These Six Luxury Resorts Made Upscale Magazine’s 2023 Hot Hotels List and Are So Worth the Visit

Leslie E. Royal
An Idea (by Ingenious Piece)
5 min readApr 15, 2023
Atlantis Paradise Island

As you plan your luxury vacation this year, you surely want to inquire about properties featuring tropical beaches, elegant suites, upscale excursions, and the classiest restaurants and bistros. Featured in Upscale Magazine’s EXCLUSIVE 2023 Hot Hotels List, these luxury properties located in the United States and abroad, are amazing places to retreat.

The Equestrian Hotel

Ocala, FL, USA

www.equestrianhotel.com

This superb, five-story European-inspired hotel is the crown jewel of the World Equestrian Center. It has 248 regal rooms and striking suites, upscale retail shops, a salon, the revitalizing Calluna Spa, and more. Guests can relax while watching weekly equestrian championship competitions. Experience fine dining at Stirrups and confer with Master Sommelier Roland Micu on the 1,700 bottles of wine, including the rarest. For casual fare and sweet treats, visit The Yellow Pony Pub & Garden, Emma’s Patisserie, Miss Tilly’s Lollipops, Filo’s Mexican Cantina, Ralph’s, and Viola & Dot’s. Take riding lessons at Crown View Dressage too.

Atlantis Paradise Island

Paradise Island, Bahamas

www.atlantisbahamas.com

This magnificent resort, with four exquisite accommodations, is simply heavenly. The Cove is exclusive and features suites with French balconies and panoramic views of the ocean. The Reef is an upscale residential community with studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites. Families can enjoy a full kitchen, harbor view, and sleeper sofa. The icon of Atlantis is The Royal featuring Greek mythology. You’ll find the casino, high end boutiques, and trendy eateries. Enjoy family fun at The Coral. Exciting onsite amenities throughout the expansive resort include The Dig, 19 bars, 21 restaurants like Nobu, Olive’s, and Fish, movie theatre, marina, and the Mandara Spa. There’s snorkeling and scuba diving too.

J.W. Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District

Savannah, GA, USA

www.marriott.com

This spectacular hotel is located along legendary River Street. The 1912 era repurposed power plant has been transformed into a magnificent entertainment venue and riverside resort. It features a trilogy of buildings called Three Muses, Atlantic, and Power Plant. There are boutiques, historic pieces of art including a 135-foot chrome dinosaur, and luxurious suites in varying designs. Guests can relax at the Compass Rooftop Pool and Lounge, enjoy entertainment at District Live, and dance the night away Electric Moon Skytop Lounge + Moon Deck. Seven delectable, unique restaurants include Stone & Webster Chophouse, BaoBab Lounge, Myrtle & Rose Rooftop Garden, Savannah Tequila Company, and Graffito Pizza. Get a rejuvenating reflexology massage, European-style facial, or French Bikini wax at Poseidon Spa.

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows

Scottsdale, AZ, USA

www.hyatt.com

Settled on 23 acres, the property has 185 spacious accommodations. Beautiful villas include Albers House, Girard House, and the Sonoran Cabana Suite. They consist of living rooms, luxurious bedrooms, private patios, open fire pits, and gas grills. The Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary offer guests an unforgettable experience such as the Apothecary Blend Bar and Purifying Juniper Massage. Exciting pastimes include the Pastry Class, Cooking Class, Mixology Class, Sound Healing, Andaz Adventures, Mindful Wellbeing, and Golf. Dine at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, enjoy W & W craft cocktails, roast S’mores, and have Chef’s Tastings.

Shades of Barbados

Paynes Bay, St. James, Barbados

www.shadesofbarbados.com

Nestled amongst a lovely, lush landscape of tropical fruit trees and flowers, this 12-suite property is just a brief stroll from beautiful Paynes Bay Beach. In a secluded residential community, it has a traditional Bajan Chattle house architectural structure. Guests can select several options when seeking accommodations. That includes a one-bedroom 646-square-foot apartment, two-bedroom 797-square-foot apartment, and 1195-square-foot first floor penthouse with two bedrooms and a large private patio. Varying amenities include a balcony, kitchen, lounge area, veranda, CD/DVD player, iPod deck, and daily room service. Visit Champers Restaurant, Cariba Restaurant & Bar, and Chattel Village for shopping.

InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta

Atlanta, GA, USA

www.intercontinentalatlanta.com

This stunning, five-star luxury retreat offers welcoming ambience with its rose marble floors, hand-blown crystal ceiling accents, and art by local artist Niki Zarrabi. Having over 422 rooms as well as the Classic Suite, Grand Suite, Royal Suite, and three magnificent presidential suites, the distinctive hotel features the exclusive 21st floor InterContinental Club Lounge. It encompasses a daily culinary experience of an American breakfast buffet, continual snacks and beverages, and evening reception of cocktails and canapés. Amenities include a heated saltwater pool, elegant outdoor garden, VIP services, and a state-of-the-art luxury spa. Dine at celebrity chef Scott Conant’s culinary Italian-inspired steakhouse called The Americano.

These hotels and resorts were featured in the 2023 Hot Hotels List called Escape Havens. The article, spotlighting 21 luxury properties, appeared in the December 2022-January 2023 issue of Upscale magazine. To view the full article, click on this link to order the Winter 2022 Magazine with Martell Holt on the cover. https://issuu.com/upscalemag

Leslie E. Royal is an encourager, global travel writer, lifestyle writer, author, influencer, editor, product profile writer, and multi-media journalist. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications including Upscale Living, ESSENCE, AAA Midwest Traveler, Black Enterprise, Upscale, The Ashro Blog, FORTUNE.com, Medium, Chicago Tribune, and AAA Southern Traveler. She is an Ashro Brand Ambassador and the host of their popular video series called Onward and Upward with Leslie E. Royal. The creator of the Leslie’s Lane consumer information blog, she has two books: Leslie Lane The Book!: Your One Stop Internet Resource Guide to Links for Jobs, Inspiration, Discounts, FREE Stuff, Scholarships, Travel & More ( $14.95) and How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book for FREE with Amazon’s KDP: An Easy Way to Complete Your Manuscript in Seven Stress-Free Steps ($9.95). Follow Leslie on Instagram @LesliesLane and see her Amazon Author Page.

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Leslie E. Royal
An Idea (by Ingenious Piece)

Leslie E. Royal is an author, international freelance writer, product review expert, and global travel journalist. Follow her @LesliesLane — www.LesliesLane.com