In brief
- An exclusive selection of 19 award-winning destinations in the American West for the year 2026.
- A variety of concepts ranging from absolute wellness retreats in Arizona to wild camps in Alaska.
- Carefully renovated historic properties, blending mid-century design and ecological commitment.
The prestigious selection of luxury hotels in the American West for the year 2026 highlights nineteen destinations, from the Arizona desert to the wild coasts of Alaska. These intimate havens and leading eco-resorts redefine the art of high-end travel through immersive experiences that respect their environment. Whether absolute wellness retreats, private vineyards or wildlife conservation sanctuaries, each property embodies a singular vision of authentic luxury, anchored in the splendour of the West’s great outdoors.
The Ranch Malibu: Californian simplicity
Californian wellness retreats and havens of peace
The Ranch Malibu spans 200 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains with a simple formula: a maximum of 25 guests, daily hikes of several hours, massages and organic food for a profound transformation. Far from the classic leisure spa experience, this property offers a genuine human reconnection and measurable physical results in a completely preserved environment free from technological distractions.
Ambiente: immersion in the red rocks of Sedona
Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, located in Sedona, Arizona, captivates with its cubic Atriums offering panoramic views of the red rock formations and private stargazing decks. This contemporary adults-only retreat combines hyper-local gastronomy at Forty1 restaurant, region-inspired treatments at Velvet Spa and a pioneering commitment to architectural sustainability.
CIVANA Wellness Resort: holistic health
CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa, located in the town of Carefree, Arizona, offers a holistic wellness journey blending thermal treatments, fitness programmes and cutting-edge nutritional advice. This premier destination integrates the art of care into a transformative and rejuvenating stay in the heart of desert landscapes.
Inn the Ground: eco-design in Oregon
Built into a hillside above an active regenerative farm, Inn the Ground offers nine rooms in the heart of the Oregon wine country, shaped by permaculture and hiking trails. This estate was designed to strengthen the connection between the land, the table and the guests, a philosophy fully expressed in their renowned nearby restaurant, Grounded Table, in the town of McMinnville.
Dive Palm Springs: retro glamour reinvented
Dive Palm Springs captures the vintage charm of the Riviera with just 13 rooms set around an azure pool, offering a quiet, adults-only escape. Through an aesthetic inspired by European coasts transposed to the Californian desert, this intimate address invites guests to slow down in an elegant and intimate atmosphere.
Vermejo: a private wilderness sanctuary
Spanning over half a million acres on the Colorado-New Mexico border, Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve offers a travel experience focused on wildlife preservation. Guests can explore grandiose and preserved landscapes while staying in refined lodges, with revenues directly supporting one of North America’s largest private conservation projects.
Hotel Marina Riviera: alpine nostalgia and design
Hotel Marina Riviera reinterprets a 1968 Viking-inspired lodge at Big Bear Lake, merging alpine nostalgia with laid-back 1970s charm. Reimagined by Casetta Group and the Electric Bowery studio, the property offers direct lake access, a restaurant run by the famous Los Angeles pizzeria De La Nonna, and a carefully restored vintage bar.
Alaska Bear Camp: face-to-face with brown bears
Exceptional eco-resorts and wild sanctuaries
Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp offers absolute immersion in Lake Clark National Park, where guests can watch brown bears hunting salmon from handcrafted beachfront cabins. This high-end tented camp, accessible only by air over Chinitna Bay, offers a raw and memorable wilderness experience, stripped of any superfluous artifice.
Outlook Inn: island charm and poetry
On Orcas Island, Outlook Inn offers 31 warm rooms overlooking Fishing Bay, complemented by the famous New Leaf Café restaurant where the local community gathers. With its undulating floorboards, local artwork and waterfront suites, the inn offers an authentic immersion into the peaceful life of the San Juan Islands.
Romer House Waikiki: community spirit
Romer House Waikiki stands out as an adults-only retreat that pays homage to Waikiki’s mid-century style through a renowned speakeasy and collaborations with local surfers. This urban hotel is distinguished by its close ties to Hawaiian culture, offering an intimate cocktail bar, an izakaya-inspired dining experience blending Japanese and local flavours, and fresh flowers arranged daily in the lobby.
The Cottages at Little Saint: the Healdsburg art of living
The Cottages at Little Saint offers four exclusive suites designed by Ken Fulk in Healdsburg, backed by a plant-based restaurant and an eight-acre regenerative farm. Behind the gates of this private property lies a complete vision of hospitality where poetic design, farm-to-table cuisine and musical programming unite harmoniously.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe: the San Diego icon
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe combines historic luxury with new private villas and the first hotel spa by Mila Moursi, just minutes from San Diego. Set in century-old landscaped gardens, this legendary property offers an intimate residential experience complemented by the dining venues Lilian’s and Bing’s Bar.
Thompson Palm Springs: modernism and urban elegance
Contemporary oases and design-led desert destinations
Thompson Palm Springs redefines local hospitality with its modernist lines, rooftop pool, modern Middle Eastern restaurant and contemporary art collection. This major resort also offers a wine tasting space in partnership with HALL and the Italian-style Bar Issi, creating a notable new stop in the desert.
Murrieta Hot Springs: historic thermal waters
Extensively renovated and reopened in early 2024, Murrieta Hot Springs Resort features over 50 geothermal pools of varying temperatures and a historic thermal mud area. Its spa treatments leverage the benefits of this mineral-rich spring water, while vintage Spanish fountains recall a century of thermal history in Southern California.
Hotel Valley Ho: the mid-century icon of Scottsdale
Hotel Valley Ho celebrates its 1956 origins with colourful rooms, the VH Spa offering chromotherapy saunas, and two pools with distinct atmospheres in Scottsdale. This fully modernised urban resort retains its original architecture while offering the contemporary comfort sought by design-conscious travellers.
Bernardus Lodge: a luxury hotel property in the American West
Nestled in the heart of Carmel Valley, Bernardus Lodge & Spa spans 28 acres of vineyards and gardens, offering seasonal cuisine by chef Gus Trejo and a fleet of Mercedes vehicles available to guests. This 73-room estate embodies discreet luxury where treatment rituals incorporate ingredients grown on-site, complemented by a cellar managed by the property’s master sommelier.
Kimpton Miralina Resort: the spirit of the Sonoran Desert
Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas is set on 40 acres in Paradise Valley with six pools and a sleek design that captures the changing light of the desert. Designed to blend between the Camelback and Mummy mountains, this resort features a series of indoor and outdoor spaces connected by landscaped paths and punctuated by sensory art installations.
The New Inn: the intimate Temecula retreat
The New Inn offers contemporary private villas in the heart of the Temecula wine valley, ideal for a personalised and exclusive getaway. Just minutes from the region’s most renowned wineries, the destination offers a peaceful and intimate setting focused on high-level, bespoke service.
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass: the desert oasis
Overlooking the saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert, JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa reveals a renovation completed in 2026, featuring 575 rooms and suites redesigned for discerning travellers. This pueblo-inspired resort offers a starting point for golf, outdoor activities and relaxation amidst spectacular mountain landscapes.
