Glistening blue seas, stunning mountain backdrops and fascinating architecture - competition is fierce to make it into Trip Advisor’s 2015 Traveler’s Choice World Top 25 Hotels.
But two from the UAE have successfully made the cut, with Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai coming in 13th place, and Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai doing even better in eighth.
The rankings are based on the reviews of travellers.
Dar Al Masyaf offers two-storey villas amid scenic waterways and landscaped gardens, while Al Maha describes itself as “nestled in a verdant palm oasis, deep within Dubai’s magical dune and desert landscape … showcasing the heritage and architecture of the Bedouins and offers a sense of desert adventure”.
First place went to Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives with its bungalows on stilts reaching out across the water. The rest of the list stretched from Cambodia to Peru to Chicago.
“At Madinat Jumeirah we always focus on delivering exceptional experiences and memorable service to our guests,” said Azar Saliba, hotel manager of Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf.
“It is truly rewarding to see the results of our continuous commitment and our Stay Different brand promise reflected in online guest reviews.”
Here’s the top 25 list:
1. Gili Lankanfushi, North Male Atoll, Maldives
2. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
3. Shinta Mani Club Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Budapest, Hungary
5. Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, Cusco, Peru
6. Cocoa Island by COMO, Cocoa Island, South Male Atoll, Kaafu Atoll
7. Hotel Alpin Spa Tuxerhof, Tux, Austria
8. Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Murqquab, UAE
9. Hotel Estalagem St Hubertus, Gramado, Brazil
10. Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Urubamba, Peru
11. Hotel Belvedere, Riccione, Italy
12. Four Seasons Country Club, Quinta do Lago, Portugal
13. Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
14. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, China
15. Constance Moofushi, Maldives
16. The Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy
17. Constance Le Prince Maurice, Mauritius
18. Harvey's Point, Donegal Town, Ireland
19. The Upper House, Hong Kong
20. Haymarket Hotel, London
21. Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador
22. The Langham, Chicago
23. The Oberoi, Mauritius
24. Kayakapi Premium Caves, Cappadocia, Turkey
25. The Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
ioxborrow@thenational.ae
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