It’s that time of year again: Fodor has released the results of their 2012 hotel awards, as they do every year. After evaluating more than 4,000 hotel nominations in 41 countries, they’ve arrived at nine categories worth of fabulous hotel destinations. Let’s take a quick look at some of the exciting hotels that made the list.
- New and Noteworthy – The Amanruya, Turkey. The name of this hotel translates to the English words “peace”, and “dream”. The resort is located on the Aegean Sea, and boasts 36 rooms –called cottages, which should give you a good idea of the amount of space they contain – large private pools, and excellent service. The food is notable: the hotel serves Turkish, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisine in-room and in its four dining pavilions. It’s also worth taking a stroll through the large and lovely outdoor gardens.
- Global Icon – Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand. This hotel has a colorful history that goes back to the late 1870s. In its time, the Mandarin Oriental has been visited by presidents, celebrities, and royalty from all over the world. The rooms and suites are all uniquely decorated and furnished, but elegance is the thread that ties them together. The staff provides excellent service, and the hotel offers interesting diversions such as an on-site Thai cooking school and a rotation of cultural programs.
- Trendsetter – Intercontinental Danag Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam. Set on a private bay, this nearly 200-room resort is centrally located and provides shuttles to off-site attractions. Guests can visit the La Maison 1888 restaurant for French cuisine by chef Michael Roux. If the oversized rooms are not big enough, the hotel offers suites and even villas with terraces and a private pool.
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Peter Island sits amongst 1800 lush acres Trip of a Lifetime – Peter Island Resort and Spa, British Virgin Islands. There’s no doubt why this resort was chosen for the Trip of a Lifetime category. Once you step onto the island, you’re in a different – and much more luxurious – world. This is an excellent place to relax on the beach, or play tennis and enjoy water sports if you’re feeling active. If you have the money, there is even the option to rent the entire island.
- Local Experience – Pukea Ranch, Hawaii. At Pukea Ranch, you can ride horseback and pick your own fresh fruit straight from the orchard, or simply relax by your private pool. With only four bungalows, this will never feel like an overcrowded tourist destination. And while it isn’t located on the beach, the gorgeous public beach is only ten minutes away.
This short list only captures a fraction of the many hotel destinations reviewed by Fodor. There are fabulous, exciting and luxurious hotel destinations all over the world, and Fodor has done a great job of classifying and cataloging them in a way that helps travelers choose their dream destinations.
