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The Best Resort in the South Has New Mountaintop Tree Houses With Hot Tubs and Outdoor Showers—See All the 2025 Winners
Editor's note: Florida, Texas, and South Carolina resort hotels were excluded, as each has their own separate rankings and list. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
An exterior view of Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection with the observatory.
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection
Mountain resorts dominated this year's list, with appearances from reader favorites like The Inn on Biltmore Estate (No. 3), Old Edwards Inn & Spa (No. 7), and Blackberry Mountain (No. 4)—all of which made appearances on the 2024 World's Best Awards list. High Hampton, which jumped from No. 13 to No. 2 this year, also falls under this category. Described by one reader as a 'nice, quaint inn in a lovely mountain resort town,' the Cashiers Valley getaway is a year-round destination with a host of activities for the whole family, from golf and canoeing to croquet and fishing.
Although The Cloister at Sea Island's waterfront location is vastly different from the views you'll see in the Blue Ridge Mountains, its amenities (including an on-site pool and private beach club access) and 'outstanding services' earned it the No. 9 spot this year. 'Everything is spectacular, and our visit was peaceful,' said one reader. '[It's] a wonderful destination for families or couples.'
Everything is spectacular, and our visit was peaceful.
— T+L Reader
Read on to find out which property was voted the best resort hotel in the South in 2025.
Primland Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection: Meadows of Dan, Virginia Cozy seating for guests in the Great Hall.
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection
Tucked high up in the Virginia mountains and spread out across 12,000 acres, Primland Resort was described by our readers as 'one of the nicest resorts on [the] East Coast' and the 'best hotel in Virginia.' While the Meadows of Dan property most recently appeared at No. 11 in the 2023 World's Best Awards, a handful of renovations, refurbishments, and new additions sent it to the top spot this year. Most notably, the resort added two magical Mountain Top Tree Houses, both of which have a spacious tree-level deck, an outdoor shower, and a hot tub. One reader said that they appreciated the resort's 'world-class service,' while another called it a 'beautiful venue' with 'many things to do to keep you busy.' Golfers can spend all day on Primland's Highland Course, while active travelers can explore the onsite hiking paths and ATV trails. And for those who want to take it easy, there's even a spa and indoor swimming pool.
1. Primland Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection: Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Reader Score: 99.40
2. High Hampton: Cashiers, North Carolina
Reader Score: 95.29
3. The Inn on Biltmore Estate: Asheville, North Carolina
Reader Score: 94.00
4. Blackberry Mountain: Walland, Tennessee
Reader Score: 93.71
5. Blackberry Farm: Walland, Tennessee
Reader Score: 92.80
6. Salamander Middleburg: Virginia
Reader Score: 92.68
7. Old Edwards Inn & Spa: Highlands, North Carolina
Reader Score: 92.20
8. The Williamsburg Inn: Virginia
Reader Score: 90.58
9. The Cloister at Sea Island: Georgia
Reader Score: 90.35
10. The Omni Homestead Resort: Hot Springs, Virginia Reader Score: 89.85
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