This Year’s Winning Hotel: The Mansion on Turtle Creek, in Dallas.

When we asked Travel + Leisure readers, in our annual World’s Best survey, to rate the service at Hotels around the world, we had certain expectations about what their top picks would be. Asian properties, the traditional winners in previous years, would lead the pack, together with a few of the most famously pampering Hotels in the United States and Europe. Surprise: This year, not only does an American property take the No. 1 spot for the first time, but no fewer than seven of the 10 highest-rated Hotels are in the U.S.A. Four of these, in fact, are Ritz-Carltons, proof that our foremost homegrown luxury chain has refined service to an art (see page 108 for how they do it). Read on for the highest-rated Hotels in your favorite destinations, plus the spas and cruise lines that readers say treat their customers the best.

World’s Best Service

SpasCruise Lines

Overall: Overall Europe: Europe The Continental U.S. and Canada: The Continental U.S. and Canada Mexico and Central and South America: Mexico and Central and South America Asia: Asia Africa and the Middle East: Africa and the Middle East The Caribbean, Bermuda, and The Bahamas: The Caribbean, Bermuda, and The Bahamas Hawaii: Hawaii Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

The Measure of Greatness: The Measure of Greatness The Secret of Ritz-Carlton’s Success: The Secret of Ritz-Carlton’s Success Methodology: Methodology

2001 winners | 2000 winners | 1999 winners | 1998 winners |1997 winners | 1996 winners

This Year’s Winning Hotel: The Mansion on Turtle Creek, in Dallas.

When we asked Travel + Leisure readers, in our annual World’s Best survey, to rate the service at Hotels around the world, we had certain expectations about what their top picks would be. Asian properties, the traditional winners in previous years, would lead the pack, together with a few of the most famously pampering Hotels in the United States and Europe. Surprise: This year, not only does an American property take the No. 1 spot for the first time, but no fewer than seven of the 10 highest-rated Hotels are in the U.S.A. Four of these, in fact, are Ritz-Carltons, proof that our foremost homegrown luxury chain has refined service to an art (see page 108 for how they do it). Read on for the highest-rated Hotels in your favorite destinations, plus the spas and cruise lines that readers say treat their customers the best.

World’s Best Service

SpasCruise Lines

  • Overall: Overall

  • Europe: Europe

  • The Continental U.S. and Canada: The Continental U.S. and Canada

  • Mexico and Central and South America: Mexico and Central and South America

  • Asia: Asia

  • Africa and the Middle East: Africa and the Middle East

  • The Caribbean, Bermuda, and The Bahamas: The Caribbean, Bermuda, and The Bahamas

  • Hawaii: Hawaii

  • Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

  • The Measure of Greatness: The Measure of Greatness

  • The Secret of Ritz-Carlton’s Success: The Secret of Ritz-Carlton’s Success

  • Methodology: Methodology

2001 winners | 2000 winners | 1999 winners | 1998 winners |1997 winners | 1996 winners