This is getting to be a habit: The most famous luxury oceanfront resort in Sunny Isles Beach was just named one of the best hotels in the country.
Again.
U.S. News & World Report has just released its 2022 rankings of the best hotels in the United States, and in what was a surprise to precisely no one, Acqualina Resort was ranked no. 3 in the country, behind The Peninsula Chicago (no. 1) and Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui (no. 2).
The top hotels were singled out for exceptional customer service, comfortable accommodations and the variety of on-site amenities. For Acqualina, which also ranked in the top three in 2021, that includes a spectacular beachfront, several pools, the award-winning Espa spa and restaurants including Ke-uH, which serves sushi and other Japanese fusion fare, and the more traditional Il Mulino New York, which serves classic Italian cuisine.
And then there are the views from the oceanfront rooms:
In 2021, Acqualina earned an avalanche of accolades. It was named the best waterfront hotel in the country for the fifth straight year in 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards by USA Today. It also made the 2021 Forbes Five-Star list and was also named one of the top hotels in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.
A few other Miami-area resorts also made the U.S. News & World Report top 50 list for hotels. The Setai Miami Beach was no. 37, with Faena in Miami Beach at no. 39 (in 2021, Faena was also named one of the best hotels in Miami by Condé Nast Traveler). The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort ranked no 47. All three luxury hotels made the Forbes Five-Star list in 2021.
The rankings remain important in 2022 because the pandemic is still disrupting travel, said senior U.S. News travel editor Zach Watson.
“The travel industry has faced many disruptions over the past two years, highlighting the need to support and recognize hotels that continue to maintain excellent standards,” he said in a statement. “The 2022 Best Hotels rankings offer a dependable guide for travelers to use when organizing their next trip, whether that’s in a few weeks or later in the year.”
U.S. News & World Report also rated hotels in the Caribbean, ranking Eden Rock-St. Barths No. 1 and Rosewood Bermuda as No. 1 in Bermuda. Jade Mountain in St. Lucia was chosen as the best all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean.
The methodology for calculating ratings includes analysis of the hotel’s reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews and hotel class ratings.
This story was originally published February 08, 2022 6:00 AM.