When Forbes Travel Guide’s expert inspectors visit a property, they anonymously test it based on hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service. Only the best of the best achieve the coveted Five Star, our highest rating.
In advance of our 2026 Star Award winners announcement on February 11, we give you a peek into what it takes to earn a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star accolade.
Authentic Experiences Are the New Luxury
Authenticity is the new gold standard. From architecture to curated local experiences, Five-Star hotels distinguish themselves by tapping into their roots and their surroundings — and delivering that vision with warmth and unwavering consistency.
The Broadmoor — Forbes Travel Guide’s longest-running Five-Star hotel — exemplifies this by keeping its rich past at the forefront of the guest experience. At The Hotel Bar, oversized murals depict a 1920 visit from the “Hundred Million Dollar Hotel Club,” 60 titan hoteliers who helped cement the property’s reputation. While the group enjoyed two weeks of activities, like nightly dinner dances and biplane races, today’s guests have almost endless ways to engage with the rugged terrain. Immerse yourself in the Colorado Rockies with hikes, ziplining, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Over in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, Five-Star Falling Rock at Nemacolin pays tribute to nearby Fallingwater, one Frank Lloyd Wright’s most renowned architectural masterpieces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Falling Rock adopts Wright’s design hallmarks, from organic architecture to a connection to nature. The family-owned hotel can arrange a Fallingwater tour, but be sure to check out the property’s own offerings: Nemacolin boasts one of the world’s largest private art collections and a slate of art classes.
Transformative Travel Enhances Well-Being
There’s been a rise in travel that improves a guest’s sense of well-being, even when wellness isn’t the primary goal. This is achieved through highly curated experiences that align with how people aspire to live, focusing on living better and staying active, rather than just living longer. The aim is for the guest to leave feeling physically, mentally and emotionally restored.
While Florida’s The Boca Raton has the Five-Star Spa Palmera, wellness is integrated into all aspects of the stay. The property provides two gyms that cater to different workout styles: The Beach Club Fitness Room puts guests on treadmills and ellipticals near the ocean, while Harborside Fitness Club focuses on functional training and group classes. Or if you prefer to explore while exercising, choose from running paths, complimentary bikes, stand-up paddleboarding, tennis or pickleball. And for those who want healthy meals, Marisol serves fresh and flavorful Mediterranean fare.
In Ubud, Bali, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve sends guests on a spiritual journey that incorporates local traditions. This could be a water blessing ritual in the resort temple that helps you connect with your own energy, or learning to make a gebogan, an artful tower of local flowers and coconut leaves that serves as a Balinese ceremonial offering to the universe.
Immersive Destinations Don’t Compromise Comfort
Whether you seek a jungle adventure or a mountain getaway, Five-Star properties immerse you in a destination without sacrificing comfort. And they allow you to explore a city or culture at your own pace.
After an exhilarating day spent gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, weary guests return to the plush confines of Five-Star One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, where staff members whisk away their muddied hiking boots for expert cleaning. Guests slip into fresh flip-flops before enjoying the chilled champagne and restorative massages waiting for them.
When staying at The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana, you can test your mettle with cattle handling, horseback riding or a ranch rodeo (where working cowboys and cowgirls compete in events). But there’s no roughing it at the all-inclusive hotel. Rotating gourmet menus showcase organic ingredients from local farms. And you’ll retire to a log cabin, where private cedar saunas and deep-soaking tubs offer a decadent end to a day on the range.
