Travel + Leisure readers have voted: The Wauwinet, part of White Elephant Resorts, has been named to T+L’s prestigious list of the top 500 hotels of this year.
Travel + Leisure readers have voted: The Wauwinet, part of White Elephant Resorts, has been named to T+L's prestigious list of the top 500 hotels of this year.
Based on the results of the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2024 readers' survey, the 2025 T+L 500 list recognizes the best hotels around the globe in a prestigious, non-ranked directory, categorized by geographic region and alphabetical order. This roster of 500 properties serves as an essential, trusted source for inspiration and guidance as travelers make plans to set out on trips around the globe.
"We're deeply honored to be recognized by Travel + Leisure in this prestigious reader-voted award," said Khaled Hashem, President of White Elephant Resorts. "Having The Wauwinet named among the world's top 500 is a remarkable distinction and a true reflection of our dedicated team and the exceptional guest experience they deliver."
The Wauwinet— the island's only Relais & Châteaux property—is known for its five-star service and fine dining. It is also the island's sole hotel with access to two private beaches, so guests can choose between the lively Atlantic surf or the calm waters of the bay. The adults-only "inn by the sea" has 32 rooms and charming cottages decorated with bespoke furnishings and coastal tones of blues and grays. Guests enjoy sunset aperitifs and dinner at the award-winning TOPPER'S, the island's only AAA Five Diamond Award winner and a recipient of Wine Spectator's "Grand Award" every year since 1996, accessible via land or sea aboard the 20-passenger Wauwinet Lady boat. The menu offers locally harvested Retsyo Oysters, cultivated just 300 yards from the restaurant, best paired with a crisp selection from the restaurant's 1,400-plus-label wine list. The property offers on-site tennis courts, complimentary Priority bikes for cruising Nantucket's coast, and sports equipment like kayaks and paddleboards. There are also exploratory activities with Captain Rob, from scenic Sconset excursions to 4X4 tours of Great Point lighthouse.
The full list is in the May 2025 issue on newsstands now.
About White Elephant Resorts
White Elephant Resorts is a collection of premier hotels and resorts in Nantucket, MA; Palm Beach, FL; and Aspen, CO that specialize in bringing their award-winning combination of service, design, and amenities to today's discerning traveler. Properties include The Wauwinet, with access to both bay and ocean beaches and home to award-winning TOPPER'S restaurant; White Elephant, the iconic hotel located right on Nantucket Harbor with the Brant Point Grill; Jared Coffin House, a historic hotel in Nantucket Town and its restaurant, Tap Room; The Cottages at the Boat Basin, private waterfront cottages; and Nantucket Boat Basin, a 240-slip full-service award-winning marina. White Elephant Palm Beach debuted in November 2020 in Palm Beach, FL with Nantucket-favorite LoLa 41 restaurant, and White Elephant Aspen is set to open in late fall 2025. In 2024, The Wauwinet and White Elephant Nantucket were ranked in Travel + Leisure's World's Best awards, and both White Elephant Nantucket and White Elephant Palm Beach were recipients of Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards. TOPPER's is AAA's only "Five Diamond" restaurant on Nantucket and has been a recipient of Wine Spectator's "Grand Award" for 29 consecutive years.