In April of this year, the Michelin Guide debuted a new distinction: the Michelin Key. Just as Michelin Stars designate restaurants for their excellence, Michelin Keys are awarded to the most outstanding hotels. And just as a restaurant can have a certain number of stars to designate its excellence, hotels can bask in having one, two or three Michelin Keys.
From Michelin:
After selecting thousands of hotels across the globe for the MICHELIN Guide, it is now our privilege to specially highlight the crème de la crème of our selection. All our hotels excel in design, architecture, service and personality — the MICHELIN Key denotes the absolute most outstanding experiences in our selection.
What hotels are eligible?
Post Ranch Inn — Big Sur, California // PC: Michelin Guide
Any hotel included in the Michelin Guide – and there are 5,000 of them – is eligible for a Michelin Key.
Over the last four years, our selection team of passionate, independent experts vetted, scrutinized, and ultimately determined more than 5,000 remarkable hotels for inclusion in our collection. Each has been selected for its remarkable quality. Out of these thousands of hotels, those offering the most outstanding stays will be awarded the special MICHELIN Key distinction.
“These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler, each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting,” Michelin continues.
The winners
Amangiri — Lake Powell, Utah // PC: Michelin Guide
This year, the One, Two and Three Key winners can be found in:
- Canada (2 Three Keys, 8 Two Keys and 23 One Key Hotels)
- France (24 Three Keys, 28 Two Keys and 127 One Key hotels)
- Italy (8 Three Keys, 31 Two Keys and 107 One Key hotels)
- Japan (6 Three Key, 17 Two Key and 85 One Key hotels)
- Mexico (3 Three Key, 21 Two Key and 63 One Key hotels)
- Spain (5 Three Keys, 12 Two Keys and 80 One Key hotels)
- The United States (16 Three Keys, 70 Two Keys and 207 One Key hotels)
Can you use points for any Michelin Key Hotels?
Of course, people who use points and miles always want to know if hotels are accessible with points. Just looking at the One, Two and Three Key hotels in the U.S., there are a few well-known names, such as The Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont, where points could be a possibility. A Ritz-Carlton and two St. Regis hotels in Mexico were also chosen. There were a handful of others in the other countries mentioned, as well. However, the vast majority are either privately owned or under umbrellas that don’t use points (such as the Four Seasons and Blind Tiger).
Still, these are some of the most exceptional and oftentimes exclusive hotels in the world and if one has the money to stay at any of these places, they’re all sure to offer creme de la creme experiences.
Feature Image: Michelin Guide
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.