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Posh Pearl hotel books top spot on best luxury hotels in U.S. list

Tripadvisor users love to be pampered at Hotel Emma.

We hope they have a good duster. Guests are so impressed with Hotel Emma that it has become a mainstay of awards lists, overloading the Pearl property's shelves with plaques, trophies, and clippings.

The latest comes from the online booking agent Tripadvisor. The company's coveted Travelers' Choice Best of Best Awards recently ranked the tony property tops in two categories, naming it the number one luxury hotel in the United States and the second-best hotel overall.

The annual awards cover various facets of the industry, from things to do to restaurants. Hotels are broken into several subcategories, including inns, family friendly lodging, and hotels for sleep. Rankings are based on reviews and ratings collected from site users over the previous 12 months.

Tripadvisor was smitten with Hotel Emma's unconventional historic surrounds, stating it "enhances a new standard of South Texas luxury and geniality." The site was also impressed by the gobsmacking array of culinary offerings a short stroll from the lobby.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate this honor and achievement with our Hotel Emma family and valued guests. We always strive to maintain our standard of excellence and luxury through the Emma way to offer the most memorable and remarkable experiences for our visitors." Said Jon Sakshaug, CEO of Hotel Emma, via a release.

Hotel Emma is no stranger to Tripadvisor honors. The 2023 awards mark the seventh time the San Antonio jewel has received flowers from the long-running awards. Last year, it was one of only two properties in the state to make it to the list — clocking in as the 11th-best hotel in the U.S.

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San Antonio ranks 11th on list of best warm winter travel destinations

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Mariah Carey isn't the only one defrosting in preparation for the winter season: San Antonio has warmed up as one of WalletHub's top best warm weather travel destinations for 2024.

Every year, WalletHub's analysts divide nearly 70 of the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas into two categories: the top "warm" and "cold" weather destinations. The study evaluated every metro based on 37 factors, including travel costs, local costs, weather predictions, and safety.

San Antonio-New Braunfels earned a score of 59.92 out of 100 possible points to claim the No. 11 spot nationally in 2024. The metro slipped six spots from its previous 2023 ranking as No. 5, which it first achieved in 2022.

The top five best warm weather winter destinations are Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada (No. 1); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California (No. 2); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 3); Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (No. 4); and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona.

San Antonio ranked No. 7 in the national "travel costs and hassles" categories, showing major favorability towards the busy yet efficient San Antonio International Airport. The metro's near year-round sunshine earned it No. 12 in the "weather" ranking out of all 69 U.S. metros.

Here's how San Antonio-New Braunfels performed in the remaining four categories:

No. 11 – Attractions rank
No. 14 – Warm weather activities rank
No. 16 – Local costs rank
No. 36 – Safety rank

As in previous years, the highest concentration of top warm weather destinations was in Florida (10 metros), followed by Texas (nine metros), then California (eight metros).

Besides DFW and Austin, the only other Texas metro to earn a spot in the top 10 in 2024 was Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (No. 6).

Atlanta, Georgia ranked No. 1 once again on the list of best cold weather destinations for winter vacations, outdoing New York City, New York (No. 2); Washington, D.C. (No. 3); and Chicago, Illinois (No. 4).

"Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates."

The top 10 best warm weather destinations for winter vacations are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
No. 2 – San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
No. 3 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
No. 4 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 5 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
No. 6 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
No. 8 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
No. 9 – Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
No. 10 – Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida

For the purpose of the study, "cold" weather was determined to be less than or equal to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while "warm" weather was greater than or equal to 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Both guidelines were analyzed based on the 50-year average December temperatures.

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

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