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World's Best Hotels & Resorts

Houston hotel and Austin spa rank in list of Top 100 best hotels and resorts in the world

Nicole Raney
Oct 28, 2014 | 12:46 pm

If you're looking to treat yourself to some luxurious R&R, you won't have to travel far. According to the latest Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards, Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin ranks No. 4 among the 12 best destination spa resorts in the world and No. 21 among the 100 best hotels and resorts in the world.

The lifestyle and travel magazine conducts a readers poll annually to determine the best luxury destinations and services around the globe. Having been selected for the past five years, Lake Austin Spa Resort now has a spot in the Platinum Circle.

In the survey's list of Best Hotels in Texas and the Southwest, Hotel Sorella ranks No. 1, Hotel Granduca is No. 3, Hotel Icon ranks No. 6, and the Houstonian Hotel is No. 9.

In its description of Lake Austin Spa, Conde Nast Traveler throws around phrases like "little piece of heaven," "peaceful grounds" and "first-rate," quoting the reader responses in the poll. "This is the place for changing your mind, body, and attitude," said another.

Lake Austin Spa is one of two Texas properties to make the list of 100 best. Houston's Hotel Sorella CityCentre ranks No. 74 and is described this way:

In the mixed-use CityCentre development, this 'very modern and minimalistic' property provides 'easy access to all the major highways.' 'Spacious and comfortable' rooms espouse European decor, with dark hardwood floors, black-glass table lamps, and upholstered headboards; a stay in them is 'extra awesome. The rooftop pool is flanked by draped cabanas and custom lanterns. 'The continental breakfast is world-class, the best I’ve experienced anywhere. "

The Hotel Sorella also ranks No. 9 among the Top 25 Hotels in the United States in the Conde Nast Traveler reader survey; the Hotel Granduca is No. 23.

In the survey's list of Best Hotels in Texas & the Southwest, Hotel Sorella ranks No. 1, Hotel Granduca is No. 3, Hotel Icon ranks No. 6, and the Houstonian Hotel is No. 9.

CultureMap editor-in-chief Clifford Pugh contributed to this article.

Poolside at the Hotel Sorella. The west Houston hotel is ranked as the top hotel in Texas and the Southwest in Conde Nast Traveler readers poll and No. 74 in the world.

New Year's Eve parties December 2013 Hotel Sorella pool towards Monnalisa bar
Photo courtesy of Hotel Sorella
Poolside at the Hotel Sorella. The west Houston hotel is ranked as the top hotel in Texas and the Southwest in Conde Nast Traveler readers poll and No. 74 in the world.
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Far West Texas city recognized as a top travel destination for 2026

Amber Heckler
Dec 15, 2025 | 2:30 pm
El Paso, Texas
Photo by Raul Miranda on Unsplash
El Paso was named one of the "Rising Star Destinations" to book for a vacation in 2026.

A new 2026 Travel Trends Forecast from vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has unveiled the top U.S. cities that are on travelers' minds for the next year, and one unsuspecting far West Texas city was included on the list: El Paso.

El Paso was named one of six most sought-after "Rising Star Destinations" in the Southwest and Mountain West regions. Search trends revealed traveler interest in El Paso skyrocketed 191 percent year-over-year, with vacationers pining after "desert landscapes" and "frontier-style towns with modern Western flair."

To determine where travelers are planning on booking their 2026 vacations, HomeToGo surveyed 1,000 American adults from November 26-28, 2025 to discover which locales offer "both affordability and under-the-radar appeal." Search interest and price insights were based on observed searches executed via HomeToGo's website from August 1-November 15, 2025, with a check-in date during 2026.

The reports findings show the vacation accommodations in El Paso cost a median $62.21 per night, earning the city a reputation for being more affordable than Texas' major cities like Dallas or Houston. HomeToGo also said travelers are "increasingly turning to smaller [Southwestern] towns" to find accommodations rather than booking a stay at a large resort.

Additionally, younger travelers like Gen Zers and Millennials are driving the shift toward these hidden gem destinations after collecting inspiration from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

"Western destinations are seeing a rise in interest, fueled by a broader cultural moment that has placed such locations firmly in the spotlight," the report's author wrote. "In 2025, artists such as Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter brought fresh takes on the visual language of country music firmly into the mainstream, with this movement further amplified across social media platforms."

There's plenty to do in the self-proclaimed "Sun City," such as hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visiting local museums, and much more.

Other top "Neo-Western Revival" destinations to visit in 2026 include:

  • Marana, Arizona
  • Cañon City, Colorado
  • Yucca Valley, California
  • Queen Creek, Arizona
  • Bisbee, Arizona
"According to the survey findings, 76 percent of U.S. travelers plan to go on vacation in 2026, with over a quarter (26 percent) actively booking longer and more extravagant breaks," the report said. "Fifty-seven percent plan to spend more on vacations in comparison to 2025, indicating that the appetite for travel is clearly growing."
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