My Honest Perspective on the World’s 50 Best Hotels List

Friday newsletters always feature luxury travel contests, tips, or news.

Today: The World’s 50 Best Hotels: What They Got Right — and What They Didn’t

When The World’s 50 Best Hotels list was announced earlier this month, I felt both excitement and curiosity, having recently shared my own list of my top 10 favorite hotels in the world. As someone who has been privileged to stay at many of these properties over the years — from overwater villas in the Maldives to grand urban landmarks in Europe and Asia — I always read this type of lists with a personal lens. For me, it is not just an abstract ranking; it is a reflection of places I’ve experienced, people I’ve met, and moments that have shaped my view of what true luxury hospitality should feel like.

This year’s selection of The World’s 50 Best Hotels is, without question, impressive. It features some of the finest hotels in the world — destinations that define excellence, artistry, and comfort. Yet, I also found myself questioning certain choices. There are hotels that absolutely belong here, and a few that, in my opinion, do not. The list, while valuable, reveals certain biases that deserve to be examined.

In this article:

The History Behind The World’s 50 Best Hotels

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is a relatively new addition to the “50 Best” awards family, which is best known for its influential and long-established World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking. The restaurants list has been published annually since 2002 and is widely considered one of the most authoritative guides in global gastronomy. By contrast, the hotels list has only been released a few times, making it a younger and less proven spin-off. Although it follows a similar voting model and aspires to the same level of credibility, it has not yet achieved the same global trust or recognition. Many travelers, including myself, view the restaurant list as far more reliable and consistent, while the hotel list still feels like it is evolving its identity and refining its criteria.

How the Selection Is Made

According to The World’s 50 Best Hotels organization, the ranking is created by an international academy of more than 800 experts, including hoteliers, travel journalists, and seasoned luxury travelers. Each member casts seven votes for the best hotels they have stayed in during the past two years, ranking them in order of preference.There are no rigid criteria such as pricing tiers, star ratings, or minimum service levels. The only rule is that the hotel must be open in the voting period and not slated to close permanently within 3 months of list publication.

The concept is to capture genuine experiences and impressions rather than formulaic metrics. The voting is also anonymous, and hotels cannot pay for inclusion. In theory, this should ensure authenticity and credibility. In practice, however, it often reflects the travel patterns of those within the industry — people who spend much of their time in global cities rather than far-flung destinations.

Where the List Misses the Mark

One of the most striking aspects of this year’s list is its strong bias toward city hotels, particularly in Bangkok. Properties such as the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok, and the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok all feature prominently near the top. While each of these is unquestionably world-class, their dominance raises questions about balance and diversity.

City hotels, no matter how refined, tend to offer a different kind of luxury — one focused on polish, efficiency, and brand consistency. Yet the true magic of travel, in my view, often lies in the rare and the remote: the island resorts, mountain lodges, and hidden estates that transport you entirely out of your everyday world. This year’s list, while admirable in many respects, leans heavily toward major urban centers, which feels surprisingly narrow for a ranking that aims to represent global excellence. To me, it simply reflects an academy that overwhelmingly stays in city hotels — and therefore overwhelmingly votes for city hotels — resulting in a perspective that does not fully capture the breadth of what exceptional travel can be.

Also, not every inclusion feels warranted. One property that stands out for the wrong reasons, in my opinion, is Desa Potato Head in Bali. While I admire its creative energy and sustainability ethos, I do not consider it among the best hotels in the world — far from it, actually. Its design-forward aesthetic may appeal to a certain younger crowd, but it lacks the depth of service, sense of place, and timeless luxury that true icons of hospitality deliver. Bali, after all, is home to some of the world’s most remarkable resorts — from Como Shambhala Estate to Alila Uluwatu and Soori Bali — and Potato Head simply does not operate on the same level of refinement or luxury. Its inclusion feels more like a nod to trendiness than a reflection of excellence.

I hold similar reservations about The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon. Although it is a stylish and visually striking property, it does not offer anything particularly unique or memorable when compared to Tokyo’s far more sophisticated luxury hotels. In a city that is home to Aman Tokyo, The Peninsula, and Mandarin Oriental, Edition feels more like a chic lifestyle hotel than one of the world’s best. Its inclusion on the list seems driven more by brand hype than by genuine excellence in hospitality or cultural authenticity.

Where the List Gets It Right

There are, however, several  ultra-luxury hotels that I believe fully deserve their recognition. Some examples:

• Soneva Fushi in the Maldives remains one of the most extraordinary properties in existence. Its barefoot philosophy, natural design, and deep commitment to sustainability create an experience that is simultaneously indulgent and pure. Every stay there feels transformational. Read my review here.

• Atlantis The Royal in Dubai is another rightful inclusion. It is bold, architectural, and unapologetically glamorous — a new benchmark for large-scale resort luxury. It is one of the few hotels that manages to blend spectacle with genuine hospitality. Read my review here.

• Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens also earns its place. Nestled along the Athenian Riviera, it beautifully balances resort serenity with cosmopolitan sophistication. Its setting, design, and service reflect what modern Mediterranean luxury should look and feel like. Read my review here.

• Aman Tokyo is equally deserving of its position on the list. It offers a masterful blend of serene minimalism, meticulous Japanese craftsmanship, and the quiet grandeur that defines the Aman brand. The way it brings calm and spaciousness to the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities is nothing short of remarkable.Read my review here.

• Raffles Singapore continues to stand as an icon of global hospitality. Its elegant colonial architecture, impeccable service, and timeless sense of grandeur create an atmosphere that feels both historic and effortlessly refined. Staying there truly feels like entering a different era, yet without compromising modern comfort.

• Maroma, a Belmond Resort, on the Riviera Maya, also deserves to be celebrated. Its recent redesign has elevated it into a contemporary sanctuary that still embraces the soulful beauty of its natural surroundings. The resort captures the spirit of Mexican hospitality with warmth, authenticity, and a deep sense of place, making it one of the most enchanting beach retreats in the region. Read my review here.

The Full List

For context, here is the complete World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list:

1. Rosewood Hong Kong – Hong Kong

2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – Bangkok

3. Capella Bangkok – Bangkok

4. Passalacqua – Lake Como

5. Raffles Singapore – Singapore

6. Atlantis The Royal – Dubai

7. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok

8. Chablé Yucatán – Yucatán

9. Four Seasons Firenze – Florence

10. The Upper House – Hong Kong

11. Copacabana Palace – Rio de Janeiro

12. Capella Sydney – Sydney

13. Royal Mansour – Marrakech

14. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen – Beijing

15. Bulgari Tokyo – Tokyo

16. Claridge’s – London

17. Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens

18. Desa Potato Head – Bali

19. Le Bristol – Paris

20. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – Dubai

21. Cheval Blanc Paris – Paris

22. Bulgari Roma – Rome

23. Hôtel de Crillon – Paris

24. Rosewood São Paulo – São Paulo

25. Aman Tokyo – Tokyo

26. Hotel Il Pellicano – Porto Ercole

27. Hôtel du Couvent – Nice

28. Soneva Fushi – Maldives

29. The Connaught – London

30. La Mamounia – Marrakech

31. Raffles London at The OWO – London

32. The Emory – London

33. Maroma – Riviera Maya

34. The Calile – Brisbane

35. The Lana – Dubai

36. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo – Monaco

37. Janu Tokyo – Tokyo

38. The Taj Mahal Palace – Mumbai

39. One&Only Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit

40. Singita – Kruger National Park

41. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong – Hong Kong

42. Hotel Bel-Air – Los Angeles

43. The Mark – New York

44. Las Ventanas al Paraíso – Los Cabos

45. The Tokyo Edition Toranomon – Tokyo

46. Hotel The Mitsui – Kyoto

47. Estelle Manor – Witney

48. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj – Rovinj

49. Hotel Sacher Vienna – Vienna

50. Mandapa – Bali

My Closing Thoughts

Overall, The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is becoming one of the most interesting and influential rankings in global hospitality. It captures both the pulse of modern luxury and the preferences of the industry’s insiders. Still, as someone who has experienced many of these properties firsthand, I believe the list reflects a slightly narrow definition of what “the best” means.

Luxury is not only about marble lobbies, Michelin-starred dining, or iconic city views. It is also about emotional resonance — the feeling of peace at sunset in the Maldives, the scent of pine in a mountain retreat, the quiet perfection of a remote lodge where time slows down. I hope future editions of this list embrace that diversity and look beyond the obvious.

For now, I view this list as inspiration, not instruction. It reminds me how many beautiful experiences exist in the world, but also how important it is to travel with personal curiosity rather than collective consensus. After all, the best hotel is not the one everyone praises — it is the one that feels, for a moment, entirely your own.

What do you make of this new list of the 50 Best Hotels in the World? Leave a comment.

*** Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***