Well, are we talking favorite or nicest? Because for me they are two different things.
My favorite hotel on the earth is the Mirror Lake Inn, in Lake Placid. It is not the most luxurious place I've ever stayed though.
We always get the same room, #439, and they will guarantee a specific room at the time of booking. It's not even their biggest room, and not a suite. But it's at the very end of the top floor, very, very quiet. Because it's on the end there's a window in the bathroom--I know, I'm easily amused.
It's a fairly large room with a king bed, settee, table and two chairs, fireplace, rocker, and a small bar sink with a coffee maker and dorm fridge. It's also got a nice balcony with a couple rockers and a small table that overlooks Mount Marcy and Mirror Lake.
The entire resort is impeccably clean, this is one place that they blow WDW away. The service is also very good. Extremely friendly and gracious, although generally not "refined" like you would find in a five star resort. (Mirror Lake Inn gets four diamonds, thre stars). With only 128 rooms, service is very personalized and it's never crowded.
The overall theme is that of a mountain inn without being overly "woodsy". Hardwood floors, over stuffed chairs, abundant fireplaces and windows with views. The spa is decadent, world-class.
My husband and I go there every year for a long weekend (or very long weekend LOL!) and it's the one place that keeps drawing us back over, and over, and over. If you are an outdoorsy person, you'll love the area. We aren't really, but we use our time there to just regroup, read, nap...
As far as pricing in comaparision, it's about the same as a honeymoon room at the GF, no jacuzzi but it has a fireplace. Room size might be slightly larger at the MLI.
Second to the Mirror Lake Inn is another resort I see already mentioned, the Rimrock in Banff. I prefer the MLI as it's smaller and more intimate, and the food is better. The views are spectacular! Price wise with the exchange rate it's probably comparable to a lagoon room at the GF.
Anne
But anyway, Lanai is one of my favorite locations, and I personally think the Lodge at Koele is the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. It's not a beach hotel, which some don't like, but it's an interesting contrast if you're coming from another island and have already stayed at a beach hotel. It has great horseback riding and they even let my son ride (supervised) when he was just four. Manele Bay is also spectacular and is more similiar to the luxury beach hotels like the Hyatts, Princeville or the Four Seasons Maui. Koele is fairly unique, but it's all in what you're looking for. Have a wonderful trip--it sounds fantastic 
My second two favorites are both city hotels, Trump International on Central Park and The Manderian Oriental in NYC. Both are just top notch in service and amenities. Also love the Boca Raton resort. My favorite Orlando resort is by far the Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes, service was unbeatable.
