U.S. List of Top Hotels Loaded With California Offerings

Do you want to stay in a superior hotel for Valentine’s Day, or President’s Day weekend? Maybe even for your entire vacation this year? Great news--you don’t have to spring for airfare.

Trip Advisor has just released its annual list of Top 25 Hotels in the United States. This isn’t based on some unnamed, snooty person in an income bracket that you will never see - these rankings are set by everyday people who rate hotels after stays. In fact, millions of ratings in 2015 went into determining this year’s rankings.

California landed four hotels in the Top 25. The consensus? Skip the cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego) in favor of locales where you can unplug, soak in breathtaking vistas and sip some wine. The list is tailor-made for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and birthday weekends.

Here are the California hotels that made the list, including some choice comments from visitors:

Bardessono, Yountville

“Probably the nicest place I have had the pleasure of staying at.”

“Love at first sight”

Yes, people really do gush about hotel stays. Bardesso is right in the heart of Wine Country. The grounds have a zen-like feel, while the rooms boast gas fireplaces, private balconies, and in-room spa service. Visitors from all over the country rate the hotel as “excellent,” with amazing comments about amenities and service.

Ponte Vineyard Inn, Temecula

“Lovely setting, great location”

“Awesome Value and Awesome Resort”

If you are looking for a getaway in Temecula that “is beautiful, clean and scenic,” Ponte Vineyard Inn is your spot. You can walk to nearby vineyards for tastings or enjoy the offerings at Ponte. Reviewers wrote glowing accounts of their visits.

Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford

“One of the best resorts in the world!”

“Once in a lifetime”

One recent visitor said, “I was treated just like a movie star and could not have asked for a better stay.” Hard to beat that endorsement. The hotel boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, vineyard views and an award winning spa. The upper end of the price range equals a house payment for many travelers, so ask about deals.

Hotel Yountville, Yountville

“More Than Perfect”

“Great Hotel”

Yountville’s second entry in the Top 25, the swimming pool here makes you feel as if you’re in zen heaven. Don’t expect any cannonballs! Whether you’re just looking for a place to relax or go winery-hopping, guests had amazing reviews of Hotel Yountville. One guest gushed about the “enormous bath with French mirrored doors that can open so you may see the fireplace while in the gorgeous tub.”

If you insist on leaving California, here’s the complete list of the top 25:

1. The Sherry-Netherland Hotel, New York City, New York
2. Bardessono, Yountville, California
3. The Nantucket Hotel & Resort, Nantucket, Massachusetts
4. French Quarter Inn, Charleston, South Carolina
5. The Oxford Hotel, Bend, Oregon
6. Ponte Vineyard Inn, Temecula, California
7. Icona Diamond Beach, Wildwood, New Jersey
8. The Talbott Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
9. Belamere Suites, Perrysburg, Ohio
10. Casablanca Hotel Times Square, New York, New York
11. Inn at the Market, Seattle, Washington
12. Shore Lodge, McCall, Idaho
13. Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, California
14. Santa Maria Suites, Key West, Florida
15. The Jefferson, Washington, D.C.
16. Tivoli Lodge, Vail, Colorado
17. Primland, Meadows of Dan, Virginia
18. Library Hotel, New York City, New York
19. Hotel Yountville, Yountville, California
20. Ambassador Hotel, Kansas City, Autograph Collection, Kansas City, Missouri
21. The Canyon Suites at the Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona
22. Hotel Giraffe, New York City, New York
23. Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Highlands, North Carolina
24. Villas of Grand Cypress, Orlando, Florida
25. The Langham, Chicago, Illinois

--Image via Trip Advisor