resort hotel, with a distinguished country-club feel... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Four Seasons Resort, Aviara

2006-10-24 16:52:03
7100 Four Seasons PointSan Diego Area, California Score: 82.99 Spanish colonial-style property on a plateau overlooking a lagoon, 35 minutes from the city. Competitive Edge: The area's only Arnold Palmer golf course, set within a 200-acre nature sanctuary (home to more than 130 species of waterfowl)... More details from the 20

La Valencia Hotel

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1132 Prospect StreetSan Diego Area, California Score: 83.09 1926 hotel with modern villas in the heart of La Jolla, across the street from the beach and 15 minutes from San Diego. Competitive Edge: Old California atmosphere, thanks to original details (wrought-iron chandeliers, mosaic tiles)... More details from the 2006 T+L

Four Seasons, San Francisco

2006-10-24 16:52:03
757 Market StreetSan Francisco, California Score: 87.02 Sleek 41-story tower overlooking the Yerba Buena Gardens and arts district, 2 blocks from Union Square and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Competitive Edge: Ideal for culture-seekers: the hotel is home to one of the city's most extensive modern art collections and can

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

2006-10-24 16:52:03
222 Sansome StreetSan Francisco, California Score: 83.65 Asian-inspired property on the top 11 floors of a financial-district high-rise, 6 blocks from Union Square. Rooms currently undergoing a full renovation. Competitive Edge: Bird's-eye views of the city for all guests... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Tr

Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

2006-10-24 16:52:03
600 Stockton StreetSan Francisco, California Score: 85.21 Stately 1909 Neoclassical property near the financial district, Chinatown, Nob Hill, and Union Square. Competitive Edge: The quintessential urban Ritz, and a magnet for local society and visiting celebrities... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel +

Campton Place Hotel

2006-10-24 16:52:03
340 Stockton StreetSan Francisco, California Score: 84.42 Quiet, contemporary hotel with a residential feel, steps from Union Square, shopping, and the nearby financial district. Popular with business travelers. Competitive Edge: A peaceful retreat in the heart of the city (thanks in part to soundproof windows)... More details

San Ysidro Ranch

2006-10-24 16:52:03
900 San Ysidro LaneSanta Barbara, California Score: 83.35 Former citrus ranch with cottage-style bungalows on 500 acres in the Montecito foothills, 5 minutes from town. Full-property renovation ongoing throughout 2006. Competitive Edge: A romantic retreat with discreet service and a tranquil ambience... More details from the

Four Seasons Biltmore

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1260 Channel DriveSanta Barbara, California Score: 84.29 1927 Spanish colonial-style estate on 22 beachfront acres in Montecito. Rooms are being renovated through March. Competitive Edge: Gorgeous 79-year-old gardens tended by 22 full-time gardeners and laced with paths to encourage walking... More details from the 2006 T+L 5

Little Nell

2006-10-24 16:52:03
675 East Durant AvenueAspen, Colorado Score: 86.45 Contemporary ski lodge at the base of the mountain. A major redesign of public spaces by David Easton has just been completed. Competitive Edge: Aspen's only ski-in, ski-out resort, with a legendary après-ski scene... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel +

St. Regis Resort, Aspen

2006-10-24 16:52:03
315 East Dean StreetAspen, Colorado Score: 85.65 Sprawling red-brick resort, steps from 2 ski lifts and downtown. Fresh from a $37 million redo. Competitive Edge: The area's most complete luxury resort, with full services and amenities, including a new 15,000-square-foot Remède Spa... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 

Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

2006-10-24 16:52:03
0130 Daybreak RidgeBeaver Creek, Colorado Score: 80.84 3-year-old resort with a 21,000-square-foot spa, a 10-minute drive from town, and connected by ski lifts to Beaver Creek. Competitive Edge: All the Ritz-Carlton luxuries in a quiet, rustic setting... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

136 East Thomas PlaceBeaver Creek, Colorado Location approximated Score: 81.32 Massive ski-in, ski-out lodge at the base of the resort, near the Centennial Express high-speed quad. Competitive Edge: A location in the heart of busy Beaver Creek Village, with unbeatable access to the slopes... More details from the 2006 T+L 500

The Broadmoor

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1 Lake AvenueColorado Springs, Colorado Score: 86.16 3,000-acre Italianate mega-resort on a lake in the Rockies, 20 minutes from Colorado Springs. Competitive Edge: The family-friendly Western style, combined with loads of activities... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Sonnenalp Resort of Vail

2006-10-24 16:52:03
20 Vail RoadVail, Colorado Score: 84.62 Bavarian-style ski resort in the village, a short walk from the Vista Bahn lift. A new $25 million wing opens this winter. Competitive Edge: Old-world hospitality from the 4th-generation hotelier and his staff, alongside some of the Rockies' top slopes... More details from the 2006 T+L 5

Mayflower Inn

2006-10-24 16:52:03
118 Woodbury Road (Rte. 47)Washington, Connecticut Score: 85.00 Stately main building and cottages with English country house-style interiors, on 58 manicured acres near a nature preserve (great hiking and biking). Competitive Edge: The inn's pastoral setting and new 20,000-square-foot spa make for a perfect romantic getaway...

Hotel du Pont

2006-10-24 16:52:03
11th and Market StreetsWilmington, Delaware Score: 80.53 1913 Italian Renaissance-style hotel attached to the DuPont headquarters. Competitive Edge: Elegant quarters convenient to the business district and Brandywine Valley attractions... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Four Seasons Hotel, D.C.

2006-10-24 16:52:03
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 82.16 2 interconnected red-brick buildings on the banks of Georgetown's C&O Canal. Competitive Edge: A recent renovation in the east wing turned every 3 rooms into 2, creating some of the largest luxury standards in D.C... More details from the 2006 T+L

St. Regis

2006-10-24 16:52:03
923 16th Street NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 81.49 1926 landmark, built in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace, 2 blocks from the White House. Competitive Edge: A central location close to most of the major museums and monuments, combined with excellent, nuanced service... More details from the 2006 T

Willard InterContinental

2006-10-24 16:52:03
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 82.02 1901 Beaux-Arts hotel with a new 5,000-square-foot spa, 1 block from the White House. Competitive Edge: D.C.'s most historic and iconic property?the term lobbyist was coined here, and Martin Luther King wrote his "I Have a Dream" speech in the hotel...

The Hay-Adams

2006-10-24 16:52:04
16th and H Streets NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 83.02 Italian Renaissance-inspired grande dame directly facing the White House. Competitive Edge: As close as you can sleep to the Washington Monument (barring pitching a tent in protest)... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown

2006-10-24 16:52:04
3100 South Street NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 81.18 19th-century former industrial building near shopping and nightlife in the heart of Georgetown. Competitive Edge: A historical feel in the public spaces, yet ultramodern guest rooms that are large and high-tech... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 

The Jefferson

2006-10-24 16:52:04
1200 16th Street NWWashington, D.C., District Of Columbia Score: 80.22 Antiques-filled 1923 Beaux-Arts building, 4 blocks from the White House. Competitive Edge: A more intimate, residential feel than most of the city's top hotels... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

2006-10-24 16:52:04
4750 Amelia Island ParkwayAmelia Island, Florida Score: 84.65 8-story beachfront tower set between dunes and fairways, 30 minutes from Jacksonville. Competitive Edge: An unusual blend of family-friendly services with a sophisticated atmosphere... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

245 Front StreetFlorida Keys, Florida Score: 83.73 Pastel oceanfront cottages along a wide beach on a private island, 10 minutes by boat from the main resort. Competitive Edge: A family-friendly fantasy island with hammocks and thatched-roof cabanas... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel + Leisure]]>

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

2006-10-24 16:52:04
28500 Overseas Hwy. (Mile Marker 29 Oceanside)Florida Keys, Florida Score: 86.40 South Seas-style getaway along a white-sand beach on a private 6-acre island. Closing for 3 months this summer for a complete renovation. Competitive Edge: Florida's most ultra-private and ultra-romantic retreat... More details from the 2006 T+L

Marquesa Hotel

2006-10-24 16:52:04
600 Fleming StreetFlorida Keys, Florida Score: 89.03 4 interconnected clapboard houses with breezy interiors and a knowledgeable staff, set around pools and tropical gardens in the middle of Key West's historic district. Competitive Edge: A remarkably calm oasis in the middle of town... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 &#

Ritz-Carlton, South Beach

2006-10-24 16:52:04
1 Lincoln RoadMiami Area, Florida Score: 83.52 1953 Morris Lapidus-designed 11-story hotel flanked by two wings, in South Beach. Chef David Bouley's Evolution opens this winter. Competitive Edge: All the sophistication of a Ritz-Carlton resort, in a South Beach setting... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Trav

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

2006-10-24 16:52:04
500 Brickell Key DriveMiami Area, Florida Score: 87.70 Fan-shaped high-rise and private beach club, minutes from the business district. Competitive Edge: A serene location away from the chockablock South Beach strip, with luxury perks, including a great 3-level spa... More details from the 2006 T+L 500 © 2006 Travel +