Each year, a luxury travel survey asks travelers from across the world to share their thoughts on properties, experiences, and travel companies that deserve recognition. Awards are given in categories ranging from tour operators to cruise companies, favorite national parks, the best islands around the world, the most tourist-friendly cities, and many more.
Photo: The Oberoi Ravillas Jaipur
This Unexpected Country Has 10 of the World's Best Hotels in a Massive Travel Survey
But the most illustrious award is always the list of the World’s Best Hotels, usually synonymous with the best luxury hotels in the world. And while it’s not surprising to see so many options in the United States on the list, given the US’s wide breadth of destinations and easy airport access for domestic travel, it may be a little more surprising to know what country snapped up more than 10 percent of the top awards: India.
The fact that India has a boatload of the best luxury hotels in the world isn’t a secret to anyone who’s visited, given the country’s landscapes and draws ranging from tiger safaris to Himalayan retreats to gorgeous beaches. But getting to India isn’t easy or quick for most people in the US, who represent the lion’s share of the 186,000 travelers who completed the survey sponsored by Capital One Travel and Travel and Leisure. But the 10 hotels below in India had enough happy past guests to sweep the awards, making it the second-most awarded country on the list.
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The number one spot for the best hotel in the world in 2024 went to the Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur. The resort has luxury tents inspired by Maharajas, complete with modern comforts, as well as varied luxurious villas with private pools. The resort itself is a spread across landscaped gardens with traditional architecture and a touch of modern elegance. It’s like stepping back into a royal era, complete with peacocks strolling throughout the property. It’s one of several appearances by the Oberoi hotel group on the list of the top 100.
The rest of the best luxury hotels in the world below in India are listed below, with their ranking on the list marked in parenthesis.
(1) The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur
(15) Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan (Read: The Best Rajasthan Hotels To Experience This Charming Indian State)
(24) Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in Goa (Read: The Most Luxurious Hotels on the Coastline of Goa, India)
(27) The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra (Read: The Best Hotels Near the Taj Mahal With Incredible Views and Service)
(30) The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur (Read: 7 Spectacular Heritage Hotels in Rajasthan for a Luxury Trip in Northern India)
(36) The Leela Palace Bengaluru in Bangalore
(39) The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort in Ranthambhore
(62) The Leela Palace New Delhi in New Delhi (Read: Experience the Best of Indian Hospitality at These Spectacular Hotels in New Delhi)
(65) The Leela Palace in Udaipur
(92) Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur
(92, tie) The Imperial New Delhi in New Delhi
The rest of the best
Photo: Casa de La Playa, the second-best luxury hotel in the world per the survey.
The list of the top 100 is basically a cheat-sheet to the best luxury hotels in the world, with nearly all offering five-star experiences. Interestingly, each of the top 10 best hotels in the world is in a different country, highlighting the growing range of travel experiences and accommodations developing in countries around the world.
After India’s The Oberoi Rajvilas, the rest of the top 10 list included:
(2) La Casa de la Playa in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Read: The Pool at This Riviera Maya Resort Hovers Over the Ocean)
(3) The Ritz-Carlton Doha in Doha, Qatar
(4) Park Hytt Siem Reap in Siem Reap, Cambodia
(5) Selman Marrakech in Marrakesh, Morocco
(6) Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno in Torroja del Priorat, Spain
(7) Regent Hong Kong in Hong Kong
(8) Pendry Newport Beach in Newport Beach, California, USA
(9) Alma Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam
(10) Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi in South Malé Atoll, Maldives
The survey asked travel opinions of186,000 respondents, soliciting their thoughts on hotels and spas, cities, tour and safari companies, cruise lines and voyages, islands, transportation services, and national parks. More than 8,700 companies were ranked by respondents as either “excellent,” “above average,” “average,” “below average” or “poor” as they related to five categories: rooms and facilities, value, location, food, and service. It’s the 29th year for the awards, which began in 1995. 