Best Luxury Hotels for Social Distancing in the United States

Today (July 8, 2020): Best Luxury Hotels for Social Distancing in the United States

COVID-19 has been with us for a few months now, and it does not appear to be going away. We have gotten used to working from our kitchen tables and endless zoom calls while homeschooling kids at the same time. In the latest blow to our Summer plans, kids camps have been canceled, and the European Union banned US travelers from the EU. With the European and Canadian borders remaining closed for the foreseeable future amidst rising COVID-19 cases, now is the perfect time to explore the United States and stay in some of the fantastic luxury hotels here. We compiled a list of the best luxury hotels for social distancing in the United States.

Think we are missing any hotels on our list of best luxury hotels for social distancing in the United States? Let us know!

Amangiri and Camp Sarika by Amangiri in Utah

Due to its small size and remote location, this is hands down, one of the best luxury hotels for social distancing. Judging by how hard it is to find an available room for this Summer, we are not the only ones to think so. Amangiri is just a 4-hour hour drive from Las Vegas airport but a world away from the hectic vibe of Vegas. The beautiful scenery surrounding Amangiri is otherworldly and looks more like a colony on the moon than a hotel in the United States. The stark beauty of nature is masterfully complemented by the spartan and minimalistic design of the buildings. Amangiri truly belongs in this wilderness. The Suites, while also minimalistic, are very well appointed. The 34 suites are all about nature – beds face panoramic windows, terraces have outdoor fireplaces, and some of the suites come with outdoor beds perfect for stargazing.

Starting July 1st, 2020, Amangiri is giving its guests a new reason to visit – the ultra-luxurious glamping camp Camp Sarika. The glamping retreat consists of ten one or two-bedroom canvas-topped pavilions. Each “tent” comes with its own private plunge pool, living and dining areas, bar, and a spacious private terrace with a fire pit. according to Aman, “The camp will enable a back-to-nature, wilderness experience for guests who will enjoy the utmost comfort alongside mesmerizing, otherworldly landscapes and intriguing remnants of Native American culture at every turn.” We have not visited yet, but it sure looks spectacular.

Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking with Polished Traveler (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, seasonal welcome amenity, and $100 food & beverage credit).

Amangiri s part of Virtuoso.

Camp Sarika Tent View

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, California

Rancho Valencia is one of my favorite hotels in the world. I love the Spanish colonial design, the spacious casitas, the insanely beautiful bathrooms, and their extensive fitness program. It also happens to be a fantastic choice for a socially distanced vacation. Despite being only a 30-minute drive from San Diego, the hotel feels like a true getaway as it is nestled on 45 acres of lush gardens, olive groves, fragrant Bougainvillea, palm and hibiscus trees. The hacienda-style casitas vary between 900 and 1300 square feet allowing each guest to have a distinct sleeping and living area. Living rooms come with fireplaces and large sleeper sofas, making this a perfect place for families. In addition, each casita comes with a private terrace. Some of the casitas also come with a private whirlpool and an outdoor fireplace. Rancho Valencia also offers three-bedroom villas perfect for larger groups or multigenerational families.

Rancho Valencia is part of Virtuoso.

Private terrace at Rancho Valencia

The Resort at Paws Up, Montana

Unlike most hotels, the Resort at Paws Up never closed during the COVID-19 pandemic as it is a working ranch, and those animals would surely not have taken care of themselves. Meaning, the resort has had a lot more time and practice organizing their spacious property to maximize social distancing opportunities for its guests. Of course, having 37,000 acres to play with certainly helps to be one of the best luxury hotels for social distancing in the USA. The Resort at Paws Up offers two types of accommodations – traditional accommodations such as 28 luxury homes and 36 Luxury Tents offering an opportunity to experience glamping. The resort is also getting ready to launch its secluded tree “hauses,” which will be perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway in the forest. Unlike other dude ranches on our list, The Resort at Paws Up does not include activities in its rates allowing guests to create a truly customized ranch experience. And for those who just want to enjoy the scenery and do nothing – that is quite ok as well.

So what can you do at the Resort at Paws Up? In addition to the stunning scenery, you will be able to see some of the over three hundred resident elk and Black Angus cows. The Resort also offers over 70 activities to chose from. Some of my favorites include hatchet throwing, ATV tours, cattle drives, Garnet Ghost Town tour, and of course, horseback riding.

Rates include all meals and drinks (including most alcoholic drinks), and round trip airport transfers in a luxury car. Clients of Polished Traveler also receive a $300 credit towards activities.

The Resort at Paws Up is part of Virtuoso.

Eagle Cliff Tent at Cliffside Camp at the Resort at Paws Up

The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana

The Ranch at Rock Creek is one of the most luxurious dude ranches in the world and the first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Guest Ranch making it the perfect candidate for our list of Best Luxury hotels for social distancing in the USA. The rates reflect this distinction, but remember that they include all meals, drinks, and activities. Ranch at Rock Creek is perfect for those looking to maximize their dude ranch experience and participate in as many activities as possible. Located in Big Sky Country, the ranch boasts 6,600 acres and offers a variety of accommodations – large private cabins, guestrooms in the main Granite Lodge, suites in the renovated Historic Barn, and my favorite – luxury tents that line the riverbank of Rock Creek. The ranch also offers activities galore – clay-pigeon shooting, fly-fishing, horse-riding, sleigh rides, archery, ice-skating, hiking and mountain biking, and many more. All these activities will leave you with a hearty appetite. Thankfully the ranch’s food is fantastic. Breakfast is a delicious affair from Chef Drage’s kitchen. Must try are the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (OMG!) and bacon. Who knew bacon could be this DELICIOUS! Dinner is ever-changing – from a multi-course tasting menu or a barbecue-style dinner in the Buckle Barn (accompanied by line-dancing and a live band).

The Ranch at Rock Creek is part of Virtuoso.

Caldera House, Teton Village, Wyoming

Unassuming, yet stylish is how to describe Caldera House in Wyoming. This eight-suite luxury retreat was opened in late 2018 and has already been home to the likes of Gigi Hadid and Olympic skier Bode Miller and has featured on Travel + Leisure’s list of ‘Best New Hotels in the World.’ Each suite feels more like an alpine home that a hotel suite and comes with a full chef’s kitchen, living room with fireplaces, and private balconies. Which suite should you choose? There is no bad room at Caldera House – each one is stunning and different – some more modern, others traditionally western allowing guests a completely different experience every time they visit.

To keep guests entertained, Caldera House partnered with local businesses for some amazing off-property activities – you can get the cowboy experience at iconic Diamond Cross Ranch, home to legendary horse whisperer Grant Golliher or go for the “Sunset Whiskey” trail ride with local cowboys and taste Wyoming whiskey by a bonfire. You can also try to summit the Grand Teton, tour Yellowstone Park with an award-winning photographer, or try heli-hiking or heli-skiing. No matter what – you will not be bored at Caldera House.

Bonus – Caldera House has Peloton bikes loaded with classes in the gym for those if us that are spinning addicts.

Caldera House is part of Virtuoso.

Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado

“Ghost town” and “luxury resort” may not be the typical phrases used in the same sentence. Ghost town conjures images of dilapidated towns and lonely tumbleweeds rolling through the dry dirt rather than luxury. I assure you that this is not what Dunton Hot Springs Hotel is. Located in a former 19th-century mining town in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Dunton Hot Springs is a true luxury resort perfect for socially distanced traveler. Expect buffalo skin rugs, classic wooden furniture, and Molton Brown bathroom amenities. This is the ideal place to recharge your batteries, get off the grid, and shut out the rest of the world while reconnecting with your loved ones. The namesake natural hot springs are what distinguish this unique retreat and are an integral part of the experience. Dunton Hot Springs makes enjoying the soothing, therapeutic hot water very easy offering pools that range from 85 degrees F to 106 degrees F. Your most difficult decision may be whether to soak all day or explore the stunning surroundings. The retreat also offers Dunton River Camp for families wanting to try glamping.

Dunton Hot Springs is part of Virtuoso.

Bathhouse at dawn

Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, New Mexico

The best way to explain the experience at Vermejo is to compare it to staying in your private national park. The property is enormous – it stretches over 550,000 acres of land – approximately the size of Rhode Island. In fact, the driveway itself is 35 miles long! This means that even if the retreat is at full capacity, each guest would have approximately 800 acres of land to themselves, making it THE perfect luxury hotel for social distancing in the USA. It is also often compared to going on a safari, thanks to the variety of wildlife on the property. While at Vermejo, you will be able to encounter mountain lions, bobcats, bighorn sheep, wild horses (descendants of horses that had escaped into the woods when the logging town of Catskill went under, around 1905), elk herds, and bison. You will also be able to hike, ride horses, go geocaching, and try out various shooting and archery ranges.

What distinguishes Vermejo from other similar properties is the fact that it was acquired by Ted Turner, the media mogul, to save as much of our environment as possible. To do this, he bought millions of acres of land intending to repopulate native species and teach us why wilderness conservation matters. Today, Vermejo stands out as one of North America’s greatest conservation comeback stories. In the twenty years since Turner purchased the land, he was able to grow the bison herd from 87 animals to a genetically pure herd of about 1400 bison. He also brought the Rio Grande trout back from the brink of extinction. What can be better than traveling to a stunning place AND positively contributing to its conservation efforts!

Vermejo is part of Virtuoso.

Costilla Lodge

Montage Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Montage Palmetto Bluff brings us to the East Coast, where it reigns supreme as one of the best luxury hotels for social distancing. This 20,000-acre property in South Carolina’s Lowcountry and a 30-minute drive from Savannah offers plenty of space to roam freely. It also provides a wide range of accommodations – from guestrooms at the main inn to one-bedroom cottages and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses spread over the grounds allowing for maximum social distancing.

Stay for a weekend or two weeks, and we promise you will not be bored – wander around the hotel and play alligator spotting (legend says one fo the gators like to likes to the sun near the cottages), bike around the vast property and enjoy the historic feel, beautifully manicured lawns, and natural conservation areas and the draping Spanish moss and live oaks. Swimming enthusiasts can enjoy one of the two pools. The hotel also offers a kids club with a plethora of activities celebrating the resort’s natural setting, and Lowcountry culture. And for those who love shopping – make sure to hit up the many fabulous boutique shops in Wilson Village and Savannah.

Montage Palmetto Bluff is part of Virtuoso.

Sunrise Lawn at Dusk

Winvian Farms, Connecticut

Located only two hours from New York City and two and a half hours from Boston, this 113-acre property is the closest thing New Yorkers have to a socially distanced stay landing Winvian Farms a well-deserved spot on our list of best luxury hotels for social distancing. The property is located in the horse-country town of Sharon, CT in Litchfield County, and is surrounded by lakes, woods, and lots of open space, making this a perfect place to unwind, recharge and relax. This unique hotel consists of 18 private cottages, each with a distinct theme. There even is a treehouse cottage for those looking to re-live their childhood memories. Make sure to look at the descriptions and photos of each one before deciding which one to book. Added bonus – the hotel is kid-friendly and allows dogs in three of its cottages.

Once you get tired of exploring every unique, delightful detail of your cottage, there is plenty to do. After all, there are 113 acres to explore! So head out on foot or make use of the complimentary bikes and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The hotel also offers complimentary cars allowing guests to head to Litchfield for antiquing, kayaking, or canoeing.

Winvian Farms is part of Virtuoso and Relais & Chateaux Preferred Partner.

Ocean House, Rhode Island

While the majority of accommodations at this New England gem are standard rooms and suites in the main building, Ocean House also offers private cottage houses that are the perfect accommodations for a socially distanced getaway. Cottage guests have access to the hotel amenities and the added convenience of a dedicated cottage concierge.

The iconic primrose- yellow façade building may be over 152 years old, but I promise you there is nothing outdated about Ocean House. The hotel underwent a complete renovation at the cost of $146 million. Each historical detail was carefully recreated or salvaged; the owners also decided to lower the number of accommodations from 159 rooms to a cozier 67 rooms, all of which have water views. This allowed owners to increase the size of all of the rooms and add a slew of amenities for guests to enjoy. Today, guests can enjoy an indoor saltwater pool overlooking the ocean, fitness center and squash courts, and spaces to play shuffleboard or croquet on the lawn. Ocean House also offers a cozy cinema and a colorful gelato stall that is sure to delight the youngest guests.

Ocean House is part of Virtuoso and Relais & Chateaux Preferred Partner.