Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Montreal Facebook page

Sometimes a celebration, whether it’s a milestone birthday or just a way to spend some quality family time together, calls for the best of best. Staying at the finest hotels in the world, where top-notch service is a given and there’s always a little something special to make your getaway uniquely your own, can truly elevate your travel experience from "great" to “oh, wow!”

Sure you could jet off to warmer climates or invest in that European getaway you’ve always dreamed of, but there’s nothing that says you can’t watch your dream vacation unfold right here in Canada. The nation’s top hotels are increasingly appearing on global “best of” lists—and really, is it just a coincidence that two of the world’s finest hotel companies—Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—have their origins in Canada?

On the 2016 Forbes Travel Guide list, for example, 26 of the 42 hotels on the coveted Five Star list are Four Seasons properties around the world—and yes, ten per cent (four) of those properties make their home in Canada.

But it’s not just the nation’s luxury brands that are making a name for themselves. Canada is gaining an increasingly popular rep for its distinctive indie and boutique properties. Take the romantic Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island, which has established itself as the premier place in the world for storm watching. Or the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Québec City, where an archaeological dig during its construction quite literally helped redefine the city’s history. Or Fogo Island Inn, which is so remote that it is located on one of the four corners of the earth.

Incidentally, if you’re truly looking to gain the best experience out of your holiday getaway, consider booking with a travel agent. Not only can agents help protect your vacation in case of unforeseen circumstances, but an agent can also help you match the right vacation spot to your personality. Additionally, many agents have personal connections the finest hotels around the world, which can occasionally mean upgrades, welcome amenities and other extras that just aren’t available to travellers booking online.

So take those vacation days and get ready to explore your home and native land. For user convenience, we’ve compiled a list of the best of the best hotels in Canada as determined by five prestigious lists: AAA/CAA Five Diamond Hotels, the Conde Nast Gold List, Forbes Travel Guide, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels List and the U.S. News & World Travel Report Top Ten Hotels in Canada.

The Best Hotels in Alberta

Conde Nast Gold List
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

Forbes Five-Star Hotels
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler

Forbes Four-Star Hotels
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Hotels
Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise

The Best Hotels in British Columbia

AAA/CAA Five Diamond Hotels
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver

Conde Nast Gold List
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Opus Hotel, Vancouver
Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, Vancouver Island

Forbes Five-Star Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver

Forbes Four-Star Hotels
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Fairmont Pacific Rim 
Opus Hotel Vancouver
Pan Pacific Vancouver
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
The Sutton Place Hotel
Hastings House Country House Hotel, Vancouver Island
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa, Vancouver Island
Wickaninnish Inn Tofino, Vancouver Island

Forbes Recommended Hotels
River Rock Casino Resort
The St. Regis Hotel

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Hotels
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria
Pan Pacific Vancouver
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver
Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, Vancouver Island

U.S. News & World Report Top Ten Hotels in Canada
Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, Vancouver Island

The Best Hotels in Newfoundland

Conde Nast Gold List
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland

The Best Hotels in New Brunswick

Forbes Four-Star Hotels
Kingsbrae Arms

The Best Hotels in Ontario

AAA/CAA Five Diamond Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto

Forbes Five-Star Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto

Forbes Four-Star Hotels
The Hazelton Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto
SoHo Metropolitan Hotel, Toronto

Forbes Recommended Hotels
Park Hyatt Toronto
Templar Hotel
Thompson Toronto

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

U.S. News & World Report Top Ten Hotels in Canada
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto
Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto

The Best Hotels in Quebec

AAA/CAA Five Diamond Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton Montréal

Conde Nast Gold List
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Québec City
Ritz-Carlton Montréal

Forbes Four-Star Hotels
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Québec City
Hotel Le St-James, Montréal
Hôtel Quintessence, Mont-Tremblant
Le Bonne Entente, Québec City
Ritz-Carlton Montréal

Forbes Recommended Hotels
Hotel Le Crystal, Montréal

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Hotels
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Québec City
Ritz-Carlton Montréal

U.S. News & World Report Top Ten Hotels in Canada
Auberge Saint-Antoine, Québec City
Hotel Le St-James, Montréal
Ritz-Carlton Montréal

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