Best Hotels in the West

Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero

2011 Hotel Awards

Our editors scouted, snooped, and dozed in hundreds of hotels over the past year to find the 25 best-in-class for a special weekend getaway. Looking for a 50th birthday celebration spot? Or a perfect Western honeymoon resort? Look no further. Although they might feel a million miles away, almost every place is within an hour's drive of a major airport, and most are closer. Service, design, food, and rooms were all scored, plus those details that make a hotel Sunset-special: Are those fresh herbs in the cocktails? Does the landscape look native to the area? Can you see the Golden Gate Bridge? But value was paramount. If an expensive property made the list, it earned it with extra services and amenities or by being best in class. So dive in. Your perfect weekend awaits.

For all hotels, prices reflect 2011's starting weekend rates (low season/high season). Scores are out of 100.

Photo by Rachel Weill

Solage Calistoga

Napa Valley

Wine country is filled with gorgeous hotels that bristle with Michelin stars, but somehow, Solage manages to have "the best pool in Napa, period," says our reviewer, a window-walled gym that channels "Martha Stewart's private gym in Bedford," and the requisite Michelin star–without costing $700 a night. Comfy, barn-chic studios with a spiffy pair of loaner bikes and shaded patios create a sanctuary feel, and the spa is one of the best. $350/$585; 95 rooms & suites; solagecalistoga.com

SCORE: 85

Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero

Crescent Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills

The stylin' rooms at the Crescent are admittedly a tight squeeze, but what vaulted this hotel onto our list is its value score, with under-$250 rooms in one of the toniest parts of L.A., plus the glamorous art deco design. At night, a high-energy bar and palm terrace make it a great place to meet up with friends. Extra points for fully loaded iPods by the bed, plush HD Design/Eco Friendly toiletries, and room service. $159/$219; 36 rooms & suites; crescentbh.com

SCORE: 76

Photo courtesy of the Inn of the Spanish Garden

Inn of the Spanish Garden

Santa Barbara

This inn won us over with its "mini Chateau Marmont" feeling. Like L.A.'s famous property, "it's easy to imagine the publicity-shy seeking privacy under a lemon tree in the courtyard." Spacious, Spanish mission-style rooms with Juliet balconies and graceful ironwork are the reason to book here, and even without a full kitchen, the inn serves a lovely breakfast, room service, and local wines in the evening. $295/$349; 23 rooms & suites; spanishgardeninn.com

SCORE: 87.5

Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Inn

Farmhouse Inn

Sonoma

In wine country, anyone can put some high thread-count sheets on the bed and charge a bundle. What rockets the inn to the top of Sonoma's hotels is the truly thoughtful service and attention to food and wine. We're talking tips from Sonoma's only master sommelier and a Michelin-starred menu filled with ingredients grown on the innkeeper's farm, not to mention "the best huevos rancheros of your life." And there's no end to the special touches: self-serve counters for bath salts, s'mores, and Italian sodas; spa ingredients from the garden; even private steam rooms. $350/$390; 18 rooms & suites; farmhouseinn.com

SCORE: 83

Photo courtesy of Rancho Valencia

Rancho Valencia

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

There's not a thread out of place at this hotel near San Diego. Let us gush: Amazing iced tea at check-in. A suite so large you could move in, like, for life. A great pool and gym. And extraordinary service, as evidenced by the "melt-your-heart turndown" (robes, water, a stuffed animal). For tennis fans, there are 18 courts and pros on staff. $490/$578; 49 suites; ranchovalencia.com

SCORE: 86

Photo by Rachel Weill

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain

Scottsdale, AZ

Built into the hillside overlooking Paradise Valley and Camelback Mountain, the 53-acre resort is that special type of Southwest hotel: cushy and super luxe on one hand but with a "spiritual, almost Zen-like" feel on the other. Not to get too hippie-dippie, but there's something magical about the red rock hills–and the hiking trails, pool, tennis courts, and outdoor patios are all designed to let you soak it in. $235/$520; 105 rooms & suites; sanctuaryoncamelback.com

SCORE: 79

Photo by Kodiak Greenwood

Post Ranch Inn

Big Sur, CA

The hotel is a "crazy-expensive, one-of-a-kind experience," says our sleuth, but works hard for your money so you never feel nickeled-and-dimed. Ocean-facing rooms have an "edge-of-the-world quality" that no other Western hotel quite matches, and the sense of privacy is thrilling with a great yet "mostly invisible" staff and 25 buildings that melt into the hillside. Cliffside pools and private hiking trails let you revel in Big Sur's glorious landscape. And in addition to free yoga classes, snacks, drinks, and breakfast, you'll save on gas, seeing as "you'd be nuts to leave here during your stay." From $595 year-round; 39 rooms & suites; postranchinn.com

SCORE: 85

Photo by Gina Sabatella

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

La Jolla, CA

We could go on and on about the stunning setting on a bluff above the glimmering Pacific; the restaurant with its killer wine list; the croquet lawn; the turndown chocolate. Or we could just say this is the highest-ranked hotel in the whole shebang, a hair shy of a perfect score. "One of the most beautiful hotels anywhere," where "public spaces are a testament to the art of woodworking," it opened in 2002 but embraces the early-1900s Craftsman ideal of building to match the landscape. Beaches are minutes away, but you'll feel no desire to leave. $305/$495; 170 rooms & suites; lodgetorreypines.com

SCORE: 98

Photo by Martin Tessler

L'Hermitage Hotel

Vancouver, B.C.

L'Hermitage occupies three floors of a 32-story residential tower, but far from being a turnoff, the unexpected location creates an oasis of calm in the middle of downtown and gives "a feel for what it's like to be a Vancouverite." And you only wish your apartment had amenities like these. There's the garden terrace with a 50-foot heated saltwater pool, lined with rhododendrons and dogwoods. The L'Orangerie lounge with cushy club chairs for reading. Even a canine concierge. $183 U.S./$229 U.S.; 60 rooms & suites; lhermitagevancouver.com

SCORE: 80

Photo courtesy of Hotel Cheval

Hotel Cheval

Paso Robles, CA

At first glance, the room rate at the horsey-themed Hotel Cheval, just off Paso's central square, felt high with no restaurant or on-site gym. Yet the inn won us over with A+ service, its winey Pony Club Bar, and a lovely central-courtyard design scattered with firepits. Plus the rooms are stellar: Each has an easy-to-use-fireplace, real coffee fixin's (as in grinds and cream in the room), and a balcony. Extra points for running the breakfast buffet till 10! $315/$350; 16 rooms; hotelcheval.com

SCORE: 78

Photo courtesy of The Beverly Hills Hotel

Beverly Hills Hotel

Beverly Hills

The pink hotel at the power crossroads of Sunset Blvd. and Rodeo Dr. is old Hollywood at its finest. The iconic design and genuinely warm staff ("everyone greets you by name") make it feel "like Eloise would live there." And despite shiny newcomers, it still "pretty much defines Beverly Hills" and the glitz that can make a weekend escape: pool cabanas for rent, gorgeous palm trees, free car service, and a movers-and-shakers scene that's seen everyone from Liz and Dick on down. The mini cookies at turndown don't hurt either. $475/$635; 210 rooms & suites; beverlyhillshotel.com

SCORE: 89

Photo by José Mandojana

The Inn at Langley

Whidbey Island, WA

Sure, lots of hotels are on the water, but what sets the inn apart is that every single room has a gorgeous ocean view and private balcony–no one is stuck over the parking lot. Plus, the wood fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, chef's herb garden, and symphony of local ingredients at the restaurant make this one of the most quintessentially Northwest hotels around. Just a ferry ride from Seattle, the inn draws people for its pricey dinner tasting menu, but we think "the free breakfast is even better." $225/$290; 26 rooms & suites; innatlangley.com

SCORE: 87

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Korakia Pensione

Palm Springs

"Transportive," "magic," and "totally glorious," says our sleuth. Not only does the price feel like an error in translation, but the atmosphere–Mediterranean meets Moroccan, with bougainvillea, arbors, and hanging lanterns–almost shouts "across-the-pond escape." Korakia's devotion to its guests is what truly sets it apart, though. Fresh flowers and fruit in your room. Loaner bikes. Sunscreen at the pool. Even nighttime movies in the courtyard. All yours, for free. $159/$249; 28 rooms & suites; korakia.com

SCORE: 92

Photo by Kodiak Greenwood

Cavallo Point Lodge

Sausalito, CA

Cavallo, a former army base turned hotel right next to the world's most beautiful bridge, gets major points for its "soulful, creative use of a historic site," landing it on our list of Bay Area contenders. The perks? Free yoga in a converted chapel, massages at the "cathedral-ceilinged" spa, and hard-to-find apertifs and beers at Farley Bar, right next to the Michelin-starred Murray Circle restaurant. And just steps from your room are coastal trails that "zigzag for miles through the Marin Headlands." $280/$360 for historic, $330/$360 for modern; 142 rooms & suites; cavallopoint.com

SCORE: 82.5

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Hotel Vitale

San Francisco

From any floor, you could chuck a sustainably farmed oyster shell and hit the waterfront's Ferry Building–the gourmet hub of the city–across the street. Plus, many of the lavender-scented rooms have dazzling views of the Bay Bridge. But location isn't the only reason the Vitale edges out the city's other great hotels–there's the buzzy bar, rooftop spa, and great design that gives your room a "chic little urban pied-à-terre" feel. As our scout says, "even locals want to stay here." $279/$399; 200 rooms & suites; hotelvitale.com

SCORE: 83

Photo courtesy of Devil's Thumb Ranch

Devil's Thumb Ranch

Tabernash, CO

The luxe-yet-cozy 6,000-acre ranch has all the bells and whistles–sweeping mountain views, a great spa, and every outdoor activity you can imagine. But what sets it apart from other beloved Rockies resorts is that you really can get away here for a weekend: It's only an hour and a half from Denver. Your overstuffed chair by the fire and deep soaking tub can make it hard to leave your room, so if there's one activity that you do, make sure it's the evening sleigh ride with a "real-life cowboy." $250/$345 cabin, $199/$250 lodge, $90/$150 bunkhouse; devilsthumbranch.com

SCORE: 84

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Hotel Ändra

Seattle

It should be enough that room service is a direct line to restauranteur Tom Douglas's Lola, a Greek Mediterranean hot spot connected to the lobby. But when it comes to style, Hotel Ändra in Seattle's shoppy Belltown neighborhood trumps anything within a wide radius. The original 1926 bones remain, with Swedish minimalist interiors and rooms (alpaca headboards, toiletries from Stockholm) that are so comfortable, you could spend a weekend there. Add in a staff who "bend over backward" and the "personal living room" vibes in the book-filled lobby, and you have the ultimate city escape. $179/$269; 119 rooms & suites; hotelandra.com

SCORE: 86

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Pacific Rim

Fairmont Pacific Rim

Vancouver, B.C.

The Fairmont's attention to detail is in a class of its own, even for a luxury hotel. You'll spend the first 15 minutes in your room wondering, "How did they know I liked this song? Where did they get this tea? Wait, the bathroom mirror is also a television?" It doesn't stop there. There's the "outrageous, freakishly automated" fitness room with water, towels, and touch-pad controls at every station. The "graceful, proficient" staff who always greet you by name. A concierge who doesn't just give you directions but hands you a map with local attractions handwritten in. Even with an ideal downtown location, you'll find yourself aching for your room. $282 U.S./$353 U.S.; 377 rooms & suites; fairmont.com/pacificrim

SCORE: 88

Photo courtesy of The Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan

Las Vegas

All the conventional casino-resort wisdom gets turned on its head at the new Cosmopolitan, which is why we love it. First, they've ditched "the roster of A-list, no-show chefs for a cast of creative kitchen cooks with something to prove." Craft cocktails are king at the hotel's three main bars, where you'll notice "bartenders from other restaurants stooled-up, asking questions." And details like digital art columns at the check-in desk and restored cigarette machines that spit out artwork for 5 bucks a pop make us feel like credit-card-carrying adults, not conventioneers or frat boys. Plus, the rooms have a million perfect little details: "black-and-white Fornasetti wallpaper gazing at you from the back of your closet, colored pencils instead of pens and fat stacks of art books." $195/$350; 2,995 rooms & suites; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

SCORE: 86

Photo courtesy of Hotel deLuxe

Hotel deLuxe

Portland

The deLuxe nails the city-hotel trifecta. It's utterly carless, just steps from downtown and a train ride from the airport. It has a buzzy bar, the Driftwood Room, which is "a Portland institution." And the service rises above the snap-to-attention business hotel m.o. to be warm and personal ("we weren't greeted by name after check-in, but our greyhound, Mini, was"). A recent redo of the bar smartly didn't touch the "dark, clubby interior" but revamped the cocktail list, and movies are screened on the roof in the summer. To really feel like an insider, ask for a room that ends in "30" or "03"–they have the best views. $139/$169; 145 rooms & suites; hoteldeluxe.com

SCORE: 87

Photo courtesy of Cannery Pier Hotel

Cannery Pier Hotel

Astoria, OR

Built on 100-year-old pilings so it's actually on the water, this hotel deftly captures the spirit of coastal Oregon. "It's what you think about when you think of Astoria," says our scout. Exposed beams and wooden trusses give it a "jaunty, turn-of-the-century maritime feel," historic photos cover the walls, and chauffered vintage 1930s and 1940s cars are yours for free. Rooms are on the basic side but the pile-on freebies (loaner bikes, wine, local author lectures) make up for that. $189/$329; 46 rooms & suites; cannerypierhotel.com

SCORE: 81

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Pacific Edge Hotel

Laguna Beach, CA

Smack on one of the prettiest stretches of beach in all of Southern California and two blocks from town, the Pacific Edge wins big for location. "If the oceanfront rooms were any closer to the beach, they'd be boats." The super-reasonable price point for stylish rooms is a big thumbs-up for value, even if they don't blow you away with plush toiletries and extras. $149/$269 standard, $239/$379 beachfront; 132 rooms & suites; pacificedgehotel.com

SCORE: 72

Photo courtesy of Design Photography/Hotel Teatro

Hotel Teatro

Denver

If Marie Antoinette had made it to Colorado, this is where she'd stay. The historic hotel in the thick of the theater district has rooms with cherry finishes and luxe bathrooms, plus a staff who anticipate needs you didn't know you had. But what puts this hotel firmly in awards territory is its food. Expect one of the "top five meals of your life" at Restaurant Kevin Taylor, where the menu–say, coconut mascarpone grits or chocolate toffee fondant–is worth scrapbooking. $189/$339; 110 rooms & suites; hotelteatro.com

SCORE: 80

Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero

Arizona Inn

Tucson

Two days can easily feel like double that at the elegant, Old World Inn, which has a "timeless atmosphere and genteel staff." More than 80 years old, it has managed to hold onto its historic Spanish colonial soul without becoming outdated–even the handmade furniture is lovingly restored by an on-stie craftsman. Lush landscaping and trees "create a feeling of luxurious retreat," and breakfast is "superb," the best meal at the hotel. $159/$329; 92 rooms & suites; arizonainn.com

SCORE: 81

Photo by John Sutton

The Four Seasons Whistler

Whistler, B.C.

Stay at enough ski resorts, and it can feel like everything comes out of the same faux-Bavarian mold. Which is why the Four Seasons Whistler, despite being a huge ski-in/ski-out resort, wins with its intimate feel. Maybe it's the servers in white fuzzy hats who take your drink order while you're soaking in the slopeside hot tubs. Or the ski concierge who "unbuckles your boots, for crying out loud," says our scout. This is a ski resort with heart. $309 U.S./$410 U.S.; 273 rooms & suites; fourseasons.com/whistler

SCORE: 78

Photo courtesy of Pacific Edge Hotel

Strategies for even better rates

Get social: The biggest buzz in travel booking are sites like LivingSocial.com and Groupon.com, which sell discount vouchers. LivingSocial comes out with new deals on Wednesdays–touting discounts of up to 50 percent that are bookable up to a year ahead. For Groupon Getaways, Groupon teamed with Expedia to reach 135,000 hotels. Both require purchase up-front.

Be flexible: Many hotels are more transparent about rates now, posting price calendars that allow you to time your stay based on when you can get the best deal. Plus, hotels often tweet bargains to savvy followers days before deals go public.

Sign up for flash sales: On private sale sites like SniqueAway.com, TabletHotels.com, and Jetsetter.com, luxe hotel packages run at 20 to 60 percent discounts, and sales generally last a week. But before you pull the trigger, call the hotel directly and ask for a better deal. Flash sites (and deal sites in general) rarely offer the cancellation flexibility that a hotel does, and most require full payment up-front.

25 best hotels in the West

2011 Hotel Awards

Solage Calistoga

Crescent Beverly Hills

Inn of the Spanish Garden

Farmhouse Inn

Rancho Valencia

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain

Post Ranch Inn

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

L'Hermitage Hotel

Hotel Cheval

Beverly Hills Hotel

The Inn at Langley

Korakia Pensione

Cavallo Point Lodge

Hotel Vitale

Devil's Thumb Ranch

Hotel Ändra

Fairmont Pacific Rim

The Cosmopolitan

Hotel deLuxe

Cannery Pier Hotel

Pacific Edge Hotel

Hotel Teatro

Arizona Inn

The Four Seasons Whistler

Strategies for even better rates