2009 Smart Luxury Hotel Winners

The Year's Absolute Best Places to Stay

Slide 1 of 13: Our hotel experts pored over a long list of standout properties and whittled it down to these 12 absolute favorites for Sherman's Travel magazine's second annual Smart Luxury Awards.

© Photo by Daymion Mardel; Drawing by Mariko Jesse

Slide 2 of 13: One of the courtyards at the Riad Noir d’Ivoire in Marrakech.

© Riad Noir d’Ivoire

Slide 3 of 13: The exterior of The Standard overlooking the Hudson River.

© The Standard Hotels

Slide 4 of 13: An elegant marble bathroom at the Merrion.

© Leading Hotels of the World

Slide 5 of 13: The White Suite at Avli Lounge Apartments in Rethymno, Crete.

© Avli Lounge Apartments

Slide 6 of 13: The Superior Room at Hacienda Temozon in Yucatan, Mexico.

© Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Slide 7 of 13: The Grof Degenfeld Castle Hotel and Winery in the Tokaj region of Hungary.

© Hungarian National Tourist Office

Slide 8 of 13: The Omnia hotel sits above the wintry wonderland of Zermatt.

© Design Hotels

Slide 9 of 13: The spa entrance at the Hotel Healdsburg.

© Hotel Healdsburg

Slide 10 of 13: Golden Rock Inn’s courtyard dining area.

© Jensey Claire/Courtesy Golden Rock

Slide 11 of 13: The café at the Hotel de la Paix.

© Ativa Hospitality

Slide 12 of 13: Camden Harbour Inn in Camden Maine.

© Camden Harbour Inn

Slide 13 of 13: The terrace of the honeymoon suite at Jordan's Evason Ma'In.

© Six Senses Resorts & Spas