Best of the best

Houston hotels win big in Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards

The Woodlands Resort is the second best resort in Texas, according to Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards.

Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Resort

Houston's acclaimed hotels and resorts are shining stars in the travel world, according to Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards. The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa were ranked among the top five best resorts in Texas, as determined by the publication's readers. Lancaster Hotel was deemed the No. 1 hotel in all of Houston.

The annual World's Best Awards asks Travel + Leisure readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, cities, and more. The 2024 survey had more than 186,000 responses from T+L readers with over 700,000 votes across 8,700 destinations and accommodations.

In T+L's ranking of "Readers’ 5 Favorite Resorts in Texas of 2024," The Woodlands Resort landed at the top as No. 2, and The Houstonian Hotel earned No. 4.

Notable amenities that make The Woodlands Resort stand out above the rest in Texas is its two championship golf courses, a fitness center, the lavish spa, the Forest Oasis pool complex, and much more. T+L readers also praised the resort's family-friendly programming.

"The heart of excitement at The Woodlands Resort is the Forest Oasis pool complex, a vast poolside waterscape surrounded by three luxurious guestroom buildings with easy-access pool walkout rooms, the Panther Trail™ golf course, and the towering pines of the lush forest," the resort's website says. "During the fall and winter, both the waterfall pool and double helix slide/pool are heated to over 85 degrees, plus you can cozy up on the pool deck with s’mores and toasty beverages."

The Woodlands Resort, Lazy River The Lazy River winding through The Woodlands Resort. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Resort

Meanwhile, The Houstonian thrives with myriad members and guests who enjoy the top-tier exercise and wellness offerings, family-oriented membership, and elite, if-you-know-you-know status. One reader lauded The Houstonian as "a true oasis in the middle of the city."

"The 27-acre resort has easy access to Houston’s iconic Memorial Park and bustling downtown area, while still managing to feel like a well-kept secret," the report said.

The full list of top Texas resorts, in order, are:

No. 1 – Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Frisco
No. 2 – The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, The Woodlands
No. 3 – The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas, Irving
No. 4 – The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
No. 5 – Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Austin

The top five hotels in Houston
Many snaps and claps are in order for the luxurious historic Lancaster Hotel, which was crowned the No. 1 best hotel in all of Houston in 2024.

Each standout hotel in T+L's best hotel rankings is critiqued based on its rooms and facilities, location, guest services, food, and overall value. This is the first year Lancaster was ranked at the top citywide.

Many readers appreciated the hotel's proximity to some of Houston's premier performing arts venues – the Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, and Alley Theatre – plus the hotel staff's top-notch guest service and the attention to detail with its decor.

"Superb luxury boutique hotel next to the theater," a reader said. "Staff was some of the best. Friendly, efficient and eager to help."

Lancaster Hotel afternoon tea Guests adored the classic afternoon tea service at The Lancaster Hotel. Photo by Teresa Rafidi

Guests additionally commended the Lancaster's vast amenities, including complimentary gourmet breakfast, complimentary in-room snacks, and the afternoon tea service.

The Lancaster Hotel also ranked No. 2 in T+L's "Readers' 15 Favorite City Hotels in the Continental U.S. of 2024."

The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:

No. 1 – Lancaster Hotel
No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
No. 3 – The Moran Citycentre
No. 4 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
No. 5 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston

"For nearly three decades, our World's Best Awards have set the standard for excellence in travel, as chosen by our dedicated and discerning readers," said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure, in a release. "The 2024 results highlight a blend of time-honored favorites and emerging destinations, reflecting the diverse interests of today's travelers. We're delighted to honor these exceptional places and experiences that inspire our audience to explore the world."

The full list of winners of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2024 can be found on travelandleisure.com.

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out to sea

Carnival opens 2028 bookings for showstopping new ship's Caribbean cruises

Carnival Tropicale begins sailing in 2028

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Tropicale will begin sailing from Galveston to destinations in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico in 2028.

The Carnival Tropicale, Carnival's newest cruise ship that will set sail from Galveston, is now accepting reservations for its maiden voyages to destinations throughout The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico, beginning in 2028.

Carnival Tropicale is the fifth and final Excel-class ship that will be offered from the cruise line, and it will be able to accommodate over 6,000 passengers. It is named after MS Tropicale, Carnival's original "Fun Ship" from 1982, but the new luxury liner promises showstopping experiences inspired by Las Vegas' "golden era of show business."

Four-to-eight-day cruises are now available to book with departure dates as early as April 15, 2028. Six destinations in Carnival's Paradise Collection are on the itinerary, including Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico; Isla Tropicale in Roatan, Honduras; and Nassau, Bahamas. Eight-day cruises will include stops at Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, two private islands owned by Carnival.

"From innovative attractions and dining to unforgettable destinations throughout the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico, Carnival Tropicale will bring an exciting new vacation option to Texas when she debuts in 2028," said Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line, in a release.

These are the cruise options passengers can book on the Carnival Tropicale starting in 2028:

6-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel and Isla Tropical, Roatan – 26 dates from April 15, 2028 to April 29, 2029
8-Day The Bahamas Cruise to Nassau and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay – 26 dates from April 29, 2028 to May 6, 2029
8-Day The Bahamas Cruise to Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay – April 21-29
5-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, Yucatán – December 23-28 and December 28-January 1, 2029
4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel – January 2-6, 2029

Major attractions on the new Carnival Tropicale include Sunsation Point, a top deck "family fun" entertainment zone, and Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, an all-ages water park with six waterslides and splash pads for kids.

Other family-friendly attractions include multiple sport courts — including a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf course inspired by Route 66 — a Treehouse Adventure Trail, new arcade spaces, and to-be-announced "new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces."

Carnival Tropicale Grand Central Atrium A rendering of the Grand Central Atrium. Courtesy of Carnival

Carnival Tropicale will also feature three new dining concepts that highlight "flavors from around the world," including one in partnership with famous chef Emeril Lagasse.

"Guests will be able to enjoy Uku Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences; Fetaccine, blending Greek and Italian flavors; and Emeril's Coastal Seafood, showcasing seafood dishes inspired by America's coastlines and created in partnership with Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer Chef Emeril Lagasse."

Carnival Tropicale cruises departing from Galveston can be booked on the Carnival website . Rates vary depending on the duration of the trip and accommodation preference.

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