Five Auberge Resorts properties throughout North America have been recognized by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler by naming them to the publication’s 2014 Gold List, an exclusive collection of the world’s top hotels, resorts and cruise lines. Auberge du Soleil, Calistoga Ranch, Esperanza Resort, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, and Solage Calistoga were ranked among the world’s best; their scores landed the signature properties on the annual list, which is showcased in the January 2014 issue.
Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Gold List identifies the best of the best: the gold standard of hotels, resorts, and cruise lines. Nearly 80,000 of the world's most discerning travelers (a record-setting number) produced a final selection of the top places in the world by participating in the annual Readers' Choice survey. Consistency is rewarded: those who make the Gold List five years in a row earn Platinum Circle status. Auberge du Soliel, Esperanza, and the Inn at Palmetto Bluff boast this honor.
“We’re so pleased to have our resorts on this coveted list – we strive to stay on it year after year by crafting personalized experiences at our signature properties, which are true gems in some of the best destinations in the world,” said Mark Harmon, Managing Partner, Auberge Resorts. A complete list with scores and reader comments about each property follows:
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff (Bluffton, South Carolina)
Overall Score: 97.7 (Platinum Circle)
Reader comments: "This will be the best inn you’ve ever stayed at," by the May River amid acres of forests and ancient freshwater rice fields. Rustic cottages are "quiet, secluded, immaculate, and spacious," with screened porches, white-wood doorways, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, wide pine-plank floors, and hipped metal roofs. The food at the River House Restaurant is "fantastic."
Auberge du Soleil (Napa Valley, California)
Overall Score: 96.7 (Platinum Circle)
Reader comments: The "outstanding luxury hotel" is set on 33 acres of vineyards and olive groves—"the views are spectacular." "Sumptuous cottages" done in sun and earth tones have wood-burning fireplaces and refrigerators stocked with local wines and cheeses; bathrooms come with skylights and flat-screen TVs. The "stunning restaurant" serves wine-country cuisine with French Mediterranean influences, and its terrace has heaters for dining out on cool evenings. Enjoy Italian ices and chilled towels at the pool and Reiki at La Pagode, an Asian-style pavilion.
Esperanza (Los Cabos, Mexico)
Overall score: 96.1 (Platinum Circle)
Reader comments: Comprising clifftop sand-hued casitas and suites and three- and four-bedroom villas, this resort has rooms that all face the Sea of Cortés, some with private balconies with infinity-edge hot tubs. "Staff are unbelievably fantastic," even providing complimentary shoulder massages upon arrival. Cocina del Mar, which spills over three terraces, serves fresh local seafood. "Whale-watching from the pool" and "one of the most beautiful spas" are among the experiences guests can anticipate.
Solage Calistoga (Napa Valley, California)
Overall Score: 94.0
Reader comments: Located on 25 acres in the heart of Napa Valley, this newcomer offers guests "a beautiful and pampered experience that never disappoints." Earth-tone contemporary guest rooms in buildings with yellow siding are "absolutely stunning," with vaulted ceilings, Italian linens, and stone showers with pebble flooring. The hotel’s "outstanding service" includes complimentary use of cruiser bikes with each bungalow.
Calistoga Ranch (Napa Valley, Calfornia)
Overall Score: 90.7
Reader comments: The resort was designed to re-create a vintner’s estate. Cedar-shingle guest lodges built near lakes and streams and under trees merge indoor and outdoor spaces and have fireplaces and outdoor showers. Designed with tall panes of glass and looking onto woodlands and Lake Lommel, the Lakehouse serves "the most delicious wine and amazing food," relying on organic ingredients from local farmers.
Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.
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