50 Beautiful Places For Traveling From Around The World

In this, the eighth of our annual lists, the hotels chosen by our team of editors, writers and experts are the best for service, location, food, rooms, leisure facilities and ambience & design

Australia

Longitude 131°, Uluru: Best for location

Just 10km from Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the remote Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the 15 glass-fronted 'designer' tents at Longitude 131° provide a very luxurious take on camping.Architect Philip Cox's conical structures - set in the Outback's sand dunes - may have been inspired by Bedouin encampments, but they come with air-conditioning, large bathrooms and Bose sound systems. There's a small swimming pool, and activities include eco-walks, visits to indigenous Anangu villages and artists' communities, and dinners beneath the stars with the in-house astronomer. Modern Australian cuisine is served in the central Dune House.

X-factor 'At Longitude 131°, you can watch the first rays of the sun turn the Rock red as you eat breakfast in the comfort of your own bed,' says Gold List contributor Mike Dolan.

Berlin

Adlon Kempinski: Best for service

This historic hotel is in a great location, close to both the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. In business for just over 100 years, it burned down in 1945, was rebuilt in 1997 and renovated in 2007. Some of the  304 rooms and 78 suites have spectacular views of the Brandenburg Gate or the Academy of Arts. Dining options include the Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Italian cuisine at Gabriele Restaurant and sushi at Uma Restaurant. There's also a spa, pool and nightclub. The wonderful concierge team will organise anything for you, whether it's a boat trip, a guided city tour, atour of the Kennedy Museum, children's activities or the use of a limo.

X-factor 'The staff are serene and unflappable,' says Gold List contributor William Cook. 'They're great at eliminating problems before they surface. What's their secret? Faultless preparation. Or, as the Prussians put it: Alles muss in ordnung sein.'

Buenos Aires

Alvear Palace: Best for service

The grandest hotel in Buenos Aires has been a high-society fixture since 1932. The 197 rooms and suites are opulently furnished with art and antiques; the original features are in tip-top condition; and the atmospheremanages to be both elegant and decadent. There are two restaurants, L'Orangerie and La Bourgogne, and an Art Deco-style Cigar Bar.

X-factor 'The service here befits the Alvear's high-society clientele,' says Gold List contributor Colin Barraclough. 'Bilingual butlers press clothes on arrival, concierges handle anything from flower deliveries to chopper charters, and personal shoppers unearth hidden gems.'

Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro: Best for location

Occupying the UNESCO-protected island of Sveti Stefan - attached to the Montenegrin mainland by a narrow causeway - the latest property in the enviable Amanresorts porfolio is a sympathetic restoration of a 15th-century fortified village. The island's 50 rooms and suites are in traditional, red-roofed stone buildings (there are a further eight in Villa Miločer on the mainland), and tick all the five-star-luxury boxes. There are also six spa cottages, a pool with wonderful views of the Adriatic and a range of restaurants, bars and cafés on both the island and mainland.

X-factor 'Cypresses rise up from among the terracotta roofs of ancient stone buildings; passageways lead this way and that to pretty piazzas and pools, and to viewpoints that look out across the blue-green Adriatic and the dramatic coastline of Montenegro,' says Gold List contributor Laura Fowler.

Bhutan

Amankora: Best for location

Given the country's notoriously stringent policies on tourism, luxury hotels in Bhutan are few and far between. But the Himalayan kingdom received a large dose of style in 2004, when Amanresorts opened the first of its lodges. Amankora has since expanded to include five distinct lodges - Paro, Thimpu, Gangtey, Punakha and Bumthang - dotted around the country's central and western regions, each one set against a spectacular backdrop of plunging valleys and lush rice paddies. And, as you'd expect from Amanresorts, each combines contemporary design with traditional features, and has an indulgent spa and impeccable dining.

X-factor 'I love Amankora Bumthang,' saysGold List contributor Sophy Roberts. 'It is built in the grounds of an old royal palace, where novice monks run across lawns each evening to prayer. And the location - the cradle of Buddhism in Bhutan - is wonderful.'

England

Barnsley House: Best for rooms

This 17th-century former manor house is in beautiful countryside less than two hours' drive from central London. The 18 recently refurbished bedrooms are all chic and sleek with huge bathrooms (some have a roll-top tub, others a Jacuzzi or a twin bath). The Stableyard Suites are split-level, with galleried sitting rooms and a bathtub at the foot of the bed. Known for its Rosemary Verey-designed gardens, the hotel also has a small cinema, a tennis court, a croquet lawn and an Aromatherapy Associates spa with six treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool. Barnsley House owns the nearby Village Pub - also recently refurbished -  which has six additional rooms as well as a menu of classic English food.

X-factor  No two rooms at Barnsley House are the same, but all feature stylish contemporary furniture and a home-cinema, plus a surround-sound hi-fi system.

Los Angeles

The Beverly Hills Hotel: Best for rooms

This pale-pink, palm-fringed hotel on Sunset Boulevard is a favourite with Hollywood A-listers: stars love the 210-room property (which celebrates its 100th birthday this year) for its old-fashioned grandeur, as well as its friendly, efficient and discreet service. The La Prairie spa provides customised anti-ageing treatments in private cabanas. The famous Polo Lounge (due for renovation this year) is one of the hotel's three restaurants; it serves seasonal Californian cuisine and afternoon tea.

X-factor  The 23 individually designed bungalows, set in 12 acres of gardens, are the ultimate in film-star glamour. Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned here with six of her eight husbands. Two new 5,000sq ft Presidential Bungalows opened last June.

Australia

Blue Sydney, New South Wales: Best for location

Within touching distance of the yachts on the Wharf at Woolloomooloo, this Taj Hotels property is at the heart of the city's most luxurious entertainment and residential development. A converted factory, it has 100 contemporary rooms, including 36 loft suites; public areas have an industrial look, with metal staircases and girder-crossed ceilings. WaterBar, where guests lounge on bed-sized ottomans, is popular for cocktails and its extensive menu.

X-factor 'What a location! To the east is the Opera House and harbour, to the west the shops of Paddington. But the hotel has its own marina and shops, so it's tempting to stay right where you are,' says Gold List contributor Fiona Lintott.

New York City

Crosby Street Hotel: Best for rooms

Constructed from brick, steel and glass on the site of a SoHo parking lot, the Crosby Street Hotel - which opened in September 2009 - is the first stateside venture by the London-based Firmdale Hotel group. Like its design-savvy British cousins, this hotel bears the stamp of co-owner Kit Kemp, whose imaginative combinations of fresh colours and textures, antique and contemporary furnishings  lend its 86 rooms a quirky English edge. The hotel has a sculpture garden, a gym and a screening room. The Crosby Bar & Terrace serves some of the city's best cocktails, as well as an excellent bistro-style menu made with produce from its own rooftop kitchen garden.

X-factor 'The rooms at Crosby Street Hotel are bright, light, joyful spaces from which to enjoy the best of SoHo,' says Gold List contributor Peter Browne. 'The owners have assembled a most inspiring collection of artefacts and art.'

Florence

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze: Best for rooms

This converted Renaissance palazzois set in 11 acres (the largest private garden in the city). There are 116 individually decorated bedrooms and suites divided between the Palazzo della Gherardesca and a former 16th-century convent. The sensitive, seven-year restoration, completed in 2008, has created an utterly gorgeous hotel: original frescoes and friezes adorn the walls; baroque portraits line the ballroom; and the gardens are splendid. The service is fantastic, as is the restaurant, Il Palagio. There is a large swimming pool and a substantial spa using products from the city's Santa Maria Novella pharmacy.

X-factor 'The 11 "speciality suites" with their frescoes, vast chandeliers, silk wall hangings and period furniture are magnificent,' says Gold List contributor Nicky Swallow. The Royal Suite has a vaulted ceiling, stuccos, a 17th-century ceramic floor and original frescoes depicting the life of Medici Pope Leo XI.

Paris

Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris: Best for service

A grand palace hotel built in 1928 close to the Champs-Elysées, the George V has gone from strength to strength under the management of Four Seasons. There are 244 rooms (more than a quarter of which are suites), and many have private terraces. Public areas are impressive, with high ceilings, serious antiques, tapestries and lavish floral displays by designer Jeff Leatham. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Cinq continues to win plaudits for its classic French cuisine; La Galerie and Le Bar are popular for cocktails. There's a small pool and spa in the basement.

X-factor The impressively efficient team of concierges can arrange anything you want; and they have been known to find and return lost items weeks after a guest has left.

Australia

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney: Best for service

This popular Sydney hotel has 531 very plush, contemporary rooms; those facing the front have views over the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, the harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Make sure you're in situ at sunset. Kable's, the main restaurant, serves modern Australian cuisine with a seafood bias. There's also a spa specialising in Sodashi and Elemis treatments. Children are as well looked-after as older guests: the hotel provides child-sized bathrobes and junior toiletries as well as a welcome 'cocktail' of milk and biscuits on arrival.

X-factor 'The service here is fantastic,' says Gold List contributor Fiona Lintott. 'Suffering from jet lag, I went for an early-morning jog; and when I got back, the doorman was waiting with a bottle of water and a chilled towel. Amazing.'

Canada

The Fairmont Banff Springs: Best for location

Modelled on a baronial Scottish castle, this huge resort opened in 1888. Rebuilt in the 1920s and revamped in 2010 and 2011, it now has 768 rooms dotted around the huge building, many with fantastic views of the Bow River and the mountains. Among the wide range of dining options is the Castle Pantry - open 24 hours a day and a great boon for jet-lagged guests. The Willow Stream Spa, which promotes hydrotherapy, has mineral pools, waterfall-fed whirlpools and 23 treatment rooms. The 72-room Fairmont Gold floor has a separate reception desk and concierge team, and offers a complimentary Continental breakfast, Internet facilities and cocktail-hour canapés.

X-factor 'The setting is wild and wonderful,' says Gold List contributor Stephen Wood. 'Keep an eye open for bears on the golf course.'

Thailand

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai: Best for rooms

Set on 20 acres in the Mae Rim valley, this luxurious resort is surrounded by paddy fields and mountains, yet is just a short drive from Chiang Mai. It has 98 Lanna-style pavilions, villas and residences decorated with Thai art, each of which comes with an outdoor sala. Facilities include two pools, a spa with seven treatment rooms, a tennis court and two restaurants: Sala Mae Rim for Thai food and Terraces for international cuisine. There is also private dining for two at Rice Barn. The wonderful cookery school holds alfresco classes.

X-factor  The three- and four-storey private residences, built to resemble Thai and Burmese temples, have polished teak floors, gabled buttresses and fireplaces.

Seychelles

Frégate Island Private: Best for service

This exotic,ecologically aware, 300-hectare  private-island resort provides the sort of castaway idyll guests grew up dreaming about. Its 16 vast villas have been built in African chamfuta teak, and come with four-poster beds, three showers, a Jacuzzi on the terrace and private pools. Facilities include the tranquil Rock Spa, and as many activities (both sporty and relaxing) as guests can handle. There's gourmet dining in Frégate House and the historic Plantation House.

X-factor 'At Frégate,' says Gold List contributor Lucy Hughes-Hallett, 'your meals can be served wherever your fancy dictates: on the beach, by your private pool or - best of all - up a tree. Enthroned among the birds, you can watch your lunch being winched up into the leafy canopy from a barbecue some 30ft beneath the dining-platform.'

Singapore

The Fullerton Bay Hotel: Best for rooms

A stylish, glass-and-steel building jutting out over Marina Bay, the Fullerton Bay Hotel opened in 2010 as part of Singapore's Fullerton Heritage development, a complex of galleries, restaurants and bars adjoining its 1920s sister property The Fullerton Hotel. The contemporary-style lobby and restaurants are by Hong Kong designer Andre Fu, and the 100 rooms and suites feature plenty of polished rosewood, leather and marble. There are great city views from the gym and a 25-metre rooftop infinity pool. Diners can choose between French-inspired cuisine at Clifford, Asian dishes at The Landing Point and light meals at the top-floor Lantern bar.

X-factor  The five individually designed suites - which feature such decadent design flourishes as gold-silk wall panels - have panoramic views over Marina Bay.

Vienna

Hotel Imperial: Best for rooms

Vienna's grandest hotel is a short walk from the Vienna State Opera, the Musikverein concert hall and the city's 12th-century cathedral. An opulent property with an ornate façade and splendid entrance lobby, it was built in 1863 for the Prince of Württemberg. The 138 rooms and two Royal Suites are decorated in a palatial Viennese style, with chandeliers and heavy drapes, deep-pile carpets and antique parquet floors. Facilities include a fitness and health studio and an Imperial Torte boutique, should guests wish to stock up on Viennese cake. The Imperial restaurant serves traditional Austrian and international fare; Viennese coffeehouse culture lives on at the Café Imperial.

X-factor The two Royal Suites have silk-upholstered walls and seven-metre-high stucco ceilings, as well as antiques dating back to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. All suites have butler service.

France

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes: Best for rooms

A firm favourite with A-listers during the Cannes Film Festival, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc recently reopened after a four-year, €45-million restoration. It has retained its elegant, 19th-century ambience, and its 67 rooms, many with Mediterranean views, are now as grand as when the hotel first opened in 1870. Facilities include 22 acres of forested grounds, a heated seawater swimming pool, ultra-private cliff-top cabanas, five tennis courts, a La Prairie spa, and a hair and beauty boutique. Chef Arnaud Poëtte's exquisite French cuisine is served in Restaurant Eden-Roc.

X-factor 'Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is quite the most idyllic hotel I've ever stayed at,' says Gold List contributor Claire Wrathall. 'You would never know they'd just lavished €45 million on it - but that's a compliment. The rooms are palatial and the service exemplary; it seems to encapsulate the eternal allure of the Côte d'Azur.'

New Zealand

Huka Lodge: Best for rooms

The 19 suites at this secluded 1920s fishing resort, near Lake Taupo on New Zealand's North Island, are set along the bank of the Waikato River. Spacious and bright, with outdoor terraces, they have a comfortable 'cabin' look; their bathrooms have underfloor heating and sunken tubs. Guests can choose from a number of unique and romantic diningvenues dotted throughout the property. The big attraction here is some of the world's best rainbow-trout fishing, but there are also tennis and pétanque courts, a swimming pool and spa pools. Hunting, horseback treks and golf can be arranged.

X-factor There is more spacious accommodation in the four-suite Owner's Cottage, where the light, Hamptons-style interiors make the most of the fine art collection, including works by some of New Zealand's best artists. The two-suite Alan Pye Cottage is equally stylish, and comes with its own collection of Maori artefacts.

French Polynesia

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa: Best for service

Set on the Motu Piti Aau coral island in the Pacific Ocean, this stylish beach resort - decorated in a bright colour palette with Sixties-inspired design touches - is a refreshing alternative to its more traditional neighbours in the region. The 80 over-water bungalows have floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious terraces and private pontoons for offshore sunbathing. Facilities include a stunning infinity pool, a health and fitness centre, tennis courts and - of course - a spa. Dining is at either the sophisticated La Reef or the more laid-back Le Sands.

X-factor  The Deep Ocean Spa by Algotherm is the South Pacific's first dedicated Thalasso spa. It has glass-floored treatment rooms so guests can admire the marine life, and the standard of service is outstanding.

Peru

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge: Best for location

The only hotel adjacent to  the ancient citadel, the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is a former government-run hotel now managed by Orient-Express. At 2,500 metresabove sea level, in the centre of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the lodge offers extraordinary views (ask for a room overlooking Huayna Picchu peak). It has 29 rooms and two suites decorated in dark woods with authentic Peruvian details; most have a terrace with direct access to the peaceful grounds. The two restaurants, the Tinkuy Buffet and Tampu Bar Restaurant, serve international and contemporary Peruvian cuisine. Private guided tours of the ancient site can be arranged.

X-factor  Although the ruins are not visible from the lodge, the entrance is only five minutes' walk away, making a visit at first light - the quietest time of the day - a real bonus for guests.

Cairo

Mena House Oberoi: Best for location

A former hunting lodge built in 1869, the Mena House Oberoi is just 700 metres from the Pyramid of Cheops. The 420 rooms are decorated in an opulent, Moorish style and facilities within the hotel's 40-acre grounds include a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre; the 18-hole golf course will reopen this spring following a renovation. The five restaurants include The Moghul Room for outstanding Indian cuisine, Alfredo for contemporary Italian food, Le Jardin for pan-Asian, Mediterranean and European dishes, and 24-hour dining at Khan El Khalili.

X-factor  The rooms and suites in the original hunting lodge have the best pyramid views. Guests are advised to book well in advance.

Tanzania

&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge: Best for location

This 30-suite lodge enjoys a remarkable setting on the edge of a volcanic crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The rooms are divided between three separate camps, with Maasai-inspired mud architecture offset by opulent interiors (velvet bedspreads, antiques, chandelier-lit bathrooms). The fresh cuisine is just wonderful, as is the service: personal butlers will attend to your every need, and the game rangers, trained by Johannesburg-based company &Beyond, are excellent.

X-factor The setting on the edge of the largest intact caldera in the world - also a wildlife haven that's home to around 30,000 animals - is incredible. The views are phenomenal and game drives down to the crater floor provide many a
thrilling wildlife encounter.

Seychelles

North Island: Best for rooms

Managed by South Africa-based Wilderness Safaris, this environmentally conscious Robinson Crusoe retreat is a private island with just 11 gorgeous villas laid out along a two-kilometre beach, one of four on the island. There's a lovely freeform swimming pool, a spa set on a granite hill and a dive centre. Chef David Godin's 'no menu' philosophy means he consults each guest on their food preferences before producing his daily dishes; light meals can beserved in the villas from special 'butler stations'.

X-factor  The vast villas have two bedrooms (one doubles as a study), circular plunge pools and huge open-plan bathrooms. 'They are sensational,' says Gold List contributor Peter Browne. 'Not only are they precision-designed, they provide a sense of space and privacy beyond most people's wildest fantasies.'

Mauritius

The Oberoi: Best for service

Set in 20 acres of sub-tropical gardens on the island's north-west coast, The Oberoi, Mauritius, has 71 villas and pavilions, all with four-poster beds and marble bathrooms. Each villa has a private garden; some have private pools. The restaurant serves a range of cuisines including European, Asian and Creole; the Lagoon Pool Restaurant is open for light lunches. There's also a spa, tennis courts, a pool and a gym.

X-factor  Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is well known for its excellent staff, and The Oberoi, Mauritius, is no exception: the service here is easygoing, helpful and charming.

Japan

Park Hyatt Tokyo: Best for service

Occupying the top 14 floors of the 52-storey Shinjuku Park Tower, the 178-room Park HyattTokyo enjoys dizzying views over the city. Culinary options include Japanese cuisine at Kozue and Western dishes at Girandole and the New York Grill. The pool on the 47th floor is part of the Club on the Park, with its seven-treatment-room spa, whirlpools and wet and dry saunas. The service at the Park Hyatt is universally acclaimed: the Entertainment Concierges assume the role of personal assistants, taking care of all aspects of a group's or individual's visit.

X-factor  The hotel provides a portable Wi-Fi module that fits in your pocket  and can be carried around for high-speed Internet access on iPhones, iPads, BlackBerries and laptops wherever you go - even if you're hiking up Mount Fuji.

China

The Peninsula Hong Kong: Best for location

The Peninsula bridges the gulf between Hong Kong's futuristic architecture and its 19th-century colonial past. This famous landmark opened in 1928, and a tower was added in 1994. The 300 rooms are richly decorated, and those in the tower have panoramic views of the city skyline; the pool and sun terrace overlook Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong island. The six restaurants include the Philippe Starck- designed Felix on the 28th floor, for Modern European cuisine, and facilities include a fleet of Rolls-Royces (helicopter transfers are another option).

X-factor 'The Peninsula Hong Kong is at the top of my list for location,' says Gold List contributor Jamie James. 'I stayed in a suite with the best possible view of the harbour (which came with a telescope to explore it), and a view of the Peak from the tub in the bathroom.'

French Polynesia

The St Regis Bora Bora: Best for location

This luxurious resort has 100 large over-water and beach villas; each comes with a private butler. Decorated in a contemporary Asian style, they all have private gardens or sun decks; some have private plunge pools. The top suite, the Royal Estate, has its own chef's kitchen, a dining room with a sunset terrace, a whirlpool and a private spa area. The choice of public pools includes the adults-only Oasis; the Spa Miri Miri is set on its own island. Culinary highlights include Lagoon, the gastronomic restaurant headed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Japanese cuisine at Sushi Taki.

X-factor  The location - on a private, 44-acre motu, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean - makes it the ultimate tropical paradise.

Singapore

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia: Best for service

In the heart of Singapore's Marina Bay, with unobstructed views of both the Singapore skyline and the busy waterfront, this 32-floor, 608-room property was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kevin Roche. Its newly renovated guest rooms are the largest of any hotel in the city-state. Facilities include a spa, a fitness centre with hot and cold plunge pools, and iPad tours of the hotel's contemporary art collection, which includes pieces by Andy Warhol and Frank Stella. Dining options include Cantonese cuisine at Summer Pavilion and traditional Japanese dishes at Shiraishi.

X-factor 'This may not be the most glamorous of Singapore's elite hotels but the rooms are spacious, service is peerless, and the view over Marina Bay from the bathtub is worth the room rate alone,' says Gold List contributor Gary Bowerman.

Bath

The Royal Crescent Hotel: Best for location

Occupying two Grade I-listed buildings on Bath's famous Royal Crescent (and another three behind), this delightful hotel is filled with Regency-style furniture and oil paintings by Reynolds and Gainsborough, among others. There are landscaped gardens at the back, and the 45 stylish bedrooms have been expertly restored and decorated to Georgian specifications - bar, of course the essential 21st-century mod cons. There's fine dining in The Dower House restaurant, and afternoon tea is served in the sitting rooms and gardens. Guests also have access to the renowned Bath House spa and the hotel's river launch, Lady Sophina.

X-factor 'The location - not just the hotel - is five-star,' says Gold List contributor Sally Shalam. 'It is full-blown Austen-esque, Georgian fantasy for real. If you come to Bath you want to be on Royal Crescent. It is as simple as that.'

Australia

Saffire Freycinet: Best for rooms

With jaw-dropping views across Great Oyster Bay to the peaks of the Hazards beyond, this luxurious hotel stands on a wooded plateau that, just a few years ago, was a trailer park. Its 20 timber-panelled cabin suites have floor-to-ceiling windows; guests in the Luxury Suites can even enjoy the scenery from the bath. Location-wise, the hotel can't be bettered - a nearby walking trail leads to Wineglass Bay, one of the finest beaches in Australasia - though, thanks to chef Hugh  Whitehouse's innovative menus at Palate, no one's going to be in any hurry to go anywhere.

X-factor 'The top-of-the-line suites are packed with enough luxuries and comforts to make the weary traveller weep,' says Gold List contributor Jonathan Bastable. 'The well-stocked fridge and bar; the iPod pre-loaded with your favourite music; the night-time flask of hot chocolate; and the deep, deep peace of the soft, soft bed.'

Barbados

Sandy Lane: Best for rooms

This Palladian-style beach resort is the most luxurious on Barbados. Frequent revamps (the most recent was to update the spa, rooms and restaurants) ensure that this 50-year-old hotel is still as good as it can be. The service is top-notch, too. The 112 opulent rooms and suites average 900sq ft, and have marble floors and large private terraces. The resort has four restaurants, seven bars, nine floodlit tennis courts, three golf courses (two of which were designed by Tom Fazio) and dedicated clubs for both children and teens. The magnificent 47,000sq ft spa uses Anne Sémonin and Aromatherapy Associates products in its treatments.

X-factor  The five-bedroom Villa is the epitome of luxury: set in its own gardens, with a dedicated team of staff, it is essentially a private home in the midst of one of the world's great luxury resorts.

Greece

Grace Santorini: Best for location

The Grace is carved from a clifftop overlooking Santorini's famous volcanic caldera. Its 13 rooms and seven all-white suites may be simple in terms of decor, but the quality - from the bed linen to the sleek contemporaryfurniture and the very latest audio-visual equipment - is second-to-none. The service is equally high-end: concierges can arrange anything from water sports and horseback treks to complimentary laptops, and the new Grace Bespoke service allows guests to customise aspects of their stay before they arrive. The infinity pool looks down onto the caldera; there's also a cocktail bar and a restaurant serving superb Mediterranean-fusion cuisine.

X-factor 'The unbroken view of the calderafrom the hotel's cliffside setting is magnificent, and particularly bewitching at sunset,' says Gold List contributor Paula Maynard.

South Africa

Sabi Sand: Best for service

The original Singita (there are now four) comprises three extremely luxurious safari lodges on an 18,000-hectare concession in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve: traditional Ebony Lodge, contemporary Afro-chic Boulders Lodge and Castleton Camp, an elegant private house. The first two have 12 air-conditioned suites with plunge pools; Castleton Camp has six and a swimming pool. Talented chef Tamarin van Zyl specialises in pan-African cuisine, and there is a sommelier on hand to help make sense of the 20,000-plus bottles of wine; he also organises regular wine-tastings.

X-factor 'Put simply, the Singita brand sets the service standard for safari lodges in Africa,' says Gold List contributor Peter Browne.

Australia

Southern Ocean Lodge, South Australia: Best for rooms

Combining striking modern design and an excellent pedigree (its sister hotel is the fantastic Capella Lodge), the 21-suite Southern Ocean Lodge opened in 2008. Local architect Max Pritchard has created a sleek eco-retreat on South Australia's Kangaroo Island which reflects, and focuses on, the pristine landscape. A glass corridor leads to the suites, all with glass-fronted bathrooms to maximise scenery-scanning. Talented chef Tim Bourke provides a daily-changing seasonal menu in the restaurant; there is a spa and stargazing platform on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

X-factor 'Each suite has a glass wall facing the ocean,' says Gold List contributor Mike Dolan. 'Inside it's a world of unsurpassed luxury,outside one of unparalleled natural beauty.'

London

St Pancras Renaissance: Best for location

Sir George Gilbert Scott's glorious temple to Victoriana finally reopened to great fanfare in May last year. As part of St Pancras station, it couldn't be better placed for trains heading north and to the Continent, and London's key landmarks are within easy reach. Its 38 historic suites feature beautifully restored windows and mouldings; the 207 more contemporary rooms are designed to chime with the hotel's Age of Empire ambience. There is a health club, gym and pool, and a spa with a sauna, steam room, male-grooming salon and Victorian tiled baths. Marcus Wareing oversees the traditional British menus at The Gilbert Scott restaurant; the Booking Office Bar is great for a cocktail.

X-factor 'Some of the rooms look right onto the Eurostar terminal,' says Gold List contributor Chris Caldicott. 'It's the ultimate people-watching experience in London.'

Mumbai

The Taj Mahal Palace: Best for location

After the terrorist attack of 2008 and a complete refurbishment, the venerableTaj Mahal Palace officially reopened on Indian Independence Day in August 2010. The 560 rooms are in a 1903 building and a modern tower extension, providing a choice of old-world charm in the palace, European and Indian elegance in the Taj Mahal Tower and regal luxury in the 44 suites. The public areas display Moorish, Oriental, Indian and Florentine influences, with vaulted alabaster ceilings, hand-woven carpets and crystal chandeliers. Its eight restaurants offer a huge range of cuisines, including Eastern Mediterranean at the rooftop Souk and contemporary Japanese at Wasabi by Morimoto.

X-factor 'With its stunning view of the Gate of India and the harbour beyond, The Taj Mahal Palace has one the best locations of any hotel in the world,' says Gold List contributor Jamie James.

India

The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur: Best for service

This opulent hotel lies on the shores of Lake Pichola. The 72 rooms and eight suites have views over the  City Palace, Jag Niwas Palace or the lake, and are decorated with local handicrafts and furnishings. Restaurants include Sheesh Mahal for Indian cuisine and The Dining Room for international dishes. An ESPA spa complex, which opened in 2010,  has nine tented suites, 14 treatment rooms, a fitness centre and a pool.

X-factor 'The service at the Leela Palace Udaipur is as lavish as its rich interiors,' says Gold List contributor Fiona Caulfield. 'There's a dedicated butler for every guest, and they magically appear just when you need them.'

London

The Dorchester: Best for rooms

This 80-year-old Mayfair hotel overlooking Hyde Park is one of London's finest. Its 250 guest rooms and suites are decorated
in a classic English style using specially commissioned fabrics and exquisite antique furniture. Facilities include a Royston Blythe hair salon and a relaxed, Art Deco-style spa, which reopened in 2009 after a £3.2-million refurbishment. Interior designer Thierry Despont redesigned the popular bar in 2006, and diners have a choice of five restaurants, including China Tang for Cantonese specialities, Alain Ducasse for three-Michelin-starred French cuisine, and The Grill at The Dorchester, reputed to do the best roast in town.

X-factor  The three Rooftop Suites, a favourite with visiting A-listers, have wraparound terraces with views of Hyde Park and the London skyline. Alexandra Champalimaud has redesigned 23 of the Premium Suites, which will open this year.

London

The Soho Hotel: Best for rooms

Imaginatively converted from a multi-storey car park, the Firmdale Hotel group's Soho property is one of London's most fashionable hotels. Fernando Botero's 10ft bronze cat sculpture dominates the lobby, and the adjacent Refuel bar and restaurant is always busy. The 91 rooms, suites and apartments - each an individual celebration of colour and pattern - are gorgeously decorated by co-owner Kit Kemp in her characteristic eclectic-English style. Six apartments have private entrances, kitchens and sitting rooms. There are two glamorous screening rooms in the basement, a gym, and two beauty-treatment rooms.

X-factor  The rooftop terrace suite might be the hotel's most desirable, but those in the know go for the fifth-floor rooms and suites, all of which have private terraces. 'Every room at the Soho hotel is a gorgeous example of Kit Kemp's winning aesthetic vision and attention to detail,' says Gold List contributor Emily Mathieson.

Cornwall

Hotel Tresanton: Best for location

Comprising a cluster of buildings decorated in blues and whites, the Tresanton is a former 1940s yacht club with a distinctly nautical feel. Bought by Olga Polizzi in 1996 and reopened two years later, the hotel has 29 individually designed rooms, including two family suites. A new house, Rock Cottage, with a family room and a showpiece suite, a kitchen, private garden and two balconies, will open this summer. The small restaurant serves a daily-changing menu; the hotel also has
a massage room, a screening room and a 48ft yacht for private charters.

X-factor 'The view is spectacular,' says Gold List contributor Rufus Purdy. 'All rooms look out over St Mawes Bay, and guests - many of whom have their own private balconies - can while away the hours watching boats bob,  seagulls sweep and storm clouds gather over the wide, blue expanse.'

Hong Kong

The Upper House: Best for rooms

The Upper House, created by architect Andre Fu in a 1980s apartment block in the Admiralty district, is every bit as stylish as its Beijing sister property, The Opposite House. All 117 rooms, including 21 suites and two penthouses, are uncluttered, contemporary and incredibly spacious by Hong Kong standards. Although the hotel does not have a pool or spa, there is a roof garden, a fitness centre and one of the city's most popular restaurants in Café Gray Deluxe, where chef Gray Kunz creates an international menu with predominantly local organic produce.

X-factor 'A suite here is like the ultimate fantasy apartment,' says Gold List contributor Fiona Caulfield. 'There are panoramic views of the Hong Kong skyline, sophisticated design, superb contemporary art, discreet butlers and a bathroom sanctuary to die for.'

Australia

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa: Best for service

This exclusive luxury resort in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney cost around A$125 million to build, and it shows. The 36 Heritage Suites have wonderful views of the Wolgan Valley Reserve and come with locally crafted wooden furniture, Federation-era decor and private pools. There are also three family-sized Wollemi Suites and the 410-square-metre Wolgan Suite. Facilities include a pool, a gym and a spa; activities such as horse-riding, bush walks and wildlife safaris are very popular. There are two restaurants, the Country Kitchen and the Wolgan Dining Room (both of which serve superb Modern Australian cuisine), and a walk-in wine cellar.

X-factor 'The welcome here is warm, the service polite and intuitive,' says Gold List contributor Mike Dolan. 'But in true Australian style, there isn't a hint of ingratiation.'

Dubai

Armani Hotel: Best for rooms

Occupying the first eight floors (and floors 38 and 39) of the dart-shaped, 828-metre Burj Khalifa tower - Dubai's tallest skyscraper - Giorgio Armani's first hotel opened in 2010. As you'd expect from a venture such as this, in such a glitzy destination, the 160 rooms are ultra-luxurious. There are seven restaurants to choose from (serving Japanese, Indian, Italian or Mediterranean cuisine), plus an outpost of Peck, Armani's favourite Milanese deli. Every guest is appointed a personal Lifestyle Manager to guide them around the hotel's impressive array of facilities, including a nightclub, a spa and several boutiques.

X-factor  The hotel's 'residences' - which range between 100 and 200sq ft - are the epitome of upmarket Italian glamour, many with views of the 490ft-high Dubai Fountain.

Antigua

Carlisle Bay: Best for service

Right on the beach, with a backdrop of rolling hills and rainforest,this sister property to Beirut's Le Gray hotel is an effortlessly stylish bolthole on the south coast of Antigua. There are two restaurants (East for pan-Asian fusion cuisine; Indigo on the Beach for grills and seafood), nine tennis courts, a swimming pool, a children's club, a library and a private screening room. The Blue Spa has six treatment rooms, plunge pools and a sauna, and holds yoga and Pilates classes. The 82 sea-facing suites all have private balconies or terraces.

X-factor  The staff (who outnumber guests  three to one) are thoughtful, attentive, and readily available.

Italy

Il San Pietro di Positano: Best for location

A serene hotel high on the cliffs above Positano, with superb views over one of the Amalfi coast's most glamorous bays, Il San Pietro di Positano has 62 bedrooms with private terraces and sea views. The restaurant (indoor and outdoor) serves traditional local cuisine. Other facilities include a private beach and tennis court (reached from the lobby via a lift through the rock) and a complimentary boat service (May-September) for exploring the coast.

X-factor 'Its position just outside Positano is extraordinary,' says Gold List contributor Nicky Swallow. 'But for a discreet sign on the road and a small parking bay, the hotel - which is built into a sheer cliffside that plunges down to the sea - is entirely hidden. Views of Positano from the terrace bar and restaurant are magical.'

Botswana

Jack's Camp: Best for location

Set on the edge of the Kalahari Desert's Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Jack's Camp has outgrownits rudimentary origins to become one of the most luxurious safari camps in southern Africa. Accommodation is in 10 tented suites with ensuite bathrooms and opulent, Forties-style decor; guests dine together in a central pavilion. Days are spent walking with San trackers looking out for - depending on the season - meerkats, zebra, wildebeest and other wildlife that live in, or migrate through, this part of the famous desert.

X-factor 'In the dry season, Jack's Camp is surrounded by miles and miles of sand, parched grass and saltpans; in the rainy season the landscape is transformed into watery floodplains which attract thousands upon thousands of birds,' says Gold List contributor Lisa Grainger.

Morocco

Kasbah Tamadot: Best for rooms

Richard Branson's magical Moroccan retreat in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains is a 1940s former private home that has been converted into a stylish boutique hotel, built around a series of courtyards and pools. There are 15 opulent suites in the main building, a three-bedroom Main Suite, six Berber Tented Suites and four new Berber Tents. Each room has been individually designed with a mix of traditional Moroccan and contemporary pieces. There is a spa and an infinity pool in the extensive grounds. Very good Moroccan and International cuisine is served in the Kanoun Restaurant.

X-factor 'I love the over-the-top decor at Kasbah Tamadot,' says Gold List contributor Peter Browne. 'Every room is a wonderful Aladdin's Cave of vibrant colour and interesting curiosities.'

USA

Post Ranch Inn, California: Best for location

With stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, the 40 romantic guest rooms at Post Ranch Inn are constructed using recycled materials, including redwood reclaimed from wine casks. All have king-size beds, wood-burning fireplaces and indoor spa tubs. There are also two separate villas. Dining is at Sierra Mar, where executive chef Craig von Foerster serves Californian dishes with a European twist, accompanied by selections from an extensive Old and New World wine list. Two heated infinity pools, an outdoor swimming pool, an extensive spa-treatment menu and daily yoga sessions show that relaxation is taken very seriously here.

X-factor 'It doesn't get better than this dreamy cliffhanger, 1,200ft above the rugged Big Sur coast,' says Gold List contributor Bonnie Tsui. 'At night, the dramatic Pacific wave-scape gives way to a sky filled with stars.'

New York City

The Carlyle: Best for service

This landmark on the Upper East Side has been an elite Manhattan establishment since 1930. Originally designed by Dorothy Draper, it was revamped by Thierry Despont in 2002, when the 188 rooms and suites were given contemporary touches while retaining  their classic elegance. The art collection includes renderings by Piranesi and Audubon prints, as well as murals by Ludwig Bemelmans (creator of the Madeline books) in the Bemelmans Bar. There's a great spa and three restaurants, including the renowned Café Carlyle.

X-factor  The service is famously discreet. For many years it remained a secret that this was where JFK stayed with Marilyn Monroe.

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