More on TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards (USA TODAY)
TripAdvisor unveils Travelers' Choice best hotels awards
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
By Barbara De Lollis
TripAdvisor today announces the 25 hotels that have won a spot on its 10th annual Travelers' Choice Awards lists for most outstanding hotels.
Hotel Check-In has assembled a photo tour of the Top 25 hotels in the USA. (Keep reading for the Top 10.)
PHOTO GALLERY: Tour TripAdvisor's top 25 hotels in the USA
ALSO ONLINE: Stray cat drama at Loews resorts in Orlando
The coveted No. 1 ranking for best U.S. hotels goes to Chicago's Elysian, the stylish, independent hotel that opened in 2009 and has won awards and accolades ever since.
It's a bittersweet award for the Elysian since it's one of the last, if not the last, awards it will receive as an independent property. Next month, the Elysian will become part of Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria chain.
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PHOTO GALLERY: Andrew Harper's top luxury hotels for 2012
In fact, many of the winners on the Top 25 US hotels list are independent properties or part of small collections. You won't find Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental, Starwood or any other hospitality giant on the list.
There are, however, two relatively small chains that stand out on this "best hotels" list.
San Francisco-based upscale boutique hotel operator Kimpton Hotels has three properties that made the list in Chicago, Portland, Ore., and Alexandria, Va.
And Toronto-based luxury hotel operator Four Seasons has two properties that made the list, both of which are resorts on Hawaiian islands.
You may notice that TripAdvisor this year has expanded the Top 10 winners' list to Top 25 to give travelers more ideas for remarkable hotel stays.
The online review giant also expanded the number of categories its honoring. Travelers will find winners for hotel categories such as: Best Luxury and Bargain, Best for Service, B&Bs and Inns, All-Inclusive, Spa, and Trendiest.
Unlike most hotel awards lists, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of reviews and opinions written by TripAdvisor travelers around the world.
The average nightly rate for 2012 Travelers' Choice Hotels award winners is $270, although there's no need to blow your budget.
TripAdvisor says that 45% of the winners have an average nightly rate of $200 or less per night.
Here are select winners of TripAdvisor's top hotel categories:
Best Hotel in the World: The Phoenix Resort in San Pedro, Belize
Best Hotel in the USA: Elysian Hotel in Chicago
Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the World: Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo
Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the USA: The Grand Del Mar in San Diego
Best Bargain in the World: HueNino Hotel in Hue, Vietnam
Best Bargain in the USA: SeaCoast Inn in Hyannis, Mass.
Best for Service in the World: Arcadia Residence in Prague, Czech Republic
Best for Service in the USA: SeaCoast Inn in Hyannis, Mass.
Best B&B and Inn in the World: The Twenty One in Brighton, England
Best B&B and Inn in the USA: A.G. Thomson House: Historic Bed and Breakfast in Duluth, Minn.
Best All-Inclusive in the World: Garonga Safari Camp in Phalaborwa, South Africa
Best All-Inclusive in the Caribbean: East Winds Inn in Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Best Relaxation and Spa in the World: BollAnt's im Park in Bad Sobernheim, Germany
Best Relaxation and Spa in the USA: Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort and Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Calf.
Trendiest Hotel in the World: Villa Zest Boutique Hotel in Cape Town, S.A.
Trendiest Hotel in the USA: Smyth Hotel, a Thompson Hotel in New York City
Top 10 hotels in the USA as rated by TripAdvisor reviewers:
1.Elysian Hotel Chicago, Chicago
2.The Grand Del Mar, San Diego
3.Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
4.Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Highlands, N.C.
5.Heathman Hotel, Kirkland, Wash.
6.Hotel Commonwealth, Boston
7.French Quarter Inn, Charleston, S.C.
8.Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco
9.Hotel Monaco Portland – a Kimpton Hotel, Portland, Ore.
10.Inn at the Market, Seattle
TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice® 2011 Awards are in….and guess who made #4 in the top 25 list???
Casa Cool Beans takes 4th place in the TOP B&B and INNS in Brazil!!! We are still rated the #1 B&B in all of Rio de Janeiro as well! Many thanks to all our guests who made this possible!!!
Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in Brazil
Vivenda Paraty
"The perfect place and the perfect host. Spacious, luxurious and immaculately clean rooms, beautifully decorated."
— Nicole08, Basel, Switzerland
Cachoeira Inn
"The BEST of Buzios"
Solar do Santinho Pousada
Florianopolis, Brazil
"Fantastic Pousada to begin our Honeymoon"
Casa Cool Beans
"Perfect spot!"
Reveillon on Copacabana beach Jan 1st 2012
Sambodromo rehearsal schedule for 2012 Rio Carnival Samba Parade
Now that we have celebrated a New Year; Revellion, here in Rio de Janeiro, it is time to turn our attention to Carnival!!!! Below is the schedule for all the rehearsals at the Sambadromo; STARTING TONIGHT; January 8th:
These rehearsals for the Samba Parade take place on the samba runway itself in the Sambodromo. There are a few every weekend.
Go and watch them for free. You can try most grandstand sectors. It is a good opportunity to warm yourself up for the great party that will develop during the actual Samba Parade and see it all in preparation.
The very last rehearsal is the most spectacular show with lights and sound system already in place for final testing. The last champions' parade is invited to. If you think that`s all, after that rehearsal, the biggest and most traditional street band (Cordão do bola preta) appears at beginning of the Venue, getting into the samba run way with a lot of traditional samba songs, called in Portuguese "marchinhas". Go, join in, dance and live Carnival with them! On this very day, Sambodromo lives it`s most crowded moment, as people can get there and watch for free! Don`t miss it!!!
Date Day 7 PM 8 PM 10 PM
08th Sunday Opening ceremony Beija-Flor
13th Friday Imperio Serrano Uniao da Ilha
14th Saturday Paraiso do Tuiuti Rocinha Portela
15th Sunday Renascer Mocidade Unidos da Tijuca
21st Saturday Inocentes Porto da Pedra
22nd Sunday Santa Cruz Grande Rio Vila Isabel
27th Friday Cubango Imperio da Tijuca
28th Saturday Estacio de Sa Imperatriz
29th Sunday Viradouro Uniao da Ilha Salgueiro
03rd Friday Vila Isabel
04th Saturday Renascer Sao Clemente Porto da Pedra
05th Sunday Mangueira Unidos da Tijuca
10th Friday Mocidade Salgueiro
11th Saturday Portela Imperatriz
12th Sunday Sound and light testing with Beija-flor
LAN launches new LGBT website…..http://www.landiversity.com
Have you ever dreamed about climbing Machu Picchu at sunrise, swimming with the giant turtles of the Galapagos, or experiencing any of the other wonders that can be found 'Only in South America'? Today LAN Airlines brings those dreams one step closer for LGBT travelers with the launch of its dedicated, new LGBT travel website.
Visit LANdiversity.com and learn more about the many gay-friendly destinations throughout South America. Catch up on recent news and events of interest to LGBT travelers to South America, and read the latest articles written by LGBT travelers to the region.
For a limited time, we're also giving you a special opportunity to save $50 on your next flight purchase on LAN.com when you sign up to receive our Diversity newsletter.
With frequently updated content, periodic specials, and a place to connect with other LGBT travelers, our goal is to make LANdiversity.com your one-stop source for LGBT travel to South America.
Diversity is in every corner of South America. Let LAN fly you there.
At LAN Airlines, we pride ourselves on the great diversity of our staff, our customers, and above all the great destinations that we serve. LAN has hubs in some of South America's best current and emerging LGBT destinations, including Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima.
LAN also provides extensive serve to the most fascinating and exotic destinations for LGBT travelers throughout Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and the rest of South America, including: Machu Picchu, Cuzco, the Amazon(Iquitos), Iguazu Falls, Easter Island, Patagonia, the Galapagos Islands, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Bogota, to name a few.
In 2009, LAN became the first Latin American airline to develop an advertising campaign specifically targeting the LGBT community. The campaign highlights the importance of diversity, and showcases the great diversity found throughout LAN's South America.