Which boutique hotels are among the best in the world?

Not many folks know the ins-and-outs of boutique hotels as well as Mr & Mrs Smith do. And if you think we’re talking about Brad and Angelina’s characters in the action flick Mr & Mrs Smith, you’re going to have to get your head out of the sand.

Nay, we’re talking about Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique hotel recommendation site you’ve likely seen crop up when searching for top accommodation spots online. We ourselves turn to Smith whenever we’re planning a holiday. And it seems a lot of Smith followers are keen to have their say at which hotels are the best to stay at.

Last year, Mr & Mrs Smith put 900 hotels head-to-head in a dozen specially selected categories, from the sexiest bedroom to the best budget boutique hotel. Nearly 48,000 people – with great taste, we might add – voted, and even more expected to do so this year.

A lot can change in 12 months – fresh hotspots open, restaurants change chefs and menus, décor gets remodelled, not to mention the fact that the Smith collection has grown by more than 100 hotels worldwide in the past year.

If you’d like to vote for your favourite and most-coveted boutique hotels, check out the nominations here. Voting means you’ll go into the draw to win a five-night stay at the official Best Smith Hotel 2014, and is open until September 30.

Of course we’ll present the results of the Smith Awards 2014 the moment they come to hand!  Antonino Tati

Pictured at top of story: Post Ranch Inn, California, the winner of Best Smith Hotel 2013.

Here are some of the categories in this year’s Smith Awards:

BEST DRESSED HOTEL

The winner will be innovative and exemplary for the integrity of its overall look. They’re not looking for a repository of high-cost fittings or design-directory namedropping, but a well-curated assembly of refreshing and highly inspired ideas. In other words, one hell of a looker.

Pictured: Alila Villas Uluwatu.

BEST SPA HOTEL

Relax. Close your eyes, and breathe. Imagine you’ve arrived at the Best Spa Hotel in the world. You’re soothed by its comforting air and wowed by the treatments on offer. You’re about to have a life-enhancing, mood-improving, radiance-boosting afternoon of bliss. Which spa hotel brings all this to mind?

Pictured: Como Shambhala Estate, Bali.

SEXIEST BEDROOM

A room ripe for seduction needs to do more than get the basics right: the hotel you think is home to the Sexiest Bedroom in the World will pull out all the stops to light your fire. There’s no skimping on quality; the lighting is just-so; and perhaps even the minibar has a few naughty extras.

Pictured: Blakes Hotel London’s Corfu Suite.

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT

Mr & Mrs Smith don’t do blatant star ratings – so the Best Hotel Restaurant is not only a culinary star, it’s an experience to savour. Whether it was a grand degustation that impressed you the most, or a scrummilicious special off the chalkboard, here’s your chance to say which hotel restaurant left the best taste in your mouth.

Pictured: La Bastide de Moustiers, France.

BEST BUDGET BOUTIQUE HOTEL

At Mr & Mrs Smith, we expect every hotel to stand out from the crowd, but there are some that punch well above their weight – under-the-radar gems that you only find by word of mouth. These unique luxe-for-less stays are all about great things in small packages.

Pictured: Brody House, Budapest.

Here’s the link to have your say in deciding on the best boutique hotels in the world.