#50besthotels

World’s 50 Best Unveils the top Hotels of 2024

by David Klemt

The Tea Lounge inside the lobby of Capella Bangkok.

Announced yesterday at The World’s 50 Best Hotels ceremony in London, England, the best hotel in the world features 101 rooms, suites and villas.

In direct contrast to the manic, fast-paced city in which it’s located, Capella Bangkok is a serene oasis. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic, mesmerizing views of the Chao Phraya River, and allow sunlight to flood into their generous rooms.

Speaking of rooms, their smallest is more than 650 square feet; suites range from over 1,000 square feet to well over 2,000 square feet. Accommodations are more like luxury apartments than mere hotel rooms.

And for those discerning guests who demand only the absolute best? There are two stunning villas to choose from, one of which is the Presidential Villa.

I think we’ve all been curious what hotel, if any, would climb past Lake Como’s Passalacqua to claim the number-one spot. Would the property belong to a massive portfolio? Be a heritage property or a new build? How many keys would the hotel that claims the crown boast?

Will Passalacqua repeat their 2023 feat and hold the top spot for a second year?

We now have the answer to those questions. And we know that while Capella Bangkok will now sit upon the World’s 50 Best Hotels throne for at least the next 12 months, Passalacqua still claimed the number-two spot.

Of course, along with the Best Hotel in the World Award, the 2024 World’s 50 Best Hotels also revealed the best hotels in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. This year’s ceremony also featured three brand-new awards, which you’ll find below.

American Express Travel One to Watch Award

The Peninsula Istanbul (opened February 2023)

Ferrari Trento Most Admired Hotel Group Award

Aman

SevenRooms Icon Award

Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024: 50 to 11

Kokomo Private Island (Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji)
The Tasman (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)
Hotel Esencia (Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
The Brando (French Polynesia)
The Connaught (London, England, UK)
Six Senses Zighy Bay (Dibba, Oman)
Singita Lodges – Kruger National Park (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
Suján Jawai (Rajasthan, India)
Hotel Castello di Reschio (Umbria, Italy)
Gleneagles Hotel (Auchterarder, Scotland)
Le Bristol (Paris, France)
Amangalla (Fort Galle, Sri Lanka)
Royal Mansour, Marrakech (Marrakech, Morocco)(No. 3 Gin Art of Hospitality Award)
Aman New York (New York, New York, USA)
Eden Rock – St. Barths (Saint Barthélemy)
Hotel Bel-Air (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Four Seasons at The Surf Club (Miami, Florida, USA)
Capella Singapore (Singapore)
Four Seasons Madrid (Madrid, Spain)
La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco)
The Carlyle (New York, New York, USA)
One&Only Mandarina (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico)
Mount Nelson (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)(The Best Hotel in Africa)
Park Hyatt Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
The Siam (Bangkok, Thailand)
The Calile (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)(The Best Hotel in Oceania)
Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)(The Best Hotel in South America)
The Lana (Dubai, UAE)
Bulgari Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)(Nikka Whiskey Best New Hotel Award)
Desa Potato Head (Bali, Indonesia)
Borgo Santandrea (Amalfi, Italy)
Four Seasons Firenze (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
Maroma (Quintana Roo, Mexico)(Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award)
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc (Antibes, France)
Chablé Yucatán (Chocholá, Yucatán, Mexico)(The Best Hotel in North America)
Hotêl de Crillon (Paris, France)
Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Praya River (Bangkok, Thailand)
Raffles London at the OWO (London, England, UK)(Lavazza Highest New Entry Award)
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
Claridge’s (London, England, UK)

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024: 10 to One

Nihi Sumba (Sumba Island, Indonesia)
Atlantis The Royal (Dubai, UAE)(The Highest Climber Award: Number 44 in 2023)
Soneva Fushi (Eydhafushi, Maldives)(The Lost Explorer Mezcal Best Beach Hotel Award)
Aman Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
Raffles Singapore (Singapore)
The Upper House (Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China)
Cheval Blanc (Paris, France)
Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China)
Passalacqua (Moltrasio, Como, Italy)(Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award)(The Best Hotel in Europe)(Number 1 in 2023)
Capella Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)(The Best Hotel in the World)(The Best Hotel in Asia)