How the order is settled
Three rules shape every position on the list.
Rule one: the hotel is judged, not the casino
Each property is weighed purely as a place to stay — where it stands, how it was designed, what the rooms are like and what surrounds them. A gaming floor is recorded as one facility among others and counts for nothing in the order.
Rule two: sentences, not scores
We hand out no points, stars or percentages, and we do not average guest ratings. The order is an editorial decision, and every review says in plain language why a hotel ended up where it did.
Rule three: independence
We take no payment for inclusion, for position or for tone, and we use neither affiliate links nor booking partners. The moment that changed, the list would have no reason to exist.
What each review looks at
| Area | The questions we ask |
|---|---|
| Surroundings | Would this spot be worth a trip even without the hotel? What is reachable on foot or with a short drive? |
| Design | Do the architecture, the landscaping or the history give the stay a character of its own? |
| Rooms | How big are they, what do they look onto, and how much do they vary between towers or wings? |
| Things to do | Pools, spas, gardens, restaurants, theatres, wildlife — the parts of a visit that have nothing to do with gaming. |
| Fit | Which guest will be happiest there, compressed into the "Best for" line. |
Keeping it current
The list gets a scheduled review at intervals, and an unscheduled one whenever a hotel closes, changes name or starts major building work. The date printed above the list shows how fresh the current pass is.