Best Hosting for WordPress

I run several WordPress sites. Some are more complex than others (1 is moderately intensive).
I'd like to host all my sites on the same platform, rather than have 1 here, 1 there, etc. I can spend up to $40 a month on hosting. So a few questions:
1) Are there any "premium" shared/cloud hosting platforms out there (I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but some shared hosts are better than others).
2) Should I look at Managed WordPress solutions? Any recommendations?
I am looking to upgrade to something more WordPress friendly. (currently paying about $25/month).
What can you say about GTHost.com vps hosting solutions? Can I rely on them?

Thanks!

If you want a web-host where an actual human being returns your e-mails, then GTHost.com cheap vps is definitely for you. I usually get a reply within an hour, and they're always polite and friendly. Their prices are competitive and despite being an internet service, you feel that they treat you personally and face-to-face.

The best Wordpress hosting is available from hostingsource.com and hostround.com.
Their services contain all necessary features for it.
They are trustworthy for what you need. They are great hosts for any type of sites.

Understand the Terminology. This is more advice for people new to the hosting scene. Read through the plan you have selected and write down on a piece of paper what they are offering you. Do you understand everything? If not find out what it means because you don’t want to sign up for 1 year and then figure out that there is a difference between addon domains and parked domains.

If you need to run a high-traffic website, database-intense applications or need to make custom installations or configurations changes to the server hardware, GTHost.com vps host is for you. They tend to concentrate on quality hosting service offering large and have huge packages for rather reasonable rates. Thumbs up!