There are milestone birthdays, and we would say that reaching 250 years old is a big one. Happy Birthday, America — the land of the American Dream. In honor of our big birthday, we think that the U.S. should flex in terms of hotels that define luxury. These are the top 7 places to put on the list, to remind you just why the U.S. is one beautiful place.
Hotel: Amangiri
Location: Canyon Point, Utah
Amangiri sits on 600 acres of desert near the Arizona border, a landscape so cinematic it feels like a set built for silence. Rick Joy, Marwan Al‑Sayed, and Wendell Burnette shaped the resort’s architecture. It folds into the mesas with a quiet, monastic confidence.
Suites feature private pools and terraces that stare straight into the desert. It’s a setup designed for maximum calm, not performance. The spa spans 25,000 square feet and draws on Navajo healing traditions, grounding the experience in place. Dinner at Camp Sarika leans into wood‑fired simplicity, which feels exactly right when the night sky is doing most of the talking.
Hotel: The Peninsula Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The Peninsula Chicago keeps its place at the top, possibly the best in Illinois. Its rooms are among the largest in the city, with marble bathrooms and tech that actually works without a tutorial. The Peninsula Spa is a 15,000‑square‑foot sanctuary that feels worlds away from Michigan Avenue’s energy. Shanghai Terrace continues to be one of Chicago’s most elegant dining rooms, with Cantonese dishes that justify the reservation hunt. The hotel’s fleet of BMW house cars doesn’t hurt either.
Hotel: One&Only Moonlight Basin
Location: Big Sky, Montana
The resort covers 8,100 acres of forest and mountain terrain. Tom Kundig’s design keeps the focus on Lone Peak, not the hotel itself. The property offers 92 guest rooms and private homes. The ski‑in, ski‑out access is as serious as the après‑ski scene, which leans more “Montana chic” than “Aspen theatrics.” The resort’s restaurant, led by One&Only’s culinary team, focuses on wood‑grilled game and regional produce. Summer means fly‑fishing, horseback riding, and a quiet that feels perfectly matched to the landscape.
Hotel: Twin Farms
Location: Barnard, Vermont
Twin Farms spans 300 acres of Vermont countryside, originally the home of author Sinclair Lewis and journalist Dorothy Thompson. The property features 28 accommodations, from treehouses to mural‑filled cottages. No two spaces look or feel alike. Dining is a no‑menu, farm‑driven affair overseen by chef Nathan Rich, who builds each meal around what’s best that day. The Japanese furo bathhouse is a standout, especially when the snow starts to fall. This is the kind of place where time slows down, but the service never does.
Hotel: Beach Club at The Boca Raton
Location: The Boca Raton, Florida
Part of The Boca Raton’s $200‑million‑plus transformation, the Beach Club at The Boca Raton brings a modern gloss to Addison Mizner’s original 1926 vision. Rooms stay coastal‑minimal, while the balconies treat sunrise like a daily appointment. The three pools, private beach, and buzzy Marisol restaurant give the property a rhythm that shifts easily from serene to social. Guests also have access to the full Beach Club at The Boca Raton campus, including the spa, golf course, and the iconic pink tower. It’s Florida, but with a sharper sense of style than you expect.
Hotel: Raffles Boston
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Raffles Boston debuted in 2023 as the brand’s first North American property, complete with its signature butler‑led service in Back Bay. The 35‑story building has 147 rooms and 146 residences, all styled with a European /New England mix. Amar, the signature restaurant by chef George Mendes, combines Portuguese flavors with Boston’s seafood heritage. The Sky Lobby rises to the 17th floor, giving the city a calm, elevated vantage point. It feels worldly, but still very Boston.
Hotel: White Barn Inn
Location: Kennebunk, Maine
White Barn Inn has been a New England institution for over 50 years, known for its 19th‑century barns and Relais & Châteaux pedigree. The 27‑room property brings rustic architecture and just enough polish to keep things interesting, never fussy. The White Barn Inn Restaurant, led by chef Mathew Woolf, holds AAA Five Diamond status and leans into Maine’s coastal bounty. Guests can borrow bikes, take cooking classes, or simply sit by the river.
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FAQs
Q: What is the best way to get to Amangiri?
A: The easiest and most seamless way to get to Amangiri is to fly into Page Municipal Airport (PGA) in Arizona, which is about a 25-minute drive from the resort. Amangiri provides complimentary luxury transfers from the airport, and many guests either connect commercially through Phoenix or charter private flights directly into Page.
Q: When did the White Barn Inn in Maine open?
A: The White Barn Inn officially opened as an inn and restaurant in 1973, though the historic property itself dates back to the 1860s and had previously operated as a boarding house in the 19th century.
Q: Is the Raffles Boston a child-friendly hotel?
A: Yes — Raffles Boston is considered very family-friendly, especially by luxury city-hotel standards. The hotel offers connecting rooms and suites, child-sized robes and amenities, babysitting services upon request, and an indoor pool that works well for families visiting Boston with children.
