Lodge at Sea Island, Four Seasons Atlanta top hotel ratings

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When it comes to hotels in Georgia, nothing beats the Four Seasons Atlanta or the Lodge at Sea Island.

Both received five-star ratings from the Forbes Travel Guide and five-diamond ratings from AAA on annual lists of the nation’s best hotels, restaurants and spas.

“These establishments consistently exceed the expectations of the most discriminating traveler,” Rick Whiting, AAA director, hotel sales and packaging, said in a statement.

The ratings — especially at the top — are coveted in the industry. They allow hotels to charge rates aimed mostly at the well-heeled, starting at $500 a night, and distinguish the top-ranked establishments as industry leaders.

The Lodge’s sister property, the Cloister, also received five stars on the Forbes list, which was announced Tuesday. The Georgian Room on Sea Island was named a five-star restaurant while the Cloister spa received five stars.

Hotels receiving four stars from Forbes include InterContinental Buckhead, St. Regis Atlanta, the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation, the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and the Mandarin Oriental.

Restaurants Bacchanalia, Park 75 and Quinones at Bacchanalia received four stars. The spa at Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation and Remede Spa Atlanta at St. Regis received four stars.

According to the AAA list, the best hotels in Atlanta also include InterContinental Buckhead, St. Regis Hotel and both Ritz-Carlton locations, all of which received five diamonds.

Metro Atlanta hotels receiving four diamonds: Grand Hyatt Atlanta, JW Marriott Buckhead, Loews Hotel Atlanta, Mandarin Oriental Atlanta, Omni Hotel at CNN Center, Renaissance Atlanta Midtown, Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel, the Westin Buckhead, the Westin Hotel-Atlanta Airport in College Park, Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort in Stone Mountain and the three W Hotel locations.

Metro Atlanta restaurants receiving four diamonds: Aria, Atlanta Grill, Bacchanalia, BLT Steak, Canoe, La Grotta Ravinia Ristorante Italiano, La Grotta Ristorante Italiano, Nan Thai Fine Dining, Nikolai’s Roof, Park 75 and Restaurant Eugene.