(from the Frequent Flier Crier)
and to avoid to be deleted: yes on some of the listed properties you get miles!

Gourmet Hotel Picks
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Halekulani in Honolulu, Hawaii ( we will probably have an event there on our ff-party of paradise, nov-4 to 7-99) has been chosen as the number one hotel in the world according to Gourmet's "Rooms at The Top," a comprehensive survey of readers. The results of this survey are published in the May 1999 issue. The Halekulani also won in the category of best guest rooms.

The survey determined preferred hotels for special-interest travel as well: Readers chose Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as their favorite family resort, while naming The Regent Hong Kongas the best for business. For romance, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California was tops. For the best pool in the world, the Hotel Ritz in Paris was tops. The Ashford Castle, Cong, County Mayo in Ireland ranked the highest in design/architecture, outpacing properties in the United States and Italy. And the Chateau Lake Louisewas voted number one for view and grounds.

Readers chose The Greenbrierin White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, as their top choice for golf and tennis. They also named the workout center as the best in the world. The Hyatt Regency Beaver Creekin Aspen, (Rudi: this information is wrong, this Hyatt is in Beaver Creek near Vail) Colorado was chosen as the top hotel for skiing and the Mauna Kea BeachHotel in Hawaii for the best beach. The readers' favorite spa is the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California, and their choice for a hideaway is the Inn at Little Washingtonin Washington, Virginia.

In the area of food, readers named The Oriental, Bangkokas tops for room service and bar. The top award for restaurant dining was given to The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas.

Following are the Top 10 in the World, in order of ranking:

1. Halekulani, Honolulu, Hawaii
2. The Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
3. Villa D'Este, Cernobbio, Italy
4. The Regent, Hong Kong, China
5. Hotel Ritz, Paris, France
6. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida
7. The Boulders, Carefree, Arizona
8. The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
9. The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona
10. Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies