Fodor's Names 100 World's Top Hotels

Fodor's Travel, a leading name in travel guides for more than 75 years, announces the 2014 Fodor's 100 Hotel Award winners. For the fourth year in a row, the experts at Fodor's Travel selected the world's best hotels from their in-person evaluations. This year, the team of experts broke a new hotel-visiting record, logging nights at more than 5,000 properties from Anguilla to Vietnam.

“Here at Fodor's Travel, we know our travelers have high expectations from the moment they check into a hotel -- and so do we,” explained Arabella Bowen, Fodor's Travel Editor in Chief. “Our 100 Fodor's Hotel Award winners go above and beyond these expectations with their winning mix of service, setting, style, and amenities. We're confident that a night at any of these properties will be a highlight of the trip.”

The 100 properties, which span 43 countries, are broken up into eight categories. From a beach getaway in Brazil to a country retreat in England, there is a property for every type of experience a traveler is looking for. Europe, which has seen a post-recession resurgence in visits within the last year, dominates as the region with the most winners–29–for the second year in a row. The United States, with 20 winners, is the country with the most properties on the list and hotspots London and Paris have three winners located in each city.

HOW THE LIST IS CHOSEN

Each year, Fodor's Travel invites its roster of 500 global contributors to nominate the best hotels in the destinations they live and write in. Fodor's senior editorial team deliberated on over 4,000 Fodor's Choice picks, poring over the list for months to narrow their top selections. For the first time, readers were also invited to nominate their favorite hotel. Travelers' discerning top picks are indicated with a Readers' Choice badge.

FODOR'S EXPERT POINT OF VIEW

Fodor's Travel covers 7,500 destinations and more than 17,000 of the best hotels around the globe, each of which receives an in-person evaluation. Fodor's editors' decades of experience helps take the guesswork out of trip planning, recommending only those hotels, restaurants, and things to do that meet their high standards, and designating the absolute musts with “Fodor's Choice.” Whether travelers use print guidebooks, ebooks, mobile apps, or Fodors.com, Fodor's provides highly curated advice on how to travel smarter, including the best arts and culture offerings, where to eat and stay at every price point, and tips and strategies for an authentic and immersive experience.

A SELECTION OF THE FODOR'S 2014 100 HOTEL AWARD WINNERS

Trip of A Lifetime – From Bora Bora to Botswana, these 12 iconic destinations belong on every traveler's bucket list.

Winners include: Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia (pictured above); Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp (Kenya); Amangiri (Utah)*

All-Inclusive Vacations – From Antigua to Australia, these properties take care of all the details, so you can fast-forward to complete relaxation.

Winners include: Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa (Turks & Caicos); Triple Creek Ranch (Montana); Jamaica Inn (Jamaica)*

Beach Getaways – If you dream of sandy beaches and lapping waves, consider escaping to one of these 12 resorts, from Oahu to Cancun.

Winners include: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Hawaii); Nisbet Plantation Beach Club (Nevis); Hotel St. Regis Punta Mita (Mexico)*

Boutique Chic – Tightly curated décor and local style define these 15 smaller hotels, from Calistoga to Zurich.

Winners include: Refinery Hotel (New York); Widder (Switzerland); Only You Hotel & Lounge (Spain)*

Country Retreats – Romance and relaxation are among the draws at these 11 scenic properties, ranging from grand estates to mountaintop hideaways.

Winners include: Cliveden House (England); Hotel Marqués de Riscal (Spain); Terranea (California)*

Enduring Classics – These legendary properties around the world, from Rio to Paris, are more impressive than ever.

Winners include: Copacabana Palace (Brazil), Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Bangkok); The Savoy (England)*

Modern City – Sleek design and desirable addresses are the calling cards of these stylish urban hotels.

Winners include: The Langham Chicago (Illinois); The Upper House (China); Park Hyatt Place Vendome (France)*

Small Hotels – At these intimate hotels, all with fewer than 50 guest rooms, expect personalized attention and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Winners include: Punta Tragara (Italy); Le Petit Hotel (St. Martin); Waipoua Lodge (New Zealand)*

*denotes Readers' Choice selection

The complete list of this year's Fodor's 100 Hotel Award winners is available online at https://www.fodors.com/hotel-awards/2014.