America’s Best Coastal Hotels

2013-09-19

While hotels and resorts have long leaned on Mother Nature to enhance their guest experiences, few wild assets rival that of prime waterfront real estate — be it on a sugary sand beach or a dramatic rocky bluff. Fortunately for travelers, there’s a lot of choice for those seeking a great coastal getaway. Culled from Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards, the top 10 hotels listed here were rated highly by readers — and come with ocean breezes, water views and ultra-scenic shores. Asked to evaluate properties for categories including rooms/facilities, location and service, survey-takers made it clear that a coastal location can be one of a hotel’s greatest features.

The Lodge, Sea Island, Georgia. This is a genteel lodge with 40 country-style rooms and on-site access to a legendary golf course. A bagpiper roams the grounds every evening. Room to book: Numbers 2 and 3 have enormous balconies that overlook the 18th hole at Plantation Golf Course. Insider tip: Guests have access to the amenities of the lodge’s sister property, The Cloister, including its 65,000-square-foot spa and the Georgian Room restaurant.

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