Local hotels ranked nationally by U. S. News & World Report

SARASOTA — A handful of Gulf Coast hotels cracked U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the best hotels in the U.S. and the top 100 in Florida.

Taking the top spot for hotels between Tampa and Naples was the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, which ranked 240th in the U.S.

The total list put out by the national magazine included 61 properties in Florida in the top 500. The majority of those were in Miami, Orlando and the Keys. That includes the Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach in Sunny Isles Beach near Miami, which was ranked the best hotel in Florida and the No. 3 best hotel in the country.

U.S. News looked at 35,000 properties in the U.S. Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean to compile its list of the best hotels and resorts. It releases the rankings geographically.

The decisions on where properties are ranked is based on “an analysis of expert and user opinions,” the magazine says.

The No. 1 hotel in the country was The Peninsula Chicago which, according to U.S. News, impressed “experts and guests with its luxurious on-site offerings, including The Peninsula Spa and Shanghai Terrace restaurant, and afternoon tea in the lobby. The hotel’s bright, modern guest rooms invite guests to wind down while looking out over Chicago.”

Behind the Peninsula was Montage Kapalua Bay. Montage International, which owns the property, is building a 37-story luxury tower under its Pendry brand in Tampa, which will include 220 rooms and 207 condominiums.

Joining LaPlaya as ranked among the best in the state are luxury stalwarts like the Ritz-Carltons in Naples and Sarasota and the Epicurean Hotel in Tampa.

“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,” Zach Watson, senior travel editor at U.S. News, says in a press release. “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.”

These are the Gulf Coast hotels that ranked in the top 100 in Florida. The number on the left is where they ranked nationally.

240 LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Naples

251 The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

287 The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key

330 The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

361 The Ritz Carlton, Sarasota

380 Gasparilla Inn & Club, Boca Grande

412 Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection, Tampa

436 Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach

485 Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, Bonita Springs

521 Edgewater Beach Hotel, Naples

533 Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach

615 The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach

648 Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Marco Island

652 The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg

768 The Inn on Fifth, Naples