Once again, two Palm Beach oceanfront resorts and their spas were awarded top honors when Forbes Travel Guide released its lates annual star ratings for worldwide luxury hospitality properties.
The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and its spa each earned five stars — the highest rating — in the 2026 guide, which notes the resort is home to an “authentically Palm Beach ambiance” and a “genuinely warm, attentive staff.”
The Breakers in Palm Beach and its spa each earned four stars — the second-highest rating — in the guide, which mentions the 1896-founded property “boasts a rich history rivaled only by its own penchant for constant reinvention.”
Both Palm Beach resorts for years have achieved high marks from Forbes Travel Guide, now in its 68th year rating luxe global properties via anonymous visits and “rigorous” evaluation methods. The 2026 version was released Feb. 11.
The Four Seasons is a 6-acre property with 207 rooms and suites at 2800 S. Ocean Blvd. The Breakers is on 140 acres with 532 rooms and suites at 1 S. County Road, although some amenities are at 2 S. County Road or nearby.
The Atlanta-headquartered Forbes Travel Guide also rates cruise ships, as well as restaurants. In the latter category, The Four Seasons Palm Beach earned another accolade: four stars for its Florie’s restaurant, which is operated in partnership with internationally famed chef Mauro Colagreco.
Earning top marks from Forbes Travel Guide is always an honor, officials at the Four Seasons and The Breakers told the Daily News.
“Our people [staff] are at the heart of everything we do” and this reflects “their passion, care and attention to detail,” said Mark Bingle, general manager of Four Seasons Palm Beach.
The Breakers’ communication director, Sara Flight, noted that being recognized annually by Forbes Travel Guide “is a distinction that reflects the passion of our family ownership and the dedication of our team” working “to deliver exceptional hospitality, preserve our legacy and thoughtfully evolve the guest experience.”
Two other Palm Beach properties scored a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide rating.
Although they did not receive stars, The Palm House and The Colony hotels earned a “recommended” rating.
After its building was dormant for 17 years, Palm House, 160 Royal Palm Way, entered the Palm Beach scene in November of 2024. It has 79 rooms and suites.
That came after a top-to-bottom three-year renovation by L+R Hotels, a London-headquartered hotel investment and management company with a portfolio of 105-plus worldwide hotels, in affiliation with Iconic Hotels, a British brand that has been a part of the Palm House rebirth.
Meanwhile, at 155 Hammon Ave., The Colony Hotel, founded in 1946 and known among its fans as the “pink paradise,” has 89 rooms, suites and villas.
Its success has to do with both the “energy and character of Palm Beach” and “the talented Colony team, whose expertise and passion create an unforgettable experience for guests,” co-owner and CEO Sarah Wetnehall has said.
The only other Palm Beach County hospitality businesses to receive ratings in the 2026 Forbes Travel guide are facilities at The Boca Raton, the venerable south-county resort with a spa, restaurants and various accommodation options.
This year’s Forbes Travel Guide winners hail from more than 100 countries.
They include a total of 343 five-star, 708 four-star and 679 “recommended” hotels; 82 five-star, 138 four-star and 80 “recommended” restaurants; and 118 five-star and 241 four-star spas.
For cruise ships, one five-star, nine four-star and nine “recommended” ships are in the guide. Eighteen cruise-ship restaurants earned accolades.
More information about the awards is available at ForbesTravelGuide.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach resorts, spas again earn top marks in Forbes Travel Guide
Reporting by M.M. Cloutier, Special to Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
