How the order is decided
Three rules shape every position on the list.
Rule one: judge the hotel, not the casino
Every property is assessed purely as somewhere to stay: its location, its design, its rooms and what surrounds it. A gaming floor is noted as a facility like any other and carries no weight in the order.
Rule two: words instead of numbers
We do not award points, stars or percentages, and we do not average guest reviews. The order is an editorial call, and every review explains in plain language why a hotel landed where it did.
Rule three: independence
We accept no payment for inclusion, placement or tone, and we use no affiliate links or booking partners. If that ever changed, the list would lose its purpose.
What every review covers
| Area | Our questions |
|---|---|
| Surroundings | Would the location be worth visiting even without the hotel? What lies within an easy walk or a short drive? |
| Design | Does the architecture, the landscape or the history give the stay a character of its own? |
| Rooms | How large are they, what do they look onto, and do they differ much from one tower or wing to another? |
| Things to do | Pools, spas, gardens, restaurants, theatres and nature: the parts of a visit that have nothing to do with gaming. |
| Fit | Which kind of guest will be happiest there, condensed into the "Best for" line. |
Keeping it current
The list gets a scheduled look every so often, and an early one whenever a hotel shuts, renames itself or starts big works. Check the date printed over the list to see how fresh it is.