In a business that prizes buzz and sound bites, our Smart Luxury Awards are a true anomaly. Instead of focusing on what’s trendy or what sounds good in a headline, we stay true to form and obsess over what’s worth spending money on in the world of luxury travel. Our process for selecting winners is delightfully straightforward: At the end of the year, we look back at the destinations, hotels, cruises, services, and restaurants we recommended to readers. We then select the establishments we believe best exemplify the essence of Smart Luxury. You won’t find anything here proclaiming “100 Best…” or extolling pillow menus. Instead, our awards highlight places and experiences that leave travelers with that rare and satisfying feeling of money, time, and energy well spent.
2010 Winners
Ace Hotel
The Urban Collective
Arts on Main
Here Comes the Neighborhood
Blantyre
A Guilded Hideaway
Bristol Buenaventura
Paradise Found
California Academy of Sciences
A Living Museum
Cap Maison
Going Nowhere Fast
Celebrity Cruises' Solstice Class
Setting a Majestic Course
Chateau Coutet
Bottle Bravado
Chi Spa at Shangri-La Hotel
Wrap Artists
Cow's Lane Designer Studio
Well Crafted
Feather Down Farms
An Agricultural Escape
GoldenEye
From Jamaica with Love
Le Relais Saint-Germain
The Echt Left Bank
Hotel Le St. James
The Crown-Jewel of Montreal
Hotel Renew
The Tranquil Side of Waikiki
Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Contemporary Tradition
Hosted Villas
Home Away From Home
Il Salviatino
Above It All In Tuscany
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel
Tourist-Free Eco-Haven
Jerez de la Frontera
Worth A Closer Look
Jnane Tamsna
Rooftop Chef
Kadeau
Cosmopolitan and Fresh
Karriere
Design for Living
LAN Airlines
Economical Business Class
Le Gray
A Middle Eastern Comeback
Lifestyle Tours
Rental Friends
McCrady's
A True Believer
Mikla
Still Worth the Buzz
Monastery of the Caves
A Haunting Must-See
Orion Expedition Cruises
Adventure at Sea
Park Hyatt Seoul
The High Life
Pearl Brewery
Urban Reclamation
Ponta dos Ganchos
A Beachy Haven
Portrait Suites
A Perfect Fit
Radisson Blu, Madrid Prado
The Un-Brand
Silversea Cruises
Art Deco Elegance at Sea
San Marco Hotel
A Family Affair
Spacecraft
Fit to Print
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Sheltering Skies
Terme Merano
Taking the Waters
The Allison Inn & Spa
Promised Land
The Inn at Bay Fortune
The Fat of the Land
The Oberoi
An Icon Restored
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya
Local Flavor
theWit
Out on a Limb
TrufflePig
Sniffing Out the Superlative
Utah Road Trip
Phenomenal Terrain
Virgin America
Innovation and Aesthetics
Windstar Cruises
Elegant Sailing to Striking Locales
Witt Istanbul Hotel
Best of All Worlds
2009 Winners
Alan Wong's
An Enduring Culinary Trailblazer
Aqua Luna
A Mouth-watering Harbor Cruise
Avalon Waterways
Sleek Design on the River
Avli Lounge Apartments
A Unique Boutique with an Old Soul
Bateleur Camp
A Secluded Safari
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Bird’s Eye Island Views
Bresca
Each Night, a New Food Performance
Camden Harbour Inn
An Uncommon Seaside Retreat
Coeur des Alpes
Airy Architecture in the Alps
Colchagua Valley
Find Undiscovered Chilean Reds
Corton
Minimalist Decor and Dazzling Taste
Elevate Destinations
Eco-Luxe Voluntourism
Enigma Apartments & Suites
Homey Cliffside Digs with Spectacular Views
Evason Ma'In Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa
An Eco-Friendly Desert Oasis
Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant
Michelin-Starred Meals and Modern Rooms
Four Seasons New York
A Contemporary Retreat in the Concrete Jungle
Golden Rock Inn
Laid-Back Boho Bonhomie
Grof Degenfeld Castle Hotel
A Reclaimed Mansion in a Historic Wine Region
Hacienda Temozon Sur
Restored Historical Elegance
The Hermitage Plantation Inn
Quaint Caribbean Cottages
Holland America
Small Ship Intimacy with Big Ship Amenities
Hoopoe Yurt Hotel
Private Meadow Oases
Hotel Be Angkor
A Showcase for Siem Reap Artists
Hotel Healdsburg
Wine Country Hotel Perfection
Hotel des Academies et des Arts
An Homage to the Left Bank’s Arty Heritage
Hotel de Crillon
Decor and Cuisine Fit for Royalty
Hotel de la Paix
A Tropical Boutique That Makes A Difference
Hugo's
Locally Sourced and James Beard Approved
Il Pino
Seasonal Fare Over the Bay of Naples
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
Float Away on a Private Beach
Kichwa Tembo Safari Camp
An Exclusive Adventure in Savannah Wonderland
La Gritta
Low-Key Dining with Killer Views
Le Gavroche
Fabulous French Fare
Madi Kuria Hotel
Wine and Cheer in Tokaj
Minetta Tavern
The Big Apple’s Best Bar Menu (And People Watching)
North Island Vineyards
The Best Wine Regions You've Never Heard Of
Number 31
A Bed and (Extravagant) Breakfast in Georgian Dublin
Pure Kauai
Custom Itineraries in Paradise
Riad Noir d'Ivoire
A Designer Riad in the Heart of the Medina
Sevva
A Cocktail Bar with a View
Terre Resort and Spa
A Desert Getaway with Moorish Flair
The Merrion
Pitch-Perfect Grandeur
The Omnia
Stylish Comfort on the Slopes
The Resort at Paws Up
Haute Camping Grounds
The Standard
A Hot Spot with Legs
The Wolseley
The Perfect Acclimatizing Meal
Tides Riviera Maya
A Beach Escape in Jungle Villas
TOMS Tours
Targeted Do-Gooding Trips
White Barn Inn
New England Elegance and Classic Comfort
2008 Winners
Anse Chastanet
A Natural Wonder
Aquapura Duro Valley
Spa Bliss Among the Vines
Auberge du Soleil
Napa's Primo Retreat
Azamara Cruises
Nimble Cruising Without Limits
Bairro Alto Hotel
Portuguese Cool
Ciragan Palace Kempinski
Palatial Digs in a Singular Locale
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
High Camp
Comme Chez Soi
Because Family Knows Best
Commune by the Great Wall
Private Access to a World Wonder
Crystal Cruises
Local Flavor
Cunard Line
Classic Cruises Since 1840
Explora en Rapa Nui
Remote, Sophisticated Oasis
First Hotel Skt Petri
Minimalist Splendor
Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Caribbean Classic
Grand Villa Argentina
Old-Europe Opulence with Your Own Private Beach
Gritti Palace
A Timeless Venice Classic
Hacienda San Angel
Charming Costa Alegre Perch
Hacienda Zuleta
Haute Country Comfort
The Hiram Bingham
All Aboard to an Incan Wonder
Hotel de Rome
A World-Class Hotel with an Artistic Soul
Hotel Hana-Maui
Authentic Island Paradise
Hotel Jerome
19th-Century Authenticity; 21st-Century Luxury
Hotel Le Yaca
Palatial Luxury in a Down-to-Earth Village
Hotel Marques de Riscal
Wined and Designed
Jenny Lake Lodge
The Great Indoors
L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges
Legendary Nouvelle Cuisine Fit for Royalty
La Alqueria at Hacienda Benazuza
Ferran Adria's Other Restaurant
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso
A Honeymoon Favorite
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Countryside Culinary Heaven
Le Meurice
Paris's Best Luxury Bet
Mandarin Oriental Prague
A High Style Temple with Modern Flair
Maroma Resort and Spa
Lovingly Crafted Seaside Escape
Oberoi Amarvilas
Rooms with a View
Point Grace
Soothing Beachside Paradise
Post Ranch Inn
Rustic Elegance on the Pacific Coast
Rwanda Gorilla Safari
In Fossey’s Footsteps
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
Ultimate Safari Experience
Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain
Desert Spa Bliss
Sofitel Buenos Aires
Well-Located Deco Masterpiece
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi
Can't-Miss Colonial Gem
Southern Ocean Lodge
Over-the-Top Eco-Chic
French Laundry
Napa Valley's Foodie Mecca
The London NYC Hotel
Location, Location, Location (and Spacious Rooms!)
The Peninsula Chicago
Old-World Class
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Unparalleled Service
The Soho Hotel
Calm Eccentricity in the Hubbub
Tides South Beach
Top Design and Top-Notch Service
Villa d'Este
Because You Only Live Once
Wasatch Powerbird Guides
From Sky to Ski
Wimco Villas
In-the-Know Villas