What are the top 20 hotels in the world? 5 star +, they have to be
truely special, so special that you would only find the likes of high
profile people?

I would like a list with contact details.

p.s
For an extra tip, I am looking for a hotel in india. It is meant to be
one of the nicest hotels but don't have much info on it. I know that
it has about 20 or so rooms, each room has a perticular style. I think
it's near the beach. Sorry I don't have any info and know it's a broad
questions, but would pay for the answer!

Dear ozmandos-ga,

A list of "best hotels" is, of necessity, always going to be
subjective. It's all in what you like and appreciate. I've assembled a
list of hotels which consistently make reader favorite lists.
Hopefully this meets your needs.


The Peninsula, Hong Kong
http://hongkong.peninsula.com/

The Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotelsite/default.asp?pHotelId=510

Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia
http://www.fourseasons.com/jimbaranbay/index.html

The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand
http://bangkok.peninsula.com/

Boyer Les Crayères, Reims, France 
http://www.gerardboyer.com/

Singita Private Game Reserve, South Africa
http://www.singita.com/

Four Seasons Sayan, Bali, Indonesia
http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/index.html

Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/index.html

Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
http://www.lizardisland.com.au/

Halekulani, Waikiki, Hawaii
http://www.halekulani.com

The Peninsula, Chicago, Illinois
http://chicago.peninsula.com/

The Peninsula, Beverly Hills, California
http://beverlyhills.peninsula.com

MalaMala Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa
http://www.malamala.com/

Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

Four Seasons, Istanbul, Turkey
http://www.fourseasons.com/istanbul/index.html

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
http://www.postranchinn.com/

Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa, Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/bali/

Buckland Manor, Gloucestershire, England
http://www.bucklandmanor.com

The Meridian Club, Pine Cay, Caribbean
http://www.meridianclub.com

Shangri-La, Singapore
http://www.shangri-la.com/eng/hotel/34/


Sources of information for my list:

Top 20 hotels from "Travel & Leisure" magazine's 2004 World's Best Hotels list:
1. Singita Private Game Reserve, South Africa
2. Kichwa Tembo, Masai Mara, Kenya
3. The Peninsula, Bangkok, Klongsan, Thailand (#1 in 2003)
4. Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa
5. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, Clanwilliam, South Africa
6. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia 
7. MalaMala Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa
8. Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa 
9. Boyer Les Crayères, Reims, France  (#1 2002)
10. Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Mae Rim, Thailand
11. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo, Mexico
12. Mombo Camp, Botswana 
13. Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa
14. The Peninsula, Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
15. The Oriental, Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand 
16. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
17. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii
18. Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo, Monaco
19. The Peninsula, Hong Kong, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, China 
20. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, Calif.

*Note: Only three hotels on this list have finished in the top 25
every year since 1996 - Hong Kong's Peninsula, the Oriental in
Bangkok, and the Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/results.cfm?cat=hotels

Zagat Survey - 2004 Top International Hotels, Resorts & Spas

"Top Hotels (100+ rooms):
1. Four Seasons George V, Paris
2. Peninsula, Hong Kong
3. Oriental, Bangkok
4. Peninsula, Bangkok
5. Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul

Top Resorts (100+ rooms):
1. Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia
2. Four Seasons, Punta Mita Mexico
3. Amarvilas Oberoi, Agra, India
4. Four Seasons, Nevis, St. & Nevis
5. Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Top Small Resorts, Inns & Lodges (<100 rooms):
1. Singita, Kruger Area, South Africa
2. Amankila, Bali, Indonesia
3. Four Seasons Sayan, Bali, Indonesia
4. Rajvilas Oberoi, Rajasthan, India
5. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand

http://www.lovetripper.com/press-releases/zagat-survey.html

From another list:
Best Hotels in the World - AskMen.com
1. The Hotel Bel-Air, California
2. The Peninsula, Hong Kong
3. Amstel Inter-Continental, Netherlands
4. The Four Seasons, Chicago
5. Regent, Hong Kong
6. Dorchester, London
7. The Oriental, Bangkok
8. Crillon, Paris
9. The Ritz, Paris
10. The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
*rankings appear to be based on the subjective conclusions of the author
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/travel_top_ten/2_travel_top_ten.html


From a 1998 research study comparing top rated hotel lists from Conde'
Nast Traveler, Euromoney and Institutional Investor:

"There are only four hotels appearing in all three publications:
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; The Oriental, Bangkok; Shangri-La,
Singapore and The Peninsula, Hong Kong."
http://www.hotel-online.com/Trends/AdvancesInHospitalityResearch/AnalysisRatedHotels1998.html

Other sources for information on top-rated hotels:

Condé Nast Traveler - 2004 World's Best Places to Stay
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/lists/goldlist04/

Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report is another excellent resource. It
doesn't often makes its way online (it's a subscription-based
newsletter), but here is an older list from 2000 that you might find
of interest.
http://www.extravagancemagazine.com/best/harpers5.htm

Thanks for the interesting question! I sure have a hunger to go
traveling after all of this research :)

I'll post the answer to your India hotel question as an addition to this answer.

Regards,

--inquisitivega

---

Clarification of Answer by inquisitive-ga on 11 Aug 2004 13:18 PDT

With regards to your p.s., here are some possibilities, although
neither are by the beach:

Karni Bhawan, Jodhpur
"All the 31 rooms and suites posses ethnic designs of Rajasthani festivity themes."
http://karnihotels.com/karni.htm

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
"Rambagh Palace offers 90 rooms including aesthetically restored
suites, which were the chambers of the former Maharaja. Use of rich
fabrics and silk drapes draw from the colourful art and warm hues of
the state of Rajasthan. Luxury rooms, Historical Suites and theme
royal and grand Royal Suites present accommodation befitting royalty."
(the luxury suites -- about 20 -- are each decorated with a different
theme).
http://www.tajhotels.com/Palace/RAMBAGH%20PALACE,JAIPUR/default.htm

If you have any more clues to what you're looking for, please let me know!

--inquisitivega

Not mentioned in the top 20 listed, but briefly mentioned in one of
the reviews given is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which is widely
regarded (at least in the middle east) as the worlds only 7 star
hotel.