Top International Hideaways: Readers' Choice Awards 2016

Topping the list of hideaways outside the United States with 50 or fewer rooms is Aman Venice, which graces the list for the first time. Last year's winner, the ever-popular Otahuna Lodge, moved down to second place. No fewer than three reader-favorite Aman properties made this year's list of top International Hideaways, including Amanyara in Turks & Caicos and Amandari in Bali, which skyrocketed from its previous place of 19 to number nine this year.

1. Aman Venice

Venice, Italy — A sumptuous 24-room hotel in a spectacular renovated 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. Magnificent public areas include lobby lined with marble busts; dazzling second-floor dining room with gilded mirrors, lavish moldings, glittering chandeliers, impressive frescoes and a balcony overlooking the canal.
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2. Otahuna Lodge

Christchurch, New Zealand — Evocative seven-suite Queen Anne manor amid century-old estate gardens, 20 minutes outside of Christchurch. Magnificently appointed public areas contain a richly paneled dining room, library and guest lounge. Five-course chef’s tasting menu incorporates local ingredients and seasonal fare from extensive estate gardens and orchards.
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3. The Meridian Club, Turks & Caicos

Pine Cay, Turks & Caicos — A delightfully informal resort on an 800-acre private island skirted by a spectacular deserted white-sand beach. Thirteen shoreline lodgings offer king or two twin beds, alcove living areas, indoor/outdoor showers. This is the crown jewel of the Turks and Caicos for those seeking the relaxing and timeless spirit of the old West Indies.
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4. Abbaye de la Bussière

La Bussière-sur-Ouche, France — Manor-house hotel in a former abbey founded in 1131, providing a base from which to tour Burgundy’s wine towns. Set amid a walled 15-acre park, the magical three-story mansion has 18 rooms that have been individually decorated with fine antiques. One-star restaurant displays a shrewd synthesis of French tradition and modern fare.
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5. Eden Rock

St. Jean Bay, St. Barths — Chic 34-room boutique resort, Eden Rock, set atop a small rocky promontory bordered by the white sands of Baie de St-Jean. Two panoramic seaside restaurants, both under the direction of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, include gourmet On The Rocks. Other amenities include a recording studio, art gallery and fitness center.
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6. Château Saint-Martin & Spa

Vence, France — Mansion-hotel on 35 hillside acres with panoramic views of the French Riviera near Saint-Paul de Vence, 30 minutes north of Nice. Forty beautifully appointed rooms and Junior Suites, plus six one-, two- or three-bedroom villas. Gourmet Le Saint-Martin restaurant is overseen by chef Jean-Luc Lefrançois.
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7. &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania — Exotic &Beyond; Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the 7,000-foot rim of the fabled crater. The 30 thatched bungalow suites are divided among three separate camps and belie their grand interiors of raw silk drapes, gilt-framed mirrors, hand-beaded chandeliers, Persian carpets and teak paneling.
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8. Algodon Mansion

Buenos Aires, Argentina — Atmospheric 10-suite French classical-style limestone mansion in the leafy and chic Recoleta neighborhood. The large, quiet and bright accommodations feature polished ebony floors and rosewood armoires. All suites include 24-hour butler service; some larger suites offer separate living areas with fireplaces.
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9. Amandari

Bali, Indonesia —Exquisite sanctuary overlooking the Ayung River Gorge near Ubud. High, moss-covered walls conceal 30 freestanding pavilion suites entered through temple-like gateways. Spacious air-conditioned interiors have ceilings of bamboo, marble floors, rattan-furnished living areas, king beds, baths with sunken outdoor tubs and walled gardens.
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10. Ballyfin Demesne

County Laois, Ireland — A restored 1826 Regency mansion-hotel is one of the architectural gems of Ireland. Set in 614 acres of parkland, the splendid house is the embodiment of sumptuous comfort and all 20 rooms are individually decorated with authentic furniture, resplendent fabrics and original art.
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11. Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort

Jumby Bay Island, Antigua — Rosewood's congenial resort is on a 300-acre private residential island, a 15-minute boat transfer from Antigua. The property has 40 guest rooms and suites with features such as separate living rooms, private gardens with outdoor showers, and wraparound terraces with ocean views.
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12. Abu Camp

Okavango Delta, Botswana — The preeminent place to ride African elephants, set on a 450,000-acre private concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Overlooking a tranquil lagoon and shaded by hardwood trees, six elegant and individually decorated accommodations are idiosyncratic structures that are part tent, part cabin. Splendid baths provide walk-in showers.
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13. Château Eza

Eze Village, France — Evocative castle-hotel clinging to a dramatic cliff above the Mediterranean in the thousand-year-old hamlet of Eze, between Nice and Monte Carlo. A few of the 12 rooms and suites offer private balconies and fireplaces. The Michelin-starred restaurant is overseen by chef Axel Wagner and serves French and Mediterranean cuisine.
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14. Amanyara

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos — Dramatic cottage-style resort overlooks a lovely beach at the unspoiled northwest tip of Providenciales. A temple-like reception pavilion opens onto a huge reflecting pool that leads to a bar with soaring ceilings, library and restaurant. Forty contemporary accommodations are scattered around inland ponds.
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15. Castello del Nero Hotel & Spa

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Italy — A 50-room hotel within an imposing 12th-century castle set on a hilltop in a 740-acre nature reserve equidistant from Florence and Siena. Michelin-starred La Torre restaurant serving outstanding cuisine occupies a former stable. Amenities include a panoramic outdoor pool, tennis courts set in an olive grove and lavish ESPA spa.
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16. Cavas Wine Lodge

Mendoza, Argentina — A stylish hideaway on a 55-acre vineyard estate in Argentina’s premier wine-producing region, a half-hour drive from Mendoza city. Eighteen rooms, all facing the Andes, fit within seven free-form whitewashed adobe bungalows. Refined spaces feature curving white walls and polished concrete floors.
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17. Huka Lodge

Taupo, New Zealand — European-style country house set along the willow-draped banks of the Waikato River near dramatic Huka Falls and Lake Taupo, an hour south of Rotorua. Twenty-five peaked-roof accommodations dot the grounds in a series of duplex cottages, each containing a king-size bed, wicker-furnished sitting area, skylit bath and riverside veranda.
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18. Belmond Hotel Caruso

Ravello, Italy — Enchanting property that is an amalgam of buildings overlooking the Gulf of Salerno 1,000 feet below. Vaulted fresco-covered ceilings, whitewashed walls and handpainted tiles distinguish the 50 rooms and suites. At the elegant Belvedere Restaurant, chef Mimmo di Raffaele serves delicious Mediterranean cuisine.
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19. Blanket Bay

Glenorchy, New Zealand — A splendid sanctuary along the shores of Lake Wakatipu with a majestic backdrop of snowcapped peaks, a scenic 45-minute drive from Queenstown. Handsome lakeview rooms and Lodge/Chalet junior suites comprise the 12 distinctive accommodations, the suites having stone fireplaces, extra-spacious baths and huge private terraces.
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20. Petit St. Vincent Private Island

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines — Privately owned 115-acre islet rimmed by coral reefs and white-sand beaches. The 22 completely refurbished, individual oceanview stone cottages and villas offer separate living rooms and lanais with hammocks. The dive center by Jean-Michel Cousteau is staffed with resident naturalists and marine biologists. SPECIAL OFFER
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