‘Gold List’ names 700 top hotels

Hotels in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Chicago, New York, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas earned the highest overall U.S. scores on Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s annual “Gold List” of the world’s 700 best places to stay.

The complete list, which is published in the magazine’s January issue, was based on data collected for the annual Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Survey, which is conducted among the magazine’s subscribers.

Only a dozen U.S. properties earned 95 out of 100 or better in the rankings. They were Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz.; Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, Calif.; Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, Calif.; Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island, Hawaii; Four Seasons Lodge Lana’i at Koele, Lanai, Hawaii; Four Seasons, Chicago; The Peninsula, Chicago; St. Regis, New York City; Hotel Lucia, Portland; Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C.; Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, S.C.; and Watermark Hotel and Spa, San Antonio.

Hotels were also rated for food, activities, design, rooms and service. Although no hotel was awarded a perfect 100 in all categories, several properties did get the top score in various categories.

For food, perfect 100s went to Balsams Grand Resort, Dixville Notch, N.H.; the Four Seasons in Lana’i; and Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Ore.