The Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards 2026 have just been announced, and it’s a standout year for high-end travel across the globe. The list covers everything from five-star hotels and award-winning spas to the world’s first five-star cruise ship. Portugal features firmly among the big names.
In the north of the country, Six Senses Douro Valley has once again been recognised by the prestigious international guide. Set above the terraced vineyards of the Douro region, the property continues to draw attention as one of Portugal’s leading luxury hotels.
With the 2026 awards spanning more than 100 countries, Portugal’s place on the global luxury travel map looks secure. At the same time, the Douro Valley is steadily cementing its reputation as one of Europe's most exclusive destinations, attracting travellers in search of privacy, wine culture and refined countryside stays.
What are the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards?
Founded 68 years ago, the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards are widely regarded as one of the toughest benchmarks in luxury hospitality. Properties are assessed by anonymous inspectors who check in as regular guests and cover the full cost of their stay, so the experience is judged exactly as any paying visitor would find it.
The evaluation focuses on:
- The quality and upkeep of the facilities
- Service standards, which account for around 70% of the final score
- The overall guest experience
- A sense of well-being and the authenticity of the destination
Hotels and resorts are then classified as five-star, four-star, or recommended, signalling different tiers of excellence within the global luxury travel scene.
Six Senses Douro Valley represents Portugal
Among the properties recognised in 2026 is Six Senses Douro Valley, set near Lamego in the Alto Douro Wine Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The hotel appears in the Recommended category, further underlining the Douro Valley’s growing reputation within luxury and wellness tourism in Portugal.
The property is particularly noted for:
- It's set among the terraced vineyards of the Douro wine region
- Tailored wellness programmes designed around individual needs
- A spa with a strong emphasis on sustainability
- Curated experiences centred on local wines and regional gastronomy
One of the more distinctive activities is the “Alchemy Bar”, where guests create natural products using ingredients picked from the hotel’s organic garden.
There are also wine tastings on the Douro River, typically held aboard traditional wooden boats that once transported barrels along the valley.
Prime location in the Douro Valley
Six Senses Douro Valley sits in Samodães, Lamego, right in the heart of the Alto Douro Wine Region. The setting is about an hour and a half by car from Porto, so it feels properly rural without being cut off.
Surrounded by steep, terraced vineyards typical of the Douro and positioned with open views across the Douro River.
Historic building
The property occupies a carefully restored 19th-century manor house, updated to modern standards while keeping its original character intact. Inside, there’s a clear balance between period features and contemporary design.
It brings together:
- Classical Portuguese architecture
- Clean-lined, modern interiors
- Natural materials such as wood and stone
- Architecture that sits comfortably within the surrounding vineyard scenery
Exclusive wine experiences
In the Douro Valley, wine shapes daily life as much as tourism, and the hotel builds much of its programme around that heritage. Guests can explore the region’s long winemaking tradition through curated, small-scale experiences.
These include:
- Private tastings of Douro DOC and Port wines;
- Dinners paired with regional vintages;
- Boat trips on the Douro River, following historic trading routes;
- Visits to traditional wine estates, known locally as quintas.
The world's first five-star cruise ship
The 2026 edition was marked by an unprecedented achievement: the world's first cruise ship to receive five stars.
The recognition was awarded to Ilma, from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The 790-foot superyacht includes:
- 224 suites with private terraces
- Spa with 11 treatment rooms
- Two infinity pools
- Restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs
Furthermore, the Le Voyage restaurant, aboard the Celebrity Xcel, became the first restaurant at sea to receive five stars.
Winners of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards 2026
The 2026 edition of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards was marked by historic milestones and the recognition of hotels, restaurants, spas, and cruises in more than 100 countries. Here are some of the most relevant winners, organised by category:
5-star hotels
- Wymara Villas, Sunset Cove – Tucas and Caicos Islands
- The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko – Japan
- One&Only Portonovi – Montenegro
- Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental – Abu Dhabi
- Nujuma, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Saudi Arabia
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen – China
- Mandarin Oriental Savoy – Switzerland
- Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona – Spain
Four-star hotels
- The Charleston Place – Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- 100 Princes Street – Edinburgh, Scotland
Recommended hotels
- Six Senses Douro Valley – Douro, Portugal
- The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland – USA
Cruises
- Ilma, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (the world's first cruise ship to receive five stars)
- Evrima, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (four-star cruise line)
Restaurant on a cruise ship
- Le Voyage (Celebrity Xcel) (first Five-Star restaurant at sea).
Five-star spas
- The Pearl Spa and Wellness – Four Seasons Abu Dhabi
- Thermal Spring Spa – Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto
- Awaken Wellness – Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
- Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino – Greece
Five-star restaurants
- Atlas Buckhead – Atlanta, USA
- Aurelia – Newport, Rhode Island, USA
- Flybridge – Boca Raton, USA
- FZN by Björn Frantzén – Dubai
- Lai Heen – The Ritz-Carlton, Macau
- Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa – Raffles at Galaxy Macau
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