CNN Reveals the World’s Best Hotels for 2024: Spotlight on Bangkok’s Riverside Gems

**Capella Bangkok Tops the World’s 50 Best Hotels List**

**London, CNN** — Capella Bangkok, which opened in 2020 during the challenging early days of the global pandemic, has now claimed the top spot in the prestigious *World’s 50 Best Hotels* list. Announced at an awards ceremony in London, this riverside sanctuary on the Chao Phraya River has quickly become a favorite among travelers.

Despite its rocky start, Capella Bangkok has flourished. The hotel boasts 101 spacious rooms, with its riverside villas—complete with private gardens and plunge pools—being a standout feature. Located in Charoenkrung, Thailand’s oldest neighborhood, the hotel offers a serene escape from the bustling city.

General Manager John Blanco described the hotel as a “moment of Zen” amidst Bangkok’s chaos. “When you come to the hotel, you’re in this little sanctuary,” he told CNN Travel. Marketing director Josephine Png added that her favorite spot is the terrace by the river, where the atmosphere shifts from tranquil by day to lively by night, thanks to the passing party boats.

Blanco also reflected on the unexpected benefits of opening during the pandemic, which allowed the hotel to build strong relationships with local Thai customers. Now, as the world reopens, international guests are discovering the hotel, with many becoming repeat visitors. “Thailand is one of those destinations… it’s almost like a drug,” Blanco said.

### Asian Dominance in the Top 10

Capella Bangkok wasn’t the only Thai hotel to make the list. Three other Bangkok hotels also ranked in the top 50: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (No. 12), Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No. 14), and The Siam (No. 26).

Asia dominated the top 10, with seven hotels from the region making the cut. Hong Kong’s Rosewood took third place, while The Upper House ranked fifth. Singapore’s iconic Raffles, famous for inventing the Singapore Sling cocktail, came in sixth. Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, known for its barefoot luxury, placed eighth and won the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award 2024.

Japan’s Bulgari Tokyo, a 45-story skyscraper, ranked 22nd and received the Nikka Best New Hotel Award 2024.

### Global Highlights

Last year’s winner, Passalacqua in Italy, dropped to second place this year. The Cheval Blanc in Paris climbed to fourth, with two other Parisian hotels—Hôtel de Crillon (No. 15) and Le Bristol (No. 40)—also making the list.

London had a strong showing, with Claridge’s (No. 11), The Connaught (No. 46), and Raffles London at The OWO (No. 13), which won the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award. Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal soared to ninth place, earning the Highest Climber Award, while The Lana (No. 23) was another success from the emirate.

In North America, Mexico’s Chablé Yucatán, built around a sacred Mayan pool, ranked 16th and was named Best Hotel in North America. Australia’s The Calile in Brisbane took 25th place and was named Best Hotel in Oceania, joined by The Tasman in Hobart at No. 49.

Africa’s top entries were La Mamounia (No. 31) and Royal Mansour (No. 38), both in Marrakech. Royal Mansour had already been named the “world’s most welcoming hotel” in a teaser announcement last month.

The Peninsula Istanbul, which opened on the Bosphorus in 2022, won the American Express One to Watch Award.

### The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024

1. [Capella Bangkok](https://capellahotels.com/en/capella-bangkok)
2. [Passalacqua](https://www.passalacqua.it/en/) (Moltrasio, Italy)
3. [Rosewood Hong Kong](https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong)
4. [Cheval Blanc Paris](https://www.chevalblanc.com/en/maison/paris/rooms-and-suites/)
5. [The Upper House](https://www.thehousecollective.com/en/the-upper-house/) (Hong Kong)
6. [Raffles Singapore](https://www.raffles.com/singapore/)
7. [Aman Tokyo](https://www.aman.com/hotels/aman-tokyo)
8. [Soneva Fushi](https://soneva.com/resorts/soneva-fushi/) (Maldives)
9. [Atlantis The Royal](https://www.atlantis.com/atlantis-the-royal) (Dubai)
10. [Nihi Sumba](https://nihi.com/) (Wanokaka, Indonesia)
11. [Claridge’s](https://www.claridges.co.uk/) (London)
12. [Mandarin Oriental Bangkok](https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/bangkok/chao-phraya-river)
13. [Raffles London at The OWO](https://www.raffles.com/london/)
14. [Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River](https://www.fourseasons.com/bangkok/)
15. [Hôtel de Crillon](https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-de-crillon) (Paris)
16. [Chablé Yucatán](https://yucatan.chablehotels.com/) (Chocholá, Mexico)
17. [Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc](https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/hotel-du-cap-eden-roc) (Antibes, France)
18. [Maroma, A Belmond Hotel](https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/mexico/riviera-maya/belmond-maroma-resort-and-spa/) (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
19. [Four Seasons Firenze](https://www.fourseasons.com/florence/) (Florence, Italy)
20. [Borgo Santandrea](https://borgosantandrea.it/) (Amalfi, Italy)
21. [Desa Potato Head](https://seminyak.potatohead.co/) (Seminyak, Bali)
22. [Bulgari Tokyo](https://www.bulgarihotels.com/en_US/tokyo)
23. [The Lana](https://www.dorchestercollection.com/dubai/the-lana) (Dubai)
24. [Rosewood São Paulo](https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/sao-paulo) (São Paulo, Brazil)
25. [The Calile](https://thecalilehotel.com/) (Brisbane, Australia)
26. [The Siam](https://www.thesiamhotel.com/) (Bangkok)
27. [Park Hyatt Kyoto](https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/japan/park-hyatt-kyoto/itmph) (Kyoto, Japan)
28. [Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel](https://www.belmond.com/hotels/africa/south-africa/cape-town/belmond-mount-nelson-hotel/) (Cape Town, South Africa)
29. [One&Only Mandarina](https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/mandarina) (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)
30. [The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel](https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york) (New York)
31. [La Mamounia](https://mamounia.com/en/) (Marrakech, Morocco)
32. [Four Seasons Madrid](https://www.fourseasons.com/madrid/)
33. [Capella Singapore](https://capellahotels.com/en/capella-singapore)
34. [Four Seasons at the Surf Club](https://www.fourseasons.com/surfside/) (Surfside, Miami)
35. [Hotel Bel-Air](https://www.dorchestercollection.com/los-angeles/hotel-bel-air) (Los Angeles)
36. [Eden Rock](https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/eden-rock-st-barths) (St. Barths)
37. [Aman New York](https://www.aman.com/hotels/aman-new-york)
38. [Royal Mansour](https://www.royalmansour.com/) (Marrakech)
39. [Amangalla](https://www.aman.com/resorts/amangalla) (Sri Lanka)
40. [Le Bristol Paris](https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/le-bristol-paris/)
41. [Gleneagles](https://gleneagles.com/) (Auchterarder, Scotland)
42. [Castello di Reschio](https://www.reschio.com/) (Umbria, Italy)
43. [Suján Jawai](https://thesujanlife.com/jawai) (Rajasthan, India)
44. [Singita Lodges](https://singita.com/lodges/) (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
45. [Six Senses Zighy Bay](https://www.sixsenses.com/en/h

Source: cnn.com

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