Best Small Hotels in the World 2014 Named by Readers of Conde Nast Traveler

  • August 2, 2014
Best Small Hotels in the World 2014 Named by Readers of Conde Nast Traveler
"It's always nice to find so many charming, small hotels on the Readers' Choice Awards list each year. These winners–none with more than 20 rooms apiece–may not be easy to get to (a Peruvian canyon, a volcanic Mediterranean crater rim), but reward with a little slice of heaven," says CN Traveler.

Taking the top spot among readers with a score of 99.2, is La Residence, Franschhoek, an opulent property set in South Africa's food and wine region, about an hour's drive from Cape Town.

“Opening onto wide verandas and mountain views, the 11 extravagant suites are layered with French and Asian antiques, fantastic local art, and Persian carpets, and each has its own personality–from a girly boudoir in pink and lime green to a palatial honeymoon suite in white marble,” raves CN Traveler. "Decor is a sumptuous mix of elegant antiques, Persian rugs, lavish but plush furnishings, one-of-a-kind art works, and warm, inviting colors in rooms that harken everything from the Orient and the Far East to French and Italian glamor."

Tied for second place with 98.5 points are Casa de Sierra Nevada in Mexico, and Perivolas in Santorini, Greece. A mix of 16th to 18th-century décor, the Spanish colonial buildings at Casa de Sierra Nevada are described as unlike any other property in the world, while Perivolas sits on a cliff overlooking the caldera and the island of Santorini.

Here are the 10 best small hotels in the world for 2014 according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler:

1. La Residence, Franschhoek, South Africa
2. Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
3. Perivolas, Santorini, Greece (tied for 2nd place)
4. Peninsula House, Samana, Dominican Republic
5. Las Casitas Del Colca, Caymolla Province, Peru
6. John Rutledge House Inn, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
7. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, Thailand
8. Chateau du Sureau, Oakhurst, California, USA
9. Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort & Inn, Heredia, Costa Rica
10. Hastings House Country House Hotel, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada

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