Reviews – whether you love them or hate them, they’re a necessary part of travel planning. So much so that in a recent Travelocity survey, 56 percent of millennial travelers said they read 10 to 20 reviews or more before picking a hotel and nearly a quarter of all respondents never book a hotel without reading a review[1]. That’s why Travelocity is saving vacationers time and sleepless nights with its Best in the U.S. list featuring the top peer-reviewed spots in all 50 states plus Washington D.C.
The travel site analyzed more than 10.4 million guest reviews on its U.S. points of sale and developed a formula that averages three top review factors: overall rating, star rating and review volume. The resulting list features the highest-rated and most-reviewed properties for every state.
“Reviews factor heavily into every part of the trip planning process – from the moment travelers select a destination up to the point when they checkout,” said Laura Molnar, senior brand marketing manager for Travelocity. “While overall review scores remain the most important deciding factor, negative reviews and review narratives are almost equally important to travelers today.”
Remarkably, Travelocity found guests ranked bed and breakfasts among the top five best places to stay in many states, prompting the site to create two rankings: one for hotels and one for B&Bs.
High-Rated Hotels
The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada, netted the highest overall hotel score with 14,745 points. The luxury resort on the strip is one of three 4-star hotels in the top 15 including The Guesthouse at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, Hotel Contessa on the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando. Luxury, resort and spa properties made up near 30 percent of the list overall.
Best in the U.S. Top-Rated Hotels
- The Venetian
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- 14,745 points
- Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel
- Orlando, Florida
- 12,037 points
- The Academy Hotel
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 9,928 points
- The Garland
- Los Angeles, California
- 7,949 points
- Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
- Oahu, Hawaii
- 7,691 points
Twelve of the top 15 reviewed hotels were independently owned, including two boutique properties, The Garland in Los Angeles and Maison Dupuy in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Independent hotels made up 57 percent of the list overall, including eight 4-star properties, three lodges and a handful of boutique hotels, spas, motels and hotels. Notables from this category include the Holiday Music Hotel in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the only motel with live music and on-location radio station, and the Tudor-inspired English Inn near Charlottesville, Virginia which treats guests to an English-style afternoon tea daily.
Midscale chain properties accounted for 35 percent of hotels on the list. Wyndham, Hilton, Best Western and Hyatt hotels appeared most often. The Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach in Oahu netted the highest score of any property in this group with 7,691 points followed by the budget-friendly Best Western Plus Bloomington Hotel near Minneapolis (6,051 points).
“Our highest rated hotels focus on basics like guest service and value, regardless of their size, amenities or whether they’re independently owned or not,” said Molnar. “Staff that go out of their way to make travelers comfortable and properties that provide amenities like free parking, breakfast or just reasonably priced food and drink can go a long way.”
The Best Bed and Breakfasts
Growing demand and overall review ratings prompted Travelocity to add bed and breakfasts to the list of top-rated properties in a category all its own. Room nights at B&Bs have grown 25 percent year-over year on the site both domestically and internationally.
“Bed and breakfasts are this special hybrid for travelers,” said Molnar. “They offer the amenities of a hotel and also the local ambiance of an apartment rental. Guests that choose this option are craving a certain kind of experience, whether that’s a homecooked, locally sourced meal or just genuine comradery with the hosts and other guests.”
Vacation destinations across the South and Northeast remain the most popular for B&Bs in typical locales such as Key West, Savannah, St. Augustine and Newport, Rhode Island. But bed and breakfasts are growing in popularity across major U.S. cities, too, with bookings increasing 100 percent or more in Los Angeles (100%), San Francisco (125%), Chicago (149%), Detroit (145%) and Charlotte (149%).
Most popular U.S. cities for bed and breakfasts
- Key West, FL
- Savannah, GA
- St. Augustine, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Asheville, NC
- Charleston, SC
- Newport, RI
- Washington, DC
- Santa Fe, NM
- Provincetown, MA
*Based on demand data from 2017 to 2018 on Travelocity.com.
The Brafferton Inn in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania topped the list of bed and breakfasts with an overall score of 2,884 points and more than 600 verified reviews. Guests staying at one of the oldest residences in Gettysburg enjoy the outdoor area, jacuzzi and complimentary breakfast and cookies. The Bavarian Inn in the Black Hills of South Dakota also made the top 10. The chalet-style lodge is minutes from main attractions like Mount Rushmore and boasts a pancake and parfait breakfast bar included with any stay.
Best in the U.S. Top-Rated B&Bs
- The Brafferton Inn
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- 2,884 points
- Old Santa Fe Inn
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- 2,813 points
- 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant
- Savannah, Georgia
- 2,573 points
- Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast
- Denver, Colorado
- 2,239 points
- FogCatcher Inn
- Morro Bay, California
- 1,980 points
Bed and breakfasts also topped the list in major U.S. cities including The Inn on Ferry Street in Detroit and Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast in Denver. The Detroit property features 40 rooms across four restored Victorian mansions and two carriage houses. At Queen Anne, guests can choose to stay in one of four rooms featuring works designed by local artists or enjoy a meal featuring ingredients from their on-site garden.
Travelocity Verified Reviews
Unlike other online travel agencies, Travelocity authenticates all guest reviews before posting them on its website. The verification process confirms that the customer stayed at the property during their originally booked travel dates and eliminates fake reviews from guests who either haven’t stayed at the property or users trying to inflate a property’s overall rating.
“Travelers more than ever are evaluating the quality of guest reviews, not just the quantity,” said Molnar. “If a customer is taking the time to read 10, 15 or 20 plus reviews before they book, we want them to know what they’re reading is real.”
For more information or to browse the state by state list of Best in the U.S. properties, visit Travelocity.com/Best-In-The-US.
[1] Google Consumer Survey fielded March 4-6, 2019 among 502 U.S. travelers ages 18+ that have booked a hotel online in the past 12 months.