The Best Resorts to Book in the USA

The Phoenician is a palatial resort offering pure luxury amid atmospheric Arizona scenery
The Phoenician is a palatial resort offering pure luxury amid atmospheric Arizona scenery | © The Phoenician / Expedia
Sara Darling

The USA is good at many things and developing world-class resorts is one of them. Choose your own adventure from hiking in the mountains, practicing yoga on the beach, playing a championship golf course, or learning to surf. These luxury vacation properties have something for everyone and guarantee a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Whether you’re traveling with family, friends or planning a romantic getaway, these are the best resorts and most unique places to stay in the USA – bookable on Culture Trip.

1. Monarch Beach Resort, for surfer vibes in SoCal

Resort

Outdoor pool and grounds of the Monarch Beach Resort with sun setting over the sea on the horizon
© Monarch Beach Resort / Expedia

Monarch Beach is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the USA that excels in fitness offerings and luxury surroundings. From surfing to golf boarding, this modern seaside resort encourages guests to get outside and enjoy the Southern California lifestyle. However, when you want to take a break from doing laps around the pool or the TSX machine, jump on the resort’s beach tram that will whisk you through the golf links to the exclusive Oceanfront Monarch Bay Beach Club – where umbrellas, beach chairs, and towels are waiting – and when you’re suitably tanned, enjoy lunch or dinner at the beachside restaurant.

2. Little Palm Island, for a taste of paradise in Florida

Resort, Spa Hotel

Exterior of beachfront restaurant at Little Palm Island at sunset beneath palms
© Little Palm Island / Expedia
Little Palm Island reinvents paradise and this all-inclusive, adults-only resort is completely off the grid. You’ll arrive by the resort’s wooden motor yacht – affectionately named Truman – and as soon as you disembark, you’ll slip into “island time” where nothing is too much trouble. You’ll be welcomed by your host and escorted to your beautiful private air-conditioned thatched cottage – complete with hammocks and loungers on your private deck – or you could request a bungalow with a four-poster bed and outdoor copper bathtub if you really want to impress.

3. Hawaii Luxury Wellness Four Seasons, for family and friends in Hualalai

Resort

Sea view from a suite at Hawaii Luxury Wellness Four Seasons with wave design on the wall, traditional art and seventies-style seats
© Sensai Łanai Four Seasons / Expedia

Situated amid tropical palms and white sand beach, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is a destination in itself. If you’re looking for a luxury all-inclusive vacation in the USA where every little detail is considered – from the refreshing cocktail on arrival to frozen grapes and sunglass cleaning offered poolside – you’ll struggle to find anywhere better. Book into the Garden Spa and experience an incredible treatment – or you may want to go with the children when the Kids Club heads on the daily feeding of the 21-year-old spotted eagle ray in the snorkeling lagoon.

5. La Cantera Resort, for luxurious spa days in Texas

Hotel

Luxury lounge area with sofa, fireplace, flatscreen tv at La Cantera Resort
© La Cantera Resort / Expedia

If a pool with a view is on the agenda for your next vacation, La Cantera Resort is a luxury resort nestled in the Hill Country. If you’re not playing golf or at the spa, you can easily while away your time discovering secluded seating nooks, fire pits and fountains. The main pool is flanked by a poolside cantina and bar – with a separate kids’ pool and grassed lawn nearby. However, couples may prefer the adults-only infinity pool – complete with cabanas and first-class views of the Texas scenery.

6. Eau Palm Beach, for fresh food in Florida

Resort

Terrace at Eau Palm Beach with sea views beneath palms and navy lounge sofas with fruit on the table
© Eau Palm Beach / Expedia

With a glass of champagne waiting for you, you’ll soon forget your jetlag when you check in to Eau Palm Beach. You’ll be able to relax and recharge in your tasteful accommodation – which boasts private balconies and hanging chairs. And when you’re ready to explore the seven acres of tropical grounds, you’ll have two pools – one adults-only – a pro tennis court and a delightful outdoor spa to tempt you. With a choice of restaurants, opt for fresh Floridian seafood at Angle or light bites, cocktails and coffees at Stir Bar & Terrace – with its Sushi Social every Friday and Saturday.

7. The Phoenician, for adventure seekers in Scottsdale

Resort

Spectacular multi-level pool area set against the desert mountains at the Phoenician in Phoenix, Arizona
Courtesy of the Phoenician / Expedia
With so much on offer at this tastefully decorated olde-worlde Phoenician hotel, you will have to make time to relax. From the state of the art Athletic Club, show-stopping three-tier pool complex, 18-hole golf course, seven tennis courts, an exquisite spa center with a rooftop pool, – plus the state’s largest cactus garden on the grounds – you’ll definitely need to dedicate some time to appreciate the scenery of the Sonoran desert. Meanwhile, the splash pad, waterslide, kids’ club and games room will occupy your offspring.

8. Paradise Point and Spa, for peace and privacy in San Diego

Resort, Spa Hotel

Luxury suite at Paradise Point and Spa with sofa, dining area, double bed and sea view through palms
© Paradise Point and Spa / Expedia
Located a short drive from downtown San Diego – on an island where Seaworld is your only neighbor – Paradise Point and Spa was built in the 1960s by a Hollywood movie producer and has retained some of the glamour from its heyday. On arrival, you’ll be escorted to your private bungalow in the sprawling grounds – which all have access to one of the five pools and a long beach – and further afield is the marina where you can watch the superyachts or hire some water sports equipment. If you’d prefer to relax, the spa offers private and couples’ massage rooms, saunas, steam rooms and a courtyard to enjoy at your leisure.

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