The 8 Best Viceroy Hotels & Resorts in the World [2023]

Viceroy is one of the most exclusive luxury hotel brands in the world. Its portfolio of hotels isn’t nearly as expansive as the big hotel chains, and it strives to be the anti-chain hotel brand.

Viceroy has been obsessed with its culture of offering discreet luxury ever since its inception under Brad Korzen in 1999 at the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills (which falls under the Marriott portfolio today).

Today, there are 14 Viceroy properties in 4 countries with 2 more resorts in the pipeline (this excludes Viceroy-branded residences).

Let’s explore our favorite Viceroy properties in the world!

What Is Viceroy?

Viceroy was born in 1999 with Brad Korzen’s parent company Kor Group with the redevelopment of the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills, a Los Angeles mainstay with incredible history.

Viceroy eventually absorbed the Avalon Hotel Palm Springs, which marked the beginning of its expansion. Today, the company is headquartered in West Hollywood and has a respectable portfolio of 14 hotels and resorts.

Viceroy focuses on inspiring design, intuitive service, luxurious amenities, inventive food and beverage experiences, and tailored meetings and events.

This brand is known to focus on “discreet service” and providing the utmost in privacy — this means you can expect to be left alone to enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. But whenever you need anything, the staff is trained to read nonverbal cues to anticipate your service needs!

One thing to keep in mind, though, is Viceroy doesn’t necessarily aim to provide the richest social atmosphere and party scene.

Before we take a look at some of the chain’s individual properties, let’s discuss how you can make the most of your Viceroy hotel bookings with credit cards.

How To Maximize Viceroy Stays With Credit Cards

Viceroy properties don’t belong to any mainstream loyalty program, so let’s start off by taking a look at some alternative ways you can use points for free stays.

Using the right credit cards and booking through the right channels can allow you to enjoy hundreds of dollars of additional benefits during Viceroy stays!

How To Use Points for Viceroy Stays

As we mentioned above, Viceroy doesn’t participate in any of the major hotel loyalty programs like Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, or Wyndham.

Therefore, the best way to use points for Viceroy stays is to redeem them through travel portals from Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi.

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

If you’re not particular about what type of points you redeem for Viceroy hotel stays, the highest-value option is Chase Ultimate Rewards.

That’s because you can get up to 1.5 cents per point in value when you redeem Ultimate Rewards points — the range of value for a single point is 1.0 to 1.5 cents.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® offers a value of 1.5 cents per point for travel booked through the Chase travel portal, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card both offer a value of 1.25 cents per point.

If you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited^®, Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card, or Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card, you’ll get a value of 1 cent per point.

Having the right card is important because if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card and book a $1,000 stay using points, you would redeem 80,000 points instead of 100,000 points, as you would with the Freedom Unlimited card, for example.

Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards Points

Amex Membership Rewards offers the ability to redeem points for hotel stays, and in this case, your redemption would be through the AmexTravel.com portal.

One of the fine print details of Amex Membership Rewards redemptions for Viceroy stays is that only a few properties fall under the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts umbrella, a few fall under The Hotel Collection, and the rest aren’t actually a part of either.

We recommend redeeming Amex points only for properties that are a part of the Fine Hotels & Resorts portfolio:

1. L’Ermitage Beverly Hills
2. Viceroy Snowmass
3. Viceroy Riviera Maya
4. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

There are just 3 Viceroy hotels in The Hotel Collection:

1. Viceroy Los Cabos
2. Hotel Zelos San Francisco
3. Viceroy Washington DC

When you book any Fine Hotels & Resorts stay using points, you’ll get a redemption value of 1 cent per point — for all other stays, including at The Hotel Collection, you’ll get a diminished value of 0.7 cents per point.

Hot Tip: If you have an Amex Platinum card, you will receive up to $200 in statement credits annually on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection stays (2-night minimum) booked via AmexTravel.com!

Redeeming Citi ThankYou Points

Citi ThankYou Rewards has a good fixed-value redemption pathway for hotels, cruises, flights, and car rentals via the Citi Travel Center.

You’ll get a flat redemption value of 1 cent per point when you use Citi ThankYou Points for Viceroy stays.

Redeeming Capital One Miles

Capital One miles can be earned through a handful of Venture and Spark credit cards.

Capital One’s portal is called Capital One Travel, which is where you can book hotel stays, as well as flights and other travel for a fixed value of 1 cent per point.

Book With a Viceroy Guild Partner

Similar to Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Rosewood Elite, Viceroy Guild allows specific travel advisors to provide clients with a variety of extra benefits.

When you book through a Viceroy Guild partner, you’ll get the following perks:

• Complimentary breakfast or a per person breakfast credit for 2 guests per bedroom
• Complimentary customized amenity
• Late checkout of 4 p.m. (2 p.m. for city hotels), subject to availability
• 4-hour response time for phone calls, emails, etc.
• First priority in clearing space for requested room category, bed type, connecting rooms, and rollaway beds
• First priority on room requests for requested room category, bed type, connecting rooms, and rollaway beds
• Personal warm welcome
• General manager’s handwritten welcome note
• No-walk policy

As you can tell, Viceroy offers fantastic perks like breakfast and late checkout, but things like handwritten notes from the general manager and personal welcomes indicate this chain is laser-focused on providing service that’s a cut above its peers.

Hot Tip: Contact Upgraded Points’ Leigh Rowan, a Viceroy Guild advisor, to access these special perks.

Book via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection

If you don’t have access to a Viceroy Guild advisor, you can also use a qualifying American Express card to enjoy elite-like benefits at select properties.

A few of Viceroy’s properties (mentioned above in the Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards Points section) fall under the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) portfolio, while some others fall under The Hotel Collection. Unfortunately, the remaining properties don’t belong to either of these collections.

Here are the perks you get when you make an FHR booking:

• Daily breakfast for 2
• A space-available room upgrade upon arrival
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• 12 p.m. early check-in, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A property amenity valued at a minimum of $100, such as a food and beverage credit or a spa credit

To book an FHR stay, you must have a qualifying Platinum or Centurion card, like The Platinum Card^® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, and Centurion^® Card from American Express.

Here are the benefits you get on a booking at The Hotel Collection:

• $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities
• Room upgrade at check-in, if available

Only certain cards — including the ones mentioned above and the American Express^® Gold Card and American Express^® Business Gold Card — give you access to The Hotel Collection.

Using the Citi Prestige Card Fourth-Night Free Benefit

Another fantastic way to save big on hotel stays is to use the Citi Prestige^® Card to enjoy the unique fourth-night free benefit, saving you up to 25% off your Viceroy booking!

If you book a stay through the ThankYou Rewards website or over the phone by calling 800-THANK-YOU, you can receive your fourth night free on bookings of 4 consecutive nights or more (up to 2 times per calendar year).

Unfortunately, this card is no longer open for new applicants, but it’s still very much a perk being leveraged by existing cardholders.

Book Directly for Exclusive Offers and Packages

Viceroy has property-specific offers and packages that you can use to get tons of extra value.

Whether it’s complimentary third-night free promotions, family packages, or suite rates, you’ll want to at least compare these rates to the best available rate you can find — who knows, you might end up getting some freebies!

Also, if you join the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program, you can earn elite status and get extra perks. This program allows you to earn DISCOVERY Dollars that you can redeem for discounts on your hotel bill, plus you can get free Wi-Fi, complimentary bottled water, late checkout, early check-in, and more.

Bottom Line: There are plenty of ways book Viceroy stays, even though it doesn’t have its own points-based loyalty program. You can use Chase points at a value of up to 1.5 cents apiece, Amex points at a value of up to 1 cent per point, and more. In addition, you can book paid stays with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection, as well as through a Viceroy Guild advisor for maximum value. Consider also using the Citi Prestige card’s fourth-night free perk. Lastly, you can book directly on Viceroy’s website for exclusive offers and packages.

The Top 8 Viceroy Hotels & Resorts in the World

Now that we’ve discussed the best methods for getting great value from booking a Viceroy stay, let’s explore our favorite properties the brand has to offer. There aren’t many to choose from — the entire portfolio is just 14 hotels with another 2 on the way — but we’re confident you’ll have a fantastic stay at any of the properties highlighted below:

1. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort (St. Lucia)

Viceroy’s most expensive property also happens to be our top pick. This legendary 5-star resort is one of St. Lucia’s most coveted resorts and is situated in one of the most exclusive locations overlooking Pitons Bay.

This resort is surrounded by more than 100 acres of lush rainforest and is a little over 2 miles from Sulphur Springs, a drive-in volcano!

A standard room at this hotel starts at 374 square feet large and features a king-sized 4-poster bed, butler service, Egyptian linens, voile draping, a private plunge pool, a patio, a walled garden, a Nespresso coffee machine, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and calming cream tones throughout.

The majestic bathroom consists of a single vanity, a walk-in shower, a magnifying mirror, a Victorian-style claw-foot bathtub in ground floor rooms, bathrobes, slippers, and ROIL and Natura Bisse bath amenities.

You’ll savor some of the finest cuisines at this property, whether it’s fresh seafood served with live entertainment or colonial delicacies unique to the Caribbean. In total, there are 2 full-service restaurants, 3 bars, and 1 grab-and-go cafe.

Plenty of amenities are available, including easy access to the resort’s white-sand beach, an outdoor pool, a full spa, tennis courts, water sports, a dive center, a gym, and event space.

Viceroy’s most lavish resort comes with a hefty price tag. On average, room rates are around $1,450 per night.  Low season rates can fall to around $600 per night and high season rates can skyrocket as high as $3,400 per night.

Hot Tip: To maximize your points on a flight to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in St. Lucia, see our guide to the best ways to fly to the Caribbean with points and miles.

2. Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia

One of Viceroy’s newest resorts is in Serbia’s Kopaonik Village, deep in the mountains.

This resort is a ski-in, ski-out resort in the winter and a serene mountain retreat the rest of the year.

This property has 119 rooms in total, each designed with earthy elements, white accents, plenty of natural light, and design touches that pay homage to the local population. Each standard room measures at least 312 square feet in size and is furnished with 1 king bed or 2 queen beds, a Nespresso machine, a flat-screen TV, blackout curtains, a minibar, a sitting area with a couch, and premium luxury bedding.

The luxurious bathroom contains a shower-tub combination, a single vanity, a backlit LED mirror, and amenities by ROIL and Natura Bisse.

This fantastic, new property is an affordable paradise at just $130 per night on average. Low season rates can drop to $115, and get up to about $220 per night during the high season.

3. Viceroy Los Cabos (Mexico)

Viceroy’s extravagant property in Los Cabos, Mexico features striking architecture and contemporary design. This property is 3 miles from Dolphin Discovery Los Cabos and 12 miles from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).

Strategically placed on one of the Sea of Cortés’ beaches, this 5-star resort has around 200 sumptuous rooms.

A standard room measures in at 575 square feet and has a king bed or 2 double beds, a Nespresso machine, a spacious sitting area with a couch, floor-to-ceiling windows, an oversized Smart TV, mood lighting, blackout curtains, a desk, and a furnished balcony.

The contemporary bathrooms each have a walk-in rain shower, bathrobes, ROIL and Natura Bisse amenities, and more.

You’ll find 3 restaurants, 3 bars, a spa, a gym, a cinema, an art gallery, a luxury shopping bazaar, water sports, a kids’ club, a seafront infinity pool, and event space.

Rates typically hover around $800 per night for a standard room, though during low season you can find rooms for as little as $515 and during high season for as much as $1,150 per night.

4. Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills (California)

Ever since its opening in 1975, the Viceroy L’Ermitage has been a mainstay for Hollywood’s elite and anyone else who wants a taste of L.A.’s world-famous glamour.

This posh hotel is half a mile from the luxury boutiques of Rodeo Drive and less than 8 miles from the Getty Center.

This all-suite property has standard rooms starting at 650 square feet, each appointed with a plush king bed, a balcony, Frette bedding and linens, a spacious lounging and seating area, a desk, a Nespresso machine, tea offerings, a minibar, Bose speakers, and Samsung flat-screen TVs. There’s also a luxurious vanity area with backlit LED mirrors, large closet space, and everything else you need to glam yourself up!

The onyx marble bathroom is equipped with an enormous deep soaking bathtub, twin vanities, a walk-in shower, bathrobes, slippers, and ROIL and Natura Bisse amenities.

There is 1 full-service French restaurant and bar here, as well as a luxe spa, a fitness center, a heated rooftop pool, city views, and event/meeting space.

One of L.A.’s most elite properties, L’Ermitage is bookable for $800 per night on average, though this may increase to $1,000 per night during the high season or drop to $585 per night during the low season.

5. Viceroy Chicago (Illinois)

Located in Chicago’s Gold Coast Historic District, this art deco hotel overlooks Lake Michigan and has all the sophisticated luxuries of the Viceroy brand.

The hotel is just a 6-minute walk from an “El” station, less than a mile from Lincoln Park, and near many museums.

The luxurious rooms offer at least 337 square feet of space and are furnished with a king bed or 2 queen beds. There are floor-to-ceiling windows with a chaise lounge for relaxing and taking in the skyline views, a desk, a Nespresso machine, a flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

The spacious marble bathrooms have a walk-in rain shower, a separate soaking bathtub, LED-backlit mirrors, double vanities, and closet storage space.

There’s a full-service American restaurant, a rooftop lounge and bar on the 18th floor, a fitness center, a rooftop pool, a ballroom, and meeting/event space.

Viceroy Chicago costs around $420 per night on average. Rates can drop to about $240 per night during the low season, and increase to about $730 per night during the peak season.

6. Viceroy Snowmass (Colorado)

Viceroy Snowmass is one of Aspen’s premier luxury properties with ski-in, ski-out access. It doesn’t have all the amenities of a 5-star resort but packs a ton of luxury in a smaller property.

Each of the studio residences has 1 king bed or 2 queen beds, bespoke furnishings, and at least 375 square feet of real estate. The pillowtop beds and plush bedding will have you sleeping in bliss, while the kitchenette with a microwave, cookware, tableware, a 2-burner stovetop, and minifridge allows you to easily cook quick meals after a day on the slopes. There’s also a Nespresso machine, a flat-screen TV, a fireplace, mountain views, and more.

Sleek granite bathrooms feature a deep soaking bathtub (available by request and subject to availability), a magnifying make-up mirror, double vanities, a walk-in shower, and Natura Bisse and ROIL amenities.

This resort has 2 full-service restaurants and 1 café serving Illy espresso. Popular activities include mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, hot air balloon tours, disc golf, fly-fishing, and much more.

You’ll also find a fitness center, a spa, and space for meetings and events.

This elite Aspen property has highly seasonal rate fluctuations — you could pay as much as $1,550 per night during the peak winter holiday season, as low as $350 per night during the low season, and around $500 per night on average.

Hot Tip: If you’re planning a vacation in the snow, check out our ultimate guide to season ski passes, as well as our ultimate ski and snowboard trip packing list and ski and snowboard airline luggage policies.

7. Viceroy Riviera Maya (Mexico)

One of Playa del Carmen’s most luxurious resorts, the Viceroy Riviera Maya is just 6 miles from downtown Playa del Carmen. This property is for travelers ages 14 and up.

You’ll find just 41 private villas at this lush resort — each is at least 1,000 square feet and has jungle views, a private patio, an outdoor shower, and a private plunge pool. Other in-room furnishings include a glorious king bed, a dressing area with double closets, a flat-screen TV, coffee and tea facilities, a minibar, and an outdoor hammock.

The bathroom is outfitted with twin vanities, an indoor standing shower (in addition to the outdoor shower), Italian bathrobes and slippers, and ROIL and Natura Bisse bath amenities.

This resort features 1 fine-dining restaurant, a casual open-air grill and bar, cooking classes, a Mayan spa, a fitness center and yoga pavilion with floor-to-ceiling windows and a thatched roof, a library, a lagoon-style pool, a private pier, and more.

Viceroy Riviera Maya is bookable for around $850 per night on average. However, you might find rates as low as $525 per night during the low season or as high as $2,175 per night during the high season. Keep in mind all of these rates include cumulative taxes and fees of around 35%.

8. Viceroy Santa Monica (California)

Strategically located at one of the most coveted beachfront locations in the U.S., the Viceroy Santa Monica is a 3-minute walk from the Santa Monica State Beach, half a mile from the famous Santa Monica Pier, and a mile from the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1).

Each guestroom is at least 320 square feet and has a pillowtop king bed, a desk, a sitting area with 2 lounge chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Other amenities include Italian bedding and linens, connecting room options, and free Wi-Fi.

Each room also has a marble-clad bathroom with a shower-tub combination and Natura Bisse and ROIL amenities.

There’s 1 full-service restaurant, 1 indoor lounge, 1 outdoor dining terrace, 1 wraparound indoor/outdoor bar, and a grab-and-go cafe.

You can also find a gym, 2 outdoor pools with cabana rentals, complimentary beach yoga classes, and event space.

A room at the Viceroy Santa Monica can be had for as little as $375 per night or as much as $830 per night, depending on when you visit. However, expect to see average rates of $500 per night for a standard room.

Final Thoughts

Viceroy has a neat portfolio of hotels. And while many of these are located in the U.S., there are also a few unique spots, such as the Kopaonik property in Serbia and Sugar Beach in St. Lucia.

When you book a stay here, you’ll enjoy Viceroy’s signature philosophy, which is guided by innovative service anticipation, discretion, and the utmost in accommodation.

If you’re redeeming points, Chase offers up to 1.5 cents per point, Amex offers up to 1 cent per point for Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings, and both Citi and Capital One have flat 1 cent per point redemption values.

If you can, leverage the Viceroy Guild program to enjoy elevated elite-like benefits including complimentary breakfast, enhanced service, and more.

If you’re not booking through Viceroy Guild, consider still booking direct for the best rates — otherwise, the Citi Prestige card’s fourth-night free can help you save a bunch of money on the room rate.

We hope you enjoy booking — and staying at — one of these incredible Viceroy properties!