Source: William S Helsel / Getty
Hometown luxe hotels make good: The Jefferson Hotel ranks No. 2 on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hotels in the USA” for 2016 list — and D.C.’s The Hay-Adams didn’t fare too badly either. It ranked No. 23, while Washington’s Four Seasons Hotel landed at No. 42.
That’s a pretty good showing for D.C. for a list that includes 1,775 “best” U.S. luxury hotels(culled from more than 2,500).
Coming in at No. 1 was The Lodge at Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia. No. 3 was ARIA Sky Suites in Las Vegas.
For The Jefferson, the 2016 ranking is quite a leap. It was ranked No. 99 in 2014 and No. 10 in 2015.
U.S. News’ rankings methodology include rating hotels that are only in the four-star or five-star category. The editors also consider awards and recommendations a hotel has received from expert travel industry sources. It also taps into guest ratings using data provided under license by the prominent international hotel ratings site TripAdvisor, which, as we told you earlier this month, acknowledged it is actively fighting off third parties looking to cheat its system.
In U.S. News’ rankings, the Jefferson, built in 1923, was cited for its decor — “the Beaux-Arts era reigns supreme here, with early 20th century paintings and sculptures lining the checkered floors” — and noted “The Jefferson’s elegant accommodations are appointed with custom duvets, plush bathrobes, flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi.”
The editors also encourage guests to step up their game: “For a little more space, upgrade to a suite, which will come equipped with a Nespresso coffee maker and, in some suites, private balconies overlooking the Washington Monument.”
The Hay-Adams, parked near the White House, also got big ups from U.S. News in its writeup. “Perched on the edge of Lafayette Square, The Hay-Adams boasts a spectacular vantage point of the White House and the National Mall,” the overview of the property states, continuing, “Here, guests are greeted by head-to-toe period decor; the lobby is decked out in rich wooden paneling and marble floors while guest rooms feature neutral tones with elegant bedspreads.”
source: WTOP.com
