This was published 8 years ago
Best hotel in the world named in TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards for 2016
By Craig Platt
Travel review site TripAdvisor has named the best hotel in the world in its annual Travellers' Choice Hotel Awards.
The luxurious Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur, in India, took out the number one slot for 2016. The property is considered one of the last great palaces of India and is one of the largest private residences in the world - set on 26 acres of gardens.
Built between 1928 and 1943 for H.H. Maharaja Umaid Singh, the art deco hotel features 65 luxurious rooms (at an average price of $1055 per night according to TripAdvisor, though prices can drop to $561 per night in low season), a private museum and marble squash courts. The property was taken over by Taj Hotels and Resorts in 2005. In 2007, the hotel played host to the lavish wedding of model and actress Liz Hurley to Indian businessman Arun Nayar (they divorced in 2011).
Of the 842 reviews on TripAdvisor for the property, 767 rate the palace as excellent, with just 10 giving it the lowest rating: 'terrible'.
Most reviewers cite the hospitality of the staff as the highlight of their stay. "From the moment we checked in to the time we left, we were made to feel like royalty. The staff was very attentive and nothing was too much," wrote guest PriyankaGandhi.
See: 10 amazing former palaces and castles you can visit
Asia was well represented in this year's list with four of the top 10 located in the region. Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia took out second slot and offers a much more affordable option than Umaid Bhawan Palace, with rooms averaging $286 per night.
But there were a couple of even cheaper options on the list: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa in Vietnam (No.4) offers rooms from about $156 per night and you can stay at Achtis Hotel (No.5) in the Greek village of Afitos from as little as $115 per night in October (average price is $144).
The most expensive stay on the TripAdvisor top 10 was Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons (No.6) in the UK, with an average price of $1671 per night.
But even that seems cheap when compared to some of the properties on the top 10 Australian hotels list, where Emirates One&Only in Wolgan Valley ($1910 per night) topped the list and No.2, Hamilton Island's Qualia, averages $1289 per night.
But there's still a cheap option for those looking to stay in a top 10 hotel at a reasonable price. Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort came in at No.3 with an average price of just $140 per night.
The TripAdvisor awards are based on millions of reviews and opinions posted on the site from travellers over the past year. The awards take into account the quality and quantity of reviews specific to each award category, according to TripAdvisor.
See below for the full list of the world's and Australia's top 10 and click on the links to read Traveller.com.au's own reviews of these properties. Take a look at the properties in the gallery above.
The top 10 hotels in the world
1. Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur – Jodhpur, India. Average rate of $1055.77 per night. Most affordable month to visit: July ($561)
2. Shinta Mani Resort – Siem Reap, Cambodia - Average rate of $286 per night. Most affordable month to visit: May ($246). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
3. Bellevue Syrene – Sorrento, Italy. Average rate of $808 per night. Most affordable month to visit: November ($523)
4. Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa – Hanoi, Vietnam. Average rate of $156 per night. Most affordable month to visit: September ($135)
5. Achtis Hotel – Afitos, Greece - Bookable on TripAdvisor for an average rate of $144 per night. Most affordable month to visit: October ($115)
6. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons – Great Milton, United Kingdom. Average rate of $1671 per night. Most affordable month to visit: September ($1400).
7. Mirihi Island Resort – Mirihi, Maldives. Average rate of $1523 per night. Most affordable month to visit: June ($1103)
8. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts Aruba – Palm Eagle, Aruba. An average rate of $673 per night. Most affordable month to visit: October ($479)
9. Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa – Lance aux Epines, Grenada. Average rate of $1159 per night. Most affordable month to visit: June ($774)
10. Hotel Ritta Höppner – Gramado, Brazil. Average rate of $266 per night. Most affordable month to visit: April ($230)
Top 10 hotels in Australia
1. Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley - Wolgan Valley, Australia (Read Traveller.com.au's review.)
2. Qualia, Hamilton Island (Read Traveller.com.au's review.)
3. Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort
4. Park Hyatt – Sydney, New South Wales. (Read Traveller.com.au's review.)
5. Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore, Palm Cove
6. The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart (Read Traveller.com.au's review)
7. Freshwater East Kimberley Apartments, Kununurra.
8. Beach Club, Hamilton Island, Whitsundays (Read Traveller.com.au's review)
9. Art Series - The Larwill Studio, Melbourne (Read Traveller.com.au's review)
10. Sandcastles On The Beach Mooloolaba, Mooloolaba
Top 10 luxury travellers' choice hotels in Australia
1. Saffire Freycinet – Coles Bay, Tasmania. Average rate of $2244.78 per night. Most affordable month to visit: September ($1902.63). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
2. Spicers Vineyard Estate – Pokolbin, New South Wales. Average rate of $546.68 per night. Most affordable month to visit: August ($527.80). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
3. Longitude 131 – Yulara, Northern Territory. Average rate of $1200 per person per night (all inclusive). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
4. Emirates One&Only – Wolgan Valley, New South Wales. Average rate of $1383.52 per night. Most affordable month to visit: March ($1910.70) Read Traveller.com.au's review.
5. Southern Ocean Lodge – Kangaroo Valley, South Australia. Average rate of $1100 per person per night (all inclusive).. Most affordable month to visit: May-September for cool season deals. Read Traveller.com.au's review.
6. Qualia Resort – Hamilton Island, Queensland. Average rate of $1289.36 per night. Most affordable month to visit: March ($1124.34). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
7. Islington Hotel – Hobart, Tasmania. Average rate of $510.72 per night. Most affordable month to visit: May ($457.87).
8. Park Hyatt – Sydney, New South Wales. Average rate of $1092.91 per night. Most affordable month to visit: June ($997.73). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
9. Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort – Cairns, Queensland. Average rate of $140.61 per night. Most affordable month to visit: March ($125.51).
10. Emporium Hotel – Brisbane, Queensland. Average rate of $271.51 per night. Most affordable month to visit: January ($227.05). Read Traveller.com.au's review.
See also: The 16 most amazing hotels opening in 2016
See also: The hottest 16 countries to visit this year
NOTE: An earlier version of this story listed the Australian Luxury Travellers' Choice Hotels top 10 list as the overall Australian Travellers' Choice top 10.
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